"Stop! You c'n say what you please about me, but if you breathe a sound ag'in her I'll fergit that you're a preacher. It won't do no good to plead with you people, but all I c'n say is that she don't deserve a single harsh word from any one. She's the best woman I ever knowed, that's what she is. She's been one of your best church people an' she's as pure as an angel. That's more'n you c'n say fer another man er woman in your congregation. Don't look mad, Mrs. Grimes. I mean what I say. You are the meanest lot of people that God ever let live, if you keep on tryin' to make her out bad. This thing's gone fer enough. I know I'm not a good man--I ain't fit to live in the same world with her--but she's been my friend after all the ugly things I done to her an' Jud. I come here to-night, parson, to tell you I wuz goin' to leave her place an' to ask you to tell her why. Now, I'm goin' to stay an' I'm goin' to make you an' all the rest of these folks go over an' tell her you're her friends." "I'll do nothing of the sort," snapped Mrs. Harbaugh. "Yes, you will, Mis' Harbaugh, an' you'll do it to-morrow," said 'Gene, his black eyes narrowing and gleaming at her. "Mr. Crawley, you must certainly listen to reason," began the preacher, softly. "Not until you listen to it yerself," was the answer. "You are committin' an outrage an' you've _got_ to stop it right now." He strode across to where Miss Cunningham sat. Pointing his finger at the partially written letter he said: "Tear that letter up! Tear it up!" The paper crackled and fluttered to the floor from the secretary's nerveless fingers. He picked it up himself and scattered the pieces about the table. "Now, how many of you are goin' to kerry this thing any further?" he demanded, wheeling about and glaring at the speechless crowd. There was not a sign of response. "How many of you are goin' to treat her fair?" he went on. "We intend to treat her fair," said Mr. Marks. "Do you call it fair to write a letter like that?" "'Gene's right, by ginger," cried Jim Hardesty. "Shake, 'Gene. I've been ag'in this thing all along." "I never did approve of it," said Mr. Bolton. "Nobody could ever make me believe 'at Justine ever done anything wrong," said Mr. Bossman, emphatically. "You know how I objected to this thing, Maria." The women looked nervous and ready to weep. "Mebby we've been too hasty," said Mrs. Harbaugh, in a whining tone. "I'm goin' over to Justine's to-morry, pore girl," said Mrs. Bolton. "I'm goin' home now," said 'Gene, "but I want to say jest this: I'll see that she gits fair play. Now, you mark that, every one of you. An' as fer you, parson, I want to say, bad as I am, that I'm too good a man to go inside your church ag'in." He went out, slamming the door behind him. After a long pause James Hardesty exploded: "Who in thunder called this meetin', anyhow?" CHAPTER XX. THE SOCIABLE.