The Unknown Wrestler Part 22

"Who is he, anyway?" a man asked. "Where did he come from?"

"He was brought up on a farm, and worked his way through college," Dr.

Rannage explained. "He understands country ways and should suit very nicely here."

"Why don't ye say 'the bush'?" Bill Simmonds shouted. "Anything will suit us here."

The laugh which followed this remark annoyed Dr. Rannage.

"I am almost inclined to believe you are right," he angrily retorted.

"Ye believe it already, an' we know it."

"Order!" the chairman sternly demanded. "Bill Simmonds, you had better leave the hall, if you can't behave yourself."

"All right, sir," Bill acquiesced, as he threw a wink to a man across the aisle and settled back in his seat. "I've got nuthin' more to say."

Dr. Rannage was evidently embarra.s.sed. He mopped his face with his handkerchief, and took another drink of water.

"I think I have explained matters quite fully," he at last continued, "and perhaps my companions here would like to say something. I trust, however, that you will give your new clergyman a fair trial, and do everything in your power to help him."

"What's his name?" Tom Stephens asked. "You have never mentioned that."

"It is Douglas Stanton. He comes from a good old family, so I understand, and his grandfather held an important government position in this province."

Dr. Rannage's companions had very little to say. They were business men, so they said, and unaccustomed to public speaking. Each made an appeal to the people to support the new clergyman, to repair the rectory, and to give more liberally toward the support of the Church in their parish. They were given an attentive hearing, and when they were through, the chairman brought the meeting to a sudden close. Just why he did so Douglas could not understand. Stubbles' manner had greatly changed since his opening remarks and he seemed to be annoyed and irritable.

Douglas was the first to leave the building, and he stood outside in the shadow of the hall hoping to get a word with Stubbles. As the people pa.s.sed him, he overheard some of their remarks which were by no means complimentary.

"He made a mess of it, he surely did," a man was saying. "What does he know about the country?"

"Nuthin'," his companion replied. "What were them funny things he wore on his legs? I would like to see him out in the----"

Douglas could not hear his closing words. But the comments of others were of a similar nature, and he realised that Dr. Rannage had not smoothed the way for his coming to the parish as rector.

Last of all came the delegates, talking earnestly with one another. He could not hear what they were saying, but judging from the tone of their voices, they were not at all satisfied at the outcome of the meeting. Simon Stubbles walked behind. He was limping and carried a cane in his hand. His head was bent, and his face was turned to the ground as if in deep thought. Douglas at once stepped forward and touched him on the arm. Stubbles gave a sudden start and looked quickly around.

"Oh, it's you, is it?" he gasped. He did not altogether relish the idea of meeting the man he had ordered from the parish.

"Yes, that's who it is," Douglas replied. "I want to have a word with you."

"Didn't you receive my message?" Stubbles asked.

"I did, and I want an explanation."

"There's nothing to explain. You have made yourself very obnoxious here, and you must get out."

"And suppose I do not obey?"

"Then you will have to put up with the consequences."

"That is a pretty serious threat. This is a free country, and if anything should happen to me, what then? You might find yourself in an awkward position."

"Oh, I'm not worrying about that. All I ask you to do is to leave this place at once. You've had fair warning, and I haven't time to argue with you any longer."

Stubbles was about to move forward, when Douglas blocked his way.

"Just stay where you are," the latter ordered. "If you make any outcry, you'll regret it. But I won't hurt you if you keep quiet. Now listen to me, Simon Stubbles. You have lorded it over the people in this parish too long for their welfare. It is through you that the Church life is dormant here, and no clergyman can stay for any length of time. You know this to be true, notwithstanding your canting words in the hall to-night. I am not afraid of you, and I shall remain in this parish as long as I please. If you interfere with me in any way it will be at your own peril. I have given you timely warning, and you may go."

Simon Stubbles listened to these plain words in amazement. He had never been thus spoken to before, and his anger was intense. He began to stamp, rage and denounce the man who dared to speak to him in such an audacious manner. He attracted the attention of those waiting for him in the car some distance off. Seeing that two men were approaching to learn what was the matter, Douglas leaped aside and disappeared among the trees surrounding the hall.

CHAPTER XV

A WET DAY

Douglas was very tired and slept soundly that night. When he awoke next morning the rain was beating down upon the roof over his head. It sounded like music to his ears, for it would mean rest that day from the toil of the field. There were several things he wished to do, and the rain was just what he needed. There would be no work in the field, so he would be free to go where he wished.

Jake had been at the meeting the night before and was very talkative.

"What happened to ye when the meetin' was over?" he enquired, as they sat down to breakfast.

"Oh, I waited around a while to watch the speakers and the chairman,"

Douglas replied.

"Did ye ever see a real live archdeacon before?"

"Yes, I have seen several."

"Ye don't tell! Well, that was the first one I ever sot me eyes on one. But, say, what was them things he had on his legs?"

"Gaiters, I think they are called."

"H'm, the same as the Bishop wears, eh? But what are they good fer?"

"They are a sign of his position, I suppose. I really know nothing more about the matter than you do."

"But what's the good of archdeacons, anyway? If they're all like the one we saw last night, I wouldn't give much fer the hull bunch."

"They are supposed to help the Bishop, so I understand."

"Help him, eh? Well, I guess that feller didn't help much in settlin'

matters in this parish. Why, he made a mess of the hull affair."

"In what way?"

"Why, don't ye remember how riled he got when he was asked questions?

He put his foot in it, too, when he said that a parson would do fer Rixton who had been kicked out of St. Margaret's in the city."