Part 27 (2/2)

”I have none for you,” said the minister. ”Let me pa.s.s.”

”Listen to me,” said the woman: ”I want two hundred dollars. Pay the money, and I will never tell of your visit here. If you refuse me, I'll tell the story all over town.”

”Do so,” was the reply. ”I will tell how I was led here, how I was deceived, and I will have you arrested.”

”My tale's the best,” said the woman, defiantly. ”I can prove your presence in the parlor by every girl in the house, and those who saw you in the hall will swear you came to my room with me. They will swear to no lie, either, and nine people out of ten will believe my story against yours. To say the least,” she added, ”it will fasten such a suspicion on you as will ruin you with your congregation; so you'd better pay me my money.”

The minister was silent for a moment. He felt that his presence in that place would give rise to a terrible suspicion, and he knew that a man in his position could not afford to be suspected. However innocent he might be, the faintest breath of scandal would injure him greatly. He thought over the matter rapidly, and at last said:

”The sum you name is a very large one to me, and I could not pay you to-night, were I inclined to do so. Give me until to-morrow to think of it.”

The woman's eyes sparkled, for she thought her victim would surely yield.

”Where can I see you to-morrow?” she asked.

”At my residence, No.--W----street, at twelve o'clock,” he said. ”Send in your name as Mrs. White, and I will see you at once.”

”You had better do so,” said the woman, emphatically. ”Now you can go.”

She led the minister down the stairs, and allowed him to leave the house. Instead of going home, he went straight to the Police Headquarters, and made his statement to the officer in charge, and was advised as to the course he should pursue. Then he went home, and told his wife of the whole affair, and of the course of action he had marked out.

The next day, precisely at noon, the so-called Mrs. White, accompanied by a villainous-looking man, arrived at the minister's residence, and the two were shown into his study. He received them calmly, and the woman introduced the man, as ”her friend, who had come to see fair play.” This announcement did not in the least disconcert the minister, who proceeded to state in plain terms the events connected with the affair of the previous night.

”You acknowledge this to be a true statement,” he said to the woman.

”Yes, it is the truth,” she said, ”but your innocence will not keep people from suspecting you.”

”You demand the sum of two hundred dollars as the price of your silence on the subject,” he continued.

”That's my price.”

”If I make it three hundred will you sign a paper acknowledging your deceit and my innocence?” he asked, producing a roll of notes.

”Yes,” she replied, after consulting with her companion.

”Then sign that,” he said, handing her a written paper and a pen.

The man read it, and nodded his head, and she signed it.

”Now, gentlemen,” said the minister, raising his voice, and drawing the paper to him, ”you can enter, and witness the signature.”

As he spoke the door of an adjoining room opened, and a detective and one of the wardens of the minister's church entered. They had been concealed in the next room, and had heard and witnessed the whole transaction.

<script>