Part 25 (1/2)
”I wonder?” returned the minister, and walked out before there could be further friction between them; for he liked the hard-headed, shrewd, and none-too-honest politician, as he liked few men in Polktown.
If the minister did not distinctly array himself with the partisans of Nelson Haley, he expressed his full belief in his honesty in a public manner. And at Thursday night prayer meeting he incorporated in his pet.i.tion a request that his paris.h.i.+oners be not given to judging those under suspicion, and that a spirit of charity be spread abroad in the community at just this time.
The next day, Walky Dexter said, that charitable spirit the minister had prayed for ”got awfully swatted.” News spread that on the previous Sat.u.r.day, only a few hours after the coin collection was missed, Nelson Haley had sent away a post-office money order for two hundred dollars.
”That's where a part of the missing money went,” was the consensus of public opinion. How this news leaked out from the post-office was a mystery. But when taxed with the accusation Nelson's pride made him acknowledge the fact without hesitation.
”Yes; I sent away two hundred dollars. It went to my aunt in Sheffield. I owed it to her. She helped me through college.”
”Where did I get the money? I saved it from my salary.”
Categorically, these were his answers.
”If that young feller only could be tongue-tied for a few weeks, he might git out o' this mess in some way,” Walky Dexter said. ”He talks more useless than th' city feller that was a-sparkin' one of our country gals. He talked mighty high-falutin'--lots dif'rent from what the boys she'd been bringed up with talked.
”Sez he: 'See haow b-e-a-u-tiful th' stars s.h.i.+ne ter-night. An' if th'
moon would shed--would shed----' 'Never mind the woodshed,' sez the gal. 'Go on with yer purty talk.' Haw! haw! haw!
”Now, this here Nelson Haley ain't got no more control of his tongue than that feller had. Jefers-pelters! what ye goin' ter do with a feller that tells ev'rything he knows jest because he's axed?”
”He's perfectly honest,” Janice cried. ”That shows it.”
”If he's puffec' at all,” grunted Walky, ”he's a puffec' fule! That's what he is!”
And Nelson Haley's frankness really did spell disaster. Taking courage from the discovery of the young schoolmaster's use of money, the committee swore a warrant out for him before Judge Little. It was done very quietly; but Nelson's friends, who were on the watch for just such a move, were informed almost as soon as the dreadful deed was done.
News of it came to the Day house on Sat.u.r.day afternoon, just before supper-time. On this occasion Uncle Jason waited for no meal to be eaten. Marty ran and got out Janice's car. His cousin and Mr. Day joined him while Aunt 'Mira came to the kitchen door with the inevitable slice of pork dangling from her fork.
”I'd run him right out o' the county, that's what I'd do, Janice, an'
let Cross Moore and Ma.s.sey whistle for him!” cried the angry lady.
”Leastwise, don't ye let that drab old crab, Poley Cantor, take him to jail.”
”We'll see about _that_,” said Uncle Jason grimly. ”Let her go, Marty--an' see if ye can git us down the hill without runnin' over n.o.body's pup.”
Perhaps Judge Little had purposely delayed giving the warrant to Constable Cantor to serve. The Days found Nelson at home and ran him down to the justice's office before the constable had started to hunt for his prey.
The ”drab” old constable met them in front of the justice's office and marched back into the room with Janice and Nelson and Marty and his father. Judge Little looked surprised when they entered.
”What's this? what's this?” he demanded, smiling at Janice. ”Another case of speeding, Janice Day?”
”Somebody's been speeding, I reckon, Jedge,” drawled Mr. Day. ”And their wheels have skidded, too. I understand that you've issued a warrant for Mr. Haley?”
”Had to do it, Jason--positively _had_ to,” said the justice. ”Better serve it right here, quietly, Constable. This is a serious matter, Mr.
Haley. I'm sorry.”
”Wal,” drawled Uncle Jason, ”it ain't so serious; I s'pose, but what you kin take bail for him? I'm here to offer what leetle tad of property I own. An' if ye want more'n I got, I guess I kin find all ye want purty quick.”
”That'll be all right, Jason,” Judge Little said quickly. ”I'll put him under nominal bail, only. We'll have a hearing Monday evening, if that's agreeable to----”
”Nossir!” exclaimed Uncle Jason promptly. ”This business ain't goin'