But Billy had faded down the road with mortal indignation in his
breast. To think of giving up a ten thousand dollar reward and having a
dollar flung at you! It seemed to measure the very depth of the shame
to which he had descended.
The Severns came a few paces out of their indifference to this
self-imposed guest and gathered around the sheet of newspaper
while Laurie held an intensive conversation with his family beginning
with several servants who were too excited at first to identify his
voice.
But at last he hung up the receiver and turned toward them: "Well, I guess there's nothing for it but for me to pull out. The mater
doesn't think she'll be satisfied till she has her hands on me. Besides
I've got to get things started about those jewels. Dad and mother are
too excited to know what they're about. I declare, it's like being dead
and seeing how they feel about it."
There was a boyish eager look about the young man's face that made him
for the first time seem rather loveable, Mrs. Severn thought. The
mother in her rose to appreciation. Lynn was so glad that he was going
away that she was almost friendly during lunch. And when the young man
was about to depart he went to Mr. Severn's study and wrote a check for
five hundred dollars: "Just in appreciation of your kindness," he said as he held it out to
the minister.
The minister looked amused but did not offer to take it: "That's all right," he said pleasantly, "We don't keep boarders you
know. You were welcome to what we could give you."
"But, my dear sir, I couldn't think of not remunerating you," declared
Laurie.
"And I couldn't think of taking it," smiled the minister.
"Well, then take it for your poor people," he insisted.
"From what Lynn tells me you have more of those than we have," answered
the minister.
The young man looked annoyed: "Well, then take it for something for your church, another bell or
something, anything you're interested in."
"I can give you an address of a young missionary out West who is having
a hard time of it, and has a very needy parish," said the minister
taking out his fountain pen and writing the address on a card, "but I
should prefer that you would send it to him yourself. He wouldn't take
it from me, but if you'd send it he'll write and tell you what he does
with it, and he'll tell me too, so it will give pleasure all around.
He's a game young chap, and he's given his life. You couldn't help but
like him."