The man was frightened now, but
still he obstinately denied having received any money in payment of the
mortgage. Dan pleaded with him, urging even the cause of the church,
telling also how McGowan had agreed to do nothing further if the Judge
would simply make restitution.
The Judge answered arrogantly that he had been a faithful member, and an
Elder in the Memorial Church, too long to be harmed by the charges of a
stranger, a wandering ruffian, who had nothing but his word to show that
he had paid him a sum of money. "And as for you, young man," he added,
"I may as well tell you now that your time is about up in Corinth, and
I'll take mighty good care that you don't get another church in our
brotherhood either. I'll show you that preachers get along better when
they attend to their own affairs."
Dan's final words, as he stood by the door, were, "I cannot believe Judge
Strong, that you will force my friends to take this matter into the
courts. But we will certainly do so if I do not receive from you by
tomorrow noon the proper papers and a check for every cent you have
taken from Mrs. Mulhall."
Until late in the night after Dan's departure, Judge Strong still sat at
his desk, deep in thought. Occasionally he rose to walk the floor.
When the Judge had received that money from McGowan he had had no thought
but regret at losing the property he coveted. With Deborah and Denny left
alone in the world, he knew that in time the place would be sure to come
to him.
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