"Oh, it's very necessary," insisted Mr. Damon earnestly. "Bless my
gizzard! but it's very necessary. Why, if I went around the Foger place
as I am now, they'd know me in a minute, and I couldn't find out what I
want to know."

"Well, if you keep on blessing yourself," said Tom, with a laugh,
"they'll know you, no matter what disguise you put on, Mr. Damon."

"That's so," admitted the eccentric gentleman. "I must break myself of
that habit. I will. Bless my topknot! I'll never do it any more. Bless
my trousers buttons!"

"I'm afraid you'll never do it!" exclaimed Tom.

"It is rather hard," said Mr. Damon ruefully, as he realized what he had
said. "But I'll do it. Bless--"

He paused a moment, looked at Tom and his father, and then burst into a
laugh. The habit was more firmly fastened on him than he was aware.

For several hours Tom, his father and Mr. Damon discussed various
methods of proceeding, and it was finally agreed that Mr. Damon should
first try to learn what Andy was doing, if anything, without resorting
to a disguise.

"Then, if that doesn't work, I'll become a tramp," was the decision of
the odd character. "I'll wear the raggedest clothes I can find Bless--"
But he stopped in time.

Mr. Damon took up his residence in the Swift household, as he had often