Part 159

“Of course!” he consented, and they walked down the street, neither daring to speak.

They found Rowley alone in his store. He was puttering around, making ready to close the place for the night.

As they entered, the girl stepped behind Mayo and, catching the deacon's eye, made frantic gestures. In the half gloom those gestures were decidedly incomprehensible; the deacon lowered his spectacles and stared at her, trying to understand this wigwagging.

“I'd like to take up that loan and save the rest of the year's interest, Deacon Rowley,” stated Mayo, with sailorly bluntness.

The girl was trying to convey to the deacon the fact that he must not reveal her secret. She was shaking her head. This seemed to the intermediary like direct and conclusive orders from the principal.

“No, sir, Captain Mayo! It can't be done.”

“I don't call that a square deal between men, no matter what straight business may be.”

Polly now signaled eager assent, meaning to make the deacon understand that he must take the money. But the deacon did not understand; he thought the girl affirmed her desire for straight business.

“You took it for a year. No back tracks, captain.”

She shook her head, violently.

“No, sir! Keep it, as you agreed, and pay your interest.”

“Deacon Rowley, you're an old idiot!” blazed the girl.

When the deacon yanked off his spectacles, and Captain Mayo turned amazed eyes to her, she put her hands to her face and ran out of the store, sobbing. She was only a girl! She had no more resources left with which to meet that situation in men's affairs.

Mayo's impulse was to follow, but the deacon checked him.

“I ain't going to be made a fool of no longer in this, even to make three hundred dollars,” he rasped.

“A fool! What do you mean?”

“You go settle it with her.”

“What has Polly Candage got to do with this business?”

“It's her money.”

“You mean to say--”

“She drawed her money out of the bank, and horn-swoggled me into lying for her. What won't a girl do when she's in love with a fellow? If you 'ain't knowed it before, it's high time you did know it!”

That last remark of the deacon's had disgusted reference only to the matter of the money. But it conveyed something else to Captain Boyd Mayo.

He ran out of the store!

Far up the road he overtook her. She was hurrying home. When she faced him he saw tears on her cheeks, though the generous gloom of evening wrapped them where they stood. He took both her hands.

“Polly Candage, why did you risk your money on me?” he demanded.

“I knew you would succeed!” she murmured, turning her face away. “It was an--a good investment.”

“When you gave it, did you--Were you thinking--Was it only for an investment, Polly?”

She did not reply.