mean--?" It was clear enough now. She
recalled Douglas's troubled look of an hour ago. She remembered how he
had asked if she couldn't go away. It was this that he meant when he
promised not to give her up, no matter what happened. In an instant
she was at the deacon's side pleading and terrified. "You wouldn't get
another minister! Oh, please, Deacon Strong, listen to me, listen! You
were right about Jim, he DID come to get me and I am going back to the
circus--only you won't send Mr. Douglas away, you won't! Say you won't!"
She was searching his eyes for mercy. "It wasn't HIS fault that I kept
staying on. He didn't know how to get rid of me. He DID try, he tried
only to-day."

"So he's comin' 'round," sneered Strong.

"Yes, yes, and you won't blame him any more, will you?" she hurried on
anxiously. "You'll let him stay, no matter what he does, if I promise to
go away and never, never come back again?"

"I ain't holdin' no grudge agin him," Strong grumbled. "He talks
pretty rough sometimes, but he's been a good enough minister. I ain't
forgettin' that."

"Oh, thank you, Mr. Strong, thank you. I'll get my things; it won't take
a minute." She was running up the steps when a sudden thought stopped
her. She returned quickly to Strong. "We'd better not let him know just
yet. You can tell him afterward. Tell him that I ran away--Tell him
that----"

She was interrupted by Douglas, who came from the house. "Hello, Strong,
back again?" he asked, in some surprise. Polly remained with her eyes
fixed upon the deacon, searching for some way of escape. The pastor
approached; she burst into nervous laughter. "What's the joke?" Douglas
asked.

"It's only a little surprise that the deacon and I are planning." She
tried to control the catch in her voice. "You'll know about it soon,
won't he, deacon? Good afternoon, Mr. Strong!" She flew into the house,
laughing hysterically.

Douglas followed her to the steps with a puzzled frown. It was unlike
Polly to give way to her moods before others. "Have you gentlemen
changed your minds about the little girl staying on?" he asked,
uneasily.

"It's all right now," said Strong, seating himself with a complacent
air.

"All right? How so?" questioned Douglas, more and more puzzled by the
deacon's evident satisfaction.

"Because," said Strong, rising and facing the pastor, "because your
circus-ridin' gal is goin' to leave you of her own accord."

"Have you been talking to that girl?"