"I didn't know we had a Magdalene in the church," he commented drily, and then more impetuously, "Oh, Lord, why don't you spit it out and not beat all around the bush telling me?"
There was something about Ebenezer's slow manner of approaching the point that made Young impatient. In the meantime his mind was rapidly running over the women in the Hayt's congregation.
Waldstricker got up, too, drawing his big frame to its full height.
"We churched--Well, the fact is,--We churched Tessibel Skinner."
When the name fell upon Deforrest Young's ears, every muscle in his body became rigid, making him taller by inches.
"Tessibel Skinner?" he repeated mechanically, as if he'd heard awry. "Did you say Tessibel Skinner?"
Waldstricker took a long breath. Deforrest was receiving the action of the church with better grace than he had anticipated.
"Yes, Tessibel Skinner!" he repeated. "She's with child."
In the awful minute after the torturing words had fallen from the other man's lips, Deforrest Young felt as if he must tear the lie from the speaker's throat. For it was a lie! God! What a lie! A lie told against Heaven's best--the best girl in all the world. Without a word, he reached for his overcoat.
"What're you going to do?" demanded Ebenezer, a little perturbed. "You needn't see her.... She's been justly dealt with."
There was no answer from the tall lawyer. Only one thing was in Deforrest Young's mind--to go to Tessibel Skinner. He gave no thought to the wild night, no care for his own fatigue and hunger. Disdaining another glance at Ebenezer, he whirled to go. Helen's pale face appearing in the doorway made him pause.
"Deforrest," she quivered. "Deforrest, dear, oh, don't go out tonight! Stay and let Ebenezer tell you about it, do please! The church has done all it could--it must be all right if the church did it, Forrie."
Then Young's wrath broke loose....
"All right? All right?" he thundered. "The church has done all it can, eh? Well, by God!" He turned a livid face from one to the other. "What a cursed outrage!"
Waldstricker cried out, horrified.
"Man, man, what are you saying!... How dare you provoke the wrath of God!... How dare you question the decision of the church! Besides, I tell you she's a Magdalene. She's been justly punished. I attended to it myself."
Then Young saw clearly that the church action had but expressed his brother-in-law's will. He knew his implacable hatred of the squatters and particularly of Tessibel. He recognized that revenge had prompted him. Pushing the protesting elder aside, he ejaculated: "You pious hypocrite! Get out of my way," and was gone.