"Rot!" exclaimed a thick voice; and a man's figure appeared against the
light at the open window. "Devil'sh a myth; allegorolical gentleman,
everybody knowsh. Hard word that--allegorolical. Bad word too;
reminds you of things in the rivers down in Florida. Must be some in
the creek here; seen them, in my homestead."

"You go to bed!" said Gardner sternly.

"Nosh a bit," replied Benson. "Who you talking to?" He leaned
forward, in danger of falling through the window. "Lemme out!"

"It's not all drink," Gardner explained. "He has something like shakes
and ague now and then. Says he got it in India."

Benson disappeared, and a few moments afterward reeled out of the door
and held himself upright by one of the veranda posts.

"Now I'm here, don't let me interrupt, gentlemen," he said. "Nice
place if this post would keep still."

Warned by a sign from Gardner, the others ignored him; and Harding
turned to the farmer.

"You hadn't finished what you were saying when he disturbed you."

"I don't know that it was of much importance; speaking of degenerates,
weren't we? We have a curious example of the neurotic here: a fellow
who makes a good deal of money by victimizing farmers who are forced to
borrow when they lose a crop, as well as preying on young fools from
England; and, by way of amusement, he studies modern magic and indulges