"And that's why I think you're a little crazy. Even your best friends say you're daft on some things." "So did Christ's." The Deacon's face clouded and his black eyes flashed. "From denouncing private pews you have begun to denounce private property. Our church is becoming a Socialist rendezvous and you a firebrand." "Deacon, you have allowed your commercial habits to master your thinking, your religion and your character. In your home, you are a good man. In Wall Street," he smiled, "pardon me, you are a highwayman, and you carry the ideals and methods of the Street into your duties as a churchman." "Pretty far apart for a pastor and deacon, then, don't you think?" "You ran the preacher away who preceded me, too," mused Gordon. The Deacon's eyes danced at this acknowledgment of his power. "He was a little slow for New York. You are rather swift." Gordon rose and looked down good-naturedly on the shining bald head as he took his leave. "I suppose we will have to fight it out?" "It looks that way. My kindest regards to Mrs. Gordon." CHAPTER V THE CRY OF THE CITY Kate Ransom entered the church with enthusiasm. Even Van Meter, learning that she lived on Gramercy Park and was a woman of wealth, congratulated Gordon on the event. She organized a working-girls' club and became its presiding genius. Her beauty and genial ways won every girl with whom she came in contact. Her club became at once a force in Gordon's work, absolutely loyal to his slightest wish. She formed a corps of visitors and asked to be allowed to help in his pastoral work. "Before we begin," she said, "let me be your assistant for a day. I wish to see the city as you see it, that I can direct my girls with intelligence." On the day fixed, she acted as usher for his callers at the church. The President of his boys' club was admitted first to tell him a saloon had been opened next door to their building in spite of their protest to the Board of Excise. Gordon frowned. "It's no use to waste breath on the Board. They know that saloon is within the forbidden number of feet from our church. But as the Governor of New York has recently said, 'Give me the vote of the saloons; I don't mind the churches,' go down to this lawyer and tell him to insist on an indictment of Crook, the Chairman of the Board, for the violation of his oath of office." "It's no use, sir," said Anderson, his assistant. "I've been to see him. He tells me there were three indictments for penitentiary offenses pending against Crook when the Mayor promoted him to be Chairman of the Board. Three courts have pronounced him guilty, but the new Legislature is going to pass an ex-post facto law to relieve him of his term in prison." "Then try him with one more indictment and include the whole Board of Excise this time. We will let them know we are alive."