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diff --git a/30713.txt b/30713.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e08a500 --- /dev/null +++ b/30713.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9044 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Captain Pott's Minister, by Francis L. Cooper + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Captain Pott's Minister + +Author: Francis L. Cooper + +Illustrator: John Goss + +Release Date: December 19, 2009 [EBook #30713] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTAIN POTT'S MINISTER *** + + + + +Produced by Darleen Dove, Roger Frank and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Illustration: "Then, let me hear you say you love me!"--_Page 335._] + + + + + CAPTAIN POTT'S MINISTER + By + FRANCIS L. COOPER + + Illustrated By + JOHN GOSS + + BOSTON + LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO. + + + + + Copyright, 1922, + By Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. + _All Rights Reserved_ + Captain Pott's Minister + + + Printed in U. S. A. + Norwood Press + BERWICK & SMITH CO. + Norwood, Mass. + + + + + _To Betty_ + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + FACING PAGE + "Then, let me hear you say you love me!" (page 335) Frontispiece + "Now, see here, Beth, there ain't no use of your + pretending to me." 146 + "There ain't money enough in the world to make me do + that." 242 + Miss Pipkin had been disturbed by the noise. 262 + + + + +CAPTAIN POTT'S MINISTER + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +The sound of voices suddenly arrested Captain Pott's fork in mid-air, +and the morsel of untasted salt-mackerel dangled uncertainly from the +points of the dingy tines as he swung about to face the open door. Fork +and mackerel fell to the floor as the seaman abruptly rose and stalked +outside. The stern features of the rugged old face sagged with +astonishment as he blinked at the small army of men swarming over his +littered yard. + +"'Mornin', Cap'n," cheerily called Hank Simpson, the village storekeeper, +as he approached the irate man on the stoop. + +Captain Pott was so completely jarred out of his usual complacency that +for once he had nothing to say. He forgot even to swear. As the +significance of the movements of the intruders suddenly dawned upon him +he mutely glared at Hank from beneath blackened and swollen eyelids. + +"The women-folks said that you'd be wantin' to make your place look +peart, bein' as the new minister is goin' to stay here with you," +explained Hank, who was apparently the leader of the group. "When we +men-folks heard that they was goin' to clean up on the inside we thought +it wouldn't be no more than neighborly for us to pitch in and give you a +hand with the outside." + +It was evident that the Captain did not relish the explanation, for he +bristled with dangerous hostility as he took a step forward. But before +he could refer Hank Simpson and his entire male army to a certain warm +climate where he thought they might go with mutual advantage to himself +and them, the morning breeze carried within earshot another note, higher +in the scale, but unmistakable in significance. Silently the old man +stood and dumbly watched a procession of petticoats march up to his gate +and turn into the cinder path. + +The female army took possession of the house even as the men had taken +possession of the yard, and he who had commanded mutinous crews on the +briny deep fled and took refuge in the shade of a spreading elm near the +well. Mrs. Eadie Beaver, the Captain's next-door neighbor, approached +him, requested that he pitch in and help, and then as quickly beat a +retreat before the fierce glare. Hank Simpson once asked where they +might burn the accumulated trash. The answer was unsatisfactory though +forceful. Hank declared, "Them instructions is wuth a heap, Cap'n, but +unless you've got a trap-door to them parts hereabout, I reckon we'll +have to do the crematin' some other way." + +All the shutters on the old house were thrown wide open, and sunshine +and air were allowed to penetrate corners where dust and cobwebs had +held undisputed sway for years. Through the open windows came the sound +of tack-hammer and puller, the moving of tables, sideboards, and chairs, +and of every other article of furniture that was not actually built into +the walls. From his place beneath the elm the Captain heard all these +sounds, and watched his old pieces being piled in a confused mass about +the front yard. He was smoking incessantly, and swearing no less +frequently. + +From up the road came the sharp thud of beating hoofs. As horse and +rider came into view he deliberately turned in the opposite direction. +At the gate the rider drew rein and swung lithely to the ground. Many +young admirers gathered quickly about the hitching-post, but the girl +was too swift for them. With a friendly nod and smile she tossed her +reins to a bashful youngster, and tripped up the path to where the +seaman was standing. + +The daughter of the senior Elder of the Little River church had always +been fond of Captain Pott. When but an infant she had looked up into the +clear blue eyes, adoration and love in her own. During childhood she had +sat contentedly on his knee, or on a stool at his feet, listening with +rapt interest to his stories of adventure by land and sea. The Captain +had never been able to spin the wild yarns commonly known to be his +habit when Elizabeth Fox was his only audience. This was not due to any +fear that she would have detected fraud in his impossible tales, but to +the fact that he could not lie when the gaze of her big blue eyes was +fastened on him. + +To-day she edged near and waited for recognition. Locks of her fair +hair, shaken loose by her ride, went straying bewitchingly over her face +and forehead. The smile in her eyes crept down to the corners of her +mouth as she sought the averted face above her. But all she could +glimpse were violent motions of one ragged point of his moustache as it +kept imperfect time with the unseen end which was being viciously +chewed. + +At length, the irresistible little attraction at his side proved too +strong for the Captain's stubbornness, and he looked down into her big +blue eyes. At sight of his own blackened and swollen lids Elizabeth +uttered a sharp cry. She took the roughened hand in hers and gave it a +gentle squeeze. But her deep concern was quickly followed by a ripple of +laughter. Hers was a laugh that was as good to see as to hear. The +Captain smiled a wholly unintentional smile and returned the pressure +of her hand. + +"Dear me, Uncle Josiah!" she exclaimed. "You look so like a terrible old +storm-cloud! And those awful eyes! Where on earth did you get them?" + +"Cal'late I feel a heap sight worse than I look, Beth. That set of +females----" + +"But your black eyes!" she interrupted. "Who made them like that? Has +some one been fighting you?" + +"A feller handed 'em out to me last night, and I didn't happen to be in +a position to refuse 'em," he replied, his grisly weather-browned +features lighting up with a wry smile. + +"Who dared strike you like that!" + +"Now, don't you worry, Beth. It ain't as bad as it looks. You see, I was +on my way over from the station last night from the late city train. +When I got to the top of the hill I sot down for a spell, and while I +was thinking, I looked down on my place. I see a light in the pantry +window flicker up, die down, and then settle into a steady glow. I +cal'lated it must be pirates aboard the old craft, so I tore down the +hill like blazes and busted into the house. Something struck me like a +ton of brick, and I went down. I never see so many stars in all my life. +The next thing I heard was a voice asking if I was hurt, and saying, +'You'll pardon me, sir.'" He chuckled with his first sign of mirth. +"When I got my senses back there was a big feller sitting on me, nearly +choking off my wind. He brung out one of them lightning-bug flashlights +and turned it full on me, and then shouted like a maniac, 'Why, it's +Cap'n Pott!' 'That's me, but who in hell be you?' I'm telling you just +as I said it. He told me his name was Mack McGowan. Well, I was real +glad to see him till he told me he was the new preacher and was going to +live with me. Eadie Beaver had put him up in my house a week ago. I was +mad as hops when he told me that, and I was going to throw him out, +but,"--again he chuckled,--"well, I didn't." + +"You thought caution was the better part of valor, is that it?" +questioned Elizabeth. + +"Something like that, Beth. I cal'late we'd best say nothing to a soul +about this. There'd be some who wouldn't understand the details of the +transaction. It was sort of confidential, as you might say, and there'd +be them who'd blame Mr. McGowan for what he wa'n't exactly responsible +for." + +"Oh! Can't I tell it? It's really too good to keep. And then," she added +seriously, "people might think you have been really fighting. Don't you +think it would be best to tell what actually happened?" + +"Mighty little any of them would care how I got my shine. But I cal'late +it would be best for the parson if we'd keep it quiet." + +"Very well, Uncle Josiah. He is really going to live with you, isn't +he?" + +"Don't that look like it?" he asked, pointing his pipe-stem toward the +house. + +"But that is for you, too." + +"For me? You'd see that set of females getting down on their prayer-bones +for an old sinner like me, except to ask God A'mighty to strike me +dead. I ain't that popular, not yet." + +"Captain Pott, I don't like that one bit! I canceled all my engagements +in the city when Father told me the other day what the ladies of the +church were planning to do for you. I did it just to help you, and +now----" + +"There, there, Beth." The old man reached out and touched her arm. +"Excuse me, Beth. I feel like a cantankerous old sore-headed bear this +morning. Of course, you come home to help me. I didn't mean to hurt your +feelings." + +"They mean well, too," she loyally defended her neighbors. + +"It was awful nice of you," he replied, ignoring her reference to those +at work in the house. "It's worth it to put up with that whole pack +inside just to have you come." + +"There, now, I have my good old Uncle back again." She had always called +him Uncle. "But tell me, why do you feel so badly?" + +"About them in there?" He jerked his thumb toward the house. + +"No-o. I think I can understand your feelings about them. I feel the +same way sometimes. If I were the minister it would take all of my +religion during the week so I'd have nothing to preach on Sunday. But, +there! Father must never hear of my saying that." + +"He ain't likely to hear it from me." + +"Have you quarreled with Father again?" She stared apprehensively. + +Denial sprang to the Captain's lips, but when he looked into her eyes +and saw there the expression of eagerness, he turned away. + +"You have!" she averred. "I thought so! And after Father was so kind as +to let you have the money to repair and paint your house!" + +"Beth, we ain't exactly quarreled. Leastwise, he ain't," he finished +lamely. + +"Uncle Josiah, why will you and Father never understand each other? +Father is so kind and good, and so are you, and yet you are never able +to agree. Why is it?" she implored. + +"Too much alike, I cal'late. But honest, Beth, I ain't got nothing +particular against your father, and if I had I'd sink my feelings to +Davy's locker for your sake. The trouble is, I've been expecting too +much, and I ain't got any right to ask your father to put himself out +for an old hulk like me." + +"What sheer nonsense! I've half a mind to scold you. Of course, Father +is willing to put himself out for you. Only this morning he said he +would do all in his power to get a ship for you to command." + +"He's said something like that to me, too, several times." + +"Then he'll do it, if you will only be patient. Father always keeps his +word." + +"You ain't seen the new parson yet, have you?" asked the seaman, anxious +to change a dangerous subject. + +"How could I, when I've just reached home? Father tells me he is a real +Prince Charming," she finished, with a wicked little laugh. + +"Humph!" + +"Is he, really, Uncle Josiah?" + +"He ain't so bad on looks, if that's what you're driving at." + +"Father says he must be very strong, too." + +"I cal'late he ain't lacking on that p'int, neither," agreed the +Captain, blinking his swollen eyelids. + +Elizabeth laughed heartily. + +"Oh! By the way, what did you and your handsome minister do to Father +last night?" + +"Is your pa ailing, too?" + +"He says he is quite lame, and when I asked him what the matter was, he +only smiled, and told me to find out from you. Did your minister take +him for a burglar, too?" + +"Is that all your father said about it?" + +"Yes, except that it was his own fault." + +Captain Pott chuckled. "I feared he wa'n't going to see it that way last +night. Eadie Beaver put the parson in here while I was in the city on a +special trip. She came over the day I left last week, and said it would +be real nice if he could live with me and eat with her. I told her I'd +see about shipping a parson in my house, meaning I'd have nothing to do +with him. Well, she went ahead and bunked him here, thinking I'd meant +it was all right. It 'pears she done it against your father's ideas, +too. So he come over last night and tried to get Mr. McGowan to move +out. That made me madder than what Eadie had done, so I asked him right +then if he was willing to stay. He said he was. Your pa got sore, and +started real dignified to go home. The candle that Mr. McGowan had been +using was on the floor, and your pa's heel hit it. His cane went up and +he went down. His high hat took a swim in a bucket of soapy water that +the parson had been using to swab decks with." + +"Father is so very dignified! It must have been quite funny," she +commented, between paroxysms of laughter. "I wish I could have seen +him!" + +"'Twas a mite funny. I fished his beaver out the pail, and he made off +holding it away from him like it was p'ison." + +Sudden seriousness on the part of the girl caused the Captain to look in +the direction of her gaze. A tall young man had emerged from the back +door of the house, pail in hand. He came hurriedly toward the well. + +"That's him," confirmed the seaman in answer to a look from Elizabeth. + +"He? A minister?" + +"You see now why I wa'n't strong enough to throw him out, don't you? I +cal'late Eadie Beaver would say the Lord took my strength away, but the +Lord don't need to give that feller a hand. He's a hull host to +himself." + +"He doesn't look in the least like one," declared Elizabeth. + +"He doesn't? Why, his arm is as big----" + +"No, no! I mean he doesn't look like a minister." + +"He ain't like none I ever see. He used to ship with me during the +summer months when he was in school, and he's man clean to the ground. I +can't see why in tarnation a big feller like him wants to take up such a +sissy's job of piloting a lot of women to heaven." + +"But it isn't that kind of work, unless one makes it such," she +defended. + +Mr. McGowan came to a halt on the opposite edge of the well-curbing. It +was very unladylike, and Elizabeth knew it, but in spite of herself she +continued to stare. + +"Let me interduce you," suggested the Captain. + +"Thank you, I'd better run along and help those in the house." + +But she failed to suit the action to the word, and for the simple reason +that the gaze of two perfectly normal young people became normally +entangled. At length, a flood of color crept slowly into the girl's +cheeks, and she smiled. + +"I--I beg your pardon for----" began the minister. + +"Here, young feller," cut in the Captain as Mr. McGowan turned away, "I +want to interduce you to my best friend, Miss Elizabeth Fox. This here +is the new minister, Beth, Mack McGowan." + +Elizabeth cordially extended her hand. "I've been hearing very +interesting stories about your prowess, Mr. McGowan." + +"I trust they are true." + +"Indeed, they are. Captain Pott told me." + +"I did make quite an impression on him," replied Mr. McGowan as he +looked at the seaman's swollen eyelids. "I fear you've heard prejudiced +accounts of me." + +"I don't like them that way one bit," laughed Elizabeth, "even if a +clergyman did do it." + +"See here! I ain't going to stand this insinuating any longer," +interposed the Captain, his good humor fully restored. "I cal'late they +might want a hand to help swab decks, so I'll be going." + +"But, Uncle Josiah,----" + +"I know, Beth. I've been unpleasant, but being as you have come from the +city to help me clean up the old craft, I'd otter show my appreciation +by bossing the crew." + +He seized the pail from the not unwilling minister, filled it from the +well-bucket, and went to the kitchen to report for duty. + +"Do you think you'll like Little River well enough to wish to remain?" +asked Elizabeth. + +"Yes, I think I shall. Mr. Simpson has been telling me about your +brother, and about his far-sightedness in organizing the Athletic +Club." + +"Did Mr. Simpson tell you how the club came to be formed in the first +place?" + +"No, but I think it a splendid idea. I hope the boys will let me be one +of them." + +She eyed him curiously. "Father sees no good in the organization. I do. +Most of the boys are Harold's friends,--Harold is my brother,--but there +are some who are not friendly to any one except the Innkeeper. I think +you ought to know that the decent ones were one time in the Sunday +school, but because some of your church members would not try to +understand them, they were forced to go to the Inn to set up their +gymnasium." + +"Isn't the Inn as good a place as any?" + +"I prefer not to say. You'll doubtless find that out for yourself." + +"That is one thing I intend to find out. I've an invitation to visit the +rooms." + +"Indeed, so soon? And do you really mean to go?" + +"Certainly. Why not?" + +"I suppose there is no reason why you should not. But----" she paused. + +"I've heard that sort of statement several times to-day, and invariably +with the little 'but' at the end. I'm curious to know why my presence at +the Inn will cause any disturbance. Is that the inference?" + +"Other ministers have tried to get hold of the boys, but they went at it +wrong, and failed," she said. + +"I'll try to go at the matter from the right end," he replied, smiling. + +"Will you go if you find yourself opposed?" + +"I think I can interest the boys sufficiently to overcome any opposition +from the Innkeeper, if that is what you mean." + +"What if the opposition comes from other sources?" + +"From the members of the church?" + +"Yes." + +"Why should they interfere with me?" + +"But suppose they do?" + +"I'll go, anyway," he answered decidedly. + +"I'm glad to hear you say that, and I trust you will be able to help the +members of the club," she said quietly. "But, there! I really must be +going. The ladies will think I have deserted them." + +Elizabeth smiled, and the minister followed the smile down from her eyes +to the corners of her mouth. He made the mental observation that he had +never seen a more beautiful face. As she ran lightly up the path, he +watched her, unmindful of several pairs of observing eyes focused +knowingly in his direction. + +When the day was over, and the furniture restored where the greater part +belonged, the "Cleaning Bee" gradually broke up. Captain Pott declared +to Elizabeth: "It wa'n't half so bad a day as I cal'lated it would be, +and it's many a year since the old craft has looked so neat and togged +up." + +That evening the Captain sat on his back doorstep, smoking his pipe, and +thinking. He thought about the transformation wrought by the hand of +women inside the house. He heaved a sigh, and thought of Clemmie Pipkin. +If she were only able to forget all the past and consent to his +oft-repeated proposal, but----He had thought that all out before, and +had brought all his persuasive powers against the citadel of her heart, +but to no avail. A new light dawned upon him. Perhaps---- + +Mr. McGowan came round the corner of the house. The Captain rose to meet +him. + +"Mack, how'd you like to go out to the _Jennie P._ with me? That's the +name of my power-boat out there in the harbor. I thought it might be +sort of restful to take a little cruise after this house-cleaning +typhoon." + +"That's a splendid idea, Cap'n. It will seem like old times to get +aboard a vessel with you, though it is only a power-boat." + +"And, Mack, if there's any time I can step in and help you pilot the +salvation craft you've signed up with, just you let me know. It ain't +likely I'll be much good to you, but----" + +The two men gripped hands. Little did they know that night as they +peacefully sailed round the inlet just what the future was to demand in +the way of a fulfilment of that promise. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +During the following weeks Mr. McGowan continued to grow in favor with +the people of the church and village. Every Sunday the little chapel was +crowded. His sermons, practical in thought, simple in language, and +direct in delivery, were discussed about the tables of the country folk +during Sunday dinner. The boys of the Athletic Club had received him +cordially, not only because of his athletic ability, but because he had +proved himself a good fellow. Elder Fox had strenuously opposed intimate +relationships between the club and former ministers, but he made no +attempt to interfere with Mr. McGowan, although he remained skeptical as +to the wisdom of such secular tendencies. Sim Hicks, the keeper of the +Inn, did not like the minister, and declared he would oust him from the +community if it were the last act of his life. + +The one man who responded most naturally, whole-heartedly, and with +simple loyalty to the power of the young man's personality was Captain +Josiah Pott. These two became close companions, and one evening Mrs. +Eadie Beaver remarked concerning it: + +"Ain't you glad I got him in with you, Josiah?" + +"Cal'late I am, Eadie. I was mad at first, but it's beginning to mean a +heap to me to have him here." + +"You always seemed so lonely when you'd come home, and I'd see your +light in the setting-room window. It don't seem that way now when I look +across." + +"It is real nice and homelike having him in the house." + +"I'm glad it's different for you," declared his next-door neighbor as +she looked about the room. "Things look real trim since the painters got +through." + +The seaman's face clouded. "It took a sight more than I thought it +would, though, and it ain't going to be easy to pay back to Jim what I +borrowed to do the repairing with." + +"Now, don't you go to crossing any bridges till you get to 'em. The Lord +will provide when the time comes." + +"Cal'late He might, but I've always noticed that it's safer to help Him +a mite on the perviding question." + +"Well, ain't you helping? You're doing the janitor work at the church, +and that helps some. And, then, you'll get a ship one of these days, +mark my word. Mr. Fox said as much to Harry just the other day." + +"I ain't so sure of that, Eadie," remarked the Captain doubtfully. It +was reasonably clear to his mind that the Elder had a fish to fry in +thus starting reports of his willingness to secure a command for the +Captain, and it was also reasonably clear that sooner or later he would +catch a whiff of the frying fat which would indicate the breed of that +fish. Till then, the Captain must be content to wait. + +"By the way, Josiah, have you heard that the day has been all set for +the installation service?" asked Mrs. Beaver. "Mr. Fox is arranging it, +and it's going to be a great time." + +"What are they aiming to do?" + +"Why, don't you know? An installation service is a meeting where all the +ministers of other towns come in and say nice things about our minister. +Elder Fox says this one will be a special one, because some one has said +that Mr. McGowan ain't sound in church doctrine, being as he graduated +from what is called a 'New Theology' school. Mr. Fox says he's going to +prove that ain't so." + +"What's all that got to do with him being a man?" + +"I guess it ain't got much to do with that. But you know there is a +difference between being just a man and being a real minister." + +The Captain looked at her oddly. "And they're planning to change him +from one to the other, is that the idea?" + +"No-o, not that exactly. But Mr. Fox thinks it would be a good time to +show all the people that Mr. McGowan is orthodox. There will be +ministers here from everywhere. The Reverend Mr. Means is coming out +from New York." + +"If they're all like that feller, they'll be a hot lot." + +"Josiah Pott! Haven't you any respect for the cloth?" + +"Not for the kind he wears, I ain't. I'd say his cloth is a sort of +sheep's clothing, same as the Bible speaks of." + +"If you can't talk decent I sha'n't stay," said Mrs. Beaver. She bridled +past him, and on into her own yard. + +What Mrs. Beaver had said concerning plans for the installation service +was true. Elder Fox was carrying the full responsibility, for he wished +to make this meeting one long to be remembered. He selected with great +care those who were to sit on the council. The Reverend Mr. Means had +been chosen for two reasons, first that he was a personal friend of the +Elder, and second because his presence would add dignity to the +occasion. It was even arranged that the city clergyman should be made +moderator. + +The eventful day arrived, and with it dignitaries of city and +countryside. It was a fearfully hot humid day in July, one of those days +when to move about was torment, and to work was torture. Not a breath of +air stirred. The clergymen were plainly enervated as they descended from +the various vehicles which had conveyed them over from Little River. The +Reverend Mr. Means mopped his face as the chauffeur assisted him from +the Elder's limousine. He greeted every one with deep sonorous tones. +His manner was graciously condescending, but never once familiar. He +made his way up the steps of the chapel with what was evidently meant +for a majestic stride, but his heavy frame turned it into a decided +waddle. He shook hands with a chosen few, all the while looking far +above their heads as though his vision were not of this world. + +The Captain watched the clergyman till he had disappeared behind the +vestibule doors, and then remarked to Mrs. Beaver, "Them kind ain't hard +to sight. I could sight that feller a mile in the offin', on a dark +night, with my eyes shut! If Mack McGowan was that kind, he'd get to +stay here about twenty-four hours, and then he'd smell fire and +brimstone." + +Mrs. Beaver surprised the seaman with a wry smile and vigorous nod. + +Mr. McGowan arrived in due season under tow of the Elder. Mr. Fox led +him before the clergyman from the city, who was lounging near an open +window in the front of the auditorium. + +"How do you do, Brother Fox!" boomed the deep voice of Mr. Means. "And +is this the fortunate young man who has been called to this delightful +little town?" + +"Yes, this is Mr. McGowan. Mr. McGowan, this is the Reverend Mr. Means +from New York City." + +The studied dignity of the visiting clergyman seemed to receive a +decided shock as he rolled up out of his chair. He stood before the +candidate to whom the Elder had introduced him and forgot to look at the +ceiling. He had been caught off his guard, and through the momentary +look of recognition there flitted across his flabby features an +expression that was far from ecclesiastical. But it was gone as quickly +as it had come, and the Reverend Mr. Means was once more his complacent +unperturbed self. + +"Ho! So this is our candidate? So!" he exploded. "I am glad, Mr. +McGowan, to shake your hand, and perhaps we'd better do it now, for we +might not so desire when the grilling is over. So!" He laughed +vociferously at his rude joke, and offered his fish-like palm. + +"I'm glad to see you again," lied the candidate, cheerfully. + +"Again?" echoed the man, his mirth suddenly controlled by well-feigned +astonishment. "Again?" + +"Have you so soon forgotten how strongly you opposed me last year when I +was up before the New York Presbytery for ordination?" + +"So? Really so? Ah! Yes. I do remember, now that you call it to mind. +That probably accounts for the familiarity of your face. But I did not +oppose you for personal reasons, I assure you. It was because of your +radical theological beliefs. I do not allow personal reasons to enter +into my religious activities." + +"But why should you have personal reasons for not wishing to see me +ordained?" + +"Just so! Just so! I did not mean to say I had any. But, as you +doubtless remember, my brethren overruled my objections, and although I +greatly regret the theological laxity of our Presbytery, I am willing to +abide by the decision of the majority. So!" + +He dismissed the two men with a wide gesture, and dropped back into his +chair. When Mr. Fox and his charge were out of sight, Mr. Means motioned +to Mr. Harry Beaver. He whispered in the little man's ear, and indicated +the groups of ministers gathered here and there about the room. + +Harry Beaver had the misfortune to stutter, and in his eagerness to make +himself understood he would support himself, stork-like, on one leg, and +pump the other up and down with frantic jerks. Mr. Beaver's services +were invaluable in such cases as this when gossip was to be repeated, +for his stuttering compelled him to leave just enough unsaid to make +his news the more startling. He was seen slowly pumping his way from +group to group, and there followed in his wake the buzz of low +whisperings. + +When Elder Fox later saw these signs, he was greatly perturbed. He went +directly to the Reverend Mr. Means and demanded particulars. On hearing +what the clergymen had to say, the Elder declared that this was neither +the time nor the place to air theological differences. The city +clergyman leaned forward to whisper a further explanation, but was +interrupted by Mr. Beaver, who announced that he had finished his task. +Mr. Means looked at his watch, declared it was time to open the session, +and rapped sharply for order. + +Minor matters of business were quickly dispatched, and Mr. +Means--according to the prearranged plan--was duly elected moderator. + +"Brethren and sisters," he roared in his most effective tones, "we now +come to the most important, and, I hope, the most delightful part of +this program. We are to be favored with a statement from the Reverend +Mr. McGowan, who is the candidate for installation as pastor of this +very beautiful church. The members of the council will be given an +opportunity to question Mr. McGowan after he has read to us his +statement. A word of caution needs to be uttered: you are to confine +your questions to theological matters as they may affect the fellowship +of the ministers and churches represented to-day by pastor and delegate. +Mr. McGowan will please come forward." + +Mr. McGowan came forward in more ways than one. He concisely stated his +belief in applied Christianity, and followed with a program for future +work in the village. His short statement left the council under the +spell of an embarrassed silence. But the first question broke the +silence, and was followed by others both new and old, which were hurled +at the head of the candidate like shots from a rapid-fire gun. + +Captain Pott stood the fusillade as long as his patience permitted, and +then retreated to the quiet of the out-of-doors, where he dragged a box +into the shade of the building, and lit his pipe. Here Elizabeth Fox +found him, when she, too, felt the need of a little fresh air. + +"Uncle Josiah, did you ever hear anything so ridiculous? Why did you +come out here?" + +"I felt sort as if I was coming up into a reg'lar twister, and thought +it would be safer to reef a mite and make for ca'm waters. My head begun +to whirl, and I cal'lated I'd best weigh anchor while my soundings was +good." + +"But isn't it bad form for you to desert like this?" she asked, her big +eyes dancing mischievously. + +"I ain't exactly deserting, I cal'late. If I'd been able to pitch into +that crew and shake the devil out of 'em, I'd stayed on deck. But----" + +"I want you to go back with me. It's getting too funny to miss!" + +"I ain't got much hankering for them officers' meeting, Beth. It makes +me feel like busting chairs on their heads." + +"But you must go back! You should hear what he is saying to them. +Come!" + +Before the seaman could obey the summons, Miss Edna Splinter emerged +from the rear door. She hurried toward the two. Miss Splinter was one of +those fine spinsters which one so often finds stranded in small villages +located near large cities. She was one of the few friends of the Captain +in Little River. + +"It's the most disgusting thing I ever saw or heard!" declared Miss +Splinter, angrily stamping her foot. + +"It's really too funny for words!" exclaimed Elizabeth. + +"What in tarnation is he doing to them?" + +"Doing to them!" flashed Miss Splinter indignantly. "My word! It's what +they're trying to do to him. It is positively disgraceful." + +The seaman decided that a scene which could have such opposite effects +on two of his best friends must at least be interesting. He knocked the +tobacco from his pipe and followed them inside. As he listened, his +interest grew, not so much in the ecclesiastical storm of big words, as +in the wildly gesticulating clergymen. The moderator had risen and was +rapping loudly for order. + +"Brethren!" he thundered. "It is time that we recognize some of our +laymen. I see Mr. Harry Beaver of this church asking for the floor. Mr. +Beaver may speak." + +"M-Mr. Ch-chairman, does M-Mr. Mc-McGowan b-believe in e-ev----" + +The unfortunate man blinked, backed, pumped, emitted a series of hissing +sounds like escaping steam, but remained hopelessly stuck. Those round +him dodged his foot gestures, and smiled appreciatively, while those not +engaged in trying to escape mutilation of corns, encouragingly suggested +words such as everlasting, everpresent, etc., which might have bearing +on the subject previously under discussion. The little man spurned them +all with vigorous backings and increased hissings. At last, between a +discouraged hiss and a triumphant sputter, the awful word rolled out. + +"Evolution!" he shouted, and sat down. + +After the laughter had subsided, the moderator demanded that the +candidate answer the question. + +"Yes, Mr. Moderator." + +Mr. Means was on his feet in an incredibly short time for one so bulky. +"Then, you deny here in the face of these wise men, as you did before +your superiors in the New York Presbytery, the creation story of the +Bible?" + +"I did not deny it then, and I do not deny it now." + +"Brethren, we have the right to an explanation from our young brother. I +was denied that privilege at the time of his ordination. But I consider +his contradictory statements so serious a thing that I shall give you +the opportunity that was denied me." + +Elder Fox, plainly nettled by the turn affairs had taken, rose and +demanded the floor. + +"Brother Fox!" vociferously acknowledged the moderator. + +"We have no right to carry this senseless discussion further. There has +not yet been sounded--er--the note of fellowship that should prevail +among the brethren," declared the Elder, eyeing the chairman. Very +gently stroking his side-whiskers, he continued: "We have sprung at our +young friend--er--as if he were before a jury, condemned and found +guilty of a felony. Why should we trouble him about things that are not +fundamental to our faith?" + +Captain Pott muttered something under his breath. Never before had he +known of the Elder and the city minister disagreeing. + +"That is the very question," expostulated the moderator. "Mr. McGowan +has attacked every sacred doctrine of the church, for he has said what +is equivalent to the statement that my ancestors were monkeys. What +other interpretation can be given to the doctrine of evolution? If it +does not contradict every sacred belief of our past, then I am no +theologian." + +The old seaman chuckled, and several shocked faces were turned in his +direction. + +"Perhaps it would help if Mr. McGowan would tell us just what he does +believe in regard to the book of Genesis," suggested Mr. Fox. + +"It is the story of human redemption." + +With a nod of satisfied approval, the Elder sat down, and the moderator +crumpled up. + +Captain Pott irreverently observed to Elizabeth: "I cal'late that there +Means is left for once with his sails flopping, without no idea as to +what his longitude is." + +A little wizened-looking man smiled cordially and addressed the chair, +but the "chair" seemed oblivious to all about him. + +"Should not the ministry of to-day place greater emphasis on the +philosophy of life than upon time-worn theology that has come to us from +the middle ages?" asked the man. + +"We should preach both where they affect life; neither where they do +not," was the quick response. + +"I am an instructor in philosophy in the high school over at Marble +Point, and I was led by your last reply concerning your belief in the +book of Genesis to believe you are somewhat of a philosopher. Do you not +think that philosophy will touch life more quickly than theology?" + +"Religion is something that has outgrown both the classroom and the +cloister. It is the anonymous religion that we must take into account in +the future if the church is to progress with the needs of men." + +It was the voice of the Captain who broke the silence of surprise which +followed the unusual statement. + +"I want to know!" came the seaman's exclamation in a hoarse stage +whisper. + +Every face in the room seemed to register the same question. Mr. McGowan +smiled and explained. + +"By anonymous religion I mean every ideal striving for the right and +truth, wherever it is found, and by whatever name it may be known. It +may be found outside the church as readily as within it. Wherever good +is found, the church should make use of it, whether it is counted +orthodox or not." + +First one, and then another, was on his feet, till the moderator was +powerless to moderate. Some exclaimed for, and others declaimed against, +the candidate. Still others fired broadside after broadside into all +present. + +"It ain't much like a heavenly craft, that there ark, now, is it?" +queried the Captain of his two friends. "Smells more like brimstone +round these parts than it does like heavenly ozone." + +Mr. Fox assumed command, and under his steady hand and head the +spiritual elements began slowly to calm. + +"In all my life," he lamented, "I have never seen such proceedings in +the house of God. The parish committee arranged this meeting--er--for +the purpose of fellowship, and you have seen fit to make of it child's +play. It is time for us to recognize that Mr. McGowan is big enough, and +broad enough, to supply the needs of a community like this. The very +fact that he has not satisfied each of your unreasonable demands is +evidence that he is competent to meet all of them, if we give him time. +I make the motion--er,--Mr. Moderator, that we proceed with the +installation of the candidate without further delay or discussion." + +The motion was seconded, and put to a vote. There were only a few who +had the temerity to register themselves as negative in the face of what +the leading layman had said. Elder Fox suggested that the vote be made +unanimous. + +"Brethren," protested the Reverend Mr. Means, slowly rising from the +depths of the easy chair, "before that vote is taken to make the will +of this council unanimous, I wish to have it fully understood that I am +opposed, bitterly opposed, to the calling of unorthodox men to our +pulpits. It is atrocious, and I shall wash my hands of the whole affair. +I regret very much that our beloved Brother Fox has forced me to +disagree with him, and if he is of the same opinion still, I shall have +to ask him to take the chair while the vote he has called for is being +registered." + +Mr. Fox took the chair, and the motion passed without one dissenting +voice. Adjournment to the kitchen parlors followed, and when that vote +was taken the voice of him who had washed his hands of the action of the +council was heard booming an affirmative near the Captain's ear. + +The bounteous provisions warmed heart and stomach, and that fact, +together with some persuasion from Elder Fox, led the city minister to +the decision that he would lose nothing if he remained to deliver his +prepared address. And he did himself proudly. Even Captain Pott could +find no fault with the impassioned words of the speaker. He was heard +to remark, however, "Them there things he said wa'n't what was inside by +a damn sight, but just smeared on like honey." + +It was late that night when the Captain reached home after closing the +church building. The minister was in his study, and the old man tapped +lightly on the door. + +"Won't be disturbing your peaceful meditations about that meeting if I +come in for a spell, will I?" + +Assured he would not, he entered. He took a chair on the opposite side +of the table and drew out his pipe. + +"There ain't no wind so fierce that it don't blow you some good," he +philosophized, as with deliberation he scratched a match on his +trouser-leg. "I'd never hoped to see Jim Fox stand up to that city +feller the way he did." + +"What did you think of the whole thing, anyway, Cap'n?" + +"Well, so far as I could get the drift, I'd think that there theology +stuff would be purty dry picking. But it was mighty interesting the way +you met up with 'em at every p'int. I was real 'feared that Jim Fox +would get aboard their band-wagon when he see the way things was going +against you." + +The minister nodded. + +"And the way the Means feller washed his hands! Wa'n't that good as a +show, and then getting up and preaching like Gabriel afterward? Mack, +you ain't got no idea what he made me think of, have you?" + +"Not in the least. What?" + +"I heard a preacher tell a yarn once about a pilot washing his hands in +hell. It struck me queer about there being a river in hell. If it's as +hot down there as I've heard it described, you'd think the surroundings +would sizzle her up. But that's what the preacher said about this pilot, +whose last name I rec'lect was Pontyhouse. His stay was to be purty +tolerable long with his Satanic majesty. I've always felt sorry for that +chap, seemed kind of lonely, but as I figger it out he's going to have +company one of these hot days." + +Mr. McGowan looked up. + +"You just bet he is. I knew that Means chap afore he took to religion, +and if he's slated for heavenly bliss I'm going to put in my papers for +the other place, alongside the scrubbing pilot." + +"You mean----" + +"I mean that one of us is going to keep that feller company in hell. +Beyond that you'll have to guess," said the Captain, rising. "Only don't +you tie too tight to Means, that's all. Good night, I'm going to turn +in." + +"All right, Cap'n, I'll promise," replied Mr. McGowan, smiling +appreciatively. + +"You'd best go to bed, too, Mack. You're mighty tired." + +But the minister did not follow his friend's advice about retiring. He +sat at his desk. The angry men of the afternoon slowly faded from his +thoughts, and into the center of his consciousness came the vision of +the loveliest face he had ever seen. He recalled the words of frank +approval with which Miss Fox had met him after the evening service, and +the cordial manner she had shown. Not that he was in love with one of +the members of his church. That would never do. But there was something +different about the Elder's daughter, something which appealed to his +sense of the beautiful. This, he told himself, he could enjoy without +overstepping the conventions. + +The next day he was to dine at the Fox home. