Drusilla waited several days for the return of the money that she had
loaned her visitor from Adams, and when it did not come she was
prevailed upon to write to the son of her old friend, Dr. Friedman,
asking him regarding the man. The doctor answered that there was no man
by the name of John Gleason in Adams; that the Spring Valley Stock Farm
was owned by a man named Gleason who had no brother; and that this
particular man had never lived in the small village, where every one
was known. Drusilla was thoroughly aroused. It was her first experience
with a confidence man. It hurt her pride, as she had said; but it hurt
her worse to know that people did such things.
"It jest destroys my belief in human natur', and I'll never trust no
one again," she said to John.
It was only about a week after the receipt of the letter from the
doctor, when she was still smarting from her wounded feelings, that she
was told a clergyman wanted to see her personally. She found a quiet
little man, dressed in black.
"Miss Doane," he said with a smile, "I am the Presbyterian clergyman
from Adams, your old home, and as I was in town I thought I would come
to see you."
Suspicion jumped into Drusilla's old eyes.
"Won't you set down?" she said, rather coldly for her.
The stranger sat down.
"Did you take the place of old Dr. Smith?" Drusilla asked.
"Yes; he's had another call, to a higher land"--motioning upward--"and
I have his charge."
The man chatted very intelligently regarding the people in Adams, and
Drusilla began to thaw. She forgot her other visitor in her enjoyment
of hearing the names of the people in her old church.
"Miss Doane," the clergyman said finally, "we are in a little trouble
in our church, and I thought that you might help us."
Drusilla stiffened at once.
"What can I do?" she asked.
"We are trying to start a little fund to take care of some poor
children of our parish, and as it is very hard to raise money in our
little village, I thought you might be willing to head our
subscription. I thought it better to come and see you personally
instead of writing you."
Drusilla looked at him a moment and then rose.
"Will you excuse me a minute?" she said politely, and left the room.
She went directly to the butler.
"James, telephone for the police. There's another man in there from
Adams and I want him arrested."
She left the astonished James to carry out her orders, and returned to
the room.
"You say you have some children in Adams without homes?"
"Not exactly without homes, but they are dependent upon the town for
support. An Irish family moved in and the father died and the mother is
ill, and we want part of the fund to help the family until the mother
is able to support her little family of six. We want to keep them
together--instead of putting them in asylums and separating them. And
there are two children who have lost both parents--at least the mother
is dead and the father cannot be found--and we must take care of them.
They are too small to work and we thought we could get some one to take
them by paying a small sum per week and--"
He quite likely would have enumerated the rest of the charges of his
parish if there had not been a discreet knock at the door, immediately
followed by James, announcing:
"The men you asked for, ma'am."
Drusilla rose as the two police officers entered the room. She said,
pointing to the astonished clergyman, "I want you to arrest this man.
He is a confidence man."
"What--what--" sputtered the clergyman.
"I want you to take him to the police station," said Drusilla firmly.
"Do you make a charge, ma'am?" asked one of the officers.
"Yes. I don't know what it is, but I make it. Take him to jail."
"But--but--" said the bewildered clergyman, "this is an outrage!"
"I don't care what it is, _you_ go to jail. I promised the doctor I'd
arrest the next man who tried to git money from me by saying he was
from Adams. I don't believe you're a preacher; you don't look like one."
The officers went up to the man, who was evidently struggling with
emotion, trying to find some suitable words to express his surprise and
anger.
"Come along with me," said the officer gruffly. "Don't make no fuss; it
won't go."
They put their hands on his arms and he struggled.
"Take your hands off of me! What do you mean? I tell you, I'm the
Reverend Algernon Thompson, of Adams."
"Don't you believe nothin' he says," insisted Drusilla. "Whoever heard
of a name _Algernon_! He looks much worse'n the other man that was
here. Just you take him along."
Drusilla looked scornfully at the man, who was struggling with the
officers. They led him to the door, where he again refused to go, and
the policemen took him roughly by the shoulders and pushed him into the
hall. He struggled wildly, and his face became convulsed as he turned
to Drusilla.
"I tell you I'm the Reverend Algernon Thompson; and this is an
outrage--an outrage--"
The officers shook him roughly.
"Oh, can the hot air. We're used to your kind. Come along."
And the last Drusilla could hear was the wail of the clergyman: "I tell
you I am the Reverend Algernon Thompson--"
After the noise had subsided and Drusilla knew the man was gone she
went slowly upstairs to find John. He looked up from the book he was
reading and said quickly as he saw her flushed face:
"What is it, Drusilla. Has something upset you?"
Drusilla sat down wearily in a chair.
