The deacons looked
at one another in speechless astonishment. Presently the silence
was broken by the distant voice of Polly counting from one to one
hundred. The secret was out! The pastor, a leader of the church,
was playing hide-and-seek.
"Mr. Douglas!" shouted Strong, when his breath had returned.
"Hush, hush!" whispered Douglas, looking over the hedge. He
peeped cautiously about him, then came toward the men with a sigh
of relief. "It's all right. She has gone the other way."
"It'll be a good thing for you if she never comes back," said
Strong, and Douglas's quick ear caught an unpleasant meaning in
his tone.
"What's that?" the pastor asked, in a low, steady voice.
"We don't like some of the things that are going on here, and I
want to talk to you about 'em."
"Very well, but see if you can't talk in a lower key."
"Never mind about the key," shouted Strong, angrily.
"But I DO mind." Something in his eyes made the deacon lower his
voice.
"We want to know how much longer that girl is goin' to stay
here?"
"Indeed! And why?" The colour was leaving Douglas's face, and his
jaw was becoming very square.
"Because she's been here long enough."
"I don't agree with you there."
"Well, it don't make no difference whether you do or not.
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