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +On the following evening, just as early as the rules of propriety would +permit, Mr. McGowan turned into the private road that led up to the Fox +estate. He walked slowly along the wide avenue beneath the spreading +elms and stately chestnuts. He had dined with the Elder many times +during the few months he had been in the village, but on those other +occasions Elizabeth had been absent. The house had always seemed cold +and forbidding both outside and inside. As he came out of the shaded +roadway into the sweeping semicircle described before the main entrance +to the house, he caught himself wondering if the stiff interior would +seem softened by the presence of the girl. He began at once to chide +himself for entertaining such a sentimental notion, but before he could +finish the rebuke the door swung back, and Elizabeth Fox stood in the +opening. She was dressed in a simple blue frock of clinging stuff, +which set off the perfect lines of her athletic body. The blue of her +eyes took on a deeper hue as though to harmonize with the shade of her +gown. + +"Good evening, Mr. McGowan. We are so glad you could come. Father will +be right down." + +The minister's emotions played leap-frog with his heart, and he stumbled +awkwardly on the upper step. He made some stupidly obvious observation +concerning the condition of the weather as he followed his hostess into +the library. He realized that he was acting strangely for one who had +reached the supposedly practical view of life where all sentiment is +barred from social intercourse with the fair sex, but he also realized +that he was powerless to check the surge of what he now felt within. +With kaleidoscopic rapidity there flashed through his mind every +occasion when he had been with Miss Fox, from the first meeting beneath +the elm-tree in the Captain's yard to the present time, and he +recognized what it was that had sent scurrying his practical views of +life. He was in love, not with the beauty of this girl, but with her. +That love had come like the opening strains of a grand symphony, subtly +and gently disturbing his emotional equilibrium, but with accumulative +effect the transitions had come with the passing weeks, till now every +interest in his life seemed to be pouring out into the one emotion he +felt. + +Elizabeth had preceded him into the library, and was standing motionless +before the mantel. She became suddenly aware of what was going on within +the mind of Mr. McGowan, and a shy embarrassment crept into her eyes. + +Simultaneously, an unreasoning determination took possession of the +minister. Unconsciously, he began to move in her direction, unmindful of +the sound of footfalls on the stair. Only one step remained between Mr. +McGowan and Elizabeth when Elder Fox entered the room. + +"I trust I'm not intruding----" + +The Elder began nervously to stroke his chops. His breath came heavily, +shutting off his words. A hunted look leaped into his eyes as he +studied the tense face of the eager young man. Could it be possible that +the fears of the Reverend Mr. Means--privately made known to the Elder +after the installation service--had foundation in fact? Or had the +suggestion of Mr. Means lodged in the Elder's mind, playing havoc with +his imagination? + +Mr. McGowan drew off to the far end of the mantel, and began, +figuratively, to kick himself. He had often declared that a man in love +was the biggest mule on earth, and now here he was, the king of them +all, a genuine descendant of Balaam's mount with all his asinine +qualities, but lacking his common mule sense. + +"I--I beg your pardon," he stammered. + +"There is no occasion for excuses," graciously replied the girl. +"Father, Mr. McGowan and I were----" She paused, blushing in confusion. +"Really, Mr. McGowan, what were we saying?" + +She laughed, and it was so infectious that the men forgot to look +serious, and joined with her. + +"I should say--er--that you have put the matter in a very diplomatic +way," observed the Elder, apparently once more himself. "No explanations +are necessary--er--I assure you. I was once a young man, and have not +forgotten that fact. I apologize, Mr. McGowan, if by my attitude I +appeared--er--to misjudge you. The trouble was with me, not with you. An +odd fancy momentarily got the upper hand of me, and upset me for an +instant. Make yourself quite at home, sir." + +It was not long till they were called to table, and in the discussion of +parish matters the strangeness of the Elder's action was for the time +being relegated to the background. + +"You have doubtless heard a hundred times to-day how proud we all were +of the way you answered the questions yesterday," commented the Elder +enthusiastically. "You showed a fine spirit, too, sir, one--er--which +some of the older men might well emulate." + +"I feel greatly indebted to you, Mr. Fox, for the final outcome." + +The Elder waved his hand as though lightly to brush aside such words of +praise, and yet in the same movement he modestly acknowledged that +without his aid the young minister could have done nothing. + +"I might also add, that we are delighted with the work you are doing at +the church," continued the Elder magnanimously. "It is--er--very good. +Though I am still a little dubious about your associations down at the +club, still----" + +"Father's ambition is to have all the pews filled," broke in Elizabeth, +attempting to divert her father from a delicate topic. + +"No, my dear. That is hardly my position. There must never be a +sacrificing of principle, even for the sake of full pews. A full +church--er--is not the most important part of parish work. Am I not +right, Mr. McGowan?" + +"Quite right, if that is the end sought in itself." + +"I am convinced from what you said yesterday that you will furnish +us--er--with both. I am confidently looking forward to one of our most +prosperous years." + +"Both?" queried the minister. + +"Yes. I am old-fashioned enough to believe in the need of--er--the +saving power of the gospel. Full pews without that would make our +church the sounding of brass and the tinkling of cymbal. We must have +the old-time power in our churches to-day, Mr. McGowan." + +"You think Little River needs reforming, Father?" + +"That is exactly the point I make: it is more than reformation we need, +it is conversion. Take the Athletic Club, for example. Will reform stop +them? No, sir, no more than a straw-stack would stop a tornado. They +need--er--a mighty thunderbolt from heaven, and I hope that you will let +God use you, sir, as the transmitting agency." + +A picture of himself occupying the place of Zeus, holding in his hand +the lightnings of heaven, flitted through the minister's mind. He smiled +faintly. Elizabeth evidently caught what was in the young man's mind, +for she met his glance with a merry twinkle. + +"Really, Father, don't you think Mr. McGowan would look out of place as +a lightning-rod, even on Little River Church?" + +"I was speaking figuratively, my dear," he replied, somewhat +crestfallen that his reference should be thus irreverently treated. +"The boys in that club are a reckless lot, and they are doing the +work--er--of the devil. They must be brought to repentance." + +"I don't think that is fair, Father. The church is not wholly without +blame for what those boys have done," declared Elizabeth emphatically. +"What did we do to keep them from going out and organizing as they +have?" + +"No doubt we did make mistakes in the beginning, but our errors do not +atone for their sins." + +"But, Father----" + +"There, Beth, never mind. We can never agree on that point, and we +should not entangle Mr. McGowan in our differences. I only hope he will +do all in his power to make them see the sinfulness of their ways." + +Conversation turned into other channels under the direction of +Elizabeth. They were discussing modern fiction when the door at the end +of the hall swung back with a bang and a loud halloo echoed through the +house. Elizabeth sprang up from her place and ran to the dining-room +door just as a tall young man bounded through. He came up erect at sight +of the stranger. + +"Harold!" cried Elizabeth. "When did you come?" + +"Just now. Didn't my war-whoop announce me?" + +"But how did you get over from Little River station?" + +"Walked." + +"Why didn't you telephone? I'd have come over to meet you." + +"Needed the exercise. Hello, Dad." + +The Elder greeted the young man with a cold nod. His hand trembled +slightly as he stiffly extended it. + +"We are just a short time at table. Will you join us?" + +"Be glad to, Dad. I'm starved," he declared, eyeing the minister as he +drew up a chair. + +"Oh, Mr. McGowan, please excuse us!" cried Elizabeth. "This is my +brother. Harold, this is our new minister, Reverend Mr. McGowan. Harold +comes home so seldom that I fear his unexpected arrival demoralized our +manners." + +"Delighted to meet you, Mr. McGowan," cordially greeted Harold. "Heard +of you before I got in sight of the house." + +The young men gripped each other's hands. Consternation took possession +of the Elder. Had his son fully understood? + +"Mr. McGowan is the minister at our little church," he said +significantly. + +"That's what Beth just said. Didn't I say the right thing to him, Dad? +Want me to start all over again like I had to when I was a kid?" + +He eyed the minister with a curious expression as they took their seats +about the table. + +"Maybe Dad wants me to repeat some verses to you. Used to do it and get +patted on the head." + +Mr. McGowan laughed heartily, but the Elder showed his displeasure. + +"That will do, Harold," he commanded sternly. "I shall not allow profane +jesting about sacred things in my house." + +"Closet next, is it? Never mind, Dad, I'll try not to shock you again. +Haven't had much hankering for closets since I got shut up in that hole +over in Sydney. They called it a prison, but it was more like a +potato-pit than anything else." + +"Sydney?" questioned the minister. + +"Yes, Australia. You see, Mr. McGowan, I was a real prodigal for more +than two years. Chased out to California after I graduated from Yale, +and got mixed up out there in another fellow's scrape. To save my skin I +shipped on a freighter to Australia. Over there I tried to save another +poor devil from the lock-up, and got in bad with the authorities. Yes, I +was a real prodigal, always trying to help the other fellow out of +trouble and getting the worst end of it every time. The only difference +between me and the Bible chap was that Father did not heap treasure on +me when I left, and didn't kill the fatted calf when I returned." + +During this recital the Elder had fidgeted to the end of his chair. "I +cannot see, son, why you persist in telling of your wickedness to +everybody. It's a thing rather to be ashamed of." + +"I acknowledge that, Dad, but the closet idea suggested it to my mind. +Then, perhaps, it's not a bad idea for Mr. McGowan to know the worst +side of me first. I spent about a week in that hole they called a +prison," he said turning to the minister, "and seven days there couldn't +be very easily effaced from my memory unless I went bugs and had an +awful lapse. But the result was not so bad, for that place proved to be +my swine-pen where I came to myself. It was just about as much like a +pig-sty as any place I ever didn't sleep in.... Do you happen to know +anything about Sydney, Mr. McGowan?" + +"Not much. I know it's quite a trading center, but most of my +information is second-hand." + +"It is the best trading center on the Australian coast. An odd case came +to the office from there last week. You know, perhaps, that I'm a member +of the Starr and Jordan law firm in New York. Well, our branch office in +Sydney referred this case to our office in London, and they, in turn, +sent it over here. The reason it was transferred here is that the +documents say the client now lives in America. I happened to be put on +the case because I knew a little about Sydney. The same case has been up +several times, it seems, for some woman over there keeps pounding away +at it. The queer part of it is that the trail has been followed up to a +certain point and then lost at that point every time. It is the same old +story of what is happening every day. Relatives of a wealthy trader left +Sydney several years ago, the trader died, and the heirs to his fortune +can't be found. The strange part of it is that these people can be +traced as far as America without the slightest trouble, and then, +without any apparent reason, they suddenly drop out of existence as +completely as though they had been kidnapped and carried to a desolate +island. So little data has been collected from the other side that the +firm has decided to send me over to Sydney. It promises to be quite an +adventure. That's why I came home to-night, Dad. I'm leaving in the +morning." + +Elder Fox had been listening intently, and at mention of the proposed +trip he grew pale. + +"I--er--should not go if I were you, Harold. They may arrest you again. +The police of Australia have a way of remembering things against former +prisoners." + +"How do you know so much about the police of Australia?" + +"I've read it, sir," hastily explained the Elder. + +"But I've got to go, Dad. They'll not pinch me. They found the right +chap before they let me go, and couldn't do enough for me when they +discovered their mistake.... You say you've never visited Sydney, Mr. +McGowan?" + +"I was born there. But I don't remember anything about the place, as we +moved away when I was a mere lad. I've often heard my father speak about +it. He was a trader there in the early days." + +"May I see your father to-night?" asked Harold eagerly. "He may be able +to save me a trip over. Where does he live?" + +"He is not living. He and Mother both died a few years after coming to +America. The climate was too severe for them." + +"I beg your pardon," apologized Harold. "I didn't know. I'm so anxious +to get news of this man that I rush in where angels would fear to +tread." + +"That is perfectly all right. It's no more than natural that you should +think he would be able to help you in your search." + +"Yes. He could have doubtless given me valuable information concerning +the traders of his day, and thus have put me on the trail of my client. +This man was arrested on some charge trumped up by two scamps, but was +later released and exonerated. They'd arrest a man over there for +looking at his own watch if he happened to cross his eyes while doing +it. At the time when my client was in trouble the convict-ships were in +business." + +The Elder dropped back from the edge of his chair which he had held +since the beginning of the conversation. He gave his son a look of dumb +appeal. With an effort he straightened and glared vacantly across the +table. + +"I was aboard the convict-ship _Success_ while she was in the New York +harbor this spring," commented the minister. "I don't see how civilized +men could think out so many different modes of torture and remain +civilized, let alone human." + +"Nor I. I was aboard the old tub, too. That was the ship my client was +on. It was when she first came out." + +The Elder was acting queerly. + +"Dad, what's wrong?" asked Harold, with concern. + +"Nothing,--er--nothing. Only I do wish you would not take this trip. +Can't you send some one else?" + +"I'm afraid not. You see, I'm not my own boss. No, Dad, I can't get out +of it." + +Harold had never seen his father so concerned for his welfare, and it +greatly affected him. + +"They won't trouble me, not in the least. To ease your mind I'll go +under an assumed name, if you say so. But I must get my data at the +source concerning this man Adoniah Phillips, if----" + +The Elder was sipping his coffee, and his cup fell into the saucer with +a crash, breaking both fragile pieces into fragments. The contents were +sprayed over the linen, and drops stained the Elder's white waistcoat. + +"Father!" cried Elizabeth. "What is the matter? You are ill!" + +He did not answer. He turned an ashen face toward Mr. McGowan, and with +a wild stare studied that young man's face. The two men sprang to the +old man's assistance, but as the minister reached out his hand Mr. Fox +gave a startled cry and threw up his arm as though to ward off a blow. + +"Go back to your seats!" ordered the Elder thickly. "Do not mind me. I'm +all right, or shall be in a few seconds." + +He fought helplessly for self-control. + +"Come, Dad, you must go to your room," declared Harold, taking his +father tightly by the arm. + +"I'm not ill, sir," answered the father, stubbornly. "But it might be as +well for me to retire from the table. You need not trouble, Mr. +McGowan. I shall get on quite well with my son's assistance," he +affirmed, waving the minister back. + +Mr. Fox drew his handkerchief across his perspiring forehead, and +dazedly eyed the stained cloth. "I'm sorry, Beth, very sorry I was so +awkward." + +"Don't mind the cloth, Father," begged the girl tearfully. + +"You remain with Mr. McGowan, Beth. I shall soon be quite myself. +Fainting spell, I guess." + +Harold led his father from the room. Elizabeth turned to the minister. + +"Oh, Mr. McGowan! Is it--do you think----Oh! I can't say it! It's too +awful!" + +"We must telephone for the doctor at once. It may be serious." + +"Then, you do think it's a stroke! What shall we do!" + +Mr. McGowan telephoned for the doctor, and when he arrived he sent him +at once to the Elder's room. The physician entered unannounced, stopped +short on the threshold, and stared at the two men who were in the midst +of a heated discussion. + +Elizabeth met the doctor as he came down the stair. + +"Miss Fox, will you be kind enough to tell me if your father has had bad +news, or sudden grief?" + +"Not that I know of, Doctor. Harold had just told him that he must start +for Australia to-morrow when Father nearly fainted. That is all that +happened." + +"Then, I see no occasion for this. There is nothing organically wrong so +far as I can discover. But I shall take his blood pressure to-morrow +just to be on the safe side. Call me any time during the night if +anything out of the ordinary happens. Keep him perfectly quiet. Good +night." + +Harold called Elizabeth from the head of the stair. + +"Excuse me, Mr. McGowan. I shall send my brother right down." + +"Please, don't do that. Your father will need you both. I shall be +going." + +"I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, offering her hand. "You will come again, +very soon, won't you?" + +"I shall call in the morning to inquire about your father." + +"Thank you. Good night." + +"Good night." + +Mr. McGowan took his hat from the hall-tree and left the house. As he +walked very slowly through the avenue of trees a strange passage from +the Bible kept tantalizing his attention. "Behold, a shaking, and the +bones came together, bone to his bone.... Then there was no breath in +them.... Then from the four winds the breath came into them, and they +lived." + +Half provoked for allowing these words to arouse suspicion, he tried to +cast them out. But the effect of them remained. He had witnessed the +coming together of the dry bones of a past. Were the four winds from the +four corners of the earth to give them life? Had he unwittingly helped +to furnish the dry bones with breath? + +He had gone but a short distance when he heard footsteps behind him. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +"One minute, Mr. McGowan," called Harold Fox. "Come with me, please." + +He drew the minister aside into the path that led into the lower +gardens. Once in the deeper shadows, Harold stopped. + +"What have you to do with this man Phillips?" he demanded. + +"What's that? Why, Mr. Fox----" + +"I'd no sooner got Dad to his room than he began to mumble that you were +to blame for his condition," cut in the lawyer. "He connected you in no +favorable way with some woman in Australia. This man Phillips was +involved, too, from what I could gather. I was questioning him when the +doctor arrived, and after he was gone I could get nothing more out of +him. I hate to go to Australia with him like this, and I have every +reason to surmise that I won't need to go if you tell me all you know." + +"I'm very sorry for your father's condition, but I see no way to help +you. I don't see why he should connect me with his condition. How long +ago did all this happen to your client?" + +"About twenty-five years ago." + +"Then it's ridiculous to associate me with any such trouble. I was not +more than born, if, indeed, that. In what way does it all affect your +father, anyway?" + +"That I don't know. It's a mystery to me." + +"I should gladly give you aid if it were possible." + +"I'm only asking that you tell me all you know." + +"All an infant in arms would know would be of little value, I fear." + +"But you must know something by hearsay. Father would not take this turn +out of a clear sky. There must be a little moisture where there are so +many clouds." + +"But, Mr. Fox, I've told you----" + +"See here, Mr. McGowan," broke in Harold impatiently, "don't think me +thickheaded. I've been practising law long enough to smell a rat when +it's round. Father knows something, and he knows you know something. In +some way it involves him. His trouble to-night was purely mental." + +"Suppose I am connected with all this mystery in some way, how on earth +can a man call on a child's empty memory----" + +"You're stalling, Mr. McGowan. Don't try that alibi stuff with me. It +simply won't go." + +"You refuse to accept my statement of ignorance concerning this man?" + +"I most certainly do. You and Dad are passing the buck. I thought from +all reports that you would stand up to any proposition like a man, no +matter how unpleasant." + +"There is nothing for me to stand up to, Mr. Fox." + +"You absolutely refuse to tell me what you know?" + +"I absolutely refuse, for I know absolutely nothing." + +Harold Fox studied the set features of the minister in the dim light of +the moon. He then cordially extended his hand. + +"Pardon me, sir. I believe you. But there's something damned crooked +somewhere, and I intend to ferret it out. If Dad's in it----Well, I hope +to the Lord he isn't. You'd better watch your p's and q's pretty close, +for Dad mentioned the fact that Mr. Means has it in for you, and the two +of them can make it hell for you. I'm sorry to say that, but it's God's +truth. I wouldn't trust Means with a pet skunk. I never have liked the +fellow. I've said too much. Good night, and good luck." + +Harold abruptly left, and Mr. McGowan walked slowly and heavily from the +garden into the road that led toward the sea. + + * * * * * + +Following that night, things began to happen with lightning-like +rapidity. A spirit of distrust and suspicion sprang up among the members +of the little church over night. The congregations dwindled down, till +within a month they were not one-half their original size. But in spite +of the friction that was grinding at the religious machinery, Mr. +McGowan went on steadily about his work. He visited the Inn more +frequently, and won no little renown among the members of the club. But +here he also had his enemies, and they were becoming bolder in +proportion as the church grew more hostile toward its minister. Sim +Hicks, the keeper of the Inn, began an open fight against Mr. McGowan's +intrusions, declaring he would make good a former threat to oust the +"Psalm-singer" from the village. + +One evening Mr. McGowan returned to his study deeply perplexed. What was +the meaning in the unjust persecution? Not that he complained; his +difficulty was rather his inability to get at the bottom of it all. He +stood before his window gazing absently out into the gathering dusk, +when Captain Pott quietly opened the door and entered. + +"Can I come in, Mack?" + +"I'd love to have you. I need company." + +"Anything special wrong? I've been noticing you're getting awful thin of +late. Ain't Eadie's cooking agreeing with you?" + +"I'm afraid that food cooked to the queen's taste wouldn't agree with me +these days." + +"Ain't in love, be you? I've heard tell how it affects people like +that." + +The young man turned toward his friend. The wry smile with which he +tried to divert the seaman did not hide the hurt expression in his eyes. +The Captain caught the expression. + +"Thought likely," he observed, pulling at his moustache. "But that ain't +no reason for you losing sleep and flesh over, unless she ain't in love +with you." + +"There's no reason why she should be." + +"Tush, tush, son. Don't ever try to hurry 'em. Let her take all the time +she wants. Women are funny that way." + +"Cap'n," said the minister in tense earnestness, "there is something +vitally wrong in this town, and I can't seem to find out what it is." + +"I know," nodded the Captain. + +"Then I wish you would enlighten me." + +"I cal'late I can't do that, Mack. All I can see is that there's +something like mutiny brewing aboard your salvation sloop, and mutiny is +a mighty funny thing. You can't put your finger on it and say, 'Lo, +here, or lo, there,' according to scripture. Ain't that right?" + +"You have certainly stated the situation much better than I could hope +to." + +"I was only hoping you wouldn't see it." + +"I don't see it, and that's my whole trouble. I can only see the +results. I can't say that this one or that one is to blame, for the +thing seems to be in the very air." + +"I know just how you feel, Mack. That's where a skipper is hog-tied +against taking any action. You just sort of feel that there's something +devilish afoot, but you don't know enough what it is to be ready to meet +it. Puts me in mind of a song I heard once aboard one of my ships. One +of the new mates sang it, and called it the microbe song. I ain't got +any idea where he picked it up, but it went like this: + + "'Johnnie, don't you see 'em on my head and chin, + All them powerful microbes, both outside and in? + Johnnie, up and smite 'em, counting every one, + With the strength that cometh with the pork and bun. + + "'Johnnie, don't you feel 'em, how they work within, + Striving, crowding, pulling, kicking just like sin? + Johnnie, don't you tremble, never be downcast, + Gird ye for the battle, we'll kill 'em while it lasts. + + "'Johnnie, don't you hear 'em, how they speak ye fair: + "All of us are shipmates, not a bunk is bare!" + Johnnie, answer boldly: "While we breathe we smite!" + And peace shall follow battle, day shall end in night.'" + +Mr. McGowan laughed heartily as the Captain brought his song to an +unmusical close. + +"That song ain't got much music in it, leastwise not as I sung it, but +it's got a heap of truth. Fact is, Mack, I'm as chuck full of them damn +microbes as you be, and I ain't able to smite 'em. They are right in +here,"--he tapped his head,--"and though I ain't able to say for sure, +yet I've got a purty good idea that they're outside, too, and making a +heap of trouble in this here burg. + +"Now, take those pirates down to the Inn," continued the seaman. +"There's something brewing down there, and it smells like hell-fire to +me that's doing the boiling. Sim Hicks and his gang are whooping it up a +mite too lively for comfort. That's microbe army number one. Then, +there's Harry Beaver. He says they won't board you after your month is +up." + +"May army number two quickly advance! I shall gladly and willingly +surrender." + +"Hey? What's that? Where in the name of the ship's cook would you go, +I'd like to know?" + +"Right here." + +"Right where? You board with me?" + +"Why not?" + +The old seaman's face slowly lighted up with appreciation as he fully +grasped the meaning of Mr. McGowan's words, and then suddenly clouded. + +"No, Mack. There ain't no sense in that," he declared, shaking his head +emphatically. "I can keep soul and body together, but what I get on with +would kill you. There's worse things in the world than Eadie's biscuits. +No, I ain't going to listen to any such out-and-out murder as my cooking +would commit." + +"Don't you think we could hire some one to come in and get our meals?" +asked the minister. + +"I'm 'feared that ain't possible. And even if it was it would cause more +talk about town. There's enough gossip aboard the old salvation craft to +sink her now, beam-fust." + +"Why should it cause talk for some one to take care of the house for us, +and get our meals?" + +"Why should any of this gab be floating round at all? There ain't no +sense in it, but that don't stop it. Mack,"--the Captain leaned eagerly +toward his young friend,--"don't tell me nothing you don't want to, but +what happened up to Jim Fox's house that night you ate there the last +time? Things ain't been going smooth since then. I hear he acted mighty +queer. Was you to blame for it in any way?" + +"Did Harold Fox talk to you before he left?" + +"No. Harold ain't the gossiping kind." + +"Some one has evidently been talking to you." + +"Ain't denying that, Mack. There's plenty of 'em in this burg that's +ready to talk, and I'd have to be deaf, dumb, and blind, not to get some +of the gab. The doctor told more than he ought, I guess." + +"It might pay him to take a few lessons in keeping his mouth closed," +impatiently commented Mr. McGowan. + +"I know, Mack. I reckon he was pumped pretty hard." + +"That doesn't excuse him for----" + +"There, Mack, don't get mad. I was asking you for your own good. There's +something mighty mysterious about that affair, and I thought if you'd +tell me just what took place that we'd be able to do something before +that gang of rough-necks down to the Inn get the bits in their teeth." + +"I don't see what the men at the Inn have to do with all this." + +"They ain't got much to do with it, except to use it for a lever to pry +you loose from the fellers who do like you. There's real trouble of some +sort being hatched down there, but I ain't sure just what it's like. +Maybe there ain't no use my worrying you with these suspicions, but +watch them skunks at the Inn, and don't give 'em the inside of the +track. Cal'late you'd best go over to supper, and see if Harry's going +to shut off the rations." + +Three days after this conversation Mr. McGowan's month was up, and the +hammer of Mr. Beaver's authority came down. Captain Pott stood in his +door, watching the pantomime as Mr. Beaver pumped, backed, stuttered, +and blinked out the minister's dismissal from his wife's table. The +Captain had an extra griddle on the stove when Mr. McGowan returned. +Without question or comment he indicated a chair, and the minister +smiled like a schoolboy as he drew it up before the place at the +Captain's table which he was to occupy from now on. + +"Best eat 'em while they're sizzling hot," invited the Captain, dumping +a turnerful of cakes on the empty plate. + +When the men had divided the last flapjack, the minister announced that +he was going for a stroll along the beach. + +He was no sooner out of sight than over came Mrs. Beaver, carrying a +large tin filled with biscuits. Captain Pott took them to the pantry, +and returned with the empty pan. + +"Thanks, Eadie. Mr. McGowan will sure appreciate them." + +"Oh, Josiah! I hope he won't blame me for what's happened." + +"Cal'late he won't blame you," said the seaman sympathetically. + +"Why are things so upset in town against him?" + +"I ain't able to answer that, Eadie. It does seem that the old ark is +going through quite a squall, don't it?" + +"Has Harry said anything to you?" + +"Not yet, he ain't, and if I sight him fust he ain't going to say +anything. I ain't got time for him to get his pumps working on me." + +"You mark my word, he will say something, and don't you believe one word +when he does. I don't see what's got into him. Somebody has bewitched +him." + +The Captain stared at her. Here were signs of a new kind of microbe, and +he could make neither head nor tail of it. It was next to the +miraculous for Mrs. Beaver to espouse an unpopular cause when there was +interesting gossip to repeat. + +"You don't say!" exclaimed the seaman. + +"I do say. Hank Simpson is the only man in this town beside you who's +got back-bone enough to stand by himself! He'd struck Harry last night +if that Hicks hadn't held him off. I wish he had hit him hard, maybe it +would have brought him to his senses." + +"Are you trying to tell me that Harry's got the gossiping fever?" + +"Not only that, but what he's saying is pure lies. I can't see why he +wants to do other people's dirty work," complained the unhappy woman. + +"I cal'late you'd best give me some idea about this here yarn he's +spinning, so's I can lay for him with a spike." + +"It's about Mr. McGowan, and what he's telling ain't true, and I know +it!" Her voice broke into short dry sobs. "He says our minister is doing +things down to the Inn that ain't right. And, then, that Reverend Mr. +Means was up again the other day, and told Mr. Fox something. Harry +won't tell me what it was, but he keeps saying it's awful scandalous." + +"Well, Eadie, if I was you I'd quit spilling all that brine, for it +ain't wuth it." + +"But, Josiah, it is worth it. They're trying to ruin Mr. McGowan, and +he's such a fine man. Won't you stop Harry's talking in some way? Won't +you go to Mr. Fox?" + +"Me go to Jim? What in tarnation would you have me say to him?" + +"I don't care what you say, but make him understand that he's to leave +Harry alone, and stop him telling what ain't so." + +"Maybe he's the one who has made Harry believe it is so. In that case, +I'm 'feared my views on the subject might set off some real fireworks." + +"But you must make him believe you! Can't you say something?" + +"I ain't sartin but I might say a thing or two, and they won't be words +fit for a prayer-meeting, either." + +"Then, you will speak to him?" she asked eagerly. + +"We'll see, Eadie. Maybe I'll do something, too. But I cal'late we'd +best begin as Scripture says, right here at home." + +"You mean you'll speak to Harry? What will you say?" + +"I ain't got it all figured out yet being as we're camped on this here +sand-heap. If I was aboard ship I'd kick him down the deck and up again, +then into the hatches for a little tonic for disobeying orders. Beyond +that, I ain't able to say right offhand." + +Mrs. Beaver clutched the back of a chair. "Oh, don't hurt my Harry! He's +all I've got!" + +"He ain't wuth boasting about, Eadie. But being as he is all you've got +in the way of earthly possession, and being as we're on land, I cal'late +I won't do harm. But if I was you I'd steer him clear of these channels +for a spell till I calm down a mite." + +"O dear! I've made a mistake coming to you, and I hoped you'd help me. I +shouldn't have told you!" + +"We won't argue that p'int." + +"Whatever shall I do!" + +"The fust thing I'd do,"--suggested the Captain, slowly nodding his +head for emphasis,--"would be to use a little discipline on your fust +mate." + +"But I can't make Harry mind any more!" + +The pitiful figure gave the Captain an uneasy feeling as he tried to +return her pathetic gaze. He replied kindly: + +"Eadie, you've always held a purty tight rein over that husband of +yours, about the best I ever see drawn over a prancing colt. You'd best +tighten up a mite on them reins, right sudden-like." + +"But I haven't any power over him now. He's that worked up that I can't +even talk to him. He shuts me right up." + +"What's that? You can't handle that little shrimp?" + +She uttered a cry, and looked past the Captain, through the dining-room +door, into the hall. The seaman turned in the direction of her wild and +distracted gaze. Mr. Beaver, more wild and distracted than his spouse, +stood in the door, the incarnation of burning passion and pent up fury. + +"W-What are you d-doing in this m-man's house?" he shouted, his shrill +voice breaking into a ferocious shriek, as he blinked and pointed at his +frightened wife. + +Captain Pott was so surprised that he merely gaped at the infuriated +little man. + +"Harry, please don't!" pleaded Mrs. Beaver, drawing back against the +wainscoting. + +"C-Come out of h-here!" hissed her husband. He brought his heel down +with such vehemence that he chipped off a splinter from the threshold. + +"Best stand back, Eadie, and be careful not to touch him," advised the +Captain, eyeing the human cyclone with amusement and amazement. "Looks +mighty dangerous, and sort as if he might go off." + +Harry met these words with a blazing glare. + +"Cal'late you'd best come in and cool off a mite, Harry. You seem sort +of het up." + +"W-Woman, c-come w-with m-me!" spluttered Mr. Beaver. + +He strutted round the room, well out of the Captain's reach, and back +again toward the door, looking for the world like a young barnyard fowl. +But his wife did not follow. + +"She ain't going just yet. We was having a quiet-like chat when you +busted in here, and I cal'late we'd best make it three-sided, that is, +if you ain't got no reasonable objection to raise. Come, you ain't in +that rush." + +Harry bounded toward the door. So, also, did the Captain. A heavy hand +fell on the shoulder of the little man and spun him about. + +"It's real nice of you to come in like this for a friendly conflab," +said the seaman, dangerously pleasant. + +"M-Man, t-take your h-hand off m-me! H-How dare y-you a-assault m-me! +I'll h-have the law on y-you!" + +"That's all right, Harry." The expression on the Captain's face +contrasted sharply with his quiet words. "There'll be plenty of time for +that. I've been feeling real slighted because you ain't been to see me +for some time. Cal'late a little conversation will do us both a heap of +good, and clear up the air a mite." + +Mr. Beaver again started for the door, but the Captain reached it first. +He closed it, turned the key in the lock, and put the key in his +pocket. + +"Now, suppose you spin the yarn to me that you've been spreading round +town," he said, slowly filling his pipe and offering the pouch to Harry +Beaver. + +Mr. Beaver spurned the weed of peace with a ferocious glare. With a +little coaching the Captain brought out the story. The gist of the +matter was that Mr. Beaver considered McGowan morally lax in the free +way he was mixing with the boys at the Inn. + +"Let's get this straight. Who is the feller you're talking about? Just +repeat his name to me." + +"M-McGowan!" defiantly repeated Mr. Beaver. + +"When mentioning him to me,"--requested the Captain in a tone that made +the other man start with apprehension,--"you'll call him _Mr._ McGowan. +Understand that?" + +Mr. Beaver seemed fully to understand, for he obeyed. When he had +finished his yarn of sheer nonsense, Captain Pott slowly laid his pipe +on the table and his hand on the little man's collar. He led him to the +door, and opened it. Harry tugged like a bull-pup on the end of a leash, +so that when the Captain released his hold--with ever so slight a +shove--Mr. Beaver described a spread-eagle on the cinder path. + +"If you repeat that rotten truck to another soul, I ain't going to be +responsible for what happens to you!" He shot each word at the kicking +figure from between set teeth, and brushed one hand over the other as +though to clean them of filth. + +Mrs. Beaver ran to her husband, lifted him out of the cinders, and +patted the ashes from his clothing. Harry Beaver stood irresolutely for +a moment, and violently shook his fist at the man standing in the door. + +"Y-You'll p-p-pay for this!" He spit out words and cinders with gasping +breath. + +Captain Pott went inside. He washed his breakfast dishes. He was by no +means as calm as he appeared. The whole day through he fed the fires of +his anger. That night he urged the minister to stay at home. He even +begged him not to go to the Inn. Mr. McGowan asked the reason for his +deep concern. The Captain could give none, except to say that the +microbes were working overtime. But duty called more loudly than his +friend's fears, and Mr. McGowan went that evening to the Inn. An hour +later the Captain's intuition got the upper hand of his judgment, and he +followed. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up +from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered +the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn. This was followed by a more +ominous silence. The seaman bounded down the steps. The sight that met +his gaze caused him to stop short. On each side of the low room men and +boys were drawn up in lines, and the division was as clean cut as though +chosen for a tug of war. The doors at the far end of the gymnasium swung +back, and a stranger, stripped to the waist, stepped gingerly into the +room. Sim Hicks met the man, and began to tie a pair of boxing gloves to +his hands. While the Captain looked on in utter amazement, the doors +again swung back, and Mack McGowan entered. He did not appear surprised +at sight of the crowd, as large audiences had become quite the common +thing during his boxing lessons. Hank Simpson came from out the shadows +and reluctantly tied another pair of gloves to the hands of Mr. +McGowan. + +"What in tarnation is the meaning of this damn exhibition?" demanded the +Captain, turning to Jud Johnson, the plumber. + +"It means there's dirty work on." + +"You mean there's been a crooked deal put over on Mack?" + +The plumber nodded. + +"Who in hell----" + +"Swearing ain't going to do no good, Cap'n. The parson don't stand for +it down here," cut in Jud. + +"Whose doing is this?" + +"We've got a pretty good idea who the cur is, but we ain't exactly +sure." + +"Where'd he come from?" + +"The city." + +"Who brung him in here?" + +"We ain't just sure of that, yet." + +"What in h---- What's he cal'lating to do?" + +"He figures to lick the tar out of the parson. And by the blazes of the +inferno, if he does----" + +It was plain that civil war was to ensue if the contest went against Mr. +McGowan. + +"How'd he git into such a scrape?" + +"It looks like the work of that d--I wish the parson would let me swear +for once--Sim Hicks." + +"You mean Hicks brought him in?" + +"He come in here more'n a week ago and asked Mr. McGowan to give him +some lessons. Now the devil's to pay, and if we ain't 'way off Hicks +happens to be that devil." + +"How----" + +"For God's sake stop asking me questions or I'll cut loose and turn the +air blue round here." + +"There ain't a feller living that can fight Mack on a week of training," +declared the seaman. + +"No one said he'd had no more'n a week of training." + +"I don't give a tinker's dam if he's had all the training in creation, +he can't lick Mack McGowan and do it fair." + +Jud shot the Captain a look of approval. "Them kind don't fight fair." + +"But, Jud, I don't see the meaning of it, anyway." + +"Then you're a heap sight blinder'n I thought. This thing's all fixed up +to help Hicks get the parson out of town. When the news of this fight +gets out into the church, they'll oust him like a shot from a cannon." + +"Then why don't you fellers stop it afore it starts?" blazed the +Captain. + +"Stop nothing. Hank's tried it, already." + +Hank Simpson came across the room to where the Captain stood, looking +woe-begone. + +"The minister says our fears ain't got no foundation about that feller +being crooked, and he won't listen to reason," declared the dejected +Hank. + +"By the Almighty, he'll listen to me!" exclaimed the Captain. + +"He wouldn't listen to his own mother if she was here. He says if what +we suspect is true, he couldn't show the white feather now. He's the +best sport I've ever seen, and I hate to see him beat up by that +white-livered slugger." + +"I sha'n't see it!" + +Captain Pott started toward the ring that was rapidly forming about the +boxers. He caught the minister's glance. He halted. In that glance there +was an expression which the Captain had come to recognize and respect. +Mack McGowan was going to take his medicine, or give it, and no one was +to interfere during the dose. The seaman dropped back into the shadow of +the stair. + +The boxers faced each other. There was no doubt left in the minds of the +onlookers as to the profession of the stranger as he squared off for +action. The minister recognized, too, the trap that had been set for +him, but he gave no evidence of worry. He met the malicious grin of the +other with a friendly, but grim smile. + +The stranger lost no time in preliminaries. He thought himself in full +possession of the minister's boxing ability, and he showed a great +amount of over-confidence. He had studied the other's speed, he had +spied into his style, he had tested his reach. Certainly, with all this +knowledge, he should have a picnic. He had been very careful on all +occasions to appear as nothing more than a novice. He was not unmindful +of the other's endurance, but hoping to make a quick end of the matter, +he tried to force the minister under full headway at once. He went at +him in a whirlwind rush. It seemed to the observers that Mr. McGowan +must certainly be swept from the floor. + +But the minister was not caught off his guard. He quickly guessed the +other's intention. With a swiftness that took the breath of the +onlookers, he stepped aside, drew in his left toe under his right heel, +and faced to the right. It was done in a flash! With one long step he +swung out to the left of his adversary. Out of the range of terrific +blows, he smiled and made a closer study of his opponent, eye and brain +alert for information. It took but a moment, and he was facing the +stranger before the man was ready to meet him. + +The Captain had never seen his young friend box with greater ease, +although the odds were against him in weight. He warded off blow after +blow with a precision that was maddening to the other. His foot-work was +as quick as that of a cat, and as sure. Again and again the stranger +would rush in with deadly intent, only to find himself blocked, or to +back away severely punished. + +A breathless suspense hushed all rooting. The minister had dropped his +guard! Even the other boxer hesitated, as though he could not believe +his own eyes. Mr. McGowan had thrown back his head and shoulders as +though he had partially lost his foothold. The city boxer rushed in and +swung for the other's heart with all his weight behind the blow. When it +was too late he saw his mistake. He had been led into a trap, and the +very movement which had drawn the blow made it ineffective. With +lightning-like swiftness the minister stepped forward, delivered three +blows on his opponent's head with bewildering rapidity, and recovered +himself with ease and without exertion. The stranger recoiled, and for +an instant appeared to be under the impulse to run. But blind rage +seized him as his unexpected punishment began to sting, and he came +back like a madman. Mr. McGowan shoved aside or blocked the terrific +shower of fists with a coolness and precision that drove the stranger +momentarily insane. He bellowed like a mad bull. He began to slug with +the force of a pile-driver without any pretense to fairness. He