I beg your pardon, sir; I forgot he is an Elder in your
church."
Dan smiled sadly, "I fear it is more his church than mine, sir." And
they left the banker to puzzle over the minister's remark.
That evening Dan went again to the home of Judge Strong. He had persuaded
McGowan to let him act in the matter, for he feared that the Irishman's
temper would complicate things and make it more difficult to secure
Deborah's rights by creating some feeling in the community against the
little family.
Dan found the Judge in his library. Very quietly, sadly indeed, he told
the story. The Elder, righteously indignant, stormed at the minister,
denying everything; accusing Dan of being an impudent meddler;
threatening him with dismissal from, the church and the denomination;
accusing him even, with unlawful interest in the affairs of the widow,
and taunting him with the common reports as to his relations with Miss
Farwell and her companion.
Dan with a look of sadness growing deeper on his face listened, without
a word until the final insinuation; then he checked the other sharply,
and his voice had the ring of metal in it as he said slowly, "Judge
Strong you shall answer to me later for this insult to these good women.
Just now you will not mention them again. I am here in the interests of
Mr. McGowan. Confine your remarks to that subject."
Then he laid before the Judge the evidence he had obtained at the bank
and pointed out its damaging strength.
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