"Oh, John, it was another man from Adams. He said he was a preacher
this time, and I had him arrested. It's upset me awful. Ring for
William; I believe I'll take a glass of wine. I don't believe in
spirits, but St. Paul says there's a time for everything, and this is
the time."
Drusilla was silent as she sipped the wine; then finally she looked up
at John wistfully:
"John, do you think I'd ought to 'a' done it?"
"Certainly, Drusilla. The doctor told you to have any one arrested who
asked you for money, claiming to be from your old home. He said you
mustn't get the reputation of being easy, or you'd be bothered to
death."
"Yes, I know; but then--"
"You did just right, Drusilla; so don't worry."
Drusilla sighed.
"I hate to do it, but I suppose I must. He didn't look a bit like a
preacher, and he said his name was Algernon. He'd ought to be arrested
for the name if for nothin' else, hadn't he?"
John laughed.
"Well, it's all right. Now let's talk of something else. Let me read
you something."
Drusilla sat back in her chair.
"All right, John; read to me. I don't know nothin' that'll make me
quiet and sleepy so quick as being read to. I can sleep as easy when
you're readin' that poetry stuff to me as I can in my bed. Go on; it'll
caam my nerves."
John read to her for half an hour, his voice having the desired effect.
Drusilla almost dozed; but when John raised his eyes and, seeing hers
closed, stopped reading, Drusilla opened her eyes quickly.
"I ain't all asleep, John, just half," she said; and John laughed and
went on.
They were interrupted by James.
"Miss Doane, some one wishes to speak to you on the telephone."
"But, James, let 'em talk to you. You know I don't never talk on the
telephone."
"It is some one from the police station, ma'am, and they say they must
speak to you particular."
"From the police station? Laws-a-massey! Well, then turn it on here."
She went over to the telephone table and sat down. Soon John heard:
"What's that you say?"
"Laws-a-massey, he's _real!_"
A murmur was heard from the telephone. Then Drusilla, excitedly:
"He has letters and cards that prove that he is the Reverend Algernon
Thompson, from Adams, and has given names in New York and you found out
he is _real_."
Again the murmur.
"Wait a minute," said Drusilla; and turned to John.
"John, I've done it! That man's a preacher, after all, and he says he's
goin' to sue me, and--and--John, what'll I do?"
John looked perplexed and ran his hand through his white hair.
"I'm sure I don't know, Drusilla--I'm sure--"
"What'll I do! What'll I do!" wailed Drusilla. "Just think of putting a
preacher in jail. What'll ever become of me!"
Here John had an inspiration.
"Drusilla, send for Mr. Thornton; he is a lawyer and he'll know what to
do."
Drusilla drew a breath of relief.
"John, that's the first glimmer of sense you ever showed, and it's the
first time I ever wanted to see that lawyer." Turning to the telephone
she said: "I'll send for my lawyer at once and he'll know what to do.
Where's the man?"
After a moment: "I'll send a car down and get him. Have him come here
at once if he'll come."
She left the telephone and turned a very scared face to John.
"John, I'm just a plain old fool. Send the car to the police station,
and tell Joseph to get that man if he has to tie him up! And you go
telephone Mr. Thornton to come here at once. Now he'll have a chance to
talk and I can't say a word."
It was a very frightened and meek Drusilla that greeted Mr. Thornton
and Daphne when they came into the room.
"I came along, Miss Doane," Daphne explained, "because Mr. Brierly said
you were in some trouble, and I thought perhaps I might help you."
Drusilla laughed rather shakily.
"I'm afraid, Daphne, this is a case for your father. I've arrested the
wrong man."
"What do you mean?" said Mr. Thornton quickly.
"I've got a preacher in jail--or he was there unless Joseph can git him
to come with him."
Then she told the whole story. Mr. Thornton could not keep a twinkle
from his eyes as he listened. But he did not laugh; he saw that
Drusilla was too frightened and upset.
"Now what am I goin' to do?" Drusilla finished. "You must get me out of
this."
The lawyer thought a moment.
"The man wanted some money for some children, or the poor of his
parish. Perhaps we can arrange it. Money is a balm that'll soothe most
outraged feelings."
"Give him anything, anything!" Drusilla hegged. "I never thought I'd
arrest a preacher, and at my time of life. Poor man, and his name was
Algernon, too!"
A very angry man was brought into the room, and was met by a courteous
lawyer; but Drusilla brushed him aside and went up to the man and,
laying her hand on his arm looked up into his face appealingly.
"I can't tell you how sorry I am! I don't know what to say or what to
do! I won't never forgive myself, even if you forgive me, which I don't
expect."
The man looked down at her and the angry flush left his face.
"I don't know what to say myself, Miss Doane," he replied. "It's rather
a new experience for me, a police station--"
"Well, I'm so ashamed and so sorry I can't talk. Just set down and let
lawyer Thornton tell you all about it."
The lawyer explained to him the circumstances of Mr. Gleason's visit,
and that Drusilla had received instructions to arrest the next man who
claimed to come from her former home.
"It was unfortunate for me that I happened to be the next man," the
clergyman said with a laugh. "But I understand, and it is all right."
Drusilla looked at him gratefully.
"You're a good man, if your name _is_ Algernon, and if five hundred
dollars will help them children Mr. Thornton will give it to you
tomorrow. And now you'll stay here and visit me until you finish your
business in New York."
The clergyman flushed, this time with pleasure.
"You are more than kind, Miss Doane. I believe I'd be willing to go to
the police station every day if I could help the poor of our little
town so easily."
"It is all right then," said Drusilla, "and jest you let me know when
you want things and you can always count on me, 'cause I'm so relieved.
But I know you're hungry. I'll have some supper brought up here and you
can talk with John. Are you goin', Mr. Thornton?" as the lawyer rose.
"Let Daphne stay a while with me. I want her to come to my room and
talk a while. I'm real upset and tired and I can listen to Daphne
without having to think."
"That sounds as if I talked nothing but nonsense!" Daphne pouted.
Drusilla put her arm around the young girl.
"Never you mind, dear; I like your chatter, so come with me."
And they went to Drusilla's room.
They drew up two easy chairs before the fire and as Drusilla settled
into the luxurious depths of hers she chuckled to herself.
"Five hundred dollars! I always knowed preachers was a luxury--but--
Well, talk to me, Daphne. What you been doin'?"
"I'm so glad to get a chance to talk with you, Miss Doane. I've been
intending to come over for a week, but I've been too busy. You know,
Miss Doane, I have a real love affair on my hands, and it's giving me
no end of trouble."
Drusilla looked at her quickly.
"Not your own love affair, Daphne?"
Daphne flushed under the sharp gaze.
"No," she said hastily; "Uncle Jim's."
"I didn't know you had an Uncle Jim."
"Oh, yes; Papa's younger brother."
Drusilla laughed.
"Well, if he is like your father I should think he could manage his own
love affairs."
"He is and he can't. He's just like father, only worse. He's so sort of
stiff and cold that he freezes people; but he can't help it. He's been
engaged to the _nicest_ girl--Mary Deane. You know she lives in the big
house on the Denham road. She's the dearest girl, and I adore her,
although she's much older than I am. Oh, she's very old--she must be
thirty. Uncle Jim and she were to be married, and then all at once she
broke the engagement and went to Egypt. Uncle Jim would never say why
it was, and I didn't know until she came back last week, when I found
out all about it. She cried when she told me. She said he wasn't human;
that she couldn't pass her life with him, he's always so cold and
correct. She says he never unbends, sort of stands up straight even
when he kisses her. Yet I know she loves him; and Uncle Jim hasn't been
the same man at all since the engagement was broken."
"What are you going to do about it? You can't make him over."
"I know it; but if they'd only meet he might be different. She won't
come to our house for fear she'll meet him, and he is too proud to go
and see her. And I know they are just breaking their hearts for each
other."
She was quiet for a moment.
"I wish I could find some way to have them meet accidentally.
"Let's make a scheme, Daphne. Your father is going to Chicago next
week, and he told me that his brother--I guess he means this Jim--would
take his place with me. Now, why can't I get in some kind of
trouble--that's always easy for me--and I'll telephone him to come over
right away, and then you come in by chance with this young lady. Tell
her that I'm a feeble old lady that needs some one to cheer her up.
Tell her anything that'll git her here."
"She'll come. I've told her about you and she said she wanted to come
to see you."
"It's easy then, and we'll trust to something turnin' up right."
Daphne rose to go.
"You're a--a--brick, Miss Doane."
Drusilla shook her finger at the girl.
"Young lady," she said severely, "I know where you got that. Dr. Eaton."
Daphne's pretty face flushed and she put her cheek against the faded
one.
"We must not talk of--of Dr. Eaton. Father doesn't allow it, and--and
Dr. Eaton thinks I'm only a flighty little girl, who is never serious,
if he ever thinks of me at all--which I am afraid is not often--" She
was quiet a moment, her hand resting against the soft white hair.
"But--well, good night. I'll let you know when Mary will come, and then
you can get into trouble right away."
Drusilla laughed.
"You trust me for carrying out that part of it. Good night, dear."