leaped +from left to right, and back again, like an orangutan stirred to +frenzied anger. Mr. McGowan tried to stop him by calling time, but with +a foul oath he shot a stiff arm into the minister's abdomen. Decidedly +jarred, Mr. McGowan swayed back under the impact of the foul, but +recovered his footing in time to meet the other with a blow full in the +face. The stranger rushed in again, but Mr. McGowan ducked, landed his +glove with a heavy jar on his adversary's body, and cut the man's lip +with a right swing as he sprang to safety. + +The sight and smell of his own blood sent the city pugilist into a +crazed frenzy. He threw his elbow into the minister's throat and hurled +him against the wall. Holding him there as though in a vise he landed a +wicked hook under the left ear. Sim Hicks gave an immoderate laugh. A +shout went up from the few who favored the stranger. A deep growl was +the answer from Hank Simpson and his following as they sprang forward. +They seized Mr. McGowan, tore him away from the maddened pugilist, and +led him to a box. Hank steadied him while Jud Johnson massaged the +bruised neck and bathed the bleeding ear. Sim Hicks crossed to where +they were at work. + +"Have you got enough?" he asked with a sneer. + +"No! And by thunder, you ain't got all that's coming to you, neither," +growled Jud. + +Mr. McGowan leaned heavily against Hank Simpson. As it was apparent that +his mind was beginning to clear, Sim Hicks came closer. + +"Are you ready to call quits and stop your damned meddling in my +affairs?" persisted the Innkeeper. + +Mr. McGowan shook his head, slowly. Then, with a start, he straightened. +Between the uprights of the stair-banister he had see two faces peering +down into the room. As his vision cleared a little more he saw that one +face was set between silky chops. + +Captain Pott had not taken his eyes from the minister's face, but now he +followed the direction of his startled gaze. + +"If it ain't that damned menagerie, Fox and Beaver!" + +One of the two figures slipped up and out. The other, deeply engrossed, +did not budge. The Captain gave a mirthless chuckle and quietly crept up +the stair. He seized the heels of Mr. Beaver, dragged him bumping down +the stair, and dropped him beneath one of the lights. He gripped the +little man's collar, glanced menacingly into the distorted face, and +remarked: + +"Paying off some of them infernal debts you spoke of?" + +"L-Let m-m-me g-go! L-Looking's f-f-free, ain't it?" His thin voice rose +with each word till it reached a hissing shriek. + +"Yes, the show seems to be free. And if I'm any judge, it's just begun, +so you may as well come down for it all." + +Sim Hicks was swearing so loudly that the seaman turned in that +direction. The Innkeeper was shaking his fist in the minister's face. +Captain Pott dragged the squirming Beaver across the room. + +"See here, Sim, you'd best shet that trap-door of yours, it's letting +out too much blue smoke, and the dominee don't permit swearing among the +boys. Cal'late I can give you some assistance if you're needing it," +said the seaman, coming uncomfortably near. "As for that there slugger +of yourn, he's nothing but a white-livered cur of a coward." + +"You take back those words, or I'll make you swallow them one at a +time!" + +The threat came from the city pugilist, and the Captain swung about to +face him. + +"This here is my friend you hurt,"--the seaman's eyes flashed with fury +as he jerked his thumb toward the minister,--"and I cal'late you'd best +apologize for what you've done to him." + +"Why, you doddering old idiot! If you didn't want your little pet hurt, +you'd best have kept him home. I understand he's your special hobby." + +"You'd best apologize," repeated the Captain in dangerous calm. + +The pugilist laughed hoarsely. "When I do it will be in a hotter place +than where we are to-night. I did nothing----" + +"Don't lie to me! I see what you done. Either you fight like a +man,--even if you ain't one,--or by the lord Harry----" + +For emphasis he clutched the collar he still held, and Mr. Beaver +squirmed as though in fear of being hurled bodily into the face of the +city boxer. Sim Hicks sprang at the Captain's throat with a fierce leap +and an angry growl. But Sim picked himself up from a corner and rubbed +the blood from his streaming nose. The sight of the cringing Innkeeper +seemed to have a temporary effect upon the pugilist, but he quickly +recovered and bristled defiantly. + +"You damned city cur! If you don't fight fair I'll measure you out on +the same spot!" + +"You go to the devil!" said the man with a sneer. + +"When I do I'll take a white-livered, yellow-haired cur along. You take +that grin off your face and stand up to Mack like a man. I'll act as +pilot from now on, and if I sight any more of your dirty tricks, may the +Lord have mercy on you, for I won't. Pitch in!" + +The two men obeyed and faced each other. Except for a slight tightening +of the lips, Mr. McGowan gave no sign of having suffered from the severe +punishment because of the other man's foul. Those who had been standing +about the box, now jostled the other faction out of the ring, and +pressed closely about the Captain. + +During the next fifteen minutes the boxers worked swiftly. Although the +stranger had publicly defied the seaman's orders to fight fair, yet it +was apparent to all that he was obeying them. Only once did he attempt a +foul. The Captain's quick eyes saw, and with a thundering command that +shook the room he checked the pugilist's stiff arm movement to the +throat. Then the end came. Mr. McGowan brought forward his head and +shoulders with his usual lightning-like swiftness in order to draw a +lead before the other was prepared for it, and at the same time he +accompanied the movement with a quick jerking back of his left hand as +though suddenly changing his mind. The city man did the rest. He halted. +Mr. McGowan stepped to the left just as the other delivered his spent +blow, and with the added weight of his moving body landed his right +glove against the stranger's ear. This was quickly followed with a +crashing upper-cut to the heavy jaw. There was a loud rending and +ripping of splintered wood as the big man fell through one of the thin +panels of the partition. He slid to the floor and lay motionless amidst +the wreckage. + +Sim Hicks bawled at him to get up and go on with the fight. Mr. Beaver +squirmed and whined under the tightening grip like a beaten pup. The +crowd stood dumb with amazement. Few of those present had ever witnessed +the effect of a knock-out blow. + +Mr. McGowan was the first to the side of the prostrate man. He lifted +him to his feet, and began walking him about. As the stranger regained +his senses, he smiled faintly at Hicks' repeated requests that the +fight be finished. + +"How long was I out?" asked the pugilist. + +Sim caught the savage glare in the Captain's eyes, and reluctantly +admitted that it had been over a minute. + +"But this ain't no regular match!" he shouted. + +The pugilist looked in the direction of the Captain as he drew away from +the minister and steadied himself against an upright. + +"I guess we'll have to call it regular enough to go by rules," declared +the city boxer. "I'm beaten, Hicks." + +"I was sorry to do it, but there seemed no other way. There was too much +at stake to run the risk of losing," said the minister. "May I say, sir, +that you are a good boxer?" + +"Mr. McGowan,"--the stranger extended his hand with unaffected +cordiality,--"it's great of you to say that after what I tried to do to +you. I refused to apologize when that old fellow tried to make me, but I +do it now. I'm ashamed of the way I lost my head. If you'll accept my +apology, I'll accept your compliment." + +"Gladly!" exclaimed the minister. + +Beneath the rough exterior of this savage fighter there was the spirit +of the true sportsman. The two men removed their gloves and gripped bare +hands in a warm grasp. + +"The fact of the matter is, you had me outclassed at every turn. Any man +who could do what you have done to-night, after I'd thought I'd spied on +you long enough to secure the key to all your strong points, could make +his fortune in the ring. I'm heartily ashamed that I made myself a party +to this plot to put you out. What your old friend has said is true: I'm +a cur and a white-livered coward to sneak in on you the way I did." + +"See here!" shouted Sim Hicks, abandoning all caution, "ain't you going +to finish this little job you've been paid for?" + +"It is finished, but it wasn't stipulated in the contract as to who was +going to do the finishing." + +"You----" + +"Shet that trap of yours, Sim. If you don't it's li'ble to get another +catch," threatened the Captain. + +Hicks eyed the seaman, rubbed his swollen nose, and backed away. + +Mr. Beaver did a corkscrew dance, and tried in vain to release the hold +on his collar. + +"Cap'n Pott!" exclaimed the surprised minister who noticed for the first +time that the seaman was holding Mr. Beaver. "What on earth are you +doing?" + +"Well, this little shrimp was mighty interested in the boxing, and I +thought he might as well come down for a few lessons that he wouldn't +forget right off. I cal'lated to give him a few myself." + +Mr. Beaver's face was purple. His words would probably have been of the +same hue had there been any possibility of releasing them. + +"Let him go, Cap'n, you're strangling him." + +"He'd otter be choked, if he's as deep in this thing as I think he is. +But he ain't in no condition for a lesson to-night, he's a mite too +worked up. Harry, I'll let you off, but if this here yarn gets out into +the church through you or through the rest of the menagerie, we'll give +you the little lesson I spoke about, and it will stick like glue to your +anatomy. Now, you run along to Eadie, she'll be missing you, and I'd +hate to send you home mussed up." + +Mr. Beaver ran. With a dart he shot for the stair. + +The members of the club escorted Mr. McGowan to the Captain's home. As +he said good night, Hank Simpson came forward. + +"Mr. McGowan, the fellers want to know if you'll be one of our members +in regular standing." + +Mr. McGowan expressed his delight, and declared he would like nothing +better. + +"He's 'lected, fellers!" shouted Hank. + +A ringing cheer went up from the crowd. The Captain said to Elizabeth +the next morning, when recounting what had taken place, "I was 'feared +that Mack would be mad as hops the way them fellers carried on, but he +wa'n't, not a mite. He seemed tolerable pleased about it. When the +fellers asked a lot of foolish questions as to what was the matter with +Mr. McGowan, and then answered them by saying that he was all right, +Mack looked as happy as a school kid." + +Hank once more whispered to the minister. The answer was apparently +satisfactory, for the boys gave a parting cheer, declaring that they +would all be present in church the following Sunday. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +The troublesome microbes, of which Captain Pott had so unmelodiously +sung, had been driven out into the open, and were now doing a war-dance +to a jazz tune. Into the domestic life of the Captain there wormed the +most subtle microbe of all. Just what to do with it, or how to meet it, +he did not know. But it continued to bob up at every meal time with a +clamorous demand for attention. + +One Monday evening the two men sat in the minister's study, the +clergyman wrapped in silence, and the Captain in a cloud of tobacco +smoke. The seaman was the first to break through his cloud. + +"Mack, I'm awful sorry to disturb your meditations, but if they ain't a +heap sight more entertaining than mine, I cal'late you won't mind to +give 'em up for a spell." + +"It wouldn't be much of a sacrifice, Cap'n," acknowledged Mr. McGowan, +laughing. "What is troubling you?" + +"Well, it's this,"--the Captain blew a cloud of smoke,--"this here's +slow navigating on land without a woman's hand on the wheel. We need +some one to set things to rights round here once in a while." + +Mr. McGowan had been lounging lazily before the open fire, but now rose +and stretched himself. + +"The idea is all right, but how can we put it into effect?" + +"I ain't just exactly sure." + +"You must have something to propose, else you wouldn't have mentioned +it." + +"There ain't going to be no proposing, leastwise not by me." + +The minister smiled. "Afraid of the fair sex, Cap'n?" + +"No. Just wise to 'em." + +"Why don't you take the suggestion I made some time ago?" + +"Meaning, which?" + +"Have some one come in once a week to clean up." + +"It needs something more than a cleaner round here. What we want is a +cook. I cal'late we'd best ship a general housekeeper." + +"A housekeeper!" exclaimed Mr. McGowan, suddenly breaking off a wide +yawn. + +The skipper blew a cloud of smoke and watched it thin out into the air +above his head. + +"And you have just declared that you didn't intend to propose. I'm +afraid----" + +"I ain't interested in your fears, young man. I'm too old a sea-dog for +any of them new-fangled tricks. But being as you're set on staying here +I've decided that we'll take a woman aboard to look after the mess and +swab decks." + +The minister became serious. "Is that practical in our present +position?" + +"Practical in our present position? If it ain't, then I'd like to know +when in the name of all my ancestors such a thing is practical. +Mack----" + +"I mean from the financial point of view. The boxing match seems to have +hit the pocketbooks of the church members harder than the man from the +city hit me. At least, something has given them almost total +paralysis." + +"Who's asking you to consarn yourself with a woman's keep? I ain't, be +I?" + +"I hope you don't think that I'd permit you to bring a housekeeper in +here for me unless you give me the privilege of sharing in the +expense." + +"Mack, this here place ain't your house. Cal'late I'll do about as I +please on that p'int." + +"If I can't stand the expense with part salary, you certainly can't +stand it with none," persisted the minister. + +"I ain't sartin it would cost anything. Leastwise, it won't cost much. I +ain't sartin,"--repeated the Captain as though in meditation,--"but I +think she'll come." + +"Who?" + +"Don't let your cur'osity get away with you, young feller. I ain't +promising nothing, but I'm just thinking, that's all. How'd you like to +cruise round the P'int to-morrow, Mack?" + +"You have a delightful way of changing the subject when it gets too +hot. But I'd certainly like the cruise and the air." + +"I cal'late I ain't changed no subject. We'll go over Riverhead way. +It'll be sort of a vacation from all this mess, and give me a chance to +see about this puzzling woman question." + +With this declaration, the Captain retreated into a silence which all of +Mr. McGowan's questions failed to penetrate. The old man was thinking of +Clemmie Pipkin! + +Clemmie had been the object of his boyhood ardor till the day when his +dashing half-brother had kidnapped her affections. But no sooner had he +won her from the Captain than he disappeared, leaving the faithful Miss +Pipkin, never to return. She had remained unmarried all these years, in +spite of the oft-repeated attempt on the part of Captain Pott to +rekindle her love. He wondered now, as he sat before the dying fire, if +her presence in his home would change her attitude toward him. This +question wakened anew the desire of his youth, and after he had retired +it kept sleep from his eyes through the long hours of the night. He +must have Clemmie Pipkin to take care of his house. + +Daylight had barely kindled her fires over the eastern waters when the +two men boarded the _Jennie P._ Mr. McGowan noticed that the Captain +took particular pains in cleaning and polishing the few brass trimmings. +They both worked hard till the sun appeared, and then hastily ate a +lunch which they had brought aboard with them. After finishing the +sandwiches, the Captain went forward and dropped a measuring-stick into +the gasoline tank. + +"I'll swan!" he ejaculated. "There ain't a drop of 'ile in that there +tank. And I left the cans ashore." + +"I'll go for them." + +"No, you don't, young feller! You stay right aboard here," ordered the +skipper. "You can be working on the engine, or something. I'll get that +'ile myself." + +Surprised at the seaman's earnestness, the minister obeyed. He was +working over the engine, his hands covered with grease, when the dory +scraped the side of the boat. He came out of the cockpit, and, to his +amazement, saw the Captain assisting two young ladies into the _Jennie +P._ Each carried a large basket. They were no less surprised than he. + +"Why, Mr. McGowan!" exclaimed Elizabeth, the color flooding her already +rosy cheeks. + +"Captain Pott!" cried Miss Splinter. + +Mr. McGowan said nothing. He folded his hands behind him and looked +foolish. + +"I thought maybe a little company might liven up the trip," observed the +seaman, looking like a schoolboy who had sprung a surprise on his +teacher. "Ain't you going to welcome 'em? You'll find their name on the +roster, and they brought their grub with 'em." + +"This is a very delightful surprise," faintly declared the minister. + +Elizabeth looked troubled, and her discomfort did not add to the +minister's ease. She had been anything but cordial since the incident at +her home when Mr. Fox had taken ill. He had not seen her since the +fight. He feared that the interpretation placed on that by her father +had not bettered his standing. + +"I didn't go to bed last night right off, Mack, when I said I was +going," explained the Captain. "I went out and fixed up this little +party for a sort of surprise to all hands. I stowed that 'ile in the +boat-house on purpose so as I could get ashore without too many +questions." + +"I trust that our going will make no difference." + +The minister's embarrassment had grown painful. With a hopeless gesture +he brought out a pair of black grimy hands. "Indeed, it will make a +difference, Miss Fox, all the difference in the world. If the Captain +had kept his engine cleaner I'd have been able to give you a more hearty +welcome." + +The sight of the greasy hands broke the tension, and although Mr. +McGowan cordially extended them neither young lady offered hers in +return. + +The cruise was a great success, if we take the Captain's word for it, +which word was given to Mrs. Beaver on their return to Little River. +"Them young folks had the time of their lives, and I never see a more +likely pair than that little Beth and the minister as they stood by the +wheel together steering the _Jennie P._ through them rollers. Beth takes +to water just the same way she takes to everything, with her whole +soul." + +It was noon when they cast anchor in the Riverhead Inlet. The men +prepared to go ashore while the girls took out the lunches. As the +baskets were opened, and bundles untied, Mr. McGowan suggested that they +make for shore before their appetites demanded otherwise. + +At the landing the men parted, for the Captain had expressed the desire +to make his visit alone. He did not tell the minister that his +destination was the County Farm for fear that he, Mr. McGowan, would not +understand that Clemmie Pipkin was the matron, and not an inmate. + +Captain Pott found Miss Pipkin without difficulty. During the past ten +years, he had been a frequent visitor at the Farm, and many knew him. He +went at once to the bare little reception-room and made known his +presence. As Miss Pipkin entered a slight tinge crept into the hollow of +her sallow cheeks. She extended a bony hand. + +"I'm real glad to see you, Josiah. It's been a long time since you +called." + +"Howdy, Clemmie. It has been a mite long, but I've been purty busy of +late trying to keep people out of trouble." + +"Then you must have changed a lot." + +"You ain't looking well," he observed solicitously. "Ain't sick, be +you?" + +"No," she answered with a deep sigh. "That is, I ain't real sick. I +ain't been feeling quite myself for a spell, but I reckon it will wear +off." + +"You'll wear off if you don't get out of this place," replied the +Captain. + +Miss Pipkin was far from being a beautiful woman. From all appearances +she had never been pretty, or even good-looking. Her form had a few too +many sharp angles where it should have been curved. Her face was long +and thin, and now age and worry had dug deeply into the homely features, +obliterating the last trace of middle life. She always dressed in +black, and to-day the Captain saw that her clothes were worn and faded. +He moved uneasily as his quick eye took in the meaning of these signs. + +"I cal'late they're working you too hard here, Clemmie," he said +tenderly. "You'd best get away for a spell." + +"I'd like to have a rest, but I can't leave. There's no one to take my +place." + +"Pshaw! There's plenty who'd be glad for the place." + +"Anyhow, I ain't got no place to go." + +"That's what I've come to see you about, Clemmie." + +Miss Pipkin straightened with cold dignity, and her eyes flashed fires +of warning. + +"Josiah Pott! Be you proposing to me _again_?" + +"Now, don't get mad, Clemmie. I ain't proposing to you," he explained as +calmly as possible. "But as I've said afore----" + +"I know what you've said, learnt it like a book. And you know what I've +said, too. My no means NO." + +"I cal'late you ain't left no room for me to doubt that. You've made +that purty tolerable plain. I reckon we're getting too old for that now, +anyway. Leastwise, I be," he finished hurriedly, noting a rising color +in her thin cheeks. + +"Huh!" she grunted indignantly. "A body'd think you was the grandfather +of Methuselah to hear you talk." + +"I am getting on purty well, Clemmie." + +"Josiah Pott! If you come over here to talk that nonsense you can go +right back." + +"I really come on another matter. I want you to come over and keep house +for me and another man. We're living on the old place, and it ain't what +you'd call hum sweet hum for two males to live alone in a big house like +mine. Thought maybe you wouldn't mind keeping the decks swabbed and the +galley full of pervisions if I'd only pay you the same as you're getting +here. I'd----" + +"That will be enough!" + +"Thought maybe 'twould." + +"I'll not listen to another word from you!" exclaimed the shocked Miss +Pipkin. The expression on her face gave the Captain the feeling that he +had dived into icy water, and had come up suddenly against a hidden +beam. + +"Two of you! And you want me to do your work! Well, of all the nerve!" + +"I ain't told you yet who the other feller is," suggested the Captain. + +"I don't care if he's an angel from heaven. I'd think you'd be ashamed +of yourself to come here and speak of such a thing." + +"But I ain't ashamed, Clemmie. A drowning man is willing to grab the +first straw he sees. Listen to me, Clemmie," he pleaded, as she turned +to leave the room. + +"Me listen to you proposing for me to come over to Little River and +start talk that would ruin the town? Not if I know what Clemmie Pipkin's +doing." + +"I tell you I ain't proposing to you, I'm just asking you. As far as +that town goes, a few things more for it to talk about can't do her no +harm." + +Miss Pipkin paused on the threshold to give a parting shot, but the +Captain spoke first and spiked her guns. + +"The other feller happens to be the new parson." + +Her expression changed. Preachers had long been her specialty at the +Poor Farm, and she knew exactly the care and food they needed. + +"What was that you said, Josiah?" + +"The other feller living with me is the minister at the brick church." + +"The minister living with you!" + +"Yes." + +"With you? But you ain't got religion." + +"I cal'late that's the safest guess you ever made, Clemmie, but just now +it's cooking, and not religion, that's bothering me." + +"Lan' sakes! You ain't trying to cook for the minister, be you?" she +asked incredulously. + +"You put it just right, I'm trying to. I don't know how long he'll be +able to stand it, but he won't go nowhere else." + +"Poor thing!" she exclaimed. "Poor thing!" + +"Them's my sentiments, too, Clemmie." + +"And no doubt he's a frail creature, too, and ought to have the best of +care. So many of them are that way." + +A violent fit of coughing seized the Captain. + +"Lan' sakes! Now, what's the matter with you? Been going out without +your rubbers, I'll warrant. Men are worse than babies when left to +themselves. I do believe they'd die if the women-folks didn't look after +them once in a while." + +"We sartin would," choked out the Captain. "Do you suppose you can +arrange it to come over?" + +"When do you want me?" + +"Right now. To-day. I come special for you." + +"I'll go," decided Miss Pipkin impulsively. "It's plain as day that it's +my duty. I am getting wore out in this place. They've been putting the +work of three on me, and I ain't got the strength." + +"It ain't right, Clemmie, for you to be wearing yourself out in this +kind of work. God intended you for something better. I ain't proposing," +he hastily added, lest his bird take the sudden notion to wing her way +back into the bush. + +Miss Pipkin gave him a quick look, and left the room. She very soon +returned carrying a bundle beneath one arm, and clutching a bulging +telescope suit-case in the other hand. From one end of the bundle +protruded the head of a cat. + +"What in tarnation you got in there, Clemmie?" asked the seaman, +pointing toward the bundle. + +"You didn't think I was going to leave my Tommy behind to be starved and +abused, did you?" + +"Hadn't thought about that," meekly admitted the Captain, as he took the +telescope. + +"Have you got a trunk to send over?" + +"No." + +Miss Pipkin breathed a deep sigh of relief as they passed out of the +gates. She looked back at the weather-beaten old buildings of the County +Farm into which ten years of her life had gone. But she felt no pang on +leaving. + +The Captain kept up a constant stream of conversation on the way down +to the wharf. Suddenly, Miss Pipkin stopped, and suspiciously eyed the +seaman. + +"Josiah, how are we going back?" + +"In my _Jennie P._" + +"In your what?" + +"In my power-boat, the _Jennie P._" + +"Josiah Pott! You know I ain't been aboard a boat for more than twenty +year, and I ain't going to start out on the thing, whatever-you-call-it!" + +It appeared as if the Captain would have to come another day, in another +sort of vehicle, to carry home his newly-found housekeeper. He again led +trumps. + +"The minister come all the way over with me to get you." + +"He did?" + +"Sartin did." + +"Poor thing! He's been treated so scandalously that he's willing to do +'most anything. Well, it may be the death of me, but I've got this far, +and I may as well go on." + +Mr. McGowan was waiting for them at the end of the wharf. The skipper +introduced them with a malicious wink at Miss Pipkin as he indicated +the physical strength of the minister. Her face flushed as nearly +crimson as it had in years. When they finally got into the dory she +leaned close to the Captain and set his staid old heart palpitating. Mr. +McGowan was engaged, waving to the girls in the _Jennie P._ + +"You ain't going to tell him what I said about his being delicate, and +the like, are you, Josiah?" + +He answered with a vigorous shake of the head as he leaned back to draw +the oars through the water. Each time he swung forward he looked into +the eyes of Miss Pipkin. Did he imagine it, or did he see there +something more than interest in her own question? + +Aboard the _Jennie P._ the young ladies took charge of Miss Pipkin, and +soon they were chatting companionably. The girls had removed the door to +the cabin, and laying it from seat to seat, had improvised a table. Over +it they had spread cloths, and on the cloths were plates piled high with +good things. The odor of coffee greeted the Captain's nostrils, as he +came forward after securing the dory. + +"Well, I'd like to know! Where in tarnation did you get the stove to +b'ile the coffee on?" he asked, sniffing the air. + +"We brought it with us," replied Elizabeth. + +"You fetched a stove in them baskets?" + +"Certainly. Come and see it." + +She drew her old friend toward the cockpit. There stood the steaming +coffee-pot over an alcohol flame. + +"Well, I swan!" + +Paper plates were scattered about over the improvised table, chicken +piled high on some, sandwiches on others, doughnuts, cream-puffs, and +apple tarts on still others. Indeed, not a thing had been left out, so +far as the Captain could see. + +"If this ain't the likeliest meal I ever see, then, I'd like to know. I +feel right now as if I could eat the whole enduring lot, I'm that +hungry," declared the skipper. + +Elizabeth served, moving about as gracefully as a fawn. Mr. McGowan +watched her with no attempt to hide his admiration. The one question in +his mind all day had been: what did she think of him for his part in the +affair at the Inn? He decided that he would take advantage of the first +opportunity to prove to her that no other course had been left open for +him. + +Dinner over, the Captain filled his pipe, and stood in the door of the +cabin. He smoked quietly, and watched the ladies put the things away. +Miss Pipkin was folding the cloths, and on her the seaman's gaze came to +a rest. Would the old home seem different with her in it? + +"Hadn't we better start?" + +The Captain jumped. "I cal'late I'm getting nervous, jumping like +that." + +"Or in love?" + +"Maybe you're right, Mack." + +"Honest confession?" + +"I ain't confessing nothing. I was referring to your idea that we'd best +be under way," explained the Captain, with a wry smile. + +As he spoke he leaned over the engine, and gave it a turn. Tommy, Miss +Pipkin's black cat, was mincing contentedly at some scraps when the +chug-chug of the exhaust shot from the side of the boat. Tommy shot from +the cockpit. He paused on the upper step, a startled glare in his eyes. +He forgot the tempting morsels; he forgot his rheumatism; he was bent on +flight. And fly he did. With a wild yodeling yell he sprang forward. +Like a black cyclone he circled the deck. On his fourth time round he +caught sight of the minister's legs. He and Elizabeth were standing at +the wheel, ready to steer the boat out of the harbor. To the cat's +excited glance the man's legs suggested the beginnings of tree trunks, +at the top of which there was safety and repose from the spitting demon +at the side of the boat. Like a flying bat he made the leap. But he had +misjudged both the distance and his own rheumatic muscles. He landed on +the girl, and came to a rest half-way to her shoulder. His claws sank +into the thick folds of her sweater. Elizabeth released her hold on the +wheel, and with a cry fell back against the minister. A pair of strong +arms lost neither time nor opportunity. With a little persuasion Tommy +saw his mistake, and dropped to the deck. He took up his interrupted +flight, finally coming to an uncertain rest somewhere aloft. + +Elizabeth looked up, smiled, blushed like a peony, took hold the wheel, +and gently released herself. + +"Oh, thank you! Wasn't it stupid of me to let that old cat frighten me +so?" + +Mr. McGowan declared that he was delighted to have been of service, and +his emotions began to be very evident to him. + +It took considerable coaxing on the part of the Captain, and more +clawing on the part of Tommy, before he could be convinced that the +cabin was as safe as the mast. At last he gave in and came down, and as +the boat left the harbor he was purring contentedly, folded safely in +the arms of Miss Pipkin. + +Before they reached Little River harbor, Miss Pipkin had many times +declared she was going to die. The Captain as many times remonstrated +with her, but she only showed a greater determination to die. When the +boat was anchored, she refused to move or be moved. The minister lifted +her bodily, and carried her to the dory. As he was handing her over the +side into the Captain's arms, she objected to the transference by a +sudden lurch, which sent the minister to his knees. His foot caught on +the gunwale, and his ankle was severely wrenched. On releasing his shoe +string that night he discovered a serious sprain. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +"Lan' sakes!" exclaimed Miss Pipkin, who, fully recovered, was busily +engaged in the kitchen on the following morning when the minister +entered. "Now, what is the matter with you, Mr. McGowan?" + +He was leaning on the back of a chair which he was sliding along the +floor in front of him. + +"I twisted my ankle last evening as I was leaving the boat." + +"You did! And you never said one word! How did you do it?" + +"I slipped just as I handed you over the side." + +"It was my foolishness that made you do it. Josiah!" she called, as the +Captain came down by the rear stair. "Get me a basin of water and the +cayenne pepper, quick!" + +The Captain obeyed with alacrity. Miss Pipkin soon had the ankle in the +water, and the water was a fiery red in color. + +"It'll take the swelling out," she affirmed. + +"Ain't you got it a mite too hot with pepper, Clemmie?" + +"No, I ain't. That's all you men know about such things." + +"Well, I didn't know." + +The swelling began to disappear according to the prophecy of the +housekeeper, but the skin took on the color of the reddened water in the +basin. An hour later Mr. McGowan was undecided which was the more +undesirable, the pain from the sprain, or the blisters from the +treatment. + +"Cal'late I'll run down to the _Jennie P._," announced the Captain after +breakfast. "You can't navigate that far, can you, Mack?" + +"Josiah Pott! What on earth do you mean? Of course he can't, and you +know it. I don't see what you want to go traipsing down to that thing +for, anyhow; it ain't going to get loose, though it'd be a good loss if +it did." + +"It ain't likely she'll get away, that's sartin sure, but I thought I'd +do a little work on her. I ain't had much time afore now, with all my +cooking and keeping house. The minister said my engine wa'n't clean." + +"Well, if you ain't been cooking better than you've been keeping house, +the wonder is you ain't both dead," she said, peering about the room. + +Fearing further comment, the Captain hastily left the house. On reaching +the wharf, he was surprised to see Elizabeth walking from the far end to +meet him. + +"Morning, Beth. Out purty early for your constitutional, ain't you?" + +"Good morning, Uncle Josiah. I've been waiting for you an awful long +time. Are you going out to the _Jennie P._?" + +"That's my calculation. Want to go along?" + +"If I may." + +"Of course you can. Did you leave something aboard last night?" + +"No. I just came down here on purpose to see you. I felt certain you +would be going out." + +"You come down just to see me? What do you want to see an old feller +like me for? Now, if it was----" + +"You, old! Who's been telling you that?" + +"Nobody, 'cepting this infernal rheumatism. But I ain't quite as badly +crippled up this morning as the preacher is, at that." + +"Do you mean to say that the minister has the rheumatism?" + +"No, he ain't got nothing as tame or ordinary as that. He started with a +sprained j'int from the cruise, but he's going to have something far +worse, if I don't miss my guess. Clemmie's been soaking his ankle in red +pepper." He chuckled quietly as he helped Elizabeth into the dory. + +"Soaking his foot in red pepper?" + +"Yes. Hot as fire, too, it was. I asked if she didn't have the water a +mite too red, but she said it wa'n't, and I cal'late she'd otter know." + +"Isn't she the quaintest little woman? I remember her when I was a +child, but she didn't like me one bit because I spilled some hot water +on her once. Is she going to stay with you?" + +"She's going to keep house," replied the Captain, drawing the dory +alongside his power-boat. "Well, here we be, Beth." + +Elizabeth sprang lightly over the side. She led the way to the roof of +the cabin, where she sat down. When the Captain had taken his place at +her side, she looked up eagerly into his eyes. + +"I do so hope you will understand me, Uncle Josiah!" + +"I've always tried to, Beth." + +"I know you have! Tell me, did my--did any one you know have anything to +do with making up that boxing match the other night?" + +"There was a good many that had to do with it, unless I'm 'way off in my +reckoning." + +"Has Mr. McGowan said anything about Father in connection with the +affair?" + +"He ain't said nothing to me," responded the Captain. + +"Uncle Josiah!" exclaimed the girl, her eyes growing wide in her +earnestness. "I know Father has not treated Mr. McGowan one bit nicely +since what happened at our house, and I don't know why. There must be +some reason, though, for Father would not harm any one without just +reasons. He is the best man in the whole world! But he has had his way +so long with all the other ministers that he cannot become accustomed to +the way Mr. McGowan ignores him. Father does a lot of good, and Mr. +McGowan dare not think ill of him!" + +"There, there, Beth," soothed the Captain. "You're trying to tell me +something, but you're getting off the course. Just you tell me calm-like +what it's all about. The fust thing to do is to get our bearings. Has +some one been telling you that Mr. McGowan thinks and talks about your +dad in the way you say?" + +"No-o. But I've heard others say that Father knew all about the plans +for that fight before it happened, and that he could have stopped it had +he wished to. It isn't true! And if Mr. McGowan even thinks it's true he +isn't fair. He will misjudge Father if he has the least idea that he +would stoop to such a frame-up." + +"I cal'late he ain't misjudging your father none, Beth. So far as +disobeying orders goes, it's because he knows what's best. He ain't +likely to go contrary, unless----" + +"But I know he does misjudge Father," broke in the girl in an attempt to +return to her former subject. "And Father feels it keenly. If he doesn't +misjudge him, why doesn't he come to our house any more to ask advice +about parish matters? He just goes ahead to suit himself. Do you think +that fair?" + +Captain Pott wanted to say no, in order to agree with his young friend, +but her big blue eyes were too intent with eagerness to permit of +anything but the truth, or to hedge. He chose the easiest way and +hedged. + +"I ain't in no position to answer that, Beth." + +"Oh, I can't understand it at all! Why can't they be friends as they +were at first? What has happened?" + +"I can't answer that, neither." + +"It's just because Father has refused to bow to him in some little +matter, I suppose. Isn't there some way to get them together or at +least to get them to compromise?" + +"I'm 'feared it ain't in neither of 'em to do either one." + +"I suppose not," she replied, a little catch in her voice. "But it is +too bad to have the work go to pieces like it is just because they are +both so stubborn." + +"It sartin is, Beth." The seaman fidgeted. What could the girl be +driving at? + +"But I'm in sympathy with my father!" she cried. + +"That's right for you, Beth. I'd think less of you if you felt any other +way." + +"If only Mr. McGowan would go to him!" + +"Let's see if I get the hull drift of your argument. You say that you +think your father is right, and the minister is wrong. That being your +conviction you think the minister otter go to him and do a little +apologizing. Well, he won't. What he's done is just as right to him as +what your father thinks he'd otter done is right to your dad. To try to +get 'em together would be like trying to mix 'ile and water, both of +'em good enough in their place, but when you try to mix 'em what you get +ain't one nor t'other, and sp'iles both. Cal'late we'd best leave 'em as +they are." + +"I didn't mean that Mr. McGowan should go to Father and apologize. That +would be too much like all of the others before him. But I did think you +might suggest some other way to bring them together before things get +worse." + +"Beth, I'd like to accommodate you, if that's what you're asking of me, +but if Mack McGowan had chosen any other way than the one he took, I'd +cut him adrift, sartin as death." + +The seaman felt the girl at his side stiffen and tremble against his arm +as she turned from him. Despair seized him. + +"Forgive me, Beth, for making you cry like that. I ain't nothing but a +rough old sailor, and can't say things as they'd otter be said. Come, it +ain't wuth crying over. What I meant was that I'd have disowned him, +because I'd have known he was going contrary-wise to what he thought was +right." + +She trembled more violently than before. Too miserable for words, he +seized her and turned her about. He was amazed to find no tears in her +eyes. + +"I wasn't crying," she choked, drawing the corner of her handkerchief +from her mouth. "It struck me so funny, Uncle Josiah!" + +"Your notion of fun is the funniest I ever see," he commented. "Mind +telling me what it was that tickled you so?" + +"You! Captain Josiah Pott! Threatening to disown the minister should he +fail to toe your chalk-line! Where, may I ask, can one find a more +high-handed tyranny of spurned authority than that? It's too funny for +words!" + +"I cal'late you'd do some disowning, too, if he'd go traipsing round +asking everybody's pardon just because he steps on a few toes now and +again." + +"I disown him?" she asked, not able to check the rush of color to her +cheeks. "Pray tell! Why----" + +[Illustration: "Now, see here, Beth, there ain't no use of your +pretending to me."