He paused and tried to think just what would be the best way to meet
this situation, and while he hesitated his senior elder, a man of
narrow vision, hard judgments, yet staunch sincerity, approached him.
The minister had grown to expect something unpleasant whenever this man
sought him out, and to-night he shrank from the ordeal; but anything
was better than to have him see the visitor upon his front steps, so
Severn turned and hurried toward him cordially: "Good evening, Harricutt. It's been a good day, hasn't it?" he said
grasping the wiry old hand: "Not so pleasant as you'd think, Mr. Severn," responded the hard old
voice harshly, "I've come on very unpleasant business. Very unpleasant
indeed; but the standard of the church must be kept up, and we must act
at once in this matter! It is most serious, most serious! I've just
called a meeting of the session to be held after church, and I've sent
out for this Mark Carter to be present. He must answer for
himself the things that are being said about him, or his name must be
stricken from our church roll. Do you know what they are saying about
him, Brother Severn? Do you know what he's done?"
But the arrow had entered the soul of the minister and his voice was
too unsteady to respond, so the senior elder proceeded: "He has been keeping company with a young woman of dissolute character,
and he has been to a place of public amusement with her and been seen
drinking with her. He affects dance halls, and is known to live a
worldly life. It is time he was cast out from our midst and become
anathema. And now, it is quite possible he may be tried for murder!
Have you heard what happened last night, Mr. Severn? Did you know that
Mark Carter, a member of our church, tried to kill a man
down at the Blue Duck Tavern, and for jealousy about a girl of loose
character? And now, Brother Severn, what are we going to do about it?"
Said the minister, answering quietly, calmly: "Brother Harricutt, we are not going to do anything about it just now.
We are going into the church to worship God. We will wait at least
until Mark Carter comes back and see what he has to say for himself."
And about that minute, Mark, now thoroughly restored and driving
steadily along the road, turned to Billy and said quietly with a
twinkle in his eye: "Kid, what made you put up that Detour?"