Captain Pott's Minister Part 43

The Elder now stood back to watch the result of his bomb. But what he saw was far more mystifying than satisfying. It was Mr. McGowan who drew back as the girl threw her arms about his neck. Elizabeth entreated him not to believe one word which her father had just uttered. Mr. Fox stood dumbfounded. Mr. McGowan did nothing but stare blankly across the room.

"Come here at once!" ordered the Elder. "Beth, do you hear me? Come away from that man. Don't you see he recognizes the truth? Are you entirely mad?"

For answer Elizabeth slipped her hands further over her lover's shoulders and locked her fingers behind. Mr. McGowan did not seem to realize the utter surrender with which she did this. He saw only the figure across the room and heard a faint whisper from out the past. It came from out his childhood, shortly after his father's death. It had made no definite impression on his young mind, but like a haunting shadow had stuck to him all these years. In a husky voice he demanded that the Elder explain.

"There is nothing more to explain, sir. You know to what I refer as well as I. If you are any kind of a man you will stop right where you are, and release my daughter from her foolish promise. Beth, if you love this man as you say you do you will come from him at once, for I'll ruin him if you persist in your sentimental infatuation. If you show a willingness to comply with my wishes, I shall let the matter drop, providing he leaves our town."

Mr. McGowan tried to push the girl from him, but she only tightened her grip.

"You dare not carry out your threat!" she shot at her father. Then without warning she released the minister, and turned about. The fire of indignation and anger leaped from those eyes that had only given her father love and kindness.

"I shall not threaten longer, I shall act. I shall apply for deportation papers for this man as an undesirable citizen."

"He is not that, Father!" cried the girl, making her last appeal.

"I shall have him deported if----"

She gave a dry hysterical laugh. "Try it, if you dare! I know his story.

I know yours, too. Don't you touch me!" she cried, as her father started toward her. She fled again to the minister. "Don't let him touch me, Mack!"

Mr. Fox stopped abruptly. He dropped the papers which he had taken from his pocket. "Beth,--my dear,--have you lost all your senses? What were you saying?" he barely gasped.

The outer door opened, and Captain Pott entered his house.

CHAPTER XVIII

Captain Pott paused on the threshold. He looked from one to the other of the occupants of the room. He crossed over and picked up the paper which the Elder had dropped. He slowly read the contents.

"Ain't breaking in on an experience meeting, be I?" he asked.

"Oh! Uncle Josiah! Tell Father it isn't true!" entreated the girl.

"I'd say 'twas purty likely, according to all the signs." He chuckled.

"Please don't laugh. I can't stand it. Tell Father about----"

"There now, Beth, you and the parson set sail for a little cruise down the beach. I've something private to say to your dad."

"What you have to say to me, sir, will be said in the presence of my daughter," replied the Elder, making a pathetic attempt at stiffness.

"You're mistook on that p'int, Jim. I'm skipper aboard here, and them's orders."

The Elder's hands shook uncontrollably as he gripped the head of his walking-stick.

"You're all wasting good time," observed the seaman. "You'd best heave to, and obey orders. Mutiny won't be allowed."

"I intend to remain right here till this mystery concerning me is cleared up," declared the minister.

"Mystery about you?" exclaimed the Captain. "Why, Mack, there ain't nothing like that about you. You're as clear as an open sky. What I've got to say is just 'twixt Jim and me. You couldn't get in on it to save your soul. Now, you and Beth clear out."

"Josiah Pott, I recognize no right that permits you to intrude into my family affairs. If what you have to say is concerning the mortgage you had better speak at once. There is nothing about that which is confidential."

"That's according to the way you look at it. I'd a heap sight rather say it in private, Jim. It may prove embarra.s.sing----"

"Then, good night. Come, Beth."

"There ain't no use of you going off mad, Jim. I only wanted a word with you about something that does consarn us both a mite. You ain't got no objection to that, have you?"

The show of apparent humility on the part of the Captain made it possible for the Elder to remain, providing the conference should be made brief.

"You ain't no more anxious to get it over than I be. We'll step right in here in Mack's cabin, if you don't mind."

The Elder balked. "I prefer witnesses," he said. "Otherwise, you may come to my home to-morrow evening. I did not seek this unpleasant interview, and since I leave it to my lawyers to carry on my business affairs, I do not intend to hound my debtors personally."

"You ain't been hounding me personally, Jim, but there's some things that you can't leave even to crooked lawyers. You'd best handle this personally. If that shyster tries to get in on this his neck won't be wuth the skin that covers it."

"You still persist in trying to threaten me, I see."

"No, Jim, this ain't a threat. If you want the witness part after I get through I'll accommodate you with plenty of 'em. But I cal'late we'd best talk it over private-like fust. I happened onto a feller the other day by the name of John Peters, and he spun me the likeliest yarn I ever heard about Australia. I thought you'd like to hear it, but I don't want to take your valuable time. Good night."

"Hold on, Josiah! I did not catch that name. Who was it you saw?"

But the Captain did not hold on to anything except to his news concerning John Peters. He entered the minister's study and closed the door.

A little later the side door opened and closed quietly. The seaman thought the Fox had run for his hole. But the study door soon opened.

The Captain turned his back, drew out his pipe, and with slow deliberation began to pack the bowl with shavings from a black plug of tobacco.

"I think I can spare you a few minutes, Josiah," barely whispered the Elder. "I don't want to seem arrogant and high-handed in the matter of that small loan. And if there is anything----"

"That's all right, Jim, about that loan. Come right in, and set down.

Thought you'd gone hum."

"That was the preacher going out with my daughter. He shall see the day when he'll pay for his impudence."

"Most of us get caught afore we're through life, Jim."

"I don't know why I'm doing this little service for you to-night, except it be for the sake of our boyhood friendship. I am willing to suffer this inconvenience----"

"It's mighty kind of you," cut in the Captain sharply. "But for once that boyhood rot ain't going to help you none. It ain't going to let you turn any more of them tricks of a black rascal simply because you pose as a shining martyr. The way you've treated Mack McGowan----"

"If this conversation is to be about the minister, I shall save you the trouble of speaking by going at once."

"It ain't no trouble for me to speak. What I've got to say does consarn Mack a heap, and you'd best listen. When I finish you'll see that it's best for him to stay right here in this church, if he wants to, after all the mean low-down tricks you've served him."