--_Page 146._] + +"Now, see here, Beth, there ain't no use of your pretending to me. I've +got a pair of eyes, and I make use of 'em. You wouldn't want him a mite +different, and if he was, you'd be as disapp'inted as me. I know what +I'm talking about," he declared, holding up his pipe with a convincing +gesture. "All that he's done is as religious to him as preaching a +sermon, even that fight down to the Inn. It was a heap sight more +religious than a lot of sermons I've listened to in my day." + +"But, Uncle Josiah, don't you think his methods are a little too +strenuous and out of the ordinary in dealing with spiritual derelicts?" +she asked, trying hard to hide the pride which the Captain's observation +had wakened. + +"I ain't got much of an idea what you mean by spiritual derricks, Beth, +but I'm going to say this: he's the fust real live preacher I ever see, +and if he's got ways of bringing 'em in that's a mite off the set +course, he's going to do it, and there ain't enough men living to stop +him. He has found some of that queer sort of religion what he called +anonymous down there to that Inn, and if he'd have taken water the other +night he'd have lost every one of them boys. He fought that puncher +because he was after the gang behind him. If things had gone against +him, I'd have pitched in and helped him trounce the hull enduring lot, +and I'd have felt mighty religious while I was doing it, too." + +"But I think he might prove just as much a success and still not be so +original. It doesn't pay when one's position and salary depend on how +one acts." + +"Mack's position and salary can hang from the same gallows, so far as +he's concerned, if they go to putting muzzles on him." + +"I'm so glad you said that!" exclaimed the girl, giving his arm a gentle +squeeze. + +The seaman stared at her. What on earth could she mean? "Beth, you've +sartin got me gasping to understand you this morning." + +"I'm trying so hard to explain without actually telling you. He must +leave the church!" + +"Must leave----Say, what in tarnation do you mean?" + +"Please, don't hint that I told you, but it has been decided by the +vestry." + +"I want to know!" + +"It isn't to be on account of the fight, though. Oh, I was real bad and +listened," she explained to the surprised seaman. "I didn't mean to at +first, but I couldn't help hearing. Then, I had to listen to the rest. I +shall tell Father what I have done just as soon as I can, for I know it +was wicked of me. I felt I must come to you. They are going to find +something in his sermons that isn't orthodox, and then, there is to be a +church trial! That was what I didn't want to tell you for fear you +wouldn't understand, but you didn't suggest anything for me to do, and I +had to tell you. Can't you get Mr. McGowan to be careful what he puts in +his sermons?" + +"Am I to tell him whose orders they be?" + +"Indeed, not!" + +"A heap of good it will do, then, for me to say anything. He'd take it +as a banter for a fight. Cal'late we'll have to trust to luck that he'll +stick to the old chart." + +Elizabeth slid from the roof of the cabin to the deck. She walked to the +railing and looked over into the water. The Captain, thinking she was +ready to go ashore, followed. She swung about, and stamped her foot, +angrily. + +"Why don't you men know how to act! Why doesn't he know how to behave +himself!" + +She turned back and looked out across the Sound. The mainland showed dim +through the haze of the Indian Summer morning. + +"Beth, I hate to see you worrying like this," said the Captain, a tremor +in his voice. "I wish I could help you, I sartin wish I could." + +She came to him, and laying her hand lightly on his sleeve, looked +eagerly into his eyes. + +"You dear old Uncle! Please, forgive me for telling you all I have. I am +worried, dreadfully worried, about Father. He is so different of late. +He takes everything so seriously where Mr. McGowan is concerned. He is +not at all like himself. I'm afraid something dreadful will happen to +him if things do not right themselves very soon." + +"Now, don't you worry, Beth. Just you be patient. I cal'late there is +something wrong, but there ain't no channel so long that it ain't got an +outlet of some sort, and the rougher 'tis, the shorter it's li'ble to +be. We're going to get out, you bank on that, and when we do, your daddy +is going to be aboard." + +"Thank you, Uncle Josiah. I'm ready now to go ashore." + +The look of relief on her beautiful face, as the tears of gratitude +filled her eyes, caused the Captain to swallow very hard, and to draw +the back of his hand across his eyes, remarking that the smoke was +getting into them. He was unmindful that his pipe had gone out long +ago. + +On his way home the skipper became uncomfortably aware of the +seriousness of his promise to the Elder's daughter. He had pledged +himself and his support indirectly to Jim Fox! What that might mean he +could not foresee. He remembered what Elizabeth had told him concerning +her father's condition, and this set a new train of thought going +through his brain. He recalled that there had always been times since +Jim Fox had first come to Little River when he had seemed dejected and +melancholy. Could it be possible that there had been some physical +disease working all these years in the Elder's body, and might that not +be an explanation for the mental state into which he seemed to be +heading? Might that not be the reason for his strange actions against +the minister and himself? + +Captain Pott entered the dining-room just as Miss Pipkin emerged from +the minister's study. She was carrying a large crock. The seaman looked +intently at the bowl. + +"There was a mite too much pepper in that basin, Josiah. I was that +excited about his ankle that I didn't notice how much I was putting in. +It'll soon be better, now, for I was bathing it in this cream that Mrs. +Beaver give me." + +"Bathing his foot in--what?" + +"Cream. It takes the soreness out." + +"Clemmie, you're a wonder! But if that cream come from Eadie's I +cal'late it won't be none too healing." + +"I've been talking to the minister about the services," she said, +placing the crock on the table. "The Ladies' Aid meets this afternoon. +I'm going." + +"You'd best get a life-preserver on." + +"Josiah, you shouldn't talk like that. They do a lot of good. I ain't +been to one for years. It's so Christian and nice to do things for +others. That's what Aid means, aiding some one else." + +"If I ain't 'way off, most of the aiding business runs to the tongues of +them present. Most women lean to tongue, excepting you, Clemmie." + +"Josiah, you ain't fit for the minister to live with! You shouldn't talk +like that about the business of the Lord." + +"Cal'late I am sort of a heathen. But I'll wager that you'll find them +there aiders interested in some things aside the business of the Lord." + +Miss Pipkin left him and hurried into the kitchen for broom and duster. + +It was late in the afternoon when she had finished her house-cleaning, +and sailed forth in the direction of the church. The Captain was +sitting on the front steps of the chapel, and rose to meet her as she +turned in at the gate. + +"I hope the meeting ain't over," she said, breathless. + +"Just got her off the ways, I'd say," he commented, jerking his head +toward an open window through which came the sound of many voices. +"You'd best tell 'em where you're staying, Clemmie, or you're li'ble to +hear some things not intended for your ears." + +She bridled past him and swept into the church. There was a brief pause +in the buzz, but the hubbub that followed was doubled in intensity. + +That evening while Miss Pipkin was placing the food on the table she +appeared worried. She inquired solicitously concerning the minister's +ankle, but there was a distant polite tone in her voice. After supper +she asked the Captain to dry the dishes for her, and went to the +kitchen. The seaman took his place at the sink only to have the cloth +snatched from his hand. + +"Josiah,"--she whispered,--"close that door to the dining-room, I've got +something to ask you." + +"Ain't you going to let me dry them dishes for you?" + +"Of course not." + +The door was closed, and the Captain came back to the sink. + +"What's wrong with Mr. McGowan?" + +"Too much red pepper, I cal'late." + +"Don't be silly. You know what I mean. There is something awfully wrong. +I can't help noticing it." + +"What makes you think that, Clemmie?" + +"What I heard this afternoon.... And, you know, the most of 'em knew me, +but none excepting Mrs. Beaver knew where I was staying, and she didn't +tell. She come over and set down by me, different from what she used to +be, quiet and real refined." + +"Eadie Beaver quiet, you say? Well, I cal'late the million is coming, +sartin sure." + +"Millennium or no millennium, that's the truth. I was kind of 'feared at +first that she wasn't real well." + +"She'd be a real cur'osity in this here new state of hers," mused the +Captain. + +"Well, I begun to hear things about him,"--she pointed toward the closed +door,--"and Mrs. Beaver was that indignant that she didn't know what to +do. From all I heard, it seems the minister has been doing things he has +no right to do, fighting and the like. Then, too,"--came in an awed +tone,--"he ain't orthodox. He's preaching all sorts of new-fangled ideas +that he shouldn't mention in the pulpit, and though you don't know it, +Josiah, that is hairsay! That is worse than killing a man, because it +sends their souls to hell." + +"If I was you, Clemmie, I'd wait and judge his preaching for myself. You +ain't heard him yet." + +Miss Pipkin agreed to the fairness of the Captain's proposition, but she +was still troubled. + +"Josiah, there's going to be some sort of meeting next Sunday night +after the regular service, and there is going to be something done to +get Mr. McGowan out of his church. Of course, if he ain't orthodox, I'd +hate to see the meeting interfered with, but----" + +"Clemmie, I ain't up on this hairsay and orthodox stuff, and I ain't +sartin I want to be. It all sounds like mighty dry picking to me. But +I've been thinking, and I've decided that whatever them things are they +ain't real religion. And I've decided that the Lord ain't been sitting +in on them church meetings for quite a spell. I cal'late I'll be on hand +next Sunday night with a special invitation for Him to cut the pack for +this new deal." + +Miss Pipkin looked as though she expected him to be struck dead. But he +was not. This fact decided her in favor of being present to witness the +thing which the Captain intended to do. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +On Sunday evening the chapel was packed. It was evident that many were +there, not for the service, but for what promised to be a sensational +after-meeting. Members of the Athletic Club were scattered through the +room, and the same dogged determination was on their faces as on the +night of the boxing affair. + +Mr. McGowan hobbled up the pulpit stair. He announced his text: "Launch +out into the deep and let down your nets." Captain Pott felt Elizabeth, +who was sitting beside him, stiffen. Miss Pipkin leaned forward in her +eagerness to catch every word, and as the minister proceeded her +expression changed from perplexity and doubt to one of deep respect. +There were others who followed the thought of the sermon with keen +interest. Elder Fox was present, for the first time in weeks. +Occasionally, he would write something on a pad, and then lean back to +pull at his silky chops. + +Throughout the sermon Mr. McGowan spoke with tense earnestness. + +"The time has come when the church must cut the shore lines that have +been binding us to the past. If a man persists in dragging the shore +line he may get a few good fish, but that does not set aside the fact +that he is either a poor fisherman or a coward. He must know the habits +of the fish, and go where they are.... The same thing may be said of the +church. We may produce a few fair Christians by dragging shore lines of +church doctrine, but our success will be due more to luck than to a +knowledge of the working of God's laws.... We have been long-shore +Christians for a good many centuries; the day has come for us to break +away from the surf of man-made ideas, and launch out till we can feel +the swell of a boundless love, a love not confined to the letter of +denominational law or creed. We must get into us the spirit of +Christianity. We must recognize the fact that the spirit is not a thing +that we can confine to sand-lined beaches of narrow conceptions of +faith and salvation that now exist in our churches.... + +"Here in Little River we have been an excellent example of what I mean. +We have been admiring ourselves,--and not without just cause,--while the +world we ought to be serving is forced to take its stand on the outside, +ofttimes with ideals greater than our own.... We have substituted +doctrine for Christianity, the letter of the law for the spirit of +freedom. We have slavishly worshipped our beliefs about God, instead of +worshipping God.... And what is the result? We have shut our doors to +many who hold a greater faith than our own; or we have forced them out +with no faith because of our own selfish religious intoxication. Of this +very thing, this church has been guilty.... + +"We must admit blame for many conditions that exist in our town. Let us +purge ourselves before we seek to cleanse others. Let us first launch +out before we call to others to follow. Let us learn the laws by which +God works, and then shall we have no trouble to fill our nets." + +After Mr. McGowan had finished, he stood looking out over his +congregation. The Captain whispered to Elizabeth, "Ain't he the +finest-looking specimen of human natur' you ever see, six foot of him +standing up there reading the riot act to 'em! And I got all he said, +too. I cal'late there's some here to-night that feel like they'd been +overhauled and set adrift." + +Without announcing the usual closing hymn, Mr. McGowan very quietly +pronounced the benediction, and left the church by the rear door. + +The only move that followed his leaving was made by the members of the +Athletic Club. They filed out one by one, but reconvened beneath the +window where the Captain sat inside. Captain Pott was plainly nervous +when Mr. Fox rose and went forward. He opened the window slightly as +though in need of fresh air. + +The Elder clapped loudly for order, and the boys beneath the Captain's +window joined in so heartily that the Elder was forced to shout for +order. + +"This meeting has been called for the members of this church, _only_!" +he shouted. "Will those who are not members in regular standing adjourn +to the rooms below to complete their visiting?" + +Few heard, none obeyed. Instead, all began to take seats as near +the front as possible. Mr. Fox grew red in the face, and dark of +countenance. But he preserved his dignity. + +"Must I repeat that this meeting has been called for the members of the +church. Will the others kindly leave us to ourselves?" + +It became evident that there was no intention on the part of any to +leave the room, and so the Elder called the mixed crowd to order. + +The first half-hour proved so tame that some who had remained to see +trouble, got up and went home. At last Mr. Beaver rose, and the audience +caught its breath. He poised himself on one foot, and began to pump, +blink, whistle, and finally to stutter. + +"M-M-Mr. Ch-ch-ch-chairman!" he called in a high excited voice. + +Elder Fox declared that Mr. Beaver had the floor, and Mr. Beaver +proceeded to take it, at least a good part of the section round which he +was hopping. People moved back and gave him room, for he needed plenty +of space in which to make himself understood. + +"The p-p-parish c-committee h-h-has d-decided that M-Mr. McGowan is not +the m-m-man for our ch-ch-church. Elder F-F-Fox has the report of the +c-c-committee. I m-m-move we h-h-h-hear him now!" + +Mr. Fox mounted the platform and came forward to the edge. He looked +into the faces of those before him with deep sadness in his own. + +"Friends, this is one of the saddest moments of my life," he began, his +voice shaking with feeling. "Some--er--have come to love our young +brother who has been called to our church. And he has many very +estimable qualities. For that reason I feel very keenly what I am about +to say. The committee feels that Mr. McGowan holds ideas that are too +far advanced for our humble little church. We must not overlook the fact +that we hold sacred some of the things to which he flippantly referred +to-night, and it is our duty to protect--er--the sacred doctrines which +have been handed down to us from the more sacred memory of our fathers +and martyrs of the past. + +"Our minister does not believe in the divine inspiration of the Bible. +The question was put to him by one of the members of this committee, and +he replied--er--that even if every jot and tittle were personally +dictated by God--which he doubted--the Bible would remain a sealed book +unless it inspired those who read it. It is evident from this answer +that he does not believe in--er--our sacred doctrine of the verbal +inspiration of Scripture. + +"You have heard him to-night, asking us--er--in the common slang of the +dock to rid ourselves of all these doctrines on which the church has +been founded. What he said proves that he does not believe in the +fundamentals of Christian faith. + +"I need not go back of this sermon so fresh in our minds to prove to +your intelligence that Mr. McGowan is not orthodox. I could call to +your attention many unfortunate statements, but I feel that it is not +necessary. Your committee has gone over every detail--er--prayerfully +and thoughtfully. Truly, it gives me a pain----" + +"Get a bottle of Watkins' Relief!" piped a shrill voice through the +partially opened window. + +Taken by surprise, and with his mouth open, the Elder lost every +expression of dignity as he gazed in the direction whence the advice had +come. Before he could again gather up the threads of his closing remarks +several men were demanding the floor. The Elder scanned the faces of +all, in order to place friend and foe. He then fixed his glance on some +one at the rear of the room. In answer to the Elder's nod a heavy basso +pealed forth. + +Every head turned about, and as the buzz of comment broke from the +astonished crowd the Elder rapped for order. The Reverend Mr. Means of +New York City moved ponderously forward. + +The faces of the sympathetic ones in the audience became exceedingly +serious as each looked into the face of the city clergyman. Certainly, +this meeting must be of tremendous importance to lead so great a man to +leave his metropolitan pulpit to attend a gathering in so small a +church. + +"We must have better order!" cried Mr. Fox, smiling a welcome to the +visiting minister. "We have the unexpected pleasure of a visit +from--er--our much-loved friend and brother. Shall we dispense with the +business of the hour and hear what the Reverend Mr. Means may have on +his heart?" + +Mr. Means took his position near the moderator. With a long sympathetic +look he searched the invisible among the shadows of the ceiling. He was +calm, too calm, thought the Captain. He drew his frock coat about him, +and plunged the fingers of his right hand in between the two buttons +over his heart. That attitude, as of one weary with the struggles of men +and yet tolerant because of long-suffering kindness, had an immediate +effect on part of the audience. From somewhere near the center of the +room applause started, and soon swelled to a moderate ovation. He +acknowledged the respect shown him by bringing his eyes down to the +level of his audience. + +"Brethren,"--his voice trembled as he began to speak,--"I have no +special message for you to-night; my heart is too sore from the things I +have just seen and heard. I have been in the rear of this room during +your entire service. I have listened to the unfortunate sermon which +your bright young minister was so unwise as to preach. I do not marvel +that you are like a flock of sheep having no shepherd; that sermon was +enough to confuse even me, and I have been in the ministry a great many +years. I feel I must say something, but I earnestly pray that it may not +influence you in this matter which is yours to decide. I do not intend +to even suggest what action you ought to take on the report of your +parish committee. You must remember that what you do to-night may affect +the future of our young brother, and you must not wreck that future. Mr. +McGowan and I do not agree on matters of theology, but that fact does +not prevent me from admiring some of his fine qualities to which your +senior Elder referred to-night. Time may cool the ardor of his youth +into sane and safe ideas. + +"But,"--he lifted his hands toward heaven and his voice toward the +people,--"what your parish committee chairman has told you in his report +is true, only too true. We cannot afford to permit our churches to +suffer from such teachings as those given you to-night, and I dare say, +which have been given you many times past. Brethren, as great as is our +love for this young minister, it is as nothing in comparison with the +devotion that should be ours where the doctrines of our church are +concerned. I opposed the ordination of Mr. McGowan in the New York +Presbytery a year ago on the ground that he was not sound in doctrine, +but when my brethren passed him over my protest I acquiesced as a +Christian must always do when the voice of the majority speaks. But I +must say that I greatly deplored the action taken at that time. Not that +I hold any personal feelings against the young man, but because I am +opposed to unorthodox men being called to our pulpits. + +"Now, brethren, I should gladly waive all this," he continued, dropping +his voice to a soothing whisper, "but theological differences are not +all that stand between the young man and a faithful church. You've heard +him suggest that the church which should be the house of God, and which +Scripture calls the house of prayer, be turned into a playhouse for the +community. I cannot imagine any man with a passion to save souls holding +to an idea that he can accomplish this by desecrating the place of +Divine Worship by turning it into a gymnasium. The only explanation +possible is that Mr. McGowan has not been reared under the influences of +our best families. Not that this is anything against his character, but +fact is fact." + +The room became quiet with interest in anticipation of what might +follow. It was true that their minister had come to them as an unknown +man, and they were certainly entitled to any disclosure of his past that +the city man might wish to give. But there was nothing more said on the +subject, and a murmur of disapproval ran over the audience. + +"I have finished, except to say that I honor your Elder for the firm +stand he has taken. Mr. Fox, you are to be congratulated on your +courage, and although I repeat that I would not think of influencing the +action of this assembly, I hope that every man and woman present may see +fit to support you." + +Captain Pott had grown more and more restless as time went on, and now +as the city minister began to move from the platform the Captain began +to move toward the open window. + +"I am ready to entertain any motion which you care to make," announced +the chairman. + +Mr. Beaver rose. With the first hiss from his lips, the Captain dropped +his hand over the sill and tapped the outside of the casing. Shouts went +up from the boys who stood beneath the window. These were answered by +cries of fire from various parts of town. The clang of the gong at the +fire-house broke through the stillness of the crowded room. Distant +alarms were rung with steady regularity. The meeting adjourned in a +body. + +The seaman had kept his promise, and "Providence had cut the pack for +the new deal." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +In an incredibly short time the church was emptied. Each one in the +crowd was shouting wild conjectures as to whose place was on fire as +they ran in the direction of the blaze. It was a strange sight that met +the gaze of the excited people as they came in full view of Dan Trelaw's +place. He was busily engaged pouring oil on unburned sections of his +hen-coops! Dan's hen-houses were located at the rear of his property, +and had been built from a collection of dry-goods boxes. They had been +the pride of his life, and as the crowd watched him pour on more oil, +some one declared that Dan must have gone out of his senses. Nor would +he permit the fire company to play their chemical hose. + +"It's come to a purty pass," Dan stated to the onlookers, "when a man +can't burn down his own coops to get rid of the mites without the whole +blame town turning out to interfere. If the very last one of you don't +clear out, I'll use my office as constable of this town to run the lot +of you in!" + +Hank Simpson was the chief of the volunteer corps, and Dan was chief of +the Little River police system. The two chiefs argued as to the rights +of the respective offices. Hank declared it was his official duty to put +the fire out. Dan as emphatically declared it was his official duty to +disperse the crowd. Finally, Hank admitted that Dan had a right to burn +his own property so long as the property of others was not endangered. +Some say that the chief of police answered the chief of the fire corps +with a slow and deliberate wink. + +"Now, all of you clear out and leave me to my fire," demanded Dan, as he +poured on more oil. + +Mr. McGowan had gone directly home after the preaching service. But he +did not sleep that night. It was very early on Monday morning when he +entered the kitchen. Miss Pipkin was already busy with the preparations +for breakfast. + +"Good morning, Mr. McGowan," greeted Miss Pipkin, cheerily. "Are you +all right this morning?" + +"Yes, thank you, Miss Pipkin." + +"I was afraid you'd be sick after last night. I didn't sleep none, I was +that excited when I got home. I've always been used to quiet meetings, +and that last night after you left was a disgrace. But you wasn't to +blame, no siree!" she finished with a vigorous shake of her head. + +"I am not so sure that you would find very many to agree with you." + +"Lan' sakes! How you do talk, Mr. McGowan! Don't you think I know what +it's all about? I ain't blind, and what I couldn't see through, Josiah +helped me with last night. You've got him to thank that they didn't vote +you out of your position." + +"Miss Pipkin, do you mean that the Captain spoke up in meeting?" + +"Well, he didn't exactly talk, but he stopped others from talking, and +that's about the same thing." + +"How?" asked the minister eagerly. + +"He kind of made me promise not to tell a soul, but I don't think he +meant you. Anyhow, you should know. You see, he was setting by a window, +and some of the boys from your club was on the outside, waiting. He +h'isted the window a little so's to get his hand through. Hank Simpson +and some others was at the fire-house, and when Josiah give them beneath +the window some sort of signal, they all shouted '_Fire_.' That was the +sign for others scattered round town, and they begun to shout, too. +Then, those at the fire-house got the cart out and rung the bells. It +was real funny, but don't tell Josiah I said so, because he was all +puffed up last night. He gave his signal just as Mr. Beaver got up to +make a motion to have you put out. Things was pretty strong against you +after Reverend Mr. Means spoke." + +"Mr. Means!" + +"Um-hm. He was there as big as life and sad as Job. He talked so +tearful-like that everybody was upset, but they didn't get to take a +vote, and that was a good thing, for there were some there that would +have voted against you, being so worked up, who wouldn't think of it in +their right senses. Mr. McGowan, them boys down to the Inn ain't going +to let you go from the town if they can keep you here. Them boys with +Josiah got up that fire scare last night." + +"But it was more than a scare, I saw the fire." + +"Course you did. 'Twas old Dan Trelaw's hen-house that was burned down. +The mites was bothering him, and he wanted the insurance to build a +better one." + +"He burned his hen-house to collect insurance?" + +"That's what Josiah said." + +"That's absurd. There isn't an insurance company in Suffolk County that +would write a policy on such junk, and if they did he could never +collect a cent if it is known he burned it on purpose." + +"Josiah said it wasn't a regular company, just local. I guess he'll get +his money, all right. Are you ready for your breakfast?" + +A boyish grin slowly lighted the minister's face as the truth of what +had happened dawned on him. + +"Do you mean----" + +"I ain't saying right out just what I mean," she broke in as she paused +on the kitchen threshold. "If you're real bright on guessing, you'll be +able to figure that out for yourself. The thing that's most interesting +to me is that the Lord is wonderful in the performing of all His works, +and we ain't to question how He brings 'em to pass. I wasn't much in +favor of the way Josiah done last night when he first told me, but the +more I think about it, the more it seems all right to me. It didn't seem +dignified and nice to break up even a bad meeting that way, but what +else was he to do? You've got to stay here, that's plain, and if He +ain't got saints enough to keep you He'll use the heathen.... Go right +in and set down." + +"I'm not sure that it will bring Providence or any one else much glory +if I stay here," said the minister, with a faint smile. + +Miss Pipkin returned with a steaming pot of coffee. She took her place +at the table and for some time eyed the minister in silence. She was a +thoroughgoing mystic in her religious faith, but her mysticism was +tempered with such a practical turn of mind that it was wholesome and +inspiring. + +"Mr. McGowan, it is the will of God that you stay right here in this +town. If we do His will we ain't to worry about the glory part," she +emphatically affirmed. She placed the cups and saucers beside the +coffee-pot and filled them. "You hit 'em hard last night, and that is +exactly what's ailing them. You've been hitting 'em too hard for +comfort. The shoe's pinching and they're not able to keep from showing +how it hurts. You hit me, too," she observed, looking earnestly into the +minister's eyes. + +"I'm sorry." + +"You needn't be, 'cause it wasn't you speaking. It was God speaking +through you. Them words you used for your text rung in my ears all night +long. I could hear 'em plainer than when you spoke 'em from the pulpit: +'Launch out into the deep.' Mr. McGowan, do you believe there is any +forgiveness for the unpardonable sin?" + +Evidently knowing that a minister of the Presbyterian faith could +entertain but one answer and remain a moral man, she did not wait for a +reply. + +"It was years ago when I first heard them words. They were just as +plain to me then as they was last night, but I refused to obey 'em. I +didn't think I could stand the ocean. You know the way I was coming +over from Riverhead. Well, I'm always sick on the water, and so I said +right out that I wouldn't set sail as a seaman's wife. I was young and +strong-headed then, and didn't understand. The man I said 'No' to went +off, and I never heard from him but three times since. Some said he +was drowned at sea, but I know he wasn't. I've been true to him all +these years, trying to atone for my sin of disobedience. If he'd +come back now, I'd go with him though he'd slay me." + +Mr. McGowan wanted to smile at the mixed figure, but the serious face +before him prevented him. "Did you say you never heard from him?" he +asked, sympathetically. + +"No. I didn't say that." She spoke sharply, but immediately her face +and tone softened. "I didn't mean to speak cross, but I ain't spoke of +this for years, and it upsets me when I think of what I done." + +"We'll not speak of it, then." + +"It won't disturb me the least bit. It sort of helps to talk about it. +I'm thinking all the time about him, how brave he was. He was so manly, +too, was my Adoniah." + +"Adoniah?" questioned the minister, sitting up with a suddenness that +astonished Miss Pipkin. + +"Adoniah was his first name. I ain't spoke it out loud for years. It +does sound sort of queer, doesn't it? I didn't think so then." She +sighed deeply. "The spirit of the Lord seemed to go away from me when +Adoniah did. If only he'd come back." + +"He has not left you. God is not a hard master, leaving people alone for +their shortcomings." + +"Do you think He'll send him back to me?" + +"He is here now. He has never left you." + +Miss Pipkin looked dazed, then puzzled, and finally provoked. "I didn't +think you'd trifle, or I'd never told you." + +"Indeed, I'm not trifling." + +"Then, what happened last night has gone to your head, poor thing! I'd +ought to have known better than to have troubled you with my sorrows. +You've got all you ought to carry. Poor thing!" + +She slowly pushed her chair from the table, eyeing the minister as +though expecting signs of an outbreak. But he motioned her back into her +chair with a calmness that reassured her. + +"I don't quite understand your meaning, I guess," she said. + +"And it is quite apparent that I didn't understand yours. You were +speaking of the Spirit of God leaving you, and I said He was right here +with you----" + +"Now, ain't I a caution to saints!" broke in Miss Pipkin. "I did mix you +up awful, didn't I? What I was asking you about was if you thought God +would send back my Adoniah Phillips. He----Why, Mr. McGowan, what's the +matter now?" + +The minister had risen and was looking oddly at the housekeeper. + +"What on earth have I said this time?" she implored. + +"You say your lover's name was Phillips, Adoniah Phillips?" + +Miss Pipkin did not reply, but looked at him fixedly. + +"Please, don't look at me like that, it makes me feel like I've been +guilty of something," he said, trying hard to smile. + +"You sure you ain't sick?" + +"Of course, I'm not ill. I'm slightly interested in that peculiar name. +I've heard it just once before, and I'm wondering if there is a chance +of its being the same man." + +"You've heard of him?" + +"Well, I have heard his name." + +"There ain't likely to be another name like his." + +"Have you any idea where he is at present? You said a bit ago that you +did not think he had been drowned at sea." + +"No," she answered curtly. + +"Can you so much as guess?" + +"I don't know if he's living at all, so of course I ain't got no idea +where he is," was her snappy reply. "Has he been telling you about me +and him?" she asked, nodding toward the up-stairs where the Captain was +presumably asleep. + +"He hasn't said anything to me, but----" + +"You'll promise not to repeat one word to him of what I just told you?" +she begged, again jerking her head toward the stair. + +"I promise to say nothing about what you have told me. But I have my +reasons for wanting to know something about this man Phillips." + +"What are your reasons?" + +"I should not have said reasons, for I guess it is nothing but my +curiosity that prompts me to ask. If you could tell me more of the facts +I might be able to help you locate him." + +"You mean you have an idea that he is still living?" + +"I can't say as to that, but if you'll only help me I am certain that we +shall find out something interesting." + +Miss Pipkin drew the corner of her apron across the corner of her eyes, +disappointment written deeply in every line and wrinkle of her face. + +"There ain't much more to tell. Adoniah went to sea. I got a letter from +him once from Australia. I wrote back saying I'd take back what I'd +said. He answered it, but didn't say nothing about what I said to him. +He spoke of meeting up with some one he knew, saying they was going in +business together. I ain't never told anybody about that, not even +Josiah, and I ain't going to tell you, for I don't think he was square +with Adoniah, but I can't prove it." + +The thud of heavy boots on the rear stair checked further comment she +seemed inclined to make, and she dried out the tears that stood in her +eyes with short quick dabs as she hurried to the kitchen. + +"Lan' of mercy!" she exclaimed, returning with a smoking waffle-iron. "I +clean forgot these, and they're burned to ashes. Here, don't you drink +that cold coffee, I'll heat it up again," she said, taking the cup. +Leaning closely to his ear, she whispered, "Mind, you ain't to tell a +living soul about what I said, and him above all others." + +The minister nodded. + +Miss Pipkin entered the kitchen just as the Captain opened the +stair-door. He sniffed the air as he greeted the two with a hearty "Good +morning." + +"Purty nigh never woke up. You'd otter have come up and tumbled me out, +Mack." + +"Rest well, did you?" + +"Just tolerable. Clemmie," he called, "I seem to smell something +burning. There ain't nothing, be there?" + +"We was busy talking, and them irons got too hot." + +"Talking, be you? Don't 'pear to have agreed with neither of you more +than it did with those irons." + +"You didn't pass a mirror on the way down this morning, or you'd not be +crowing so loud, Josiah." + +"No, that's a fact I didn't. You see, Eadie busted mine during that +cleaning raid, and I can't afford a new one." + +"You must have hit your funny-bone, or something," hinted Miss Pipkin as +she poured a cup of the reheated coffee. + +"Now, don't get mad, Clemmie. I was just fooling. Mack understands me +purty well, and he'll tell you that I didn't mean nothing by what I +said." + +"Josiah Pott! You're that disrespectful that I've a good mind to scold +you." + +"What's up now, Clemmie?" + +"The very idea! You calling the minister by his first name." + +"I've done it ever since I knowed him, and he wouldn't like me to change +now. Hey, Mr. McGowan?" + +"Call me by my first name, Cap'n. Too much dignity doesn't sit well on +your shoulders. You needn't mind, Miss Pipkin, for that is a habit that +was formed before I became a minister, and there is no disrespect, I +assure you." + +"You mean you two knowed each other before you come here?" + +"You see, Mack come to me one summer when I was starting on a cruise, +and he was such a good sailor that we spent four seasons together after +that." + +"You never told me that," said Miss Pipkin. + +"I didn't think to, Clemmie. Mack, have some more of these waffles. +They're mighty tasty. It takes Clemmie to cook 'em to a turn." + +"Just listen to that!" rejoined the housekeeper. "He ain't had none +yet." + +The minister did the unheard-of thing: he refused the offer of waffles! + +"Mack, you ain't going to let them hypocrites and wolves in sheep's +clothing come right up and steal your appetite out of your mouth, be +you?" + +Mr. McGowan assured him that he had no such intention. + +"You don't know what you're missing," declared the Captain, smacking his +lips to make the waffles appear more appetizing. "Have just one. Maybe +your appetite is one of them coming kind, and I'll swan if 'tis that one +taste of these would bring it with a gallop." + +"Don't urge him if he don't want 'em, Josiah." + +"Cal'late your talking must have gone to his stomach, hey, Clemmie?" + +"Josiah!" she exclaimed, coloring. "He'll soon forget all I said to +him." + +"You sartin give it to 'em good last night, Mack. It was the best I ever +heard. Got most of 'em where they lived, and you took 'em out into the +deep beyond their wading-line, too. How about you, Clemmie?" + +Miss Pipkin had important business in the kitchen. + +"Yes, Mack, that sure was a ringer," continued the Captain as he helped +himself to another layer of waffles. "Wonder if Clemmie took what you +said about launching out as literal?" + +Miss Pipkin returned with a plate of smoking waffles and placed them at +the Captain's side. + +"Thanks, Clemmie. I was 'feared you'd be setting out to sea in my dory +after hearing that sermon last night," he said banteringly, with a +twinkle in his eyes. "You'd best explain that your meaning was +figur'tive, Mack. I looked up that word once and it means----" + +"Josiah Pott! How can you be so cruel!" + +With a sob that rose from the depths, Miss Pipkin fled, slamming the +kitchen door after her. + +"I'll swear, if she ain't crying!" exclaimed the surprised seaman. "What +in tarnation do you suppose is up, Mack? You don't cal'late she thought +I was relating to her for earnest, do you?" + +He rose and started toward the door. Mr. McGowan laid a hand on his +friend's sleeve. + +"You'd better leave her alone." + +"But I never meant nothing. She'd otter know that. I'm going to tell +her," he said, pulling away from the minister, and trying the closed +door. "Clemmie, be sensible, and come out of there. I didn't mean +nothing, honest, I didn't." + +But Miss Pipkin did not come out. She did not so much as answer his +importunings. When the men were out of the dining-room she went +up-stairs, not to appear again that day. + +It was afternoon when Mr. McGowan hobbled out of his study, ate a light +lunch, put a few sandwiches in his pocket, and started in the direction +of the peninsula road that led to the beach. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +Mr. McGowan left the highway a little beyond the Fox estate, and +followed a crooked, narrow old footpath across-lots. The path dipped and +rose with the contour of the land till at last it lost itself in the +white level stretch of sandy beach. He walked on and on, so deeply +absorbed in his thoughts that he was unmindful of the blistered foot. It +was only when hunger pains conspired with the irritation of his foot +that he dropped on a log. He drew the sandwiches from his pocket, and +proceeded to devour them with genuine relish. For hours after he had +finished his lunch, he sat with his back to the warming rays of the +afternoon sun, and gazed vacantly across the wide stretches of +sand-dunes. + +The chill of the evening air roused him at length to the fact that he +must be going home. But when he tried to rise, he discovered that his +long walk had produced an ill effect on Miss Pipkin's remedy for +sprained ankles. He dropped back again on the log, pondering on how he +was to retrace his steps. The sun slipped into the misty haze that hung +low above the horizon of the autumn sky. The shadows crept slowly up out +of the waters and over the landscape. A thin cloud drifted in over the +Sound, through which a pale moon pushed a silvery edge. With the +gathering darkness there came a deep mystery over land and sea which +seemed to creep round and envelop him. + +Suddenly, the chill of the evening air was filled with a glowing warmth, +as when one senses the presence of a friend. He stared about him. He +listened intently. Could it be possible that this sudden change was only +a mental fancy? He hobbled a short way up the beach, and as he rounded a +promontory his weakened ankle turned on a loose stone. With an +exclamation he settled down on the sand. + +A figure near the water's edge rose as though startled. She paused, +ready for flight. Then with an involuntary cry came toward the man +huddled up on the sand. + +"O dear, you are hurt!" she cried, as he attempted to rise. + +"Elizabeth!" He spoke her name without thought of what he did, even as +she had unknowingly used the word of endearment in her exclamation of +surprise and concern. + +"You should not have walked so far," she said, her tone cordial, but her +eyes holding a smoldering fire. She helped him to a near-by stone, and +sat down beside him. + +"I somehow felt that you were near." + +"You thought--what?" + +"No, I did not think it, I just sensed it." + +"You certainly have a very fertile imagination." + +"Yes. It has been both my blessing and curse." + +"But how did you come to feel I was about here?" + +"I don't know. It does seem strange, doesn't it?" he mused. "But I was +certain----" + +"Perhaps you were thinking----" She stopped abruptly. + +"Of you," he finished for her. "I was. I was feeling quite lonely, and +couldn't help wishing I could talk with you." + +"I heard to-day that you are thinking of leaving Little River," she +suggested, tactfully changing what she considered a dangerous subject. + +"You heard that I intend to leave? Pray, tell----" + +"Then you're not going?" + +"Quite to the contrary, I intend to fight this thing through if it takes +a whole year." + +"I'm so glad!" There was deep relief in her voice. She hesitated before +continuing. "I had a terrible quarrel with Father this evening." + +"Why did you do that?" + +"I was very angry, and left him to come out here. It is the first time +we have ever really fallen out. I've thought over some of the unkind +things I said to him, and I am ashamed. I was about to go back to him +when you fell on those stones and hurt yourself." + +"You are right, Miss Fox. Go back to him. He will see differently, too, +now that he has had time to think it all over." + +"That is what worries me. He won't see differently, though I know he is +in the wrong. I'm afraid we'll quarrel again." + +"Then, I should wait. He will come to you in time." + +"Father will never do that," she said, sorrowfully. "I hurt him more +than I had any right." Searching the minister's face under the dim +light, she concluded: "Please, Mr. McGowan, don't blame Father too +severely for what happened last night! He is not himself." + +"Miss--Elizabeth! Did you quarrel with your father about me?" His heart +gave a bound into his throat. + +She nodded, looking for the world like a child grown tall. Her eyes did +not waver as they met the hungry look in his own. + +"About me?" he repeated incredulously. + +"Yes." + +A wild passion swept through him as he listened to the quiet affirmative. + +"It began about you and the Athletic Club. Father does not understand +about your work among the boys. It ended about you and the action of +the church last night." + +"But that action was not voted through." + +"I know. But the end is not yet." + +"Do you think that my relations with the Boys' Club is all that was +behind the abortive action last night?" + +"I----" + +"Would you advise me to give that work up for a while till all this +blows over?" + +"No, indeed!" she declared strongly. "I think----Well, he says that you +are not orthodox. Do you need to preach like that?" + +"If my theology is of poor quality, I can't help it. I can preach only +what is truth and reality to me." + +"But couldn't you be more careful how you do it? Couldn't you be less +frank, or something? Should you antagonize your people so?" + +"I'm sorry if I have really antagonized any one by what I say. Do you +find anything unorthodox in my sermons?" + +"That isn't a fair question to ask me. I'm not familiar with such +things. I thought you might preach less openly what you believe so +strenuously. Coat the pills so they'll go down with the taste of +orthodoxy." She smiled faintly. "I hate to see you putting weapons in +their hands." + +"And do you honestly think I'd be dealing fair with myself or with those +to whom I preach to sugar-coat my thoughts with something that looks +like poison to me?" + +She did not reply, but with a quick look she flashed from her wonderful +eyes a message he could not fail to catch even in the semi-darkness. She +dropped her hand lightly on his sleeve, and his fingers quickly closed +over hers. She drew nearer. He could feel the straying wisps of fair +hair against his hot cheek. His emotions taxed all his powers of +self-control. + +"We must be going," she said, rising. "Oh, I forgot your foot! You must +wait here till I send the trap for you along the beach." + +"Don't do that. I'll get on very well, if you'll help me a little." + +"Please, wait till I send Debbs. You'll hurt yourself." + +"Your father might object to my riding in his carriage," he remarked, +with a light laugh. + +"Mr. McGowan, you must not talk like that. I know you don't like him, +but he is really the best father in all the world!" + +"Forgive me, Miss Fox. I didn't mean to be rude. I'm afraid I was just +trying to be funny. As a matter of fact, I do like your father, but +there has been no opportunity----" + +"Have you tried very hard to find an opportunity? You've stayed away +from our house pretty consistently, and have not asked him one thing +about the church work." + +"I stayed away because I was requested to." + +"That was only for the time he was ill." + +"I'd be glad----" + +"Why will you grown men act like children sometimes?" + +"Miss Fox, please be seated again," requested the minister, a note of +authority in his voice. "I have something important to say to you, and +the time may not come again." + +The girl obeyed, taking her place close beside him on the stone. + +"I see you do not understand what has brought this trouble between your +father and me. Neither do I, but I don't think that it's a matter of +doctrine. Nor do I believe that it's the work I've been doing down at +the Inn with the boys. Some cause strikes deeper than both. They are +merely excuses. You remember that he made no objection to me in the +beginning along these lines, and I preached no less strenuously then, as +you call it, than I do now. In fact, had it not been for your father I +doubt very much if the installation had gone through last summer. Behind +the scenes there is another man, and he is pulling the strings while he +directs the play. When I was ordained to the ministry in the New York +Presbytery, that man fought me desperately, while he raised no +objections to others who were ordained at the same time, and who held +views far more radical than mine. That man was at the installation. +When your father told me that he was coming, I made no protest, for I +saw that there was a fast friendship between the two. You know what that +man tried to do at the installation. You doubtless know, too, that he +has been much with your father of late. You also saw him at the meeting +last night. + +"Miss Fox, if we knew all the facts, we should be able to lay the blame +for this trouble and your father's condition right where it belongs." + +"You refer to Mr. Means?" + +"I do. What it is----" + +"Mr. McGowan, if you think any man can influence my father, you do not +know him. I dislike Mr. Means, maybe because he is so preachy. But he +cannot influence Father." + +"I wish I could believe that!" + +"You must believe it. You are letting your imagination color your +judgment." + +"I should like to believe anything you tell me, but I can't believe +anything else than that Mr. Means stands behind this whole mess. Just +why, I don't know, but it looks very much as though there is a skeleton +concealed in his closet, and he's afraid that I'm going to let it +out." + +"Why did you say that?" + +"I don't know. I can't see what connection I could possibly have with +the man." + +"You are talking nonsense!" + +"Perhaps, but truth sometimes masquerades in the garb of the court +fool." + +"Just what do you mean?" + +"I wish to heaven I knew!" + +"Do you think----" She paused. She searched his face, which was dimly +and fitfully lighted by the moonbeams as they broke through the +phantom-like clouds that were beginning to sweep the heavens. "Tell me, +please, just what it is you are thinking." + +"I dare not. But there is some reason not yet come to light, and it is +sheltered in the mind of Mr. Means." + +"Perhaps he knew you before you entered the ministry?" she half +suggested, half questioned. + +"I have no recollection of even so much as meeting him before coming +before the ordaining Presbytery of which he was a member. So far as the +history of my life is concerned, he may find out the whole of it, if he +so wishes. It wouldn't make very interesting reading, though. Miss +Fox,"--his voice took on the quality of his earnestness,--"if you have +any way of finding out what the actual cause is for the conditions in my +church, I shall do all in my power to make amends, providing the fault +is mine." + +"Why don't you go to him? He might be reasonable, and listen to you." + +"Didn't I go to him? Didn't I try to find out what I had done till you +and the doctor forbid my coming again?" + +"I don't mean Father. Why don't you go to Mr. Means?" + +"Would you, if you were in my position?" + +She shook her head decidedly. "But I don't like him." + +"Perhaps that may be my reason, too." + +"But I thought all ministers had to love everybody." + +"We might love the man, but not his ways." + +"There's no merit in saying a thing like that when a man and his ways +are one and the same thing, as is the case with Mr. Means." + +"I'm honest when I say I have nothing against Mr. Means. I don't know +the man well enough for that. I suppose he can't help his ways." + +"There, you've gone and spoiled it. I was beginning to think that you +are like other men." + +"Like other men?" + +"Men who love and hate. I suppose you'll be telling me next that you are +really fond of that man who fought you at the Inn." + +"He was a good boxer," was the enthusiastic reply. + +"And you like him?" + +"I might if I knew him." + +"Can you fight everybody like that, and still have love for them?" + +"Self-control is the better word. Unless a man can learn that, he had +better stay out of the ring. What is true in boxing, is just as true in +life." + +"But, when there are those who threaten to wreck your whole life and +your work, what are you going to do?" + +"That is the time when one needs to summon every ounce of self-control +he possesses. It is when the other man is seeking to land a knock-out +blow that one needs to keep his head the coolest, for unless he does he +can't make his best calculations." + +"Oh, Mr. McGowan! You'll keep that way in this trouble, and not let any +of them get in that kind of blow?" + +"Yes, if you will only help me." + +"I help you? But I can't!" + +"No one else can." + +"Oh!" cried the girl, beginning to take in the meaning of his words. + +"Elizabeth----" + +"Don't say it, please!" Her fingers went to her lips in a hurt gesture. +"You may spoil everything." + +"I must speak. I love you! I have loved you from the first day beneath +that old elm-tree on the Captain's place." + +"Oh!"