The Judge bein', as I
knew, the main guy in the big church, I niver thought but that'd be all
right, d'ye see? Well sir, I went away that very day as tickled as a boy
over the thing an' niver thought nothin' about not gettin' a letter about
it from her, 'cause ye see wid me on the move so, most of the letters I
git from Debby niver find me at all. An' here she's tillin' me now that
she's niver heard nothin' 'bout it from the Judge an' she's been payin'
the interest right along, an' would a been turned out by him if it han't
a bin fer you, sir. An' me wid no writin' nor nothin' to show for the
good money I paid him. Now, ain't that a hell of a thing, sir? What kin I
do save bate the face off him onless he fixes it up right an' gives back
ivery cint he's had off her besides?"
As he listened to the Irishman's story, the new, drawn lines in Dan's
face deepened. He sat with bowed head as though he himself were being
charged with theft. When the tale was finished there was silence in the
little room for several minutes. Then Dan raised his head and the others
saw that in his eyes, as though he had received a mortal hurt.
"Tell me, Mr. McGowan," he said. "Are you sure there is not some mistake
somewhere? It is very hard for me to believe, that an Elder of the
church--would--" his voice broke.
The Irishman's rough tones were softened as he answered, "An' how could
there be any mistake, sir, wid me givin' him the hard cash out of me own
pocket after his tellin' me how much it was, an' his promise to fix it up
all right fer Debby when I'd explained the surprise I'd meant fer her?"
"You paid him the money, you say?"
"That I did sir--gold.
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