"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 gla.s.s 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-ma.s.sey! 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-ma.s.sey, 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."