--she sprang to her feet and faced him,--"now, you have made it +impossible for me to help you, where before I might have done +something!" + +"Only if you say so." + +"I did so want to help you! You seem so alone in this trouble! I thought +you were going to give me an opportunity. I thought you would tell me +how!" Her mobile lips puckered as the shadow of pain flitted across the +light of her eyes. + +"Elizabeth!" he called, holding out his hand. + +"Why did you say that to me?" she cried, her youthful face deeply +furrowed as though she had grown suddenly very tired. + +"Because I could not help it. I've known so little of love in my life +that since this has come to me it hurts like the turning of a knife. +I've never been accustomed to human care like other men. Had I been, I +should have been able to hide my feelings behind the screen of pretense. +You asked me a while ago why I do not love and hate like other men. I do +love, and I hate! I have been schooled all my life to hide my hates, but +experience neglected me with the other. Elizabeth----" + +She drew farther from him. + +"I don't think I understand you," she said, her eyes widening in the +light of the moon till they appeared like two shining orbs. "Have I +given you any reason to think of me like that?" + +"No. But I thought----" + +She drew into the shadows that he might not see the rapid rise and fall +of her bosom. "Forgive me, if I have!" + +"I'm the one to be forgiven. I've never had much instruction concerning +social custom. I was reared where they were little known. In school I +was too busy to bother about them. I'm crude. But, Elizabeth, I love +you. I see now that I've no right to tell you, but I couldn't help it. +I've been driven to desperation. I have been like a caged animal for +weeks past. I've been wild for just a little love and understanding in +the midst of all I've gone through. But you don't love me!" His breath +was coming hard. He trembled as he rose. "You will love me some day! God +will not let a man love as I do and give nothing in return!" + +Stirred with pity, Elizabeth came to him from out the darkness. + +"Forgive me," he said as she came nearer. "I had no idea it would be +like this." + +She did not take the hand he extended, but folding her arms behind her, +she stood quite still and stared. "I'm so sorry! But I don't understand +you at all." + +"You need not try. I don't understand myself. I have never been through +anything like this in all my life. I thought instinct would lead you +right to me. I never questioned but that you would understand. But don't +try, for I can't explain. This afternoon I had just one thought: to tell +you how I love you. I thought it would make me happy. Happy!" He laughed +bitterly. "I didn't stop to reason. It seems I have no reason." + +"Mr. McGowan, please stop! You frighten me," cried the girl, drawing +away again as he limped a step in her direction. + +"Hate!" That one word was like the sharp sudden sting of a whip. "I hate +this age of social position, where money stands above the man. I hate +the shell of so-called good families, as if lineage made the man, +instead of man making the lineage. I hate----" + +"You must stop! Love that gives such torment as you have been describing +to me is apt to turn out as nothing more than infatuation. I care for +you, but in no such way as you have indicated to me. I want you for a +friend. Don't spoil that!" + +He hobbled off down the beach as rapidly as his limping foot could +travel. The girl came to his side and slipped her arm through his. "Lean +on me just as heavily as you like," she urged. "I know you think me +unkind and cruel, but I do so want to help you." Her voice broke +unsteadily. + +"I don't think you unkind, Miss Fox," replied the minister as he +accepted her proffered assistance. "The cruel thing is this that has +been burning within like fire. If you only knew----" + +"Mr. McGowan,"--she interrupted kindly,--"I cannot tell you as to the +height of esteem in which I hold you. Nothing can ever harm that. But +even if I cared for you as you ask of me, don't you see how impossible +it would be for me to go back on Father? I can't help but think there +must be some real reason for the attitude he has taken against you." + +"Do you honestly believe what you have just said?" + +"Is there any reason why I should not believe it?" + +"I suppose not," he replied, heavy fatigue in his voice. + +She saw from his averted face that her question had pained him. She +wanted to speak, to soften her question, but no words came to her dry +lips. + +The way home was traveled in silence. They reached the pile of stones +below her father's place, and Elizabeth released her aching arm. In +silence they watched the strangely mottled effect where the moonlight +fell in patches across the water as the clouds flitted past. A patter of +rain, accompanied by a sharp whistle of wind, warned them of coming +storm. + +"I'll go up the path with you, and go home by the road," volunteered the +minister. + +"No, indeed. It will be much easier walking for you along the beach, and +you'll not need to climb any hill. I'll call to you from the back gate, +and you'll know I'm safe." She turned toward him once more. "Harold came +home to-day, and Father has been worse since that. Harold found out +something about the man he went over to Australia to look up. He must +have told Father about it to-day. Since then he has been in a terrible +state of mind. It seems that Harold found out something about you, +too." + +Mr. McGowan was too surprised to reply. + +"Against you, Father says. I was not going to tell you this, but you +have compelled me to do it by what you said to me. I know nothing of +your past life." + +"Miss Fox, will you be kind enough to explain?" + +"I have nothing to explain. All I know is that from the way Father acted +it must not be to your credit." + +He looked his amazement. + +"Good night," she said, extending her hand. "You will not forget what +you said about the way one should do in boxing, will you?" + +He smiled faintly. + +"Mr. McGowan, you are not going to disappoint me, are you?" + +"Would it make much difference? You seem to have already formed your +opinion from the things you have heard." + +"If you are going to give up like that it will make no difference what +you do. I thought you were more of a man than that." + +She turned and ran up the path. At the top of the pile of stones she +stopped, her slim outline silhouetted in clear-cut lines against a patch +of moonlight, and her loosened hair giving the suggestion of a halo as +the mellow light played through. She lifted her hand as she declared, +"And you are more of a man. I do not believe that whatever Father thinks +he has found out can harm you in the least. That is what we really +quarreled about to-day. Does that tell you how much I care? 'Now is the +time when you need to summon every ounce of self-control you possess. +When other men are seeking to land the knock-out blow you should keep +your head the coolest, for unless you do you cannot make your best +calculations.' You see, I have not forgotten, and neither must you. And +in everything, Mack," she finished, hurriedly. + +The rear gate clicked, and she sent him a light trill. + +The minister went to his study as soon as he reached home. For hours he +sat, his mind a blank. He was roused at last by the opening of his study +door. He looked up into the face of his old friend. The blue eyes, +usually clear and steady, had a faded look as though the fire in them +had suddenly gone out. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +"I've been shut up with the most onreasonable feller I ever see in all +my life," said the Captain to the unasked question in the minister's +eyes. "I cal'late I'll keep my thoughts to myself to-night, Mack, and +sleep on them. The way I feel wouldn't be conducive to prayer-meeting +language. Good night, son." + +It was scarcely daylight when Miss Pipkin began work in the kitchen on +the following morning. Shortly afterward the Captain descended. + +"Morning, Clemmie." He held the kitchen door ajar, and his voice wavered +as he spoke. + +Miss Pipkin did not reply. The Captain, to reinforce his courage, +stepped back into the dining-room. Miss Pipkin walked over and closed +the door. This spurred the seaman to action. He cautiously pushed the +door open again, and peeped through a narrow crack. + +"Clemmie, be you in there?" + +"Where else do you think I'd be, down the well?" + +"Can't I talk to you, Clemmie?" + +"No. I don't want you to come sneaking into my kitchen at this hour in +the morning. You ought to be in bed." + +A note of friendliness in her voice led him to open the door a little +wider. + +"You're up too early, Clemmie." + +"I've got a lot of work to do." + +"If you ain't too busy, I'd like awful well to speak to you about +something." + +"Well, I am busy, leastwise too busy to be bothered with your +nonsense." + +"It ain't foolishness this time." + +Something in his tone made her look up into the face framed in the crack +of the door. + +"Josiah!" she cried at sight of the drawn features. + +He threw open the door and entered. + +"Mr. McGowan ain't sick this morning, is he?" she asked. + +"No. Leastwise he wa'n't when I passed the time of night or early +morning with him on my way to bed." + +"Are you sick, Josiah?" + +"What I got might be called that, Clemmie. I'm sick of the hull damn +round of life," he said, despondently. + +"Josiah Pott! How you do talk! What do you mean by it, anyhow?" + +"Purty much as I say. I'm always bungling things of late. I--well----" + +"Now, you set down in that chair, and stop staring at me for all the +world like an old wood-owl, 'most scaring the wits out of me. One would +think you'd gone clean out of your head. I never heard you talk so in +all my born days. If you ain't sick, you're in a heap of trouble. Now, +do as I tell you and set down. Tell me what's wrong, that is if that's +what you come down for." + +"That's why I come down, Clemmie," he said, slouching into one of the +kitchen chairs. "I heerd you come down-stairs, and I just had to follow. +Fust of all, I want to tell you how bad I feel about them things I said +yesterday morning that hurt your feelings so." + +"For the lan' sakes! Be that what's ailing you? I thought it was +something that amounted to something," she declared, the color rising +into her faded cheeks. + +"That does amount to something. It means a lot to me. That ain't all, +but I wanted to get it off my chest fust. I was never intending less to +hurt nobody than when I said that to you. I thought 'twould cheer you +and Mack up a little; you was both looking a mite blue. You're a good +woman, Clemmie, and any man that'd insult you would have me to settle +with purty tolerable quick. You know how much I think of you." + +"Be you beginning to propose again?" she asked, her arms akimbo. "If +that's what's ailing you, and you're asking my pardon just to get ready +to ask me----" + +"Don't get mad, Clemmie. No, I ain't going to get down on my old +prayer-bones, they're a mite too squeaky, though I'd be willing enough +to do it if I thought it would do any good. I ain't going to pester you +any more about that. You know your mind, and it ain't right for me to be +disturbing it at my time of life." + +"Then, Josiah, if you ain't love-sick, what is it?" + +"Maybe that's a part of what's ailing me. But what I want you to say +this morning is that you ain't got nothing against me for what I said +yesterday about you taking to sea in my dory." + +"Josiah, that was awful foolish in me. You'd best forgive me, too, for +the way I acted." + +"Thanks, Clemmie. You've sartinly done me many a good turn, and it would +be a wonder if I wa'n't in love with you. You've always been mighty good +and kind to me. But, there, don't you get excited again, I ain't going +to say nothing more about it." + +"Tell me about your trouble, Josiah." + +The old seaman pulled hard at the ends of his ragged moustache, and his +voice grew husky. "I felt just like I had to tell somebody. I was going +to tell Mack last night when I see a light in his study, but when I went +in I see he had all he could tote, so I just went on up to my room +without telling him.... You know I've been out of a job for quite a +spell." + +"It has been long for you," nodded Miss Pipkin as she drew another chair +opposite. "But you've got the church to look after." + +"That ain't my trade, and it comes hard. I feel all the time like I'd +clumb onto the wrong deck. I'd hoped to get a ship afore now. Jim +promised me one, and----" + +"Do you mean you've been expecting to get a ship through Jim Fox? Why, +Josiah Pott! He'd not give you a splinter to hang on if you was +drowning. Depending on him! Pooh! I thought you had more sense than +that." + +"But I ain't. I'm just what I've told you afore, an old fool. I cal'late +I know how you feel about Jim. I'd always felt that way, too, till he +come honeying round me this spring. You called me once an old fool with +good intentions. I cal'late you ain't far off in your soundings." + +"I never said that!" she rejoined. "Anyhow, I didn't mean it like +that." + +"You don't need to excuse what you said. It's God's truth. That's +exactly what I be." + +"You ain't, neither, and I don't see why you want to talk that way. What +I don't see, neither, is why you want to go hanging round, waiting for +that man to give you a ship. There's plenty of others that would be glad +to get you." + +"I ain't sartin 'bout that last p'int. You see, I ain't so young no +more. I'm getting up in years, and ship-owners ain't hiring none but +young men." + +"Nonsense! There you go again. As long as you think and talk like +Methuselah there ain't no owner going to take a chance on you for fear +you'd forget the name of the port he'd ordered you to. You get that idea +out of your head along with the notion that Jim Fox is going to help +you, and you'll get a ship. The very best there is afloat, too." + +"It's mighty kind of you to say that, Clemmie. I cal'late the notion +about Jim is purty well shook out. That's one thing I wanted to talk to +you about. You know the old place here had been sort of run down for a +good many year. I'd always held to the idea that some day I'd come back +here after I'd got rich, remodel the home, and get the best woman in all +the world to ship side by side with me as best mate. I've told you all +that afore, many the time, Clemmie." + +Miss Pipkin barely nodded. The suggestion of moisture gathered in her +eyes as she gazed at the tragic face before her. + +"Well, I'm back, and it looks like it was for good and all, but I ain't +got no money, and I don't see no way to get any unless I rob somebody. +And the law won't let me do that. The trouble is that I'm up to my +gunwales in debt." + +"In debt!" To Miss Pipkin's mind there was no greater calamity in the +world than to be in debt. She, too, had suffered a like fate many years +ago. + +"Yes. In bad, too. Jim come up to my house last spring just afore the +minister took up his new quarters here, and he says to me: 'Here's some +money to repair your place with. There'll be no interest on it. It's +because of my civic pride in the affairs of Little River that I make +you this liberal offer.' Well, it did look too good to be true, but I +couldn't see nothing wrong, and he promised me on his word to see that I +got a ship, the very next one his company was to send out. I ain't much +up on them legal papers. I ain't had nothing to do with any kind of +papers for years 'cepting owners' orders. I took his word for 'em being +straight. I wouldn't have took a cent of the money if them papers had +been straight as the Bible, but he promised me so fair and square to +place me that I fell for him hard. You know he's one of the owners of +the Atlantic Coastwise Trading Company. Well, I went right down to the +city next day, and for several days I hung round. Then, they told me +another feller got in ahead of me. When I was going out I see Jim in one +of them little glass rooms talking earnest-like to some of his partners, +and I heerd him speak my name. I knew right off that there was something +up the mizzenmast. I come home, and waited. It was then I found Mack in +the house. Mrs. Beaver put him in here while I was away. I also found +the painters all over the place. I knew right off that Jim had me on +the hip, but I couldn't make out what his game was. Yesterday the thing +come tumbling down on my head; a lawyer brought it. Them papers I signed +up has turned out to be a mortgage on my old home." + +Miss Pipkin gasped. "A mortgage and a lawyer was here to see you +yesterday?" + +"They sure was. One of 'em brung the other, and I had to meet 'em both +alone. They seemed real glad to see me, but I wa'n't none too friendly +with either of 'em." + +"Josiah, stop your joking. You say there was a lawyer here to see you, +and he brought a mortgage on your place?" + +The old man looked away and cleared his throat. "The feller come from +the city. He showed me how them papers called for a settlement afore the +fust of November. I ain't got a chance in the hull world to get hold of +any money afore then. He said something about a foreclosure, too, and he +said that meant I was to lose my place. He see how hard I took it, and +was real kind. He said he'd come all the way from the city just to let +me know." + +"Kind! Pooh! You'd better have showed him the door like you told me you +did Harry Beaver." + +"It wa'n't his fault, Clemmie. He was real sorry. He was just doing his +duty. He offered to buy the place after I'd showed him about. What he +said he'd give wa'n't what it's wuth by a heap, but it would pay Jim off +and leave me a mite." + +"Offered to buy it, did he? Well, you didn't tell him you'd sell, did +you?" + +"Not for sartin, I didn't. I told him I'd think it over a spell and let +him know." + +"Let him know! Pooh! I should say you will think it over, and for a +purty long spell, too. You ain't going to sell a foot of it! That feller +wasn't here for himself. He was playing one of Jim Fox's tricks on +you." + +"But, Clemmie,----" + +"Josiah, you mark my word, that lawyer feller was here to buy this place +for Jim Fox. It's as plain as the nose on your face, and I don't need +to look twice to see that. Don't you dare to sell one inch of this +place." + +The Captain rubbed the organ to which Miss Pipkin referred, and thought +for some time. "Suppose your guess is right, and he did come for Jim, +there ain't nothing left for me but to sell. That's better than losing +everything." He tried to clear his husky voice. "It's kind of hard. I've +got you and the minister here now, and I'm sort of obligated to you +both. It's kind of hard." + +"Obligated, fiddlesticks! I ain't so young that I can't take care of +myself, nor so old, neither. I'll get on all right, and the minister, +too, for that matter." Her voice dropped with an unsteady quality. "But +what you're going to do, I can't see." + +He shook his head wearily. "I've been trying to see some way all night +long, but I can't, 'cepting to sell." + +"Josiah,"--she crossed over and laid her hand on his shoulder,--"there's +a picture in the setting-room that says beneath it something like this: +'Don't Give Up the Ship.' I was looking at it yesterday after I'd been +so silly about what you said to me. I must have been sent to the +picture for a purpose in this hour of our trial. We ain't going to give +up the ship, not till we have to." + +"But he's got the law on his side, and I ain't got nothing on mine." + +"You've got a clear conscience, and that's more than all the law with +which he's clothing his guilty mind. And, then,"--she eyed him +closely,--"you've got me. Does that help? We ain't going to run up the +white flag till we have to, and I don't care if he's got the whole +creation on his side." + +He rose and laid his rough palm over the bony fingers on his shoulder. +"Do you mean that you're going to stick by me, Clemmie?" + +She nodded. + +"I cal'late that'll help a heap, even if things go dead against me. It's +purty nigh three weeks afore he can close up on me," he faltered, as +though he dared not hope even in the presence of this unexpected aid +that had come to him. "What are we going to do?" + +"The fust thing you're going to do is to see Jim Fox himself, and you're +going to tell him that you're going to see a good lawyer, the best you +can find. If them papers ain't straight he'll show plain that he's +worried." She drew her hand from his. "Josiah, I'm going to show you +something I ain't ever showed to a living soul. It ain't much, but it +might start you along the right way of finding something out." + +She went to her room, and soon returned with a piece of paper. It was +yellow with age, and had to be handled with care to keep it from falling +apart at the creases. She handed it to the Captain, indicating a section +for him to read. He nearly tumbled from his chair as the truth it +conveyed concerning the past life of Jim Fox flashed into his mind. + +"Holy mackerel!" + +The entrance of the minister prevented further comment, except for the +Captain to whisper: + +"Thanks, Clemmie. 'Twill help, I cal'late. You're a good woman," he +finished, taking her hand between both of his. "You're smart, too. +You've helped me more than you know, and God bless you!" + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +That evening the Captain dropped the brass knocker to the Elder's front +door with a heavy thud. A servant opened the door. + +"I want to see Mr. Fox." + +"He's not in, sir. Will you leave any----" + +"Who is it, Debbs?" called a voice from the top of the stair. + +"Captain Pott, sir. I thought you was to see no one to-night, sir." + +"That's all right. Send him right up to my room." + +The Elder's den was across the hall from his daughter's room, in the +most quiet part of the house. + +"Right in here, Josiah. We shall be more private here than down-stairs." + +The Captain entered, and took the chair indicated by the Elder. + +"I was very busy, and told Debbs I was not to be disturbed, but I +recognized your voice, and--er--wanted to see you. It has been quite a +long while since we have had a friendly chat, Josiah. I wish you would +come more often. I get very lonesome in this big place. Have a cigar? +No? I shall, if you don't mind." + +"We ain't been none too neighborly, as you might say." + +"Why don't you come up once in a while?" + +"Cal'late for the same reason you don't get over to the other end of the +road. For one thing, I'm too busy paying off debts." + +The Elder looked questioningly at the seaman as he touched the lighted +end of a match to his cigar. "That is true. We--er--are busy, too busy +for our own good. We ought to be more sociable here in Little River. We +need something to stir us up." + +"We're too damn selfish, if you ask me. As far as stirring goes, I +cal'late we've got as much of that as any town along this coast. About +all a feller can do is to set his teeth against the hurricane and +grin." + +The Elder laughed without restraint, and his visitor began to show signs +of uneasiness. + +"You'd best be careful with them delicate blood-vessels," mildly +suggested the Captain. + +"True, Josiah. But that was a good joke, a very good joke. One can take +it in two ways." + +"Not the way I mean it. There's enough gossip----" + +"Yes, we are too selfish," broke in the Elder, "and it is too bad. I +often think of the time we were kids together. We had our little scraps, +made up, and were ready to fight for each other." + +The Captain could recall no occasion when he had fought for Jim Fox. + +"How long ago that all seems! Yet how--er--happy were those days. No +cares. No sorrows. No troubles. No misunderstandings. Excuse me, Josiah. +I don't know why it is that I hark back like this when we get together. +But it does me a world of good." + +"Maybe you've got another fish to fry," suggested the Captain, wholly +untouched by the Elder's memory picture. "That was the way you done when +you wanted us boys to do something for you, and you ain't got over it +with age." + +"I was quite a diplomat in those days, wasn't I? But we can't bring them +back. No, sir, we can't. They are--er--gone forever." + +"I ain't sartin I want to fetch 'em back. Leastwise, that wa'n't my +purpose in coming here to-night. I come over to see you about that +mortgage you slipped over on me." + +"Mortgage?" + +"Yes, mortgage." + +"Oh! You refer to that little loan I made you some time ago? That +was--er--real humor calling it a mortgage." + +"It may be funny to you, but it ain't to me." + +"I hope that little matter isn't bothering you." + +"It ain't, but a feller from the city is. He told me you was intending +to take my place." + +"I'm sorry he told you that. I do not know what I should do with it if I +had it." + +"I don't know what I'd do without it, Jim." + +"I think it can be arranged without difficulty. It is such a small +matter." + +"It may look small to you, but it looks a heap sight different to me." + +"I know, Josiah. It is very opportune that you have come to me to-night. +Not more than an hour ago I was thinking of you, and wishing I +might--er--see you. I have been thinking, too, of others, some who stood +by me in time of peril and poverty. I feel greatly indebted to them, and +since they were members of your family, I must now show my appreciation +for their kindness." + +"I cal'late you're referring to them you served a dirty trick over in +Australia." + +"Why, Josiah! I have told you a hundred times that I was never in +Australia," declared the other, paling slightly. + +"That's so, you have, Jim. Excuse me." + +"As I was saying," he continued, showing great relief, "I feel indebted +to them, and I want to pay back----" + +"Look here, Jim, you needn't offer none of your blood money. It don't +look good to me." + +It was a bold stroke, but it went home. The color crept slowly from the +Elder's sanguine face. + +"I have no intention of offering you charity." + +"You know damn well you dasn't. I'm not speaking of charity, and you +know that, too, Jim. I'm speaking of blood money, and I mean just what I +say." + +"You are still the same doubting Thomas, I see. Do you recall how you +were always the last one--er--to be won over to a new enterprise?" The +Elder tried to smile. + +"I had good reason to go slow. A mite of caution is a purty fair +endowment of nature where some people's schemes is concerned. If I'd +used a little of it last spring I'd not be in the fix I am to-day." + +"But that bump of caution on your head is pretty hard on your friends." + +"I cal'late it won't hurt my friends none. We wa'n't speaking of them +just then. Anyhow, it's kept me with a clean conscience to sleep with, +and I'd a heap sight rather ship with clear rigging than be ballasted +with some people's money and have to make bedfellows with their +conscience." + +"Yes,--er--ahem--quite true," was the hasty reply. "What can I do for +you, Josiah? If I can be of the least service,--er--I shall be only too +glad." + +"It depends on what you've got to offer me. The fust thing I'd like to +suggest is that you stop that there er-ing and hem-ing. There ain't no +one here but me, and it don't make no impression. Being that you're so +infernal anxious to get back to boyhood days we might just as well go +all-hog on it. You didn't try none of that foolishness then." + +"What you say is quite true." The Elder stroked his chops thoughtfully. + +"You didn't have them things to pet, neither. You might just as well +stop that. It makes me nervous." + +Elder Fox eyed him narrowly. He had a mind to tell this man to leave his +house at once. He even entertained the thought that it might be a good +thing to call Debbs and have him put out. But a certain fear, which had +for years haunted the Elder, laid a cold restraining hand on his +inclinations. + +"Yes, Josiah, those are habits that I have formed in business. Dealing +with so many different kinds of men makes us do odd things at times, and +if repeated often enough they become habits. I have always tried to be +courteous even to men that bore me, and I presume I took on those +senseless little syllables to temper my natural brusqueness." + +"Well, you don't need 'em to-night, and you can be as brusque as you +like." + +"Before we speak of that little matter between us, I have something else +I want to say. When we have finished, I trust there will be no need to +mention the other." + +"If it's advice you're wanting to give, I'll tell you right off that +I've had enough of it. What I need is time on that mortgage you and your +crooked lawyer put over on me." + +"There may be lots of money in what I have to propose. In fact, there +is, if you do as I say. How badly do you want a ship to man and +command?" + +"See here, Jim, I ain't in no frame of mind to be fooled with to-night. +If you don't mean just what you're going to say, you'd best not say +it." + +"I mean every word of it, but I shall expect more consideration and +respect from you before I open my mouth again." + +"If you're in dead earnest, Jim, I beg your pardon. This damn mortgage +has got on my nerves purty bad. Heave over your proposition, and get it +off your chest." + +"I shall have to exact one promise from you." + +The Captain took one step toward the Elder's chair, his swarthy old face +alight with anticipation and hope. One promise! He would give a hundred, +and keep them all. The Captain was fine-looking at all times, every span +of him a man and a seaman. But when his face was bright with eagerness, +and his muscular body tense with anticipation, he was superb. To those +less steeled against human magnetism than Mr. Fox, he was irresistible +at such times. The Elder merely waved him back to the vacated chair. + +"That one promise will bind us both," he said coldly. "In fact, it is +to your interest as well as to mine to make it. You will not see it at +first, but time will prove that I am right in asking it." + +"I'll promise anything that's reasonable if you'll only swing me the job +of skipper." + +"Very well." The Elder began to shuffle some papers with deft fingers. + +"But that there mortgage, Jim, is soon due, and----" + +"We shall not speak of that for the present. There are other ways of +disposing of mortgages than by paying them," he remarked, striking a +match and holding it significantly beneath a piece of paper which the +Captain recognized as the one displayed by the lawyer yesterday. + +Captain Pott did not take his eyes from the face of the man across the +table. A suspicion was forcing its way into his mind, and it was as +unpleasant as it was unwelcome. + +"How do I know that you'll keep your end of the promise, Jim?" + +"You have my word." + +"I had that afore, at the time you give me that money, but it didn't get +me nothing." + +"I do not remember that I gave any definite promise. I said I would do +my best for you, and I did." + +"Maybe you done your best, but----" + +"We'll not quarrel about that. There is nothing indefinite about the +position I have to offer you this time. I have the papers here on my +table, and the command is yours in less than five minutes after you make +the promise. At the same time the note for my loan to you goes into the +fire." + +"Well, is there any special reason why you should take so long to get +this thing off your chest?" + +"I want you to realize the importance of the request I have to make." +The Elder threw aside what little mask he had been wearing. An imperious +note crept into his voice, giving it a hard metallic ring. "It is time +for you to recognize, Josiah, that I have you about where I want you. I +can make or ruin you in five minutes, and it all depends on how you +reply now. Think hard before you answer." + +"That's right, Jim, you've got me with a purty tight hip-hold," admitted +the Captain. "But I'm waiting just now for them orders to see if I'm +going to sign up." + +"You'll sign up, I'm not afraid of that. That is, if you really wish to +keep your place. The promise that you are to make to me is concerning +the man staying in your house." + +Captain Pott stiffened, and threw up his guard. He carefully concealed +his rising anger, however. He must be more certain of his ground before +he made any leap that might prove dangerous. + +"What in tarnation has he got to do with this affair?" + +"He has everything to do with it, so far as you are concerned at this +particular moment. We must get that man out of this town. You must +believe me when I tell you that such action is as much to your interest +as mine. If he is permitted to stay here----" + +"Heave to, there, Jim!" exploded the seaman. He leaned across the table +and glared at the man on the other side. + +"There, now, sit down and compose yourself," soothed the Elder. "I was +prepared for you to take it this way at first. I don't mean anything +against the man, so far as his personal character is concerned, but his +presence here is a decided menace both to you and me. If I dared to tell +you the whole truth, you, too, would see the sense of my request. It is +best that he go for his own good, too. Some physical violence will +certainly be done him if he remains. You must see with me that it is +best on that one point that we remove him quietly from the town. Sim +Hicks has sworn to do him harm. Now, you are the logical man to go to +Mr. McGowan, and show him the sense of his leaving Little River. You +seem to be the only one who can influence him in any degree." + +"By the Almighty, Jim Fox! If it wa'n't for your darter, I'd swipe up +this floor with your dirty carcass!" + +"It will be best if you take this calmly, Josiah, and stop your +foolish raving. Just listen to reason for once in your life. There is a +past in that man's life known to a very select few. I came across it +accidentally. If it became known it would create no end of scandal +and ruin our little church. That man had no good intention in +putting in his request for the Little River pulpit. What is more, he is +not a real minister of the gospel. He is using it merely as a pretext." + +The Captain caught his breath. "He ain't a minister? What do you mean by +that?" + +"Nothing more than what it conveys to your mind. I cannot tell you more, +just now." + +"Jim, you're lying to me!" + +"Be careful, Josiah. You are making a very serious charge, and I may +decide to make you prove it in court." + +The seaman reached into his coat-pocket for the yellow bit of paper +which Miss Pipkin had given him that morning. But he quickly withdrew +his hand without the paper. The thought flashed through his mind that he +could not prove with certainty the truth of the message written +thereon. + +"I've got something here in my pocket that'd interest you a heap, Jim. +But I ain't able to prove it all, so it can wait for a spell. But if it +leads in the direction I think it does, the Lord pity you!" + +"I'd advise you to hold your tongue, as it might get you into trouble. +If you will drop all that foolishness about getting even with me for +imaginary wrongs, we shall be able to talk business. Here are the +receipts for the full amount I loaned you, and here are papers waiting +your signature and mine that will put you in command of the best vessel +put out by our company in many years. It all depends now on your +willingness to help me get Mr. McGowan out of our town." + +Mr. Fox shoved the papers temptingly across the table, keeping one hand +on the corner of them. The Captain appeared to waver. Of course, he +acknowledged, it did seem easy. But he did not touch the papers. He +rather drew back as though they were deadly poison. He eyed the Elder +narrowly. + +"Well, what do you say?" + +"Jim Fox,"--began the seaman slowly, his voice lowering with the rise +of his anger,--"you're a white-livered coward! You've always been +getting others to do your dirty work for you, and I'm sartin now that +you're offering me a bribe to help stack your damn cards against Mack. +There ain't money enough in the world to make me do that. I see your +game just as plain as though you'd written it out like you done them +papers. You mean to wreck Mack's life, and you're asking me to sit in +with you and the devil while you do it. You mean to throw him out of a +job, and you mean to keep him from getting another by working through +that Means hypocrite. Yes, I can see through you, as plain as a slit +canvas. There's something infernal back of all this, and that something +is your goat. You're skeered that the minister is going to get it, and +that's what is ailing you. By God! I'll be on deck to help him, whether +he's a preacher or a detective from Australia looking for crooks. You've +been lying all these years about where you made your money. You've been +telling that you got it in Africa, trading in diamonds. I've got a piece +of paper in my pocket that blows up your lies like dynamite. You was in +Australia all them years. By the Almighty! I'm going to sign up with the +preacher, and I don't care a tinker's dam if you get the last cent I +have, and send me up Riverhead way to the Poor Farm to eat off the +county. Foreclose on my property! That ain't no more than you've been +doing to others all your miserable life. It ain't no more than you done +to Clemmie Pipkin years ago, leaving her nothing to live on. But mine +will be the last you'll foreclose on, and I'm going to see one or two of +the best lawyers in the city afore you do that!" + +[Illustration: "There ain't money enough in the world to make me do +that."--_Page 242._] + +The Captain strode from the room and down the stair. Mr. Fox called +feebly, begging him to return. But the seaman was deaf with rage, and he +left the house without hearing the mumbled petition of an apparently +penitent Elder. + +Captain Pott half ran, half stumbled, down to the wharf. He hurriedly +untied his dory, and rowed out to the _Jennie P._ A little later he +anchored his power-boat in the harbor of Little River where the +railroad station was located. He rowed ashore, secured his dory, and ran +to the depot. He climbed aboard the city-bound train just as it began to +move. