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Is？〃 observed Laban； busy with his bookkeeping。
Issachar nodded。 〃You're right there has；〃 he said complacently。
〃I 。 。 。 What do you mean by that？ Tryin' to be funny again；
ain't you？〃
Albert heard the news with a distinct feeling of relief。 While the
feeling on his part toward Madeline was of the kindliest； and
Madeline's was； he felt sure； the same toward him； nevertheless to
meet her day after day； as people must meet in a village no bigger
than South Harniss； would be awkward for both。 And to meet Mrs。
Fosdick might be more awkward still。 He smiled as he surmised that
the realization by the lady of that very awkwardness was probably
responsible for the discovery that sea air was not beneficial。
The story…writing and the story evenings continued。 Over the
fourth story in the series discussion was warm； for there were
marked differences of opinion among the listeners。 One of the
experiences through which Albert had brought his hero was that of
working as general assistant to a sharp； unscrupulous and smooth…
tongued rascal who was proprietor of a circus sideshow and fake
museum。 He was a kind…hearted swindler； but one who never let a
question of honesty interfere with the getting of a dollar。 In
this fourth story； to the town where the hero； now a man of twenty…
five； had established himself in business； came this cheat of other
days； but now he came as a duly ordained clergyman in answer to the
call of the local church。 The hero learned that he had not told
the governing body of that church of his former career。 Had he
done so； they most certainly would not have called him。 The
leading man in that church body was the hero's patron and kindest
friend。 The question： What was the hero's duty in the matter？
Of course the first question asked was whether or not the ex…
sideshow proprietor was sincerely repentant and honestly trying to
walk the straight path and lead others along it。 Albert replied
that his hero had interviewed him and was satisfied that he was；
he had been 〃converted〃 at a revival and was now a religious
enthusiast whose