The autumn smote the leaves, and the trees of Whilomville were
panoplied in crimson and yellow. The winds grew stronger, and in the
melancholy purple of the nights the home shine of a window became a
finer thing. The little boys, watching the sear and sorrowful leaves
drifting down from the maples, dreamed of the near time when they
could heap bushels in the streets and burn them during the abrupt
evenings.
Three men walked down the Niagara Avenue. As they approached Judge
Hagenthorpe's house he came down his walk to meet them in the manner
of one who has been waiting.
"Are you ready, judge?" one said.
"All ready," he answered.
The four then walked to Trescott's house. He received them in his
office, where he had been reading. He seemed surprised at this visit
of four very active and influential citizens, but he had nothing to
say of it.
After they were all seated, Trescott looked expectantly from one face
to another. There was a little silence. It was broken by John Twelve,
the wholesale grocer, who was worth $400,000, and reported to be worth
over a million.
"Well, doctor," he said, with a short laugh, "I suppose we might as
well admit at once that we've come to interfere in something which is
none of our business."
"Why, what is it?" asked Trescott, again looking from one face to
another. He seemed to appeal particularly to Judge Hagenthorpe, but
the old man had his chin lowered musingly to his cane, and would not
look at him.
"It's about what nobody talks of--much," said Twelve. "It's about
Henry Johnson."
Trescott squared himself in his chair. "Yes?" he said.
Having delivered himself of the title, Twelve seemed to become more
easy. "Yes," he answered, blandly, "we wanted to talk to you about
it."
"Yes?" said Trescott.
[Illustration: "'It's About What Nobody Talks Of--Much,' Said Twelve"]
Twelve abruptly advanced on the main attack. "Now see here, Trescott,
we like you, and we have come to talk right out about this business.
It may be none of our affairs and all that, and as for me, I don't
mind if you tell me so; but I am not going to keep quiet and see you
ruin yourself. And that's how we all feel."
"I am not ruining myself," answered Trescott.
"No, maybe you are not exactly ruining yourself," said Twelve, slowly,
"but you are doing yourself a great deal of harm. You have changed
from being the leading doctor in town to about the last one. It is
mainly because there are always a large number of people who are very
thoughtless fools, of course, but then that doesn't change the
condition."