Part 22 (1/2)

”Carried,” repeated Mr. Skinyer. ”Now let us pa.s.s on”-here he consulted his notes-”to item two, eternal punishment. I have made a memorandum as follows, 'Should any doubts arise, on or after August first proximo, as to the existence of eternal punishment they shall be settled absolutely and finally by a pro-rata vote of all the holders of common and preferred stock.' Is that agreed?”

”One moment!” said Mr. Fyshe, ”do you think that quite fair to the bondholders? After all, as the virtual holders of the property, they are the persons most interested. I should like to amend your clause and make it read-I am not phrasing it exactly but merely giving the sense of it-that eternal punishment should be reserved for the mortgagees and bondholders.”

At this there was an outbreak of mingled approval and dissent, several persons speaking at once. In the opinion of some the stockholders of the company, especially the preferred stockholders, had as good a right to eternal punishment as the bondholders. Presently Mr. Skinyer, who had been busily writing notes, held up his hand for silence.

”Gentlemen,” he said, ”will you accept this as a compromise? We will keep the original clause but merely add to it the words, 'but no form of eternal punishment shall be declared valid if displeasing to a three-fifths majority of the holders of bonds.'”

”Carried, carried,” cried everybody.

”To which I think we need only add,” said Mr. Skinyer, ”a clause to the effect that all other points of doctrine, belief or religious principle may be freely altered, amended, reversed or entirely abolished at any general annual meeting!”

There was a renewed chorus of ”Carried, carried,” and the trustees rose from the table shaking hands with one another, and lighting fresh cigars as they pa.s.sed out of the club into the night air.

”The only thing that I don't understand,” said Mr. Newberry to Dr. Boomer as they went out from the club arm in arm (for they might now walk in that fas.h.i.+on with the same propriety as two of the princ.i.p.als in a distillery merger), ”the only thing that I don't understand is why the Reverend Mr. Dumfarthing should be willing to consent to the amalgamation.”

”Do you really not know?” said Dr. Boomer.

”No.”

”You have heard nothing?”

”Not a word,” said Mr. Newberry.

”Ah,” rejoined the president, ”I see that our men have kept it very quiet-naturally so, in view of the circ.u.mstances. The truth is that the Reverend Mr. Dumfarthing is leaving us.”

”Leaving St. Osoph's!” exclaimed Mr. Newberry in utter astonishment.

”To our great regret. He has had a call-a most inviting field of work, he says, a splendid opportunity. They offered him ten thousand one hundred; we were only giving him ten thousand here, though of course that feature of the situation would not weigh at all with a man like Dumfarthing.”

”Oh no, of course not,” said Mr. Newberry.

”As soon as we heard of the call we offered him ten thousand three hundred-not that that would make any difference to a man of his character. Indeed Dumfarthing was still waiting and looking for guidance when they offered him eleven thousand. We couldn't meet it. It was beyond us, though we had the consolation of knowing that with such a man as Dumfarthing the money made no difference.”

”And he has accepted the call?”

”Yes. He accepted it today. He sent word to Mr. d.i.c.k Overend our chairman, that he would remain in his manse, looking for light, until two-thirty, after which, if we had not communicated with him by that hour, he would cease to look for it.”

”Dear me,” said Mr. Newberry, deep in reflection, ”so that when your trustees came to the meeting-”

”Exactly,” said Dr. Boomer-and something like a smile pa.s.sed across his features for a moment ”Dr. Dumfarthing had already sent away his telegram of acceptance.”

”Why, then,” said Mr. Newberry, ”at the time of our discussion tonight, you were in the position of having no minister.”

”Not at all. We had already appointed a successor.”

”A successor?”

”Certainly. It will be in tomorrow morning's papers. The fact is that we decided to ask Dr. McTeague to resume his charge.”