Blow the Man Down - A Romance of the Coast

"I'd like to take up that loan and save the rest of the year's interest,

Deacon Rowley," stated Mayo, with sailorly bluntness.

The girl was trying to convey to the deacon the fact that he must

not reveal her secret. She was shaking her head. This seemed to the

intermediary like direct and conclusive orders from the principal.

"No, sir, Captain Mayo! It can't be done."

"I don't call that a square deal between men, no matter what straight

business may be."

Polly now signaled eager assent, meaning to make the deacon understand

that he must take the money. But the deacon did not understand; he

thought the girl affirmed her desire for straight business.

"You took it for a year. No back tracks, captain."

She shook her head, violently.

"No, sir! Keep it, as you agreed, and pay your interest."

"Deacon Rowley, you're an old idiot!" blazed the girl.

When the deacon yanked off his spectacles, and Captain Mayo turned

amazed eyes to her, she put her hands to her face and ran out of the

store, sobbing. She was only a girl! She had no more resources left with

which to meet that situation in men's affairs.

Mayo's impulse was to follow, but the deacon checked him.

"I ain't going to be made a fool of no longer in this, even to make

three hundred dollars," he rasped.

"A fool! What do you mean?"

"You go settle it with her."

"What has Polly Candage got to do with this business?"

"It's her money."

"You mean to say--"

"She drawed her money out of the bank, and horn-swoggled me into lying

for her. What won't a girl do when she's in love with a fellow? If you

'ain't knowed it before, it's high time you did know it!"

That last remark of the deacon's had disgusted reference only to the

matter of the money. But it conveyed something else to Captain Boyd

Mayo.

He ran out of the store!

Far up the road he overtook her. She was hurrying home. When she faced

him he saw tears on her cheeks, though the generous gloom of evening

wrapped them where they stood. He took both her hands.

"Polly Candage, why did you risk your money on me?" he demanded.

"I knew you would succeed!" she murmured, turning her face away. "It was

an--a good investment."

"When you gave it, did you--Were you thinking--Was it only for an

investment, Polly?"