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Daylight was beginning to peep through the morning darkness when the +Captain threaded his way along the crooked path to the rear of his +house. He drew off his boots outside the kitchen door, and tiptoed to +his room. Without removing his clothing he threw himself on the bed. The +sunlight was streaming through the eastern windows when he awoke. He +stretched himself off the bed, and threw back the covers so that Miss +Pipkin would think he had slept there the night through. He went down to +the kitchen. + +"Anything special to tell me this morning, Josiah?" whispered the +housekeeper as he entered. "How pale you look! Ain't been seeing ghosts, +have you? You look like one yourself." + +"Maybe 'twas ghosts I see, but they looked purty tolerable real to me. +Yes, Clemmie, I've sartin been looking on things what ain't good for a +healthy man to see. One of 'em is that I'm a ruined man, and there +ain't no help for it." + +"Don't talk such nonsense! Get out and fill your lungs with fresh air. +That cures the blues quicker than anything I know." + +"It won't cure this fit. If it would, I'd had it cured long ago, 'cause +that's all I've been doing for a good many weeks. If I'd talked less and +done more I'd been a heap sight better off." + +"I thought from the way you was staying up there last night that you was +doing something. I never heerd you come in at all." + +"Maybe I wa'n't up there all that time. The fact is, Clemmie, I went +into the city last night." + +"You went into New York last night? What did you do that for?" + +"I went in and pulled a lawyer friend of mine out of bed for a little +confab. I don't mind telling you who it was. It was Harold Fox.... +Clemmie, that feller that was here to see me about that mortgage lied to +me about the date it was due. Harold says the time is up on it next +Saturday." + +"Josiah!" + +"I also talked with another friend of mine who knew Jim purty well in +his palmy days, and he says what that letter of yours says is so. He +told me a lot more stuff, too." + +"What? About Jim or Adoniah?" + +"Both. What would you do if there wa'n't no way to save my place +excepting by ruination of the other feller?" + +"You'd see him stop for you, wouldn't you? I'd not give it a second +thought, I'd just----" + +"That ain't it, Clemmie. There's his darter, the sweetest little thing +that God ever made. It would kill her, and I ain't got no right to hurt +her just to save my own skin." + +"You're right, Josiah." + +"But what I'm to do, I don't know." + +Mr. McGowan entered with an armful of wood, and as he stooped to drop it +into the box Miss Pipkin looked sorrowfully at the Captain and shook her +head. + +"I've done my best," said the seaman, slowly. + +"You'd think he was making his last will and testament from the way +he's talking," remarked Miss Pipkin, trying hard to appear as though she +was without the least concern. + +"Maybe I be, Clemmie. Maybe I be." + +"What's the cause for all this dejection?" asked the minister. + +"Cause enough, Mack.... I'll be going back to the city to-morrow. I hate +to leave you to the wiles of the menagerie, for if I ain't terrible +mistook they're out for your blood, and they think they've got a whiff +of it. But I cal'late they've got their ropes crossed. They've got the +idea they're h'isting the mains'l, but it ain't nothing but the spanker. +If I was going to stay aboard I'd give 'em a few lessons the next few +days that they'd not forget all the rest of their lives." + +"You're certainly mixing your figures in great shape this morning," +commented the minister good-naturedly. + +"Well, if mixing figures is like mixing drinks, making 'em more +elevating to the thoughts, I cal'late I'd best do a little more mixing. +There's going to be a squall right soon that'll test the ribs of the old +salvation ark to the cracking p'int. If I was you I'd furl my sails a +mite, and stand by, Mack." + +"We're so accustomed to trouble now that----" + +"Trouble? This is going to be hell, that is, unless luck or Providence +takes a hand and steers her through. Your Elder thinks he's on the home +stretch to winning his laurels, but if I was going to hang round here +he'd wake up right sudden one of these fine mornings to find his wreath +missing." + +"Josiah, you're as wicked as you can be this morning. What on earth has +come over you?" exclaimed Miss Pipkin with deep concern. + +"You'd feel wicked, too, if you was dealing with that kind. But that +there Elder puts me in mind of a tramp printer that come to work for +Adoniah one time. Adoniah was a brother of mine," he explained in answer +to a quizzing look from the minister. "Adoniah was managing a country +paper down the line then, and being short on help he took this tramp +printer on. He gave him something to set up that the editor had +writ,--you couldn't tell one of the letters of that editor from +t'other, hardly,--and that feller had a time with it. The piece was +about some chap that was running for office, and it closed up with +something like this: 'Dennis, my boy, look well to your laurels.' When +that tramp got through with it, it come back to the editor like this: +'Dammit, my boy, bark well at your barrels.'" + +Mr. McGowan laughed heartily, and Miss Pipkin struggled against a like +inclination, doing her best to appear shocked. + +"Josiah Pott!" she said at last. "I'd think you'd be ashamed telling +such things!" + +"It ain't nothing more than what Adoniah told, and it happened just as I +spun it. You used to think what Adoniah said was all right." + +The minister sobered instantly. + +"But it ain't right defaming the dead like that." + +"I ain't defaming no one. Don't get mad, Clemmie. Adoniah told the yarn +himself." + +"Well, it ain't to his credit, and I ain't so sure he told it with that +bad word in it." + +"He sartin did. That's what makes it funny." + +"If you wasn't so anxious to use them words you'd not be telling such +stories, and, of all people, to the minister." + +"He's heerd me say lots worse ones than that. I was telling it for +illustration. You see, Jim has got the idea that he's looking to his +laurels, and he ain't doing nothing but barking at his barrels, and +empty ones at that." + +"You'd best not try to illustrate if you can't use words decent enough +to listen to," answered Miss Pipkin as she left the room. + +Late that evening Mr. McGowan drew the Captain into his study. A cheery +fire was crackling in the fire-back. The minister placed a chair before +the grate and slid another near. For some time the two men sat looking +into the fire. As Mr. McGowan tossed in another stick of wood, he turned +toward the seaman. + +"I did not know that you had a brother by the name of Adoniah," he +said. + +"It ain't often I make mention of him. I wa'n't over fond of him. He +didn't treat Clemmie fair. Then, he wa'n't nothing but a half-brother." + +"Don't tell me his last name was Phillips?" + +"Sartin was.... What was that you said, Mack?" + +"I didn't speak. I was just thinking." + +"I'd a heap sight rather you'd speak out loud than grunt like that. What +in tarnation is the matter with you?" + +"If you can throw any light on this man Phillips, I wish you'd do it. +I've heard his name mentioned twice, by two different people, with quite +different effects." + +"What do you mean by me throwing light on him?" + +"Tell me about him, all you know, good and bad. What does Miss Pipkin +know about him? Where is he?" + +"Heave to, there, Mack! One at a time. I don't know if Clemmie has any +idea where he is now. She was purty thick with him once, and heerd from +him once or twice after he went off to sea." + +"She was in love with him?" + +"That's putting it purty tame. I cal'late--Say, has she been speaking to +you about him?" asked the seaman eagerly. + +The minister nodded. "I'm breaking a promise to her by talking with you +about it, but----" + +"Breaking a promise you made to Clemmie? How's that?" + +"She made me promise to say nothing to you. But I must. This thing is +getting too interesting for me to keep my hands off any longer." + +"You mean she made you say that you'd not tell me that she was in +love with Adoniah? That's funny, ain't it? Why, I knew----" He broke +off abruptly, a new light coming into his tired eyes. He leaned +forward and whispered hoarsely: "Mack, it ain't likely she's in love +with--well,--with any other feller, is it?" + +"She didn't----" + +"With me, for example," broke in the seaman. "You don't think maybe that +was the reason she made you give that promise, do you?" The Captain made +no effort to hide his eagerness. "I don't mind telling you that I love +Clemmie. I loved her long afore Adoniah come along and sp'iled it. He +was smarter than me, and went to school. He was real bright and +handsome. It wa'n't that Clemmie loved him, but she didn't know the +difference. And I know right well he didn't love her. He had took a +spite against me because I was left the home place, and he took it out +on me by stealing my girl. You don't s'pose she sees now that he didn't +really care----" He slowly settled back into his chair, and shook his +head. "I cal'late that ain't possible. You heerd what she said about his +sacred memory this morning. Good Lord! Why won't she ever forget!" + +"She may some day, Cap'n. No man can predict to-day what a woman may do +to-morrow." + +"The most of 'em are that way, but Clemmie's different from the common +run. I know I'm an old fool for wishing it, but it ain't easy to give up +the woman you love, even after long years of her saying no to you." + +"You're right, Cap'n. It isn't easy to give up the woman you love." + +The minister gave the fire a vigorous poke, sending a thick shower of +sparks up the chimney. The seaman glanced at him. + +"Have you the slightest idea where your brother is?" + +"No. I ain't heerd from him for more than twenty years, and then it +wa'n't direct. He left because he was 'feared Clemmie was going to make +him marry her, and he knew if he took to sailing the seas she'd never +foller him. Damn him! He didn't treat her square. That's why I don't +have much use for him. If he'd told her out and out that he wa'n't going +to marry her, I'd forgive him. But----" + +"Did Mr. Fox know this half-brother?" + +"About as well as he knew the rest of us about town. He always was sort +of h'ity-t'ity, Jim was." + +"Did he know him better after they left Little River?" + +"Mack, I ain't got your tack, yet. Mind telling me where you're +heading?" + +"You asked me once if anything out of the ordinary took place that night +I dined at the Fox home. Do you remember?" + +"Yes, I rec'lect I did ask you something like that. But----" + +"You may also recall that you suggested that what happened to Mr. Fox +took place in his head instead of in his heart." + +"Yes, I said that, too. But, Mack----" + +"Just wait, and I'll tell you what this is all about. I had mentioned to +Harold that I was born in Australia----" + +"Mack!" The Captain was out of his chair in one bound. "You born in +Australia? Why in tarnation didn't you ever tell me that afore?" + +The minister looked puzzled. "My announcement had a similar effect on +the Elder." + +"Go on, Mack. Don't mind me. I'm a mite narvous. All unstrung, I +cal'late." + +"As I said I had just mentioned that fact to Harold, and the conversation +naturally turned back to the days of the early traders who went to that +country. Harold then told his father that the law firm, of which he +has recently been made a junior member, had put him on a case which +necessitated his going over to Australia. It seems that they had been +trying to clear it up for a long time. The case came from Sydney, and +had been referred to him because he had once spent some time over there. +It was when he mentioned the name of the client that Mr. Fox nearly +fainted." + +Mr. McGowan gave the fire another vigorous poke before continuing. The +Captain slid to the edge of his chair, holding on to the sides. + +"Do you know of all the movements of Mr. Fox after he left here?" came +the disappointing question from near the fireplace. + +"No, I don't. But you was speaking of the case from Sydney, Mack. Who +was the feller whose name hit Jim so hard?" + +"Was Mr. Fox a sailor?" + +"Lordie!" ejaculated the Captain. "Jim Fox a sailor? Why, he couldn't +sail a tub in a flooded cellar." + +"You mean he never crossed the ocean as a trader?" + +"He done that, I cal'late, but as far as him being a sailor----" He +sniffed a contemptuous conclusion. + +"How many years ago was it that he followed the seas?" + +"I ain't able to say, exactly, but it wa'n't long after Adoniah left +home." + +"Cap'n Pott, Mr. Fox knew your half-brother after they had both left +this country." + +"How do you know that?" + +"Just by putting two and two together." + +The seaman took the yellow bit of paper from his pocket, and in his +excitement crumpled it into a wad. "But Adoniah went to Australia, and +Jim says he was in Africa," he said, testing out the other's fund of +information. + +"I know all about that story, but I don't believe one word of it. Mr. +Fox did not make his money in Africa, and he knew your half-brother." + +"What's all this got to do with that there client Harold spoke of the +last night you ate up there?" + +"Everything. The man he mentioned was a trader in Sydney. He had married +an only daughter of an older trader, and then something happened. The +younger man disappeared very suddenly. The old trader searched for +years, but in vain. Recently, he died, leaving a large estate. His wife +has taken up the search for the lost daughter. It was the name of the +old trader's son-in-law that crumpled up Mr. Fox like an autumn leaf. +The young trader's name was Adoniah Phillips." + +Though he had been anticipating this, the Captain fell back into his +chair and stared blankly at the minister. "But why did he act like the +devil toward you, Mack? That's what I want to know." + +"I don't know. That is the thing that puzzles me." + +"What more do you know?" + +"Harold said that Mr. Phillips came over to this country." + +The Captain again sprang from his chair as though hurled out by a +strong spring. Mr. McGowan rose to face him. + +"My brother in America? Mack, it's a lie! He'd have looked me up!" + +"Perhaps he had reasons for not wishing you to know about him. He may +have been an outlaw." + +The minister then asked abruptly, "What connection was there between him +and Mr. Fox? That is the thing we must find out." + +The Captain was trembling. "Have you seen Harold since he come back?" + +"Not yet. But I intend to." + +"No you don't! For God's sake, boy, don't do it!" + +"But I must. I want to help you and Miss Pipkin. Then, for some unknown +reason, I seem to be a part of all this mystery, and I intend to ferret +it out." + +"Mack, please don't!" + +"Is it because you fear disgrace to your family name?" + +"That's it!" shouted the seaman, seizing the minister by the arms with a +crushing grip. "I'll tell you the hull miserable yarn some day, when I +get to the bottom of it. But keep your hands off now! Them's orders!" + +"And if I break them?" + +"Then, by the Lord Harry, I'll break----" The Captain stopped abruptly. +"Mack, what be you doing in Little River?" + +Miss Pipkin had been disturbed by the noise, and now opened the study +door. She looked alarmed. The swarthy face of the Captain was a sickly +green where the white reflected through the deep tan. + +"Of all things!" exclaimed the housekeeper. "I s'pose I should pity the +two of you if you feel the way you look. But, for the lan' sakes, +Josiah, let go the minister's arms this very minute. You're crushing +them." + +The Captain's hands relaxed and fell limply to his sides. The tense +muscles of his face eased into a silly grin. + +"We was having a friendly little argument, hey, Mack?" + +The minister assented. + +"Then, I'd hate to see you in a real fight. Things must be going to your +head, Josiah." + +"That's a fact, Clemmie, they be, but they're clearing it up." + +"You need some of that liniment. Your worrying has put your stomach out. +I'll fix up a dose for you." + +"No you won't neither. It ain't liniment I want, it's something for the +outside." He started for his hat and coat. + +"Josiah! You're clean off in your head, going out a night like this! +It's raining pitchforks, and is past ten o'clock." + +"Don't you worry, Clemmie. I ain't crazy. I've just got back what little +sense I was born with. I'm sailing my _Jennie P._ to the city. +Good-bye." Before she could enter any protest, he stooped and kissed +her. + +Miss Pipkin stood as one paralyzed while the Captain snatched his rubber +hat from the nail behind the kitchen door, and slipped into his slicker. +He was out of the house before the coat was fastened about his neck. + +[Illustration: Miss Pipkin had been disturbed by the noise.--_Page 261._] + +"Now, ain't that a caution to saints! And us a-standing here and not +trying to stop him. He's gone plumb off in his head!" lamented the +housekeeper, dropping limply into a chair. "What ever shall I do, Mr. +McGowan? I know he's coming down with that terrible fever again. I know +it! I know it!" She wept bitterly. "There ain't been no one so kind to +me, and that cares for me like him! And I ain't never give him any +chance!" + +"Do you really care for the Captain?" + +She straightened, and dabbed her apron into the corners of her eyes, +attempting at the same time to marshal a legion of denials. But the +legion refused to be marshaled. She gave up, and admitted that she did +care for Captain Josiah, very much. + +"Then, he'll come back, have no fear. A twenty-mule team couldn't keep +him away." + +"What good will it be if he does come back, if he ain't got his +senses?" + +"In my opinion he was never more sane than he is to-night. He has not +taken leave of his senses; he is not a man so easily dethroned. He has +merely taken a leave of absence from town, and all his five senses have +gone with him." + +After Miss Pipkin had gone to her room somewhat comforted, Mr. McGowan +spied the yellow piece of paper which the Captain had dropped. He +stooped down, picked it up, smoothed the crumpled page, and began to +read. His eyes widened with each additional line. + + "Jim and I are going into partnership over here in Sydney. It + isn't just what I'd like, but there are certain advantages. He + is a keen fellow, and I'll have to watch him pretty close. There + is an older man who has taken us into his firm, so Jim can't + have his own way. There is loads of money here, and I mean to + get my share of it. + + "Jim and I are both fighting for the same girl. She is the + daughter of the old man who heads up the firm. May the best man + win, providing I'm the best man. I'll give him some run for his + money, anyway. I think I'm on the inside track for the present. + + "I guess you'd better not say anything about Jim being over + here. He isn't using his own name, and says he wants it kept a + dead secret. Just what his game is, I don't know. But there are + lots just like him who are hiding behind assumed names. + + "I'm too harum-scarum a sailor for a quiet home-loving woman + like you, so just forget me. Be good to----" + +Here the page ended, and the remainder of the letter was in Miss +Pipkin's trunk. + +Before he had finished reading, the chug-chug from the Captain's +power-boat floated in from the harbor, and the minister longed to be +with him. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +Elizabeth Fox was sitting alone in her room when the familiar chug from +the exhaust of the _Jennie P._ fell on her ears. She raised her +window-curtain, and watched the dim lights move out of the harbor in the +direction of the Sound. An unreasoning fear seized her, and it steadily +grew more and more acute as the exhaust from the engine exploded less +and less distinctly. As the lights went out of view into the rain-soaked +night, resentment replaced fear. The minister had doubtless heard of the +plans that were being laid by Sim Hicks for his forceful ejection from +Little River, and rather than face further trouble was slinking away +like a coward under cover of night and storm. + +Her better judgment soon began to form excuses for his action. The +Athletic Club, thoroughly reorganized, had been placed under good +leadership, and Mr. McGowan doubtless thought that the members could +get on without his further aid. In all probability, he feared that his +presence might interfere with the promised consummation of fellowship +between the club and the church, and was leaving quietly so another man +less aggressive than he might accomplish the thing he had so well begun. +Had he remained, he would have been compelled to fight his way through +by brute force. He had been forsaken by all those who should have stood +by him. He was not a coward! He was taking the most difficult course. +His going was the most heroic act of all. + +Why had every man's hand been against him? Why had her father not so +much as lifted a finger to stay the persecutors? She drew in her lip +between her teeth, and mercilessly bit the pretty Cupid's arch. She +kicked her foot against a stool till the piece of furniture lay beyond +reach of her toe. Her father had not made a single effort to prevent one +action of those who had set themselves against the minister. Instead, he +had aided them, and in many instances had even led in the opposition +against the young man. + +One thought at length inhibited all others. She drew back from the +window, and sinking into a deep chair, covered her face with her arm. +Mack McGowan had gone out of her life! Suddenly, she knew that she loved +him, loved him as passionately as he had declared his love for her. Why +had she been unable to understand him that night on the beach? Had she +really tried? She classed herself with all the others who had been so +blind as to force this man to leave their village. + +She jerked the pins from her hair, letting the fair mass fall over her +shoulders. The stand she had taken had been because of the attitude of +her father. He had no right to come between her and the man she loved. +Why had he done it? Her fingers paused in the act of delving for a +buried hairpin, and her arm fell limply over the wing of the chair. A +vision of her father's face had come before her, startling her +imagination. She saw him again as she had seen him that night when +Harold had announced his intended trip to Australia. She recalled his +ghostly features on the night of Harold's return from abroad. Could +there be some unknown reason for her father's actions against the young +minister? And did that reason justify his action? + +Her conjectures were cut short by the sound of footfalls on the stair. +The tread was heavy, as though the climber were dragging himself up by +main force. On the top landing he halted, and turned toward her door. + +What caprices emotion plays with judgment! One moment judgment may map +out a course as clear as the noonday, and the next moment emotion may +lead judgment into a blind alley. Thus did the emotions of Elizabeth +suddenly halt her judgment, leaving all her reason deaf, dumb, and +blind. + +"Beth, are you asleep?" whispered a tired, husky voice. + +"No, Father. I haven't retired yet. Come in." + +She blindly felt that her father had need of her, and although she could +not understand the meaning of the battle he had been called upon to +general, she must give him her aid. + +Mr. Fox entered and felt his way across the dark room. He found a chair +and dropped into it. + +"You're in the dark, dear," he observed. + +"Yes, Father. I've been thinking here since twilight. Lights always +interfere with my thoughts, and so I did not turn them on." + +"Why, my dear, how long you have been sitting like this! It is now +nearly eleven o'clock. Your thoughts must have been pretty active." + +"I had no idea it was that late!" she exclaimed. "I have been thinking a +great deal." + +He stirred uneasily. Since the Captain's visit the Elder had been on the +verge of collapse. + +"Pretty bad storm," he commented, and his voice trembled. + +Elizabeth reached out into the darkness and took his hand. As she +pressed it to her lips she felt it shake. + +"Thank you, Beth." + +"Are you well, Father?" + +"Not very. But it is nothing serious. At least, the doctor so assures +me. I presume he ought to know." + +"Why don't you go to the city and consult a specialist? These country +doctors may not understand how to diagnose your case fully." + +"All the specialists in Christendom couldn't help me." + +"Father!" + +"Don't grow alarmed," he said, with a short nervous laugh. "The only +thing any doctor ever removes from his patient is what is worth the +doctor's while. Present day physicians get away with a lot that is no +credit to their profession. The main thing that interests them is not +the disease, but the sufferer's pocketbook. If they can remove the +latter, they will keep coaxing the former along." + +"I suppose it is the spirit of the age to want to get all the money one +can. Others, besides doctors, do that." + +"Yes. Yes. There are still others who are grossly misjudged simply +because they have money, too." + +"Of course there are. But let's forget both those classes and talk +about you. Please, tell me all about your troubles. It hurts me to see +you suffering so, and I want to help you. I'll try very hard." + +"I can't tell you everything, Beth." + +"Oh! Yes, you can. I'll be your doctor, and I'll promise not to remove +more of your money than is absolutely necessary for a new frock. Try me +this once, and see how well I'll prescribe." + +"Money is not troubling me, and I'll see that you get all the new frocks +you wish. But I fear you would not understand if I should tell you +all." + +"I shall try most awfully hard, Father. You have told me lots of times +that for a girl I have excellent ideas about business dealings. Please, +tell me. It will at least help you to unburden your mind." + +"But I have told you already that what is troubling me has nothing +whatever to do with business. I tried to talk with you the other +evening, and you failed to understand. We must not quarrel again. That +is harder for me to bear than all else." + +"I am very sorry for that, Daddy. I fear I lost my head. I am ashamed of +the way I acted, and of what I said. Will you not forgive me?" + +"Yes, my dear. We were both pretty severe. We are living too much on our +nerves of late." + +"Now, that the past is cleared up, tell me what is troubling you +to-night." + +"You say you have been sitting here for a long while?" + +"Since twilight. It didn't seem so long, though." + +"Did you see anything strange, or hear anything familiar?" + +"I saw Uncle Josiah's boat leave the harbor." + +"Didn't it strike you as being rather odd that he should be going out +this time of night, and in such a storm? He went out last night, too." + +"Yes, it did seem very strange to me." + +"Beth?" The Elder's voice wavered. + +"What is it, Father?" + +"I know I've no right to worry you like this, but I don't stand +reverses like I once did." + +"Reverses! You told me it wasn't money! And, anyway, what does Uncle +Josiah's action have to do with your reverses?" She switched on the +light at her desk. When she saw her father's face she gave a little +cry. + +"I have told you the truth, Beth. It isn't money. I wish to God it were +nothing more than that! There are reverses far harder to bear than +financial ones." + +Her father appeared older than she had ever seen him. Dejection showed +through every line of his haggard face. The side-whiskers, which to his +daughter's mind he had worn with great distinction, now gave to his worn +features a grotesque expression. + +"I feel pretty well worn out to-night, my dear,"--weariness was in every +word he uttered,--"and as if I need some one to lean on. If I did not +need you to help me, I should not be bothering you at this hour of the +night." + +The girl drew before her father's chair the footstool which earlier in +the evening she had kicked into a far corner. She sat at his knee, and, +taking his hand in hers, pressed it against her cheek. For some time +they sat thus in silence. Her father broke in on the quietness of the +room with a peculiar question. + +"The Bible tells us that we should love our enemies, doesn't it, Beth?" + +"But, Father, you have no enemies worth worrying about! Why should you +ask such a question?" + +"They may not be worth worrying about, but as I said before I don't seem +able to fight off worry as I once could." + +"Nonsense! When all this blows over you will see where you have been +very foolish to have worried in the least bit. You are not strong, and +everything appears worse than it really is." + +"I don't know about that, my dear. I'm not so certain, either, that my +enemies are not worth worrying about." + +"Of course they're not. Just think how all the people have honored you +for what you have done for Little River. Your gifts will not be so +quickly forgotten that a total stranger can change the feeling of +respect for you among your lifelong friends." + +"I'm aware of all that, and I appreciate it." + +"What has all this to do about Uncle Josiah's leaving town?" + +"I'm coming to that. Suppose one of those you called my lifelong friends +proved to be just the opposite?" + +"That can't be true about Uncle Josiah!" + +"Public expressions of gratitude can never atone for the knife which a +supposedly close friend drives into one's heart." + +Elizabeth unconsciously drew away. The movement was slight, but her +father noticed it. + +"Beth, Josiah has gone to the city to-night for no good purpose." + +"Do you think he went alone?" With a savage leap the question got beyond +the bounds of her lips. + +"I doubt it. Just what part the other will play, I don't know. But of +one thing I'm certain, Josiah is bent on ill." + +Elizabeth felt that her old friend was being weighed in the balances. +She could not trust her words to the emotion she felt. + +"Do you think you are in a position to understand what I'm trying to +tell you?" + +"Father," she said, speaking slowly that she might not lose control of +herself, "if you were not so serious about this, I should be tempted to +laugh at your little melodramatic farce. It is the most ridiculous thing +in all the world for you to imagine that Uncle Josiah would play double +with us! He is too good-hearted for even one evil suggestion to get into +his mind." + +"I did not want to tell you the fact, but I fear I must. Of late he has +been openly hostile to every suggestion I have made. I presume he thinks +I should have secured a boat for him. That may account for his action." + +"What dreadful thing has he done? I can't imagine----" + +"Crookedness comes from the most unexpected sources," cut in her father, +curtly. + +"But such a thing would not be unexpected from Uncle Josiah, it would be +impossible." + +The Elder lowered his eyes to meet those peering at him from the tangle +of fair hair. "As I have already suggested, you might not understand me. +It seems that you are determined not to understand. It would be very +hard for me to have another falling out with my little girl. Maybe I +should say nothing further." + +"If you are intending to say something against Uncle Josiah, perhaps you +had better not say it. I'm afraid I wouldn't understand." + +She turned from her father and tried to gaze through the window. The +beating storm, and the light from within, made the pane opaque. She +stared against this till her eyes ached. + +"Beth!" There was a note of command in his tone. + +She turned to face her father. + +"Come here," he ordered. + +"Uncle Josiah untrue to us!" she said, without moving from her place at +the window. "I cannot believe it. There must be some mistake." + +"There is absolutely no mistake about it. I should like to believe it +more than you. I have even tried to make myself believe that my +imagination was getting the better of me. But he was up here only last +night, and confirmed all my fears." + +"Uncle Josiah untrue! He could not be after all you have done for +him. You loaned him money, and helped him fix up his place. Why, +Father,----" + +"That is the thing that makes it hurt so," broke in the Elder. "He seems +ungrateful for all I have done. I don't care half as much for the +praises of people inspired by a crowd as I do for one kind word from an +individual whom I have helped." + +"Some one has influenced Uncle Josiah, if he has taken this attitude +against you." + +"I have had the same fear. But even that would not excuse him for +cursing me and threatening me with violence under my own roof." + +Elizabeth looked doubtful. + +"It amounts to that, my dear. The things he said to me last night are +too vulgar to repeat. He swore vengeance against me. I am compelled to +take a certain action against him, and naturally he is not able to +see----" + +"Father!" cried the girl. "Then, it is you who are threatening to do +something against him." + +"So it seems to him on the face of the action I must take. But at bottom +it is an act of true friendship. He does not know the particulars, and I +am in no position to explain." + +"What is it you are going to do?" she asked, drawing farther into the +corner near the window. + +"I must request that you ask me no questions. You are not familiar +enough with the law to comprehend." + +Her gaze was fixed on him, and the Elder hitched sidewise in his chair, +vainly trying to avoid her eyes. Failing in this, he attempted to meet +her look squarely. His eyes shifted unsteadily, and he looked above her +head. But the eyes of his child continued to bore into his guilty soul. + +"Why do you stare at me in that manner, Beth?" he questioned, motioning +her to his side. + +"I don't know." She gave no evidence that she saw his effort to draw her +near him. + +"Then, stop glaring like that. How many times have I told you that it is +unladylike?" + +"You're going to take his place from him because he cannot pay that +loan!" she whispered. "How can you be so cruel?" + +Mr. Fox was left without excuse or reply. When he spoke, his voice was +harsh, and his words were sharp. + +"I see, I have been unwise in telling you." + +"You didn't tell me, but I could not help guessing the truth." + +"I'm doing it for his good, and unless you believe me,----" + +"For his good! You can't mean that! You shall not stoop----" + +"Stoop!" He caught up the word with a hiss. But he soon controlled his +anger, and dropped his pale face into trembling hands. "God help me! +They that hurt me are even of my own household!" + +"Father, I don't want to hurt you. I'm not your enemy!" she cried. "I'm +only your little Beth trying so hard to see why you must do this +terrible thing." + +"Come to me," he begged. + +She took her place on the footstool, and took his hand. + +"I shall try to tell you all about it, if you will listen. I didn't +intend to, but it is more than I can bear to have my own daughter +question my honesty and integrity. Harold's unjust insinuations are +almost more than I can bear. Now, if you----" + +"Don't say it, Father! I have not doubted your word yet. I don't want to +now. I won't doubt you. Tell me all, and I'll try to see this from your +point of view." + +"You guessed rightly about what I have to do. The mortgage on Josiah's +place----" + +"You can certainly extend that, if only for six months. You don't need +the money." + +"Don't interrupt me again, please. It's a far more serious thing than +the small loan I made to Josiah to repair his place with. The old +homestead was willed to Josiah's half-brother, providing he should +outlive Josiah. Josiah knew nothing about that fact, and when he was so +informed by his friends years ago, refused to listen to any of us. The +half-brother left the country rather than quarrel with him over the +estate. Later, this half-brother was in serious financial trouble, and I +happened to come across him when he was in dire need of money. Knowing +of the will, I loaned him all he needed, and took out a first mortgage +on his property. Owing to peculiar circumstances, I put in a provision +that there was to be no foreclosure so long as the interest was paid. I +even went beyond the request which the man made, by including another +clause which prevents me or my heirs from foreclosing before the +expiration of two years after the last payment of interest. Have you +followed me closely?" + +She nodded. + +"Well, each year the interest has been paid in full up to the last two. +As long as it was forthcoming I said nothing. I have not mentioned a +word of this transaction between the half-brother and me, for I knew his +hot temper would get the better of him. He thinks the man was drowned +at sea, and it is best that he continue to think so. I have misled him +into the belief that I was foreclosing because of the small loan I made +last spring, and I trusted to his usual secrecy and apparent ignorance +to say nothing about it to any one. But from the arrogant manner he +maintained toward me last night I fear he has said more than is good for +him. And I have every reason to think that the meddler is the minister. +I doubt not but that is the reason why he has gone to the city to-night, +and I don't think he has gone alone." + +"When must that interest be paid?" + +"Before midday, Saturday. The other loan does not come due for more than +two weeks, but the time was so near that I did not think of Josiah +questioning it." + +"Who has been paying the interest on the other loan?" + +"I do not know, but it has doubtless been coming from some estate of the +father-in-law of Josiah's brother." + +"Why was it dropped?" + +"That I cannot tell you. I should have done nothing even now had I not +learned that this half-brother has come into that estate through the +death of the wife's father. I have every reason to believe that he could +pay not alone the interest, but the principal as well, if he so +desired." + +"Perhaps this half-brother does not know about the inheritance." + +"That is absurd. He does know, or should. The fact is, he is an outlaw +and is hiding from justice." + +"But why should you make Uncle Josiah suffer for what his half-brother +did?" + +"That is the very thing I am trying not to do. Can't you see where it +would place him if I told him the truth?" + +"Yes. But I see no reason why you can't let things go on as they have, +and forget the unpaid interest." + +"I have no power to do that. I put the matter in the hands of my lawyers +in order to force the hidden rascal to take action." + +"I think it would be best to tell Uncle Josiah all about it, and let him +help you find the one who should pay." + +"Such action would be senseless for two reasons: it would give Josiah +grief and pain, and he would be unable to meet the obligation. It was +larger than what the place would cover when first made, and with the +deterioration in the value of the property it now far exceeds its worth. +Then, there is the interest for two years." + +"Why don't you offer to buy the place, even paying more than the +mortgage calls for? It would be a kindness." + +"I made such an offer through my lawyer, but Josiah refused." + +"Then, why not cancel it altogether?" + +"That would be very unbusiness-like," he declared curtly. "But even if I +so desired, it would be impossible now. I have permitted my lawyers to +use the foreclosure as a threat, and I'm duty bound to see it through." + +"If it is absolutely necessary to go through with this, I don't see that +it would make it any more terrible if we should tell Uncle Josiah the +whole story. It would, at least, save his thinking ill of us. Then, +there is the chance that he might suggest something." + +"Beth, I'm bound by my word to say nothing. That was the one promise I +made to Adoniah." + +"Adoniah!" exclaimed the girl, her eyes growing wide. + +"Yes. I did not mean to speak his name, but it can do no harm." + +"Why,--that was the first name----Is he the same man Harold is trying to +find?" + +"I'm sorry to say that he is." + +"The one whose last name was Phillips?" + +"Yes. But why do you take such interest in him?" + +"And he is a brother of Uncle Josiah?" + +"A half-brother," he replied, showing that he was becoming nettled. + +Elizabeth rose from her stool, and crossed over to the door that led +into the hall. She did not seem to sense just what she was doing till +her hand touched the cold knob. With a start, as though wakened from a +bad dream, she turned about and faced her father. + +"Father,"--her breath came in short gasps,--"you have no right to keep +your word to such a man as you say this Phillips person is. There is +but one thing for us to do: go at once to Uncle Josiah. I'm certain he +can get enough money to pay the interest, if that is what you want." + +"But, Beth, I cannot do that. My business honor is at stake, and I must +permit the law to take its course." + +"You may be right about the legal part. But how about the moral side? Is +there not something at stake there, too?" + +"It does seem a moral injustice, but I cannot help that. It is hard, for +Josiah will see only the moral side of it, and the people of the village +will think it unjust. Josiah may find out the facts, that is, enough of +them to prove to his mind that I can't foreclose on his property because +of the little loan. What more he may discover, I cannot even guess. It +will depend somewhat on the lawyer who advises him. But no matter what +he discovers, my conscience will be clear in that I did not break faith +with his renegade brother." + +"What right have you to keep faith with him?" + +"My little Beth, please do not question my action," he entreated. "It +will all be clear to you some day. I'm willing to wait for my +vindication, but I must know that my little girl trusts her daddy to do +what is right. If you don't, it will kill me!" + +There was such deep pathos in his voice that she recrossed the room. She +laid her hand on the arm of her father's chair. + +"After all, Father, I am only a girl, and know very little of law and +business. Forgive me if I have hurt you. I don't see why you feel as you +do about carrying this thing through at so great a sacrifice of lifelong +friendships. But I believe that you must be doing the best you can as +you see your duty." + +"I can hope for no more than that, my dear." + +Suddenly she shook the hair from her shining eyes. + +"Father!" + +"Yes?" + +"I tell you what I'm going to do!" she cried. "I'm going to Uncle Josiah +just as soon as he gets back, and tell him as much as I think he ought +to know. May I?" + +"Certainly, if you wish. I'll trust to your discretion. He will listen +to you. I think you know what must not be said, from our conversation +this evening." + +"I'll do it!" she exclaimed eagerly, and stooped above the chair to kiss +her father's forehead. "Now, you go right to bed. That is my first +remedy. My second is like unto it: don't do one single bit of worrying. +Remember! Good night." + +The Elder rose and smiled benignly on his daughter. At the door he +paused, and turned back. + +"Beth, this may affect the minister." + +"Affect the minister? Affect Mr. McGowan? How can it do that?" + +"He has doubtless urged Josiah to take this rash step to consult a +lawyer, and when all the facts come out he may be forced to leave Little +River. As you know, his popularity is quite dubious as matters stand at +present." + +"But I hardly see----" + +"We'll say nothing more about that. Good night, my dear." + +Her door closed, and her father crossed the hall. She was no sooner +alone than a rush of unbidden thoughts and emotions swept over her, +carrying all her promises like chaff before a hurricane. While her +father had been in the room she had thought herself quite determined to +take the hard step of explaining to Uncle Josiah just enough to remove +the blame from the one she loved to the half-brother. But now that the +Elder had gone her will to explain seemed gone, too. Again he rose +before her imagination, a white trembling figure. She heard Harold speak +the name of Adoniah Phillips, and saw her father stagger from the table. +Had these two things been a mere coincidence? Doubts began to rise. Why +must the mortgage be foreclosed on Uncle Josiah's place? Why had her +father acted so on the evening when Harold had spoken his client's name? +Had her father told her all? Why should all this involve the minister, +even though he had advised the Captain to seek the counsel of a lawyer? + +Long into the night she puzzled her brain in seeking for answers to her +many questions. Of one thing she felt sure, Mr. McGowan would not leave +Little River. Just between waking and sleeping she at length recalled +the words of love which he had spoken to her on the beach, spoken as she +had never heard them before, and they carried her along dreamy paths +into a happy visionary future. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + + "Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! + Ships may come and ships may go, + But I sail on forever!" + + +Certainly, no audience would be moved to tears, either by the quality of +the voice, or by the ditty that was thus rendered. And yet, there was a +blue-eyed, fair-haired girl, seated on the rocks below her father's +place, whose eyes filled with tears as she listened. Elizabeth thought +she was prepared to fulfill the promise made to her father three days +ago, but, now that the opportunity was upon her, she felt her resolution +slipping away. She loved her dear old friend as never in all her life. + +The singer rounded a projection of sandy beach just beyond the rock-pile +where the girl was sitting. He was hurrying up the shore in the +direction of his home, his dejected figure revealing his utter +loneliness, despite the lightness of his song. His brow was puckered, +more with furrows of perplexity than with lines of anger, as he made his +way with labored difficulty up the steep incline from the beach. + +"Oh, Uncle Josiah!" involuntarily cried the girl as she caught a glimpse +of the haggard face. + +The old man stopped, turned about, and looked up. + +"Now, ain't this surprising good luck to find you here!" he exclaimed. +"I was just thinking about you, Beth." + +"Do your thoughts of me always make you sing like that?" + +"That there song ain't got much music, and I cal'late it don't improve +to speak of with my voice," he answered, his swarthy face breaking into +a broad smile. "It must sound funny for an old fish like me to be +serenading a young lady like you. Glad you liked the entertainment, +Beth." + +"I didn't say I liked it. It made me feel very bad," she said, loosening +a stone with the point of her shoe and sending it rolling to the water's +edge. + +"Well, I don't just rec'lect that you spoke favorable on that p'int. I +honest didn't know you was about else I'd tried something more fitting +to the occasion. Fact is, Beth, I was singing to keep my spirits up." + +"You should be happier than you look, then, for your singing is better +than a vaudeville show." + +"You ain't none too partic'lar about classing me, be you?" + +"Singing isn't in your line, and if I were you I'd not try it." + +"Beth, what's wrong? You don't seem real glad to see me." + +"Of course, I'm glad to see you, my dear old sailor Uncle," she said, +rising and putting her arms about his neck. + +"Thanks, Beth." He choked out the words, for as he looked down he saw +the sign of tears in her eyes. "I've been cruising round nigh onto three +days, and that's a purty long spell for the land-lubber I'm getting to +be." + +"Your return was as sudden as your departure, wasn't it?" + +"Sudden? What do you mean by that?" + +"Just what I say. I was looking for the _Jennie P._ to come into the +harbor. Perhaps she came as she went, like the ships that pass in the +night." + +"You see me go out, did you, Beth?" + +She nodded. "But I did not see you return." + +"I did sort of sneak out. What did you think of me for doing a thing +like that?" + +"I didn't think very highly of you, if you want the honest truth," she +declared, releasing her arms from about his neck. + +"You ain't mad, are you, Beth?" + +"Don't you think I have a perfect right to get angry? It was the first +time you ever left home without telling me good-bye. Should I like +that?" + +"I never thought of that. But this here cruise was like the proposing to +the old maid: unexpected-like. For that reason I wa'n't prepared for +saying good-byes." His eyes clouded as he slowly continued, "It's a +fact, I never went off afore without telling you good-bye. I don't----" + +He stopped and looked down at the girl. She was no longer the child who +had clung to him on the eve of departures for long cruises, asking, +"Take me 'long, Unca Josi?" She had grown to womanhood! He wondered that +the thought had not occurred to him before. And yet, as he continued to +gaze, he saw the eager child staring up into his face from the big +eyes. + +"I cal'late I ain't got no right to expect them partings no more," he +faltered. + +"Why, Uncle Josiah Pott! I don't like that one little bit." + +"You seem so growed up, Beth, and I cal'late you're getting too +big----" + +"For you to love me?" + +"No!" he said vehemently. + +"Then, just what do you mean?" + +"I don't know." He drew awkwardly back as she approached him, and +fumbled his hat till it fell from his fingers. "You're getting to be +quite a woman," he observed. + +"And you're getting very foolish! Now, you kiss me before I get angry." + +He stooped, kissed her hastily, and wiped his lips with the back of his +coat-sleeve. He picked up his hat, and began to rub it vigorously with +his finger-tips. + +"If ever you talk like that again I'll punish you by never giving you +another kiss." + +"I ain't got no right to expect it, anyway, Beth." + +"Uncle Josiah, don't let me hear that again. I want to hear all about +your voyage," she demanded as she settled herself on the rocks, and +motioned him near her. + +"There wa'n't none, that is, none to speak of." + +"Oh! But there was, and it must have been the most mysterious of all. +You went in the night, and you came in the night. Did you do all your +trading in the night, too, slipping about through the streets in some +unknown country with moccasins on your feet, like you once told me about +the Chinese?" + +She laughed, but the Captain did not catch the restrained note and +manner. + +"There, now! That's more like it!" he declared, joining in with a +cracked laugh. "It seemed afore like I was talking to a young lady I'd +never seen. Feel more like I'd got back home with you laughing like +that." + +"I haven't been indulging much since you went away." + +"You ain't?" + +"But tell me about your trip." + +"You was right on most p'ints, excepting I didn't cruise back in the +night." + +"Then how did you slip into town so quietly and unseen? I've been +sitting on these cold stones for two days looking for you." + +"I come back by railroad, and just now was walking over from the +station." + +"But where did you leave the _Jennie P._? Why didn't you come back with +her?" + +"I run her into dry-dock down to the city for repairs," he said +quietly. + +The girl noticed a slight catch in his voice. + +"I thought you did all your own repairing." + +"I do when there ain't nothing bad wrong." + +"You sailed the _Jennie P._ all the way into the city and left it +there?" + +"Something went wrong with the engine, and I didn't have no time to +tinker with her afore I had to come back. Them there gas engines is +worse than a team of mules when they get to bucking and balking. +They----" + +"Captain Pott! Tell me the truth. Why did you leave your boat in the +city docks?" + +"For the reason I told you." He was looking away from her. + +"Look at me, Uncle Josiah." + +"Can't just now, Beth. I'm watching----" + +"Oh, please tell me all about it!" + +"There ain't nothing more to tell." + +"You did not leave the _Jennie P._ in dry-dock for repairs!" she cried +with apprehension. + +He did not reply, but tightly gripped the hand which had been slipped +into his. + +"Tell me, please!" she implored. "You said a little while ago that you +were singing to keep up your spirits. Something dreadful has happened. +Did you wreck your boat?" + +"Hey? Me wreck the _Jennie P._? I tell you honest, Beth, there ain't +nothing----" + +Elizabeth lifted her hand and turned his face toward her. He looked down +and gave up. + +"There ain't no use pretending to you. I sold her." + +"You sold the _Jennie P._?" + +"I sold the _Jennie P._," he repeated slowly, as though it were hard for +him to comprehend that fact. "You see, I didn't have no more real need +for her, and 'twas kind of expensive to keep her afloat." + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed the girl. + +"It was a mite expensive, honest, Beth." + +"Uncle Josiah! Why didn't you come to me if you were in need of money?" + +"I owe your father more now than I'd otter." + +"But I love you so!" + +The big shoulders gave a decided heave. "That's wuth more to me than all +the money in the world." + +"Then, why didn't you come to me?" + +"I didn't think of doing that." + +"Oh, Uncle Josiah!" + +"Yes, I sold my boat. There wa'n't no wonder I was singing, was there?" +he asked, passing his hand across his face as if to clear his vision. "I +cal'late that song wa'n't much like music to you, but I just naturally +had to do something to keep my feelings afloat, didn't I, Beth?" + +"Yes." + +"I sold her," he said, speaking as though his thoughts were coming by +way of his tongue. "It wa'n't easy. Just like parting with an old +friend. It sort of pulled on me. Odd, ain't it, how an old boat like +that can get a hold on a feller?" + +"No, it is not odd. Some of the happiest moments of my life were spent +on board the _Jennie P._" + +"Do you honest feel that way about her?" + +"Yes." + +"I'm mighty glad, Beth," he said, his eyes gleaming with pride. "She +sartin was a worthy craft." + +"Who bought your boat?" + +"Feller by the name of Peters, who runs a fish business down on East +River near Brooklyn bridge. I knew him years ago. His wife's name is +Jennie, and I named my boat after her 'cause he was the first man to +help me sail her." + +"Why did you go to him without first telling me?" + +"There wa'n't no time to tell no one. You'd not likely----" + +"Oh, you men! You treat us women as if we were numskulls. If you had +given me the slightest idea that you intended to sell I should have put +in my bid along with others." + +"Do you mean you would have bought my _Jennie P._?" + +"Why not, pray tell? Haven't I as much right to own a boat as any man +you know?" + +"I do believe you'd have bought her, sartin as death!" + +"Of course I should. If----" Her eyes suddenly widened. "Why did you +sell?" + +"Same as I said afore, I didn't have no need of her, and she was getting +expensive to keep up." His face darkened, and an expression of pain shot +through the shadows. + +"You said you were not going to pretend to me. Tell me the real +reason." + +"I can't." + +"In other words, that is the secret of your mysterious trip to the +city." + +"Yes, that's my secret." + +"My dear old Uncle!" she cried. "I know your secret! You sold your boat +to get money with which to pay Father. You've sold your one little +luxury to pay a debt you can never pay." + +"You're mistook. I can pay your father every cent I got from him to +overhaul my place." + +"But that isn't all!" + +"It ain't all?" + +"I thought I could tell you all about it, but I can't!" + +"Do you mean you've something you want to say to me, Beth?" + +"I can't! I can't! It is so----" + +She broke down and cried without restraint. The old seaman put his arm +about her. + +"There! There! Don't cry like that. She ain't wuth it." + +"But you are!" she sobbed. + +"All that there flood sartinly ain't for an old feller like me! Tut! +Tut! I sartinly ain't wuth it. I'm nothing but a leaky old ark what had +otter been towed in long ago, safe and high to some dry-dock." + +"Uncle Josiah, you are the only uncle I've ever had. I love you next to +my father. You are the only man who has ever understood me. I have many +times come to you before going to my own father. And, now, that you are +in trouble, and I might have helped you----" + +"Tush. Tush. Don't cry over an old salt like me. I tell you I ain't wuth +it, not one precious drop." + +"If you only knew!" + +"Maybe I ain't so deep in the fog as you think. I took another trip +while I was in the city to see a lawyer, and I found out some mighty +interesting things." + +"But he couldn't tell you everything." + +"Beth, is there something you'd otter tell me?" + +"There is--there was--but I guess----Did you see a good lawyer?" + +"The best I could find." + +"Then, why did you sacrifice your boat? It was so needless." + +"I had to have that much money right off, and there wa'n't no time to +look about. I didn't think you'd take it like this or I'd sartin never +done it." + +"If you had only come to me I could have let you have that much without +you having to sell your boat." + +"It would have been a mite queer to borrow from you to pay your dad, +wouldn't it?" + +"What does that matter?" + +"Nothing, much.... But you was going to tell me something." + +She lifted her tear-stained face, and slowly shook her head. "Not now. I +might cry again, and I've been silly enough for one day." + +"You ain't been silly, not one mite. I had no right to make you cry by +telling you things that don't consarn you." + +"Indeed, you should have told me, and it does concern, far more than you +think," she replied, drying her eyes and cheeks. "I know I must look +frightful." + +"You don't look nothing of the sort. You couldn't if you tried to." + +"Will you be home to-night, Uncle Josiah?" she asked, looking at her +wrist-watch. It was half-past ten o'clock. + +"Cal'late to be." + +"May I come to see you?" + +"That's a funny question. I should say you can come. Clemmie will be +real glad to see you, and so will the minister." + +"I'm coming to see you," she said, coloring. "I'm going home now. +Good-bye." + +She hurriedly kissed him, and before he had time to speak she was +half-way up the hill. At the rear gate she waved, then disappeared +behind the mass of shrubbery that lined her father's place. + +Ten minutes later the Captain heard the roar of the open exhaust from +the girl's motor. Like a red streak the car shot down the hill of the +Fox estate and into County Road. The Captain gasped as he watched a +cloud of dust engulf the flying car. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +All those who saw the flying car stood and stared after it. Hank +Simpson, who was on his way over from the Little River railroad station +with a load of merchandise, heard the roar, and sprang from his +wagon-seat. He ran to his horses' heads. But no sooner had he seized the +bits of the frightened animals than he let go. He recognized the girl +who sped past him. He clambered back into his wagon and whipped his team +into a dead run. He drew rein on the racing horses before a group of +gaping men in front of the general store. + +"Did you see anything down yon way, Hank?" asked Jud Johnson. + +"See!" exclaimed Hank, rubbing the dust from his eyes. "See! Good God! +Boys, that damn thing was running away! Hear me? It was running like +hell! What are you gaping fools standing here for, looking like a +passel of brainless idiots! 'Phone!" he screamed. + +"'Phone what? Who to?" asked Jud with exasperating calm. + +"Everything! Everybody!" was the doubly illuminating reply. "She'll be +killed! Do you hear me?" + +"We'd have to be deaf as nails not to hear you," said Jud as he spat a +mouthful of tobacco juice against the front wheel of the wagon. "All the +'phoning in creation won't stop her. If she ain't of a mind to pull that +thing up to a halt from the inside, it ain't likely that a fellow could +do it by getting in its path and yelling whoa, even if he'd holler as +loud as you've been doing at us. Why didn't you try it when you see her +coming?" + +"But they've got to stop it! The constables----" + +"How?" + +"How'd you suppose I know? Get out of my way and let me get at the +'phone!" + +"You ain't going to do nothing of the kind," replied Jud as he stepped +in front of the belligerent Hank. "There's some reason for driving like +that. I don't know what's up, but the first feller to interfere with her +joy ride is going to get hurt. I was in the cellar of her dad's place +doing an odd job of plumbing for him when she come to me, and said: +'Jud, I'm going for a drive.' I 'lowed that was real nice, wondering why +she'd be telling me that. 'I may have to drive pretty fast, and I want +you to telephone ahead as far as you can to have the road clear. Tell +the policemen my name, and ask that they don't stop me.'" + +"But her dad----" + +"Her dad ain't home. He went over Riverhead way more than an hour ago." + +"But, Jud----" + +"Dry up that butting, Hank, or we'll lead you out in the alley behind +your store and feed you tin cans." + +Hank climbed back to his wagon-seat, and Jud, noticing the determined +expression in the storekeeper's eyes, deputized two men to keep watch of +him while he went inside and did some telephoning. + +Elizabeth Fox reached the city limits without being molested. She then +looked at her watch, and slowed down her car. She kept the speedometer +needle wavering within the speed law till she set her brakes before the +building where the law firm of Starr and Jordan maintained their +offices. Harold was so surprised to see his sister that he gave her the +name of the Trust Company for which she asked before he realized what he +was doing. She glanced at the clock, hastily scribbled the address on a +card, and ran from the room. Harold stood still in dumb amazement. He +walked to the window and looked down into the street below. He +recognized her red motor-car as it glided through the traffic at an +alarming rate. A mild oath escaped him as it dawned upon him that the +name of the bank was that of the firm through which the interest +payments had been made on the Phillips loan. What on earth could she be +up to? + +It was far past the noon hour when Elizabeth returned. The office was +empty, the force having gone home for the Saturday half-holiday. She +turned from the locked door, but it flew open, and Harold called to +her. + +"I thought you'd come back, Sis. In fact, I meant to tell you that I +wanted you to take dinner with me, but you blew in and out so suddenly +that I didn't have time to collect my thoughts. What are you up to, +anyway?" + +"Oh, nothing much." + +"How did you learn of this Phillips affair? I take it that that was what +all your hurry was about." + +She only laughed in reply, her eyes dancing. + +"I didn't know that you were on the inside of this, and I don't know yet +how much you really know." + +"I know a lot." + +"How did you find out?" + +"Everybody has told me a little, and I have been piecing it together for +several days. But can't we sit down, or go out to lunch? I'm really very +tired, now that it's over, and awfully hungry." + +"How did you know that I had the name and address of the firm which has +been paying Father the interest on the Phillips loan?" + +"Why, you told me." + +"In my sleep?" + +"Indeed, no. You were quite awake." + +"Sis, have you been eavesdropping?" + +"Harold Fox! The very idea!" she said indignantly. "I don't like you one +bit for saying that. No, sir, I have not." + +"I honestly didn't think it of you, but I couldn't imagine any other way +you could get the notion in your head." + +"You never told me a word till to-day." + +"You didn't know that I had that name in my possession till you blew in +here and asked for it?" + +"Not really and truly, I didn't. But I took a chance. And you are such a +poor actor that I was certain you'd tell me. Of course, I knew that you +went over to Australia to find out about the man." + +"The treats are certainly on me." + +"Make it a good big lunch, please," she said smiling and starting for +the door. + +"Wait, Bets. What did you do over there at the George Henry Trust +Company?" + +"Must I tell, just now?" + +"Of course not, but I'd like to know if you care to tell. It may save me +from something very unpleasant." + +"You mean you will force me to tell?" + +"Mercy me! No. I am better acquainted with you than to try a thing like +that." + +"Will you keep a secret, without giving away one little word of it?" + +"A client's counsel seldom repeats a confidential business transaction." + +"I paid the two years of interest just a few minutes before that horrid +old mortgage was due, so Uncle Josiah would not have to lose his +place." + +"Gosh!" was the inelegant reply. "You're a brick!" + +His brow puckered. + +"Won't that save him?" she asked with concern. + +"Sure. But how did you know that Uncle Josiah was a party to this +mix-up?" + +"Father told me that." + +"You should have been the lawyer of this family. I never saw any one +like you for finding things out." Still apparently worried, he added: +"But your check will give you away. What if that happens to fall into +Dad's hands?" + +"I didn't use my check. I went to our bank first, and drew out all my +money. I didn't have enough left to put back, so I--well, I didn't put +it back." + +"What under heaven did you do with it?" + +"I went down to an East River fish wharf, and----" + +"Took a corner on fish?" + +"Harold, don't think me foolish. Uncle Josiah had sold his boat, +thinking to pay Father off and save his place. I----" + +"You bought back the old fellow's boat!" + +She nodded. + +Harold did not laugh. Instead, he turned toward his desk and busily +fumbled papers. When he spoke there was a note of tenderness in his +voice. "You're the best little sport in seventeen States." + +"Well, that doesn't keep me from starving." + +"You didn't come for anything else?" + +"No, except that I did want to talk with you. We can do that while we +eat." + +"I'd rather you would ask me any questions before we go out. State +secrets have been known to leak out from restaurant tables." + +"Tell me where this Adoniah Phillips lives." + +"Whew! You don't pick the easy ones, do you? You certainly go right +after what you want, Bets. But why do you ask?" + +"Because I want to know." + +"You'll have to think up a better reason than that." + +"If he is one of your clients, why don't you make him pay that +interest?" + +"Lawyers may advise, but they can't drive unless they hold the reins of +litigation." + +"You are just as exasperating as all lawyers," she said with a show of +impatience. "Do you know that your client has fallen heir to a very +large fortune? And do you know that he could pay the principal as well +as the interest?" + +"Good Lord, Sis! You're a wonder! How on earth did you ferret all this +mess out?" + +"That doesn't matter. The thing that matters is what Father and that +Phillips person are trying to do to Uncle Josiah. We must stop them. If +you know the truth about the transaction between Father and Mr. Phillips +you have no right to allow this thing to go on." + +Harold's eyes narrowed. "Trying to trap me again, Bets?" + +"Of course I'm not. I'm just trying to get you to look at things from +Uncle Josiah's position." + +"How many of the facts do you know about this case?" asked Harold in +deep seriousness. + +"I know enough to form pretty good conclusions of the injustice of the +whole thing." + +"Do you think you know everything?" + +"No-o, not when you look at me like that," she said, surprised by the +earnestness of his voice and manner. + +"Has any one beside Father talked with you?" + +She hesitated, then slowly shook her head. "You must not ask me that." + +"Have you talked with Mr. McGowan?" + +"I can't tell you," she answered, quickly checking the look of surprise +that leaped into her eyes at the unexpected question. + +"I don't know just how far Mr. McGowan's information may have led him +into this matter, but I have feared all along that he is not half so +ignorant as he appears. Come in here, Bets," he requested, pushing open +a door to an inner office. "I have some things I want to show you." + +"Mercy, Bud! How mysterious you can be!" + +"An ounce of precaution is worth a pound of lawsuits, and I don't want +the slightest possibility of a leak," he said as he locked the door. + +"My sakes! I had no idea you could be so serious. Is this the way you +act with all your clients? I'd think you'd frighten them all away. You +almost do me. It reminds me of the way you would lock me up in the hall +closet to scare me when we were children." + +"For once in my life I am serious, Sis. We are no longer children, and +this is far from play. I wish to God it were nothing more than that!" + +"Why, Harold!" + +"Bets, you've got a close tongue and loads of good sense. I've carried +this thing just about as long as I can without breaking under it. I've +got to let off steam. You know I've tried to be on the square since my +little fling, and even then I was straight, but Dad has never believed +it. I'm tempted now to go wrong, and----" + +"Why on earth are you talking like this? Has some one been accusing you +of doing wrong? Oh, Harold! You didn't fall into trouble after all over +in Australia, did you?" + +"No, nor in love either," he replied, trying to smile. + +Elizabeth blushed. + +"I see that doesn't apply to all our family." + +"I don't think you're nice to say that. And I don't care----" + +"Why, Bets, are you really in love with him?" + +"You have no right to jest about such things." + +"I'm not jesting, honestly. I've never been so far from it in my whole +life. I don't blame you for liking that minister." + +"Then, you were not making fun?" + +"No! I've had all the fun-making knocked out of me." + +"Harold," she said, coming nearer, "I've made him hate me." + +"Hate you? There isn't a man living who could do that. No one was ever +blessed with a more wonderful sister than I've been." + +Elizabeth stared at her brother. Never had she heard him make such a +sentimental statement. He had turned from her, and was looking into the +street below. With a sharp swing he faced about. + +"Come, tell me all you know about Phillips and the estate." + +"I guess I really don't know very much more than I've told you. I know +the man is a half-brother of Uncle Josiah, and that he mortgaged the old +homestead to Father, and that he married some trader's daughter in +Australia, and that the trader died, leaving a large fortune. That's +all." + +"Read those," said Harold, handing her some papers which he had brought +with him from his own desk. "And keep your nerve. There are more." + +Elizabeth read the papers through. One was the original document of the +trader's will; the other was an Australian Government paper, exonerating +Mr. Adoniah Phillips. A postscript to the will stated that Mr. Phillips +had left Australia for America. + +"I knew all that," said the girl as she returned the papers. "But they +do help to make matters clearer. I wasn't really certain he had come +over here. Have you found him?" + +"No. I've never seen the man. What is more, not one penny of that vast +estate has yet come into the possession of Adoniah Phillips." + +"Why, Harold! Do you mean to tell me that you know where this man is, +and that you have not looked him up? You say he has not received his +inheritance? What are you trying to tell me?" + +"I know what I'm saying. Neither he nor his heir has received one +cent." + +"And yet you know where they are?" + +"I didn't say I knew of their whereabouts. But I will say that I know +where to find the heir, a son." + +"You should go to him at once, then, and give him the opportunity to pay +off that mortgage on Uncle Josiah's home." + +"Yes, I can do that. But it isn't so simple. Right there is where I've +struck the snag that has nearly driven me insane. How to do it----" + +"How? A lawyer saying a thing like that? Just go to him and explain how +it all came about. If he is half a man he will do what is right without +any litigation. That is so very simple that I wonder at you." + +"Read that," he said, drawing from an inside pocket another paper, and +handing it to her. + +In the upper right-hand corner was an Australian stamp. + +At the end of the first line the letters began to dance before her eyes, +and to crowd into one another. Elizabeth turned to her brother, +wild-eyed. + +"Harold, this is false! Tell me it is false!" + +"I wish to God it were, Bets. But you must keep your feelings under +better control if you are to help me out of this miserable state of +affairs." + +"You know it is false!" she implored. "I shall tell everybody it's a +lie! No one can know him and believe that." + +"You must remember that this all happened years ago, before you and I +were born." + +"But, his life now! Oh, Harold, you don't believe this! Tell me it isn't +true!" + +"I've been almost sweating blood over it since I discovered the truth. +I've tried to find some other explanation or solution, but there is none +other. Father is guilty of the crime for which Adoniah Phillips was made +to suffer. I don't know how they got hold of his true name, for he was +going under an assumed one over there. But they did, and the worst of it +is, the old trader's wife is here in the city right now. She is on +Father's track. I've been staving her off, but she smells a rat in the +fact that I bear his name, and I can't hold her much longer from +locating him." + +"No! No! You shall not tell me that Father is a criminal! You must take +back that awful word about him!" + +Harold groaned, and settled back into his chair. The girl fell back into +hers, and covered her face with trembling hands. She sprang suddenly to +her feet and to her brother's side. + +"Father was never in Australia! He made his money trading in Africa. +We've heard him say that many times, and I believe him. I shall not +believe those papers. They are blackmail." + +"Then, I must go on alone. My temptation was to cover this up, but, +Bets, I can't. I had hoped that you'd go through it with me, for it's +going to be a mighty dirty mess to clean up. But if you persist in +believing Father's story instead of mine----" + +"I do believe you, too! But can't there be some mistake?" + +"If there had been the slightest chance I should have discovered it +before now, but there isn't. It is God's truth. All these years Father +has been safe only because Adoniah Phillips refused years ago to +disclose his identity. It's awful, Sis, but true." + +"It's too awful to be true! It seems like a horrible dream." + +"You have no idea what agony it has cost me. Do you think you can go +through it with me?" + +"I'll try, Harold. But, oh, it's hard!" + +"Yes." + +"Don't you think that Father might clear the whole matter up if we +should tell him all we know? Maybe he could explain things----" + +"That was the first thought that occurred to me. But the longer I worked +on the case, and the more I discovered of the truth, the more impossible +I saw that to be. I'm not so sure that we'd want him to save his skin, +anyway. He ought to face the music for his wrong just the same as any +other man." + +Elizabeth did not once take her gaze from her brother's face, while she +spoke slowly and distinctly: "Father will not be afraid to face the +truth, even though it may mean financial ruin. He is brave, and he is +honest now. I shall tell him all." + +"Don't be too hasty, Bets. I admire your spunk. But answer me this: did +it strike you as strange the way Father acted that night when I +announced my contemplated trip to Australia to look up Phillips?" + +She nodded ever so slightly. + +"And did it strike you as strange the way he treated Mr. McGowan when he +offered to help him to his room?" + +"But why do you bring Mr. McGowan into this?" + +"Bets, if I had known one grain of the truth that night I'd have flatly +refused the appointment to this case at the risk of losing my position +in the firm. Father was afraid that night. Here is one more paper I +wish you to read. I had it copied in Washington last week." + +Elizabeth unfolded the paper, and read: "Be it known that one Adoniah +Phillips, after due application, and upon his own request, for reasons +herein stated, is authorized to change his name to----" + +The paper fell to the floor. The room began to swim. The furniture +violently rocked. Elizabeth reached out and clutched her brother's arm. + +"Mack McGowan!" she whispered faintly. "Oh, what am I saying? Why am I +saying that name? What has happened to me?" + +"Poor little girl! I thought my little sister was stronger than that. +I've been a fool for letting you read all those papers after the strain +you've been through." + +"Mack McGowan!" she repeated. She seized the paper which her brother had +lifted from the floor. "Oh, it's in that paper, and it's _his_ name! +Harold, what does it mean?" + +"You must brace up, Beth. The man you are in love with is the son of +Adoniah Phillips. He bears his father's new name." + +She was suddenly weary. She felt just one desire: to get back home. She +took Harold's arm and led him toward the door. + +"I want to go home, and I need you to drive the car." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +During the homeward trip Elizabeth was as one in a stupor. When they +reached the brow of the hill above the village, Harold stopped the car. +Elizabeth half turned about in her seat, resting her elbow on the back +above and lifting her hand to her eyes to shade them from the light. She +gazed upon the glory of the western sky where the sun was dropping into +a bed of gold, lavishly splashing the low-hanging clouds with a radiance +that seemed to drip from their edges. A shock suddenly brought her back +to reality with a pain at her heart. Silhouetted against the gold of the +sky-line, his head bared, his shoulders thrown back, was a tall figure: +the son of Adoniah Phillips! + +"That's a good view for sore hearts, Bets," commented her brother. + +She caught her breath in quick gasps. "Yes. But, oh, Harold, it's so +hard!" + +"I know," he agreed, taking her hand. "Have you thought out a line of +action? Where shall we begin?" + +The girl did not answer. Harold followed with his eyes the direction of +her gaze. His hand tightened in hers. The minister had just recognized +them, and was waving his cap high over his head in welcome. Elizabeth +lifted her handkerchief and permitted the light breeze to flutter it. +Harold answered with a swing of his arm. Mr. McGowan started toward +them. + +"Drive me home, Harold. I can't see him now." + +"But, Sis, this may be our only time together. Tell me what to do. I'm +lost. I don't know which way to turn." + +"I must see Uncle Josiah first. He has had time to think a lot, and he +may know how to help us. I'm going to his place to-night." + +"By George! You're right. I hadn't thought of going to him. He does know +something about this. He was in my office the other day, and asked a +host of questions. He'll help us if he can. Why not stop there now?" + +"Not now. I'm not decent to see any one, or be seen. Please, take me +home." + +He threw in the clutch and the car shot down the hill, past a curious +crowd in front of the general store, and on up the knoll into the Fox +estate. + +Mr. Fox had not yet returned from Riverhead. He had telephoned that he +might get home for dinner. But the dinner hour came and went, and still +he did not return. After the silent, and all but untasted, meal, +Elizabeth left the house by the rear entrance. She hurried along the +walk, out through the wicket gate at the back, and down to the beach. +From here she turned into the path that zigzagged across town-lots, over +sand-dunes, through brush heaps, to the rear of the Captain's place. + +She walked round the house to the side door. She lifted the heavy +knocker, and held it tightly as though fearing to let it drop against +the rusty iron plate. What if Uncle Josiah had forgotten his engagement, +and was not home? But Uncle Josiah had never yet forgotten a promise he +had made her. She let the piece of iron fall. The sound echoed through +the house. It frightened her, and she poised as though of a mind to run. +Instead of the usual hearty boom for her to "Come in," the door swung +wide, and she stood face to face with the minister. + +"Oh!" she cried, stepping back into the shadows. + +"I've been expecting you, Miss Fox. Will you come in?" he cordially +invited. + +"You were expecting me? But I----" + +Hardly knowing what she did, and certainly not realizing why she did it, +she accepted the invitation and entered. Her eyes slowly widened as he +closed the door. She stood poised like a wild thing ready for flight at +the slightest warning. + +"I trust that your father isn't ill again?" said the minister +solicitously. + +"No-o. That is, not yet. He's quite well, thank you. He isn't home, or +wasn't when I left." + +"I'm glad." + +"I beg your pardon?" + +"I'm glad your father isn't ill," he explained, growing quite as +embarrassed as she. + +"Oh! Yes. Thank you." + +"Miss Fox, something must be wrong. May I help you?" + +"No. Really, no. That is, not bad wrong, yet," she stammered. "Only he +promised to be home, and--well, he isn't." + +"The Captain will be back soon. He asked me to entertain you till his +return. I fear I'm not doing it very well." + +"Indeed, you are. That is, I guess you are. Is the Captain far away?" + +"He took Miss Pipkin over to Miss Splinter's. Miss Splinter is very ill. +Won't you be seated?" + +"Yes, thank you. No, I think I'll stand. Dear me! What can be the matter +with me? I'm acting quite stupid and silly, am I not?" + +She tried to laugh, but her dry throat gave a cracked sound. Mr. McGowan +noticed, and did not complete the smile that was beginning to form about +his own lips. + +"Really, I think I'll be going, and come back again. I feel so very +queerly, and--uncomfortable with--with----" + +"With me in the room?" he finished with a sad smile. "I'm sorry. I'll +step into my study. If you need anything, please call." + +He had reached the door and the knob had turned under his hand when she +gave a cry, between a sob and a plea. He swung quickly about. + +"Don't leave me, please!" she pleaded. "I mean, don't go on my +account." + +"But I seem to be disturbing you, and I don't wish to do that," he said +kindly. + +She broke down completely. "Oh, I do need you so much! Please stay! I'm +afraid, afraid of everything, afraid of myself! You said one should keep +a cool head, but I can't! I can't! I've tried so hard. Oh, Mack--Mr. +McGowan, please help me!" + +She finished her broken plea in muffled sobs in the folds of his coat. +He drew her against him till his arms ached. She knew now that she could +make of her love for this man no voluntary offering in order to save her +father humiliation. All afternoon and evening she had been forming that +resolution. But this love that had come to her, pure and undefiled from +the hand of God, could not be denied for the sins of one man, even +though that man be her own father. She felt herself being swept out into +an engulfing current, nor did she wish to stay its overwhelming power. +For the first time that afternoon she was conscious of real strength. + +Mr. McGowan tried to lift her face from his shoulder, but she clung the +closer. + +"I want to look at you," he said jubilantly. + +"Not just yet!" she sobbed. "I want to get used to this." + +"Then, let me hear you say you love me!" entreated the man. + +"Mack McGowan, I love you!" She drew back a pace. "Now, you may look at +me just once, though I don't look like much with my eyes all swelled up +and red." + +He drank in the beauty of the face before him. "Thank God! You do love +me! It isn't just pity." + +She nodded her head so vigorously that the wisps of fair hair fell about +her large blue eyes. "Yes, I love you, Mack. There, now, you've looked +long enough. Kiss me, please." She lifted her face. + +Mr. McGowan was unstintingly obeying the command when a loud knock +jarred the side door. They started and sprang apart. + +"Who can that be knocking like that?" asked the girl, hastily tucking +away the stray locks of hair. + +"It must be the Captain. But I wonder----" + +Elizabeth laughed, and pointed toward a window where the curtain was +above the lower sash. The Captain had seen them! + +"I don't care if he did see. Let me go to the door." + +She had taken one step in that direction when the door flew back and in +came Mr. James Fox. + +"Father! You!" + +Without replying, Mr. Fox glared ferociously at the minister. His hand +trembled on the head of his walking-stick. The blood surged into his +face. Elizabeth, growing alarmed, started toward her father. But the +Elder waved her back. Mr. McGowan broke the awful silence. + +"We can't help it, Mr. Fox. I'm very sorry that this has come against +your will." + +"So it is true. God help me!" The Elder's words came with surprising +calm, but his tone was harsh and hard. "So it is as I was warned. It is +hard to believe that my little Beth has proven untrue to me." He was +breathing hard. Pointing his stick in the direction of the minister, he +finished with savage calm, "My little girl here alone, and with a man +like you! God help me!" + +"Be careful!" ordered Mr. McGowan. His words were sharp, as with blazing +eyes he met the glare of the Elder. + +"Father, you must not talk and look like that." + +"Alone with him!" repeated Mr. Fox. "I saw the whole shameless +proceeding through that window, and it is needless for you to deny what +has happened." + +"We are not trying to deny it, Father. I'm proud of it. We tried so hard +not to love each other, too, when we found out how set you were against +it. But we couldn't help it. We did try, didn't we, Mack?" + +"You tried!" sneered her father. "I suppose this man forced you to steal +from your home under cover of night, and come to him, over paths that +were dark and out of the way, against your will. Do you expect me to +believe that?" + +Elizabeth came between the men as the minister took a step toward the +Elder. + +"I've done nothing to be ashamed of. I came here of my own accord, and +you have no right to spy on me through those who are willing to do such +vulgar things because you pay them. I came here to see Uncle Josiah. He +wasn't in, and Mr. McGowan was--well, he was entertaining me." + +"That will do! You shall not add perjury to your sin. You knew perfectly +well that Pott was not home. You knew he was in the city. Your stories +don't hang together." + +"Father, you must not talk to me like that. Uncle Josiah came home this +morning, and I made arrangements to meet him here to-night." + +"And he was conveniently out, I suppose, so you might meet this fellow +here alone." + +"If you refuse to listen to reason, you may think what you like. I love +that man you've been maligning!" she cried, her eyes filling with angry +tears. + +"You love him? Are you brazen enough to stand there and say that to my +face?" he shouted, losing his self-control. "Him! You! I've a +mind----Why, you silly little sentimental fool. You go so far as to +flaunt----" + +"Mr. Fox, allow me to explain," interrupted the minister. + +The Elder did not heed the note of warning in the steady voice, but +clutching his walking-stick with nervous fingers he started toward his +daughter. + +"Stand back!" + +Mr. Fox stood back, almost falling against the wall. The minister's +voice was as hard as his own. + +"It seems that the time has come for a reckoning," said Mr. McGowan. +"You have stood in my way long enough. Elizabeth, will you kindly step +into my study?" + +"I prefer to remain here, Mack. You may need me." + +"What I say may be quite unpleasant." + +"I may need to add to what you say. I'll stay." + +"Very well. Mr. Fox, our strained relations must come to an end. If you +can show any just cause why I'm at fault, I shall do all in my power to +rectify it. I do not know the slightest reason for your attitude against +me, but----" + +"You lie, sir!" + +The minister's lips tightened. "Only your age protects you in the use of +that word to me. I repeat what I have said,--and it will be as well for +you not to question my integrity again,--I do not know why you have +treated me as you have. I now demand an explanation." + +"If you will favor us with a little of your family history first," said +the Elder with a sneering laugh, "there will be no need of any further +explanation on my part." + +"You seem to think me a vagabond, or something quite as bad if not +worse. Well, I'm not. My family history is nothing to brag about, but +the record is clean. If you'll be seated I'll be glad to furnish you +with such bits as may be of interest to you. It isn't so difficult to +hold one's temper while sitting." + +Elizabeth lifted an imploring face to the minister. "Please, dear, don't +say anything more! For my sake, don't. Wait till you both have had time +to think over how foolish this all is." + +"Foolish, you think! He need not speak, so far as I'm concerned," +declared Mr. Fox, refusing the proffered chair. "I know his whole +miserable story. I knew his parents. I take back my request. You +doubtless would not tell the truth. What I wish my daughter to know, I +shall tell her in the privacy of our own home." + +Elizabeth looked as if she could not trust her own ears for what she had +just heard from her father's lips. + +"Mr. Fox, Elizabeth shall know my story now, and from my own lips. I +have absolutely nothing to hide or be ashamed of. My father and mother +were honest people. If it be a crime to be poor, then, they were guilty +beyond redemption. They came to this country from Australia when I was +little more than an infant. My father took ill and died shortly after +our arrival. Mother said his death was the result of confining work he +had done in Australia. I can remember my mother quite well, but she died +before I was five. I was taken into a neighboring family, almost as poor +as mine had been. As I grew up I worked hard, and saved every penny. My +mother had left me one heritage that was priceless, a craving for +knowledge. The people who brought me up sacrificed to help me along till +I reached high school. I worked my way up through four hard years, into +college, and then on into the seminary. + +"That is about all there is to my uninteresting history. I came here as +a candidate for this church. For the first time in my whole life I was +beginning to taste real happiness. But no sooner had I taken my first +breath of independence than I saw I must fight to hold the ground I had +gained. I gloried in the opportunity. I was glad that I could do for +your town what no other minister had been able to do. I took special +delight in getting hold of those lads and men at the Inn. Hicks and his +crowd didn't trouble me one bit, or even alter one plan I had for the +members of the club. I didn't even grow discouraged when the opposition +came from you, for I kept hoping that you'd see your mistake and come +over to my aid. But time went on, and you did not. I sought reasons for +your injustice. I concluded at last that you had discovered my love for +your daughter, and that you did not consider my family connections to be +sufficiently strong to permit any such union. I did all in my power to +argue myself out of that love. But I soon discovered that a man cannot +argue a cyclone out of his heart any more than he can argue one out of +God's sky. + +"If there is no other reason for your actions, sir, than my love for +Elizabeth your opposition may as well be withdrawn right here and now. +Otherwise, I shall marry Elizabeth against your will." + +"It seems to me, young man, that you are quite sure of yourself about +something you can't do. I admire your nerve,"--the Elder was pulling out +each word with violent tugs at the side-whiskers,--"but we'll see, sir, +who holds the trumps." + +"You mean that you offer me no other alternative than to fight this +through to a finish?" asked the minister. + +"I offer you no alternative whatsoever. I command you to remain away +from my daughter." + +"And I refuse to obey any such order unless you give some just and +adequate reason." + +"I shall give you reason enough. Why did you stop with that little bit +of family history where you did?" + +"I had nothing to add of any importance." + +"You do not think it of importance to tell us what that confining work +was your father did in Australia?" + +"I haven't the slightest idea. If Mother ever told me I was so very +young that I have forgotten." + +"Perhaps your mother wished to spare you. If so, I do not intend to tell +you at this late hour in your life. But what he did is sufficient reason +for my forbidding you to carry your attentions any further." + +"Father, this is getting really ridiculous," declared his daughter. "We +love each other, and that fact is greater than all else. Not one word +which you may say against Mack's people will make the slightest +difference with me." + +"My dear child, if I dared tell you one-tenth of the truth,--but I dare +not." + +"You shall not talk like this any longer. It's silly." + +"Since when has my child taken to giving her father orders? You are +forcing me to speak. I'd rather cut off my right arm than do it, but I +must save my little girl from----" + +"I shall not listen to another word!" broke in the girl. + +"Be still! I shall speak, and you shall listen." + +"Father! You dare not. I love him, and----" + +"You'll blush at the thought of having used that word in connection with +that man before I have finished." + +"It doesn't matter what you say, you can never change----" + +"Beth, I must ask you to stop interrupting me. This man's father is an +out----" + +"You'd better not say that, Father!" cried Elizabeth. "You'll wish you +hadn't when it is too late." + +The Elder's face grew livid. His hands trembled violently as he steadied +himself to deliver his final blow. Elizabeth drew close to Mr. McGowan +as though to shield him, and shot a defiant glance at her father. + +"I shall tell the truth, and you shall hear it. That man's father is an +outlaw. He is a fugitive from justice. All this prattle about him being +dead is a hoax." + +The Elder now stood back to watch the result of his bomb. But what he +saw was far more mystifying than satisfying. It was Mr. McGowan who drew +back as the girl threw her arms about his neck. Elizabeth entreated him +not to believe one word which her father had just uttered. Mr. Fox stood +dumbfounded. Mr. McGowan did nothing but stare blankly across the room. + +"Come here at once!" ordered the Elder. "Beth, do you hear me? Come away +from that man. Don't you see he recognizes the truth? Are you entirely +mad?" + +For answer Elizabeth slipped her hands further over her lover's +shoulders and locked her fingers behind. Mr. McGowan did not seem to +realize the utter surrender with which she did this. He saw only the +figure across the room and heard a faint whisper from out the past. It +came from out his childhood, shortly after his father's death. It had +made no definite impression on his young mind, but like a haunting +shadow had stuck to him all these years. In a husky voice he demanded +that the Elder explain. + +"There is nothing more to explain, sir. You know to what I refer as well +as I. If you are any kind of a man you will stop right where you are, +and release my daughter from her foolish promise. Beth, if you love +this man as you say you do you will come from him at once, for I'll ruin +him if you persist in your sentimental infatuation. If you show a +willingness to comply with my wishes, I shall let the matter drop, +providing he leaves our town." + +Mr. McGowan tried to push the girl from him, but she only tightened her +grip. + +"You dare not carry out your threat!" she shot at her father. Then +without warning she released the minister, and turned about. The fire of +indignation and anger leaped from those eyes that had only given her +father love and kindness. + +"I shall not threaten longer, I shall act. I shall apply for deportation +papers for this man as an undesirable citizen." + +"He is not that, Father!" cried the girl, making her last appeal. + +"I shall have him deported if----" + +She gave a dry hysterical laugh. "Try it, if you dare! I know his story. +I know yours, too. Don't you touch me!" she cried, as her father started +toward her. She fled again to the minister. "Don't let him touch me, +Mack!" + +Mr. Fox stopped abruptly. He dropped the papers which he had taken from +his pocket. "Beth,--my dear,--have you lost all your senses? What were +you saying?" he barely gasped. + +The outer door opened, and Captain Pott entered his house. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +Captain Pott paused on the threshold. He looked from one to the other of +the occupants of the room. He crossed over and picked up the paper which +the Elder had dropped. He slowly read the contents. + +"Ain't breaking in on an experience meeting, be I?" he asked. + +"Oh! Uncle Josiah! Tell Father it isn't true!" entreated the girl. + +"I'd say 'twas purty likely, according to all the signs." He chuckled. + +"Please don't laugh. I can't stand it. Tell Father about----" + +"There now, Beth, you and the parson set sail for a little cruise down +the beach. I've something private to say to your dad." + +"What you have to say to me, sir, will be said in the presence of my +daughter," replied the Elder, making a pathetic attempt at stiffness. + +"You're mistook on that p'int, Jim. I'm skipper aboard here, and them's +orders." + +The Elder's hands shook uncontrollably as he gripped the head of his +walking-stick. + +"You're all wasting good time," observed the seaman. "You'd best heave +to, and obey orders. Mutiny won't be allowed." + +"I intend to remain right here till this mystery concerning me is +cleared up," declared the minister. + +"Mystery about you?" exclaimed the Captain. "Why, Mack, there ain't +nothing like that about you. You're as clear as an open sky. What I've +got to say is just 'twixt Jim and me. You couldn't get in on it to save +your soul. Now, you and Beth clear out." + +"Josiah Pott, I recognize no right that permits you to intrude into my +family affairs. If what you have to say is concerning the mortgage you +had better speak at once. There is nothing about that which is +confidential." + +"That's according to the way you look at it. I'd a heap sight rather say +it in private, Jim. It may prove embarrassing----" + +"Then, good night. Come, Beth." + +"There ain't no use of you going off mad, Jim. I only wanted a word with +you about something that does consarn us both a mite. You ain't got no +objection to that, have you?" + +The show of apparent humility on the part of the Captain made it +possible for the Elder to remain, providing the conference should be +made brief. + +"You ain't no more anxious to get it over than I be. We'll step right in +here in Mack's cabin, if you don't mind." + +The Elder balked. "I prefer witnesses," he said. "Otherwise, you may +come to my home to-morrow evening. I did not seek this unpleasant +interview, and since I leave it to my lawyers to carry on my business +affairs, I do not intend to hound my debtors personally." + +"You ain't been hounding me personally, Jim, but there's some things +that you can't leave even to crooked lawyers. You'd best handle this +personally. If that shyster tries to get in on this his neck won't be +wuth the skin that covers it." + +"You still persist in trying to threaten me, I see." + +"No, Jim, this ain't a threat. If you want the witness part after I get +through I'll accommodate you with plenty of 'em. But I cal'late we'd +best talk it over private-like fust. I happened onto a feller the other +day by the name of John Peters, and he spun me the likeliest yarn I ever +heard about Australia. I thought you'd like to hear it, but I don't want +to take your valuable time. Good night." + +"Hold on, Josiah! I did not catch that name. Who was it you saw?" + +But the Captain did not hold on to anything except to his news +concerning John Peters. He entered the minister's study and closed the +door. + +A little later the side door opened and closed quietly. The seaman +thought the Fox had run for his hole. But the study door soon opened. +The Captain turned his back, drew out his pipe, and with slow +deliberation began to pack the bowl with shavings from a black plug of +tobacco. + +"I think I can spare you a few minutes, Josiah," barely whispered the +Elder. "I don't want to seem arrogant and high-handed in the matter of +that small loan. And if there is anything----" + +"That's all right, Jim, about that loan. Come right in, and set down. +Thought you'd gone hum." + +"That was the preacher going out with my daughter. He shall see the day +when he'll pay for his impudence." + +"Most of us get caught afore we're through life, Jim." + +"I don't know why I'm doing this little service for you to-night, except +it be for the sake of our boyhood friendship. I am willing to suffer +this inconvenience----" + +"It's mighty kind of you," cut in the Captain sharply. "But for once +that boyhood rot ain't going to help you none. It ain't going to let you +turn any more of them tricks of a black rascal simply because you pose +as a shining martyr. The way you've treated Mack McGowan----" + +"If this conversation is to be about the minister, I shall save you the +trouble of speaking by going at once." + +"It ain't no trouble for me to speak. What I've got to say does consarn +Mack a heap, and you'd best listen. When I finish you'll see that it's +best for him to stay right here in this church, if he wants to, after +all the mean low-down tricks you've served him." + +"I shall not allow you to pick a quarrel. I regret that you are so much +inclined that way." + +"You can keep all your regretting till later, you'll likely need it. +What I want to make plain to you is that Mack is going to stay right +here in Little River, perviding he wants to." + +"Indeed? You surprise me. I usually get my way about church matters. +Permit me to say that you shall not interfere in these affairs any more +than in those of my own home." + +"That's been the trouble with you all these years, Jim. You've been +getting your own way too long. I'm not going to interfere one mite, I'm +just going to dictate for this once. If I ain't way off in my +soundings, you'll be mighty glad to have him as a son-in-law, too." + +Mr. Fox rose and lifted his cane. He tapped the corner of the desk. He +opened his mouth, but his anger choked him. + +"You make me nervous, Jim. Set down and set still. I ain't going to +speak of the parson right off. Ain't you going to set down? There, +that's better." + +The Elder's face was livid. + +"I cal'late I'll talk better if I get this thing going," observed the +seaman, lighting his pipe. "Now, Jim, I ain't sartin why I'm going to +talk to you in private like this, but----" + +"By God! It's time you're finding out! Your impudence has got beyond all +bounds." + +"I wouldn't swear like that. It ain't becoming to one of your position +in the church. Them black scowls and blue cuss-words ain't going to get +you nothing." + +"You impudent dog! I thought you were intending to pay me that little +debt, or I should never have entered this room. Your insults are----" + +"Sartin sure. 'Most forgot that." The Captain drew out a bank-draft and +handed it over to the surprised Elder. "Thanks for reminding me. It's +best to clear all decks afore manoeuvers are begun in earnest." + +"I shall be going now. But I cannot take that draft. You will learn more +about that later." + +"Suit yourself on both p'ints, Jim," replied the seaman studying the +tips of his heavy boots. "You'd best take this money, though. It pays +off all I owe you. Anyway, I'd stay if I was you. You'd sure enjoy +Peters' yarn." + +The two men eyed each other like a pair of wild animals. The Elder at +length rose. + +"Pott, I'll not listen to more of your insane talk. I fear all your +trouble has gone to your head. I'm sorry if that is the case. You would +do well to consult some brain specialist." + +"No, it ain't my head it's gone to. It's my heart." His words were +gentle, but his eyes were as hard as flint. "I've been itching to get +hold of you for some time, Jim, but I ain't seen any handle till now. +Since you made me that offer up to your house t'other night I've been +wanting to choke you. Yes, to choke you till your lying old pipe of a +gullet would shut off your wind for good and all. But the law won't +allow me that pleasure." He continued with intense bitterness: "I s'pose +you're wondering where I got that money to pay off your filthy loan." + +"So this is the gratitude you offer for my kindness?" + +"It's a fat lot you've ever done for me! You've just told me this ain't +no good." + +"The fact of the matter is, my lawyers probably foreclosed on the real +mortgage at noon to-day." + +"Then, that lawyer feller I see wa'n't far off his course, after all," +replied the Captain, laying the draft on the table. "Now, Jim, show your +hand and be damn quick afore I call your turn on the deal," demanded the +seaman as though certain that a prior conclusion had proven correct. + +"I have nothing to show at this time." + +"By the Almighty, then, look out! I sold my _Jennie P._ to get you that +money. It was purty hard to see her go, but it wa'n't all loss, not by +a heap. John Peters bought her. I told him why I was selling her. He was +real sorry, and then he spun me the yarn about your crookedness in +Australia. I got the rest of the story by installments, about the way +you treated Adoniah. John give me some mighty interesting news about an +old Mrs. Rogers, who was the mother of Adoniah's wife. She's here right +now looking for heirs and crooks." + +The Elder had risen again, but the name spoken by the Captain struck him +like a shot. He dropped back, his head fell forward, and his hands +locked over the head of his stick. + +"After that I seen Harold, and he told me where the woman was staying. +I looked her up, and she told me the whole enduring yarn. It was +Clemmie's last letter from Adoniah that set me going on your trail, and +the old woman cleared up the fog. I had that letter in my pocket up to +your place that night, but Providence or something kept me from +showing it to you. That old lady had a picture of her darter Emmie, +and it nearly knocked me over when she showed it to me. It was the +same that Mack has here in this frame of his own mother. Take a look at +that picture." He opened a drawer, lifted out a gilt-frame, and passed +a small daguerreotype across to the Elder. "Mack has showed me this +often, and I see that he was a chip off the old block on his mother's +side. But I never dreamed the truth, because of his name." The +Captain's eyes narrowed. "I've been wondering, Jim, if that wa'n't what +went to your head that night he had dinner up there,--seeing the +likeness, all of a sudden, to his mother." + +He paused to give the Elder time to study the picture. + +"Josiah, what on earth has all this nonsense to do with me? Just what +are you accusing me of?" + +"Nothing yet. I'm coming to that part. I looked up that feller who was +with you over there, and I dragged your damned sin out of him. When it +comes right down to it, I hate like time to take away your chart and +compass this way, but you've been doing it to others for so long that I +cal'late it's coming to you. I'd have let the old lady tear out your +side-whiskers if it hadn't been for them children of yours. It was for +them that I asked you in here." + +The Elder roused and made a pathetic effort to straighten his drooping +figure. "I think,--er,--Josiah, I see your game at last. You purpose to +frighten me with these wild tales from some old witch. I shall compel +you to offer proof, for all your insinuations, in court." + +"Insinuations! Proof! Lord, Jim!" cried the Captain, aiming a powerful +finger in the direction of the Elder. "I've got proof enough to lock you +up in the London Towers, or wherever it was you let Adoniah suffer for +your infernal wickedness. Proof! Hell! You ain't that big a fool. Set +still and hear me. You never see the shores of Africa. It was in +Australia that you and Adoniah got in with that trader Rogers,--Emmie's +father,--and you was getting rich trading in opals. Then, the both of +you fell in love with Emmie, and Adoniah beat you out and married her. +It wa'n't long after that when Adoniah took down with a fever. God, +man! When I think what you done to him when he couldn't fight back, I +could kill you! You got trapped in a bad deal, and while Adoniah was +raving with a fever you took all the money there was and skipped. You +was careful to ship all the blame for your dirty work on Adoniah afore +you sneaked out a rich man." + +"Pott, that is enough. There is not a court in all this country that +would believe your wild tale. Try it, and see how quickly they would +lock you up in a madhouse." + +"They won't believe what I say?" + +"I dare you to go into any court and try it. I'm too well known." + +"Jim, don't toss me that old line, it's a mite too green and slimy to +look tasty." + +"I'm through with this stuff and nonsense, sir!" shouted the Elder. He +started for the door. + +"Well, I ain't through with you. I'm only just begun." The Captain +intercepted him. "You set there, or I'll set you. This trader, Rogers, +got onto your little game afore you set sail, and tried to get you +arrested. But you'd covered your dirty tracks. He caught you, though, +and made you sign something----" + +"That would not stand in court. I can prove that I was forced to sign a +false statement at the point of a gun." + +"Thanks, Jim. I'm glad I ain't got to prove to you that you done the +signing." Carefully choosing his words, the Captain continued. "That +feller you had hiding with you that night done some signing, too. I got +hold both them papers. I found that other feller and made him dance the +devil's tune. He done some purty things for a missionary of the Son of +God. His name was Means. + +"You know the rest of the yarn, how Adoniah was taken off on one of them +floating hells, called a convict-ship. The thing was nearly wrecked, and +he was making his escape after swimming to land when he turned into a +mission place for a bite to eat. He come face to face with that fat +missionary who got you out of the country. Instead of feeding him, and +giving him decent clothing, like a Christian ought to do, he took him to +the officers. They put him in a dungeon. For nigh onto two years he was +kept there. Then this Rogers feller got hold of a lawyer with as much +heart as brains, and they got him out. The old lady said he wa'n't much +to look at when he come out. They sent 'em over here, thinking it would +be good for Adoniah's health. But he was all wore out, and couldn't hold +a job. He was a heap too proud to beg or ask help. Not wanting to +disgrace his family name with the damned record you give him, he changed +his. The old lady said it was about then that they lost track of 'em. I +got the rest of the story from Harold on my way home to-night from +Edna's place. That's why I was late. + +"Adoniah and his family lived in them dirty streets of lower East Side. +He was a wreck, and Emmie tried to work to keep things up. Both of 'em +died, starved to death, while you and that damn missionary was getting +fat on the money you stole. You had busted up the firm so Rogers +couldn't help none then, even if he'd found 'em. The little boy they +left was found by some neighbors. He was 'most starved and nearly +froze. He was living with an old janitor woman, and she was sending him +out on the streets to sell papers! Think of that, Jim Fox! A little boy, +five years old, peddling papers to pay your bills with! Them folks found +him one morning in a doorway, asleep!" + +The old seaman's voice choked. He slowly refilled his pipe. When he +resumed his narrative, his breath was coming heavily. "This Rogers +feller lost all track of 'em. He made money fast after he got on his +feet, but all his searching got him nothing. The old lady said they kept +paying some interest or other on a debt Adoniah owed to you in order to +save some property of his. I didn't tumble just then what 'twas she +meant. But I found out to-night. When the old man died, Mrs. Rogers shut +down on that paying business and began in real earnest to look for her +darter." + +The Elder had slouched forward in his chair. + +"You thought you was hid, and so you come back to this town to stick +your head in one of its sand-heaps. I tell you, Jim, I ain't been very +strong on the p'int of a Providence directing our ways. It's always +seemed to me like a blind force pushing us from behind. But I'm getting +converted. When that there missionary showed up at the installing +meeting, the devil come right forward and asked for his pay. Means +wa'n't long in seeing the mother's face in Mack. + +"It was Mack who sold them papers. It was that low-down missionary of a +Means who was working in a mission down on the East Side after coming +back who put him in with that janitor woman. You both done all the dirt +you could to his dad by stealing all he had, and now because you've been +scared that he'd squeal on you, the both of you are trying to steal his +right to live as a man. I suppose if you'd have known that he was as +ignorant as a babe about all this, you'd done nothing against him. But +Providence come in by way of your own home. Harold got that woman over +here afore he knew where the scent was going, but he can't stop her now. +Beth found it all out to-day, too." + +The expected blast of hot denial and bitter denunciation did not follow. +Instead, the Elder merely bent his head and acknowledged it all. He did +not bewail his misfortune. He seemed beyond that. + +"It's a mighty bad thing, Jim, when a feller lets the furniture of his +house get more important than himself, ain't it? It leaves him kind of +bare when it's all moved out." + +"Josiah, you're right. It's even worse when the furniture has been +stolen," remarked the man. He raised his head and looked at the little +gilt-framed picture on the desk. He covered his face. With a dry sob he +folded his arms across the picture, and dropped his head upon them. "My +God! I didn't mean to do it when I began. I must have been insane. It +seemed so easy at the time. I've suffered a thousand hells all these +years!" + +"I know. You just went along the way that seemed easy-like. At fust it +ain't hard to go with the greedy crowd, but the turning's mighty hard. +You sartin went the easiest way for yourself, Jim, but them you done +wrong to, died in awful poverty." + +"I can't stand any more!" + +"John told me that Adoniah was going to get your hide after he got back +here, but when he see you was married and had a little baby----" + +"Stop it, Josiah! Do with me as you like, but don't tell me any more. +I'll go insane!" + +"I cal'late what you said about suffering your share is as nigh the +truth as you've come in many a year. If I'd been intending to give you +up to that old woman, do you cal'late I'd brought you in here?" + +"Josiah, do you mean that you do not intend to give me up?" asked the +crumpled man incredulously. He raised his head and peered across the +room. + +"Not if you're willing to obey orders. Others have been suffering, and +that's got to stop." + +"I'll do anything you say." + +"The fust thing, that Sim Hicks and his gang has got to be choked off." + +"I don't know what you refer to, but----" + +"Jim, I thought we'd cut out that old green line of pretending. I +ain't going to nibble, so just stop casting it at me. I mean his +booze-selling to them boys." + +"That can be arranged," hurriedly agreed the Elder. + +"Thought it likely could. The second little matter is that Mr. McGowan +is going to stay right here in this church as minister." + +"I'll do my best----Yes, I shall see to that." + +"Now, about that money you stole from his dad. That goes back to Mack +with interest." + +"But, Josiah, I can't do that. It would ruin me. I wouldn't mind for +myself, but my family----" + +"I know, that's the hard part of paying off old debts, the innocent has +got to suffer. But that can be fixed so it won't bother you much. It +might do you good to take a taste of your own medicine." + +"Can this be done without the village finding it out?" + +"It's purty hard to give up your position as village hero, ain't it, +Jim? I cal'late it's going to be purty tolerable hard to dress a +hypocrite up like a saint without people finding it out sooner or +later, but we'll try it for a spell. Harold said to-night that he'd draw +up papers for you. We're going to try to keep this a sort of family +skeleton." + +"How can I ever thank you!" + +"You'd best give them thanks to the Almighty." + +"I do, most heartily." + +"Just touch a match to this paper you dropped. Here 'tis. I cal'late you +wa'n't intending for no one to see this but Beth." + +"That is true, Josiah. I wished to keep her from going any further with +Mr. McGowan." With trembling fingers he set fire to that piece of +paper. + +"One word more about money. What are you going to do about the loan on +this place?" + +"You may keep that, Josiah, as a token of my appreciation for what you +have done." + +"Not this one," said the Captain. "That's honest enough to pass. I mean +that one the interest has been paid on all these years." + +"I'm afraid that my lawyers foreclosed on that at noon----" + +"From what Harold said, I cal'late you'll find the interest was paid +afore they had a chance to foreclose. If I was you, Jim, I'd just cancel +that mortgage. The interest has more than paid it back these years. +Mack's estate otter be clear." + +The man before whom great ones had been made to tremble because of +financial power, now meekly nodded assent to a sea captain. + +"And we'll just include everything you owe Mack in the papers Harold is +going to draw up?" + +"I'll be only too glad to do as you say. But how about this Rogers +woman?" + +"I'll see to her. She'd never recognize you as the dude who beat her +son-in-law. You've changed consider'ble since then. You've even changed +a mite to-night." + +The Captain took up his pipe from the table, shook off the ash, and +relighted it. + +"Is that all, Josiah?" + +"Yes. I cal'late you'd best be going." He handed the Elder his hat, and +lifted his walking-stick from the floor. + +"Thanks, Josiah. You have been very kind to me. More than I deserve." + +"There ain't no room for argument on that p'int." + +As the Elder reached the door the Captain halted him. + +"If I was you, Jim, I'd keep my oar out of that love affair of Mack and +Beth." + +"Quite right, Josiah. Good night." + +The Elder got out of the house and into the road in a stumbling fashion. +He climbed the knoll to his estate, a saddened and broken old man, but +with a relief of mind and heart that he had not known for years. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +"Now, ain't you a pair to look at, and you to give your sermon this +morning, Mr. McGowan! You look a heap sight worse than Edna Splinter, +and she's been raving with a fever all night." + +Miss Pipkin made this observation while the three of them sat at +breakfast Sunday morning. + +The minister absent-mindedly asked concerning the condition of Miss +Splinter. + +"She 'peared to be a trifle easier this morning. But what's ailing the +both of you? Look as if you'd been setting up all night like two owls." + +"Cal'late we're on our uppers, Clemmie. But we'll be fit as fiddles when +we get some of them cakes stowed amidships, and ballast 'em down with a +few swallers of that coffee. There ain't everybody that can b'ile coffee +like you, Clemmie." + +"Don't be foolish, Josiah." + +After a very light breakfast, Mr. McGowan excused himself from the +table, saying he must do some work on his sermon before the church hour. +As the door to the study closed the Captain pushed back his plate and +chair. He slid the latter round the end of the table, and placed it by +Miss Pipkin. + +"For the lan' sakes, Josiah! You ain't going to make love to me this +morning, be you?" + +"I ain't sartin, Clemmie. It depends on your partic'lar frame of mind," +he replied slowly, a quiet kindness in his old eyes. + +"I don't know as I feel like being made love-sick," she said, but +without the old spirit of stubbornness. + +"All right, Clemmie," he said resignedly. "I cal'late you know best. I'm +going to spin you a yarn about what took place round these premises last +night. That is, if you're willing to listen." + +"Why, of course I'm willing to listen. Did that lawyer show up here +again with his old mortgage?" + +"No, you bet he didn't. And what's more, he won't come prowling round +again, either." + +The Captain told his housekeeper the whole story. He passed as lightly +as he could over the part where Adoniah had married the trader's +daughter. Miss Pipkin gave no sign that she cared in the least, or that +the news had shocked her. But when the Captain rehearsed the treachery +of Mr. James Fox, she grew rigid. She dabbed her apron into the corners +of her eyes as he unfolded the story of the suffering of the little +family. The old man paused to wipe the tears from his own eyes as he +recounted the finding of the lad in the doorway with a pile of morning +papers in his lap. For some time after he had finished neither spoke. +The Captain dangled his bandanna at the end of his nose, and Miss Pipkin +dabbed her checked apron against her wet cheeks. + +"Josiah," she whispered eagerly, "have you found the boy yet? Is he +still alive?" + +"Yes." A prolonged blow followed. + +She laid her hand in his. "Where is he? Do you think I could see him?" + +"He's in there." He pointed toward the study door. + +"In that study with Mr. McGowan? Is that what you said?" + +He nodded. + +"You brought him here from the city yesterday?" + +The seaman shook his head. "He come long afore that." + +"Where've you been keeping him? Ain't you going to fetch him out?" she +cried, rising. "I'll go get him." + +"Wait, Clemmie. It's been nigh onto twenty-five year since he was born, +so he ain't a baby. Let Mack fetch him. Mack!" called the Captain +sharply. A slight twinkle in his eyes offset the assumed severity of his +command. + +The door opened and Mr. McGowan stood on the threshold. Miss Pipkin +stared from the one to the other. + +"Be the both of you clean crazy?" she demanded, as the men grinned +rather foolishly at each other. + +"No, Clemmie. We've just woke up to our senses, that's all." + +"If you think this a good joke,----" + +"It ain't no joke," said the Captain, motioning Mr. McGowan to come +nearer. "I give you my word, it ain't, Clemmie. There's Adoniah +Phillips' son." + +With a smothered exclamation Miss Pipkin dropped back against the table. +"You--you----" But she ended with a gasp for breath and words. + +"The Cap'n is telling you the truth," confirmed the minister. + +"You--and you let me tell you all that nonsense about him and me!" + +"You're doing me an injustice, Miss Pipkin. I did not know one thing +about all this till last night." + +Captain Pott had risen. In his eagerness he stretched out his arms to +the confused housekeeper. She turned from staring at the minister, and +like a bewildered animal fled blindly in the direction of the kitchen. +She found herself, instead, in the seaman's arms. Here she stuck, and +with hysterical sobs clung to the old man. Mr. McGowan came nearer. At +sight of him she fled to his arms. For the next few minutes the +practical, every-day Miss Pipkin did things of which no one had ever +imagined her capable. The Captain's voice roused her. + +"Here, young feller, you go loving where you're wanted. I've been +waiting for this too many years to be cheated out by a young rascal like +you." He seized the not unwilling Miss Pipkin, and pushed the minister +in the direction of the kitchen. + +"Clemmie, ain't this grand?" asked the old man. + +"It's really been you all these years, Josiah." + +"Been me? You mean you've loved me all the time, Clemmie?" + +"Um-hm," she nodded vigorously. "But I was that stubborn that I wouldn't +give in. I always looked forward to your proposing. You ain't proposed +to me for a long time, Josiah." + +"But, Clemmie, are you sartin sure it'll be all right now? If you get +your rest, are you sartin you won't feel different? Don't you think +you'd otter wait?" + +"Josiah, ask me right now, so I can't back out, or get on another +stubborn streak. I thought it all out 'longside Edna's bed last night. +She was raving, and calling for some one, poor thing, who she'd refused +to marry when she was young. I said then and there that I wasn't going +to my grave with that kind of thing hanging over me. That is, if you +ever asked me again." + +"You say you made up your mind last night, Clemmie? You sure it wa'n't +what I told you about Adoniah being married?" + +"That had nothing to do with my decision." + +"Then, you mean we're going to get married?" + +"You ain't asked me yet." + +"Miss Clemmie Pipkin," he began, bending his knees in the direction of +the floor, and upsetting the table as he went down with a thud, "will +you ship aboard this here old craft as fust mate with a rough old +skipper like me?" + +"Lan' sakes! Get up off that floor. You look awful silly. Get up this +minute, or I'll say no." + +The Captain got up with more alacrity than he had gone down. + +"Will you marry me, honest, Clemmie?" + +"Yes. You see, I kind of wanted to hear myself say it, because I'd made +up my mind that way." + +An exclamation from the kitchen interrupted what the seaman was doing. +The minister had retired thither to clear the mist from his eyes which +had gathered there at signs of spring-time in the fall of these dear old +lives. He now stood in the door, holding a dripping coffee-pot. + +"Oh, my coffee!" cried the housekeeper. "It's boiled all over the +place." + +"Drat the coffee. Let her b'ile!" + +Boil it certainly had, over the stove, on to the floor, and had +collected in a puddle at the threshold. + +"That's what comes of not attending to your cooking," observed the +practical Miss Pipkin. The other Miss Pipkin, who had been sleeping for +years in the living sepulcher of her heart, was saying and doing many +things quite different. + +From the cross-roads came the sound of the church-bell, calling the +people of Little River Parish to worship. + +"There's the bell!" exclaimed Miss Pipkin. "It's only a half-hour before +service. If you'll excuse me, Mack, I don't think I'll go this morning. +You don't mind if I call you Mack here at home, do you?" + +"I want you to call me that, Aunt Clemmie." He gave her a hurried kiss, +and started toward his room. At the corner of the upset table he paused. +"If I didn't have to preach this morning I'd stay home, too." + +"You mean you'd go walking down 'long the beach," corrected the +Captain. + +Miss Pipkin looked oddly at her lover. "Be they engaged?" + +"They was, but I guess they ain't." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Jim came nigh sp'iling things last night. Mack said they'd call it all +off till he found out more about his people. He was 'feared from what +Jim had said to him that he had no right to love Beth. I cal'late he see +that it was right enough to go ahead afore I got through with him this +morning." + +"Josiah, he'll marry us, won't he?" + +"You just bet he will!" + +"Ain't it funny he never said nothing about being glad we was engaged?" + +"We ain't told him." + +"But he saw." + +"Script're says something about having eyes and seeing not, and having +ears and hearing not. Mack's as nigh to obeying the sayings of Script're +as any one I know." + +"That's so, Josiah. He is so good without trying to be," declared Miss +Pipkin. She lifted a hand to each of the old man's shoulders, and he put +his arms about her. "Do you believe in the care of Providence, Josiah, +and in the guiding hand of God?" + +The Captain tightened his embrace, and one of the bony hands of the +housekeeper slipped into the knotty fingers about her waist. + +"I'm larning to, Clemmie, but I'm going to need a heap of help. I ain't +used to these religious channels, and I cal'late you'll have to take +the helm right often." + +They had not heard the sound of footsteps in the outer room. It was Mrs. +Beaver's voice that caused them to start. + +"I thought I'd come over to borrow some----" + +Mrs. Beaver stopped short on the threshold, looked at the Captain and +the housekeeper, and began to retreat. The practical Miss Pipkin was the +first to recover speech. + +"Come on right in, Mrs. Beaver. That's a silly thing for me to say, +seeing you're already in. But what is it you'd like to borrow?" + +Mrs. Beaver continued to retreat and stare. She saw the puddle of coffee +on the floor. She eyed with interest the upset table. She saw that the +Captain was undetermined what he ought to do with his hands. She watched +him as he stumbled backward into the cupboard. Her face was a study. + +"What was it you was going to ask for, Eadie?" asked the seaman, trying +to appear unconcerned in his decided embarrassment. + +"Well, I never!" exclaimed Mrs. Beaver. + +"We're engaged," announced Miss Pipkin in matter-of-fact tones. + +"Engaged! You and----" + +"Yes, she and me," finished the Captain eagerly. + +Mrs. Beaver's hands dropped helplessly to her sides. + +"Is there anything more you'd like to know?" asked Miss Pipkin kindly, +as she crossed the room and put an arm about the spare figure of her +neighbor. "We're that happy that I wanted you to know, and I'm real glad +you come over when you did." + +"Anything else I want to know?" she asked. "I should say there is. What +has happened to Harry? He come home last night all different, talking +for the minister till I couldn't get a word in edgewise. It was awful +late, too. And he told me that Sim Hicks had left town, or was going +this morning." + +"I cal'late some one's clothed Harry in his right mind. You know, Eadie, +that's Script're. Sim has took a trip for his health." + +"And Harry tells me that Mr. Fox is for the minister, too. Something +must have happened." + +"Yes, something has happened. Eadie, you rec'lect that time when you +fust spoke to me about the minister staying in my house you said I'd be +in the way of the Lord if I'd do it. I wa'n't very pleasant to you for +going ahead and doing it while I was away, but you sartin did what +Providence wanted that time." + +Mrs. Beaver did not attempt to reply. + +"What was it you wanted to borrow?" + +She looked from the one to the other, and made this comment: "I'm mighty +glad for the both of you. You're good, and you both deserve what you've +got." She kissed Miss Pipkin on the cheek, and turned toward the door. + +"Eadie, what was it you come for?" asked the housekeeper in a strange +voice. + +"I come over for a pinch of salt, but----" + +"Give her the hull sack, dear," ordered the Captain. + +"I guess--I think----I really don't need the salt," stammered Mrs. +Beaver. + +"Here, Eadie, don't go off mad. I didn't mean anything by what I said. +I'd give half what I own this morning to a hobo if he'd ask for a crust +of bread." + +"Thanks, Josiah. But I guess I got what I really come for. God bless you +both!" + +With that she was gone. + +"Now, ain't that the strangest you ever see?" observed the Captain. + +He was cut short by the sound of a familiar toot out in the harbor. He +stared at the housekeeper in dumb amazement. + +"Clemmie, did you hear that? What in tarnation was it?" + +"It sounded like your power-boat." + +"But it ain't round here." + +Together they went outside. Together they stood on the stoop and watched +a boat nose its way to the old mooring of the _Jennie P._ + +"It's her!" whispered the seaman hoarsely. "It's my _Jennie P._!" + +He did not move from his place beside Miss Pipkin, but held tightly to +her hand as John Peters came up from the wharf. + +"Here's a paper for you, Josiah. A girl come into my place about noon +yesterday and made me sign it." + +Captain Pott was too surprised to even reach out for the piece of paper +offered him. + +Miss Pipkin took it, and unfolded it carefully. + +"Read it for me, Clemmie." + +"It only says that the _Jennie P._ was bought back by Josiah Pott." + +"But I never----" + +"That girl said she'd come to represent you, and paid cash." + +Without a word the three went down to the wharf, and John Peters rowed +the dory, with two passengers aboard, out to the _Jennie P._ + + * * * * * + +It was late in the afternoon when Mr. McGowan left the house. Fall +permeated the air with an invigorating twang. Here and there the +landscape showed the touch of frost. The marsh grass was turning brown. +Among the trees and shrubbery color ran riot. The Fox knoll was a blend +of beauty. As the minister passed the estate he sought for a glimpse of +the Elder's daughter among the trees, or in the garden. But she was not +to be seen. + +For a long way he kept his course up the beach. He was thinking. How +could he explain to Elizabeth the meaning of his actions last night? +Would she listen after he had refused to give heed to her explanation? + +Suddenly, he became aware that he stood on the spot where he had turned +his ankle the night she had come to him from the water's edge, and his +thoughts were choked in the furrows of his brain. He seemed to hear her +voice again as she had spoken that night of the impossibility of his +love. He looked about. Far up the peninsula he recognized her. She was +coming to him as straight as the line of the beach permitted. He started +in her direction. She waved him back. He waited. On she came. Neither +attempted to speak till she had reached his side. + +"I've been waiting for you," she said. "I thought you would never +come." + +"You still want to see me after the way I treated you last night?" + +"Please, don't speak of that. I knew Uncle Josiah would tell you +everything." + +"He did tell me all. I want you to forgive me for not taking your word +that there was nothing in my past which would prevent our love, or mar +it. I didn't realize that you knew what you were saying. I feared that I +had no right to love you after your father had spoken as he did of my +parentage." + +With intense anticipation he held out his hands, but she drew away. + +"Not now. I did not understand what Father's obligation to you would +involve." + +"Elizabeth, dear, do you mean you won't forgive me?" + +"I have nothing to forgive in you, Mack." In her eyes was a return of +the warmth of love she felt, but her attitude was one of firm resolve. +"I have come to you to-day because I want to tell you that just for the +present we must be only good friends. I've been thinking all night long +about you, and now that you know who you are, and what my father has +done against your father----" + +"But that is all past!" + +"Not for me. Father ruined your father, and has grown rich on your +money. Not till every cent of that is paid back can I think of marrying +you." There was the weight of dead finality in every word. + +"But, Elizabeth----" + +"Please, Mack, don't make it harder for me than you must. This is not +easy, but you will see where it is best, when you have taken time to +think it over." + +"You have not talked this over with your father, or with Harold?" + +"No. Father was ill last night, and Harold was so tired that he has been +sleeping all day. It would make no difference what either of them might +say. I am doing this because it is right." + +"You do not know of the arrangements that are to be made?" + +"All I know is that Father owes you the money, and that it is yours and +must be paid back to you." + +"Elizabeth, there are papers to be drawn up, and----" + +"Mack, please don't! I'm tired, and can't stand much. Don't try to +change my decision." + +"But those papers which Harold is to draw up must alter that decision. +That is the only ground on which I shall accept the terms. Your father +is to be given all the time he needs to pay me back. At first I flatly +refused. I didn't want to take any of his money. But Uncle Josiah made +me see that it was the only thing to do." + +"Of course, it is the only thing to do. You are going to let Harold +draft those papers because Father must give up what does not belong to +him." + +"I'll not permit one stroke of the pen unless----" + +"But, Mack, you must! This is your duty to make Father----" + +"Elizabeth, dear, it is not your father's money I want. All that means +nothing to me. I am consenting to the arrangement simply because I +believe it will be best for him to pay it back. It's you I want!" + +She turned from him to look out over Long Island Sound. The sun was +completing its daily journey by tossing up glorious hues of gold, +splashing the western sky without stint from its unseen pot of blending +colors. Her face seemed to catch and hold the glory of the sky. + +"Beth, we must not sacrifice the love which God has given us. That is +something which all the money in the world cannot buy." + +She turned about to face him. Her eyes were filled with the reflection +of the fire that glowed on the inner shrine of her heart. + +"You are right, Mack. Our love is God's gift." + + +THE END. + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved as printed in the +original book except as indicated in the list below. + +One period/comma and one single-quote/double-quote transpositions were +silently corrected. Ending punctuation was added to the List of +Illustrations. Otherwise, punctuation has not been changed to comply +with modern conventions. + +Passages in italics indicated by _underscores_. + +Passages in bold indicated by =equal signs=. + +The following changes were made to the text. + + Page 25: "spelling standardized" (but because some of your =church + members= would not try to understand them) + + Page 43: "hyphenation standardized" (Very gently stroking his + =side-whiskers=, he continued:) + + Page 46: Was "exclaimd" (Some =exclaimed= for, and others declaimed + against, the candidate.) + + Page 56: Was "Baalam's" (here he was, the king of them all, a genuine + descendant of =Balaam's= mount) + + Page 103: Was "medding" ("Are you ready to call quits and stop your + damned =meddling= in my affairs?") + + Page 159: "spelling standardized" (The time has come when the church + must cut the =shore lines= that have been binding us to the + past.) + + Page 186: Was "Pipin" ("You must have hit your funny-bone, or + something," hinted Miss =Pipkin=.) + + Page 212: "spelling standardized" (He was roused at last by the + opening of his =study door=.) + + Page 285: Was "outaw" (The fact is, he is an =outlaw= and is hiding + from justice.) + + Page 351: "spelling standardized" ("Then, =good night=. Come, Beth.") + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Captain Pott's Minister, by Francis L. Cooper + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTAIN POTT'S MINISTER *** + +***** This file should be named 30713.txt or 30713.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/7/1/30713/ + +Produced by Darleen Dove, Roger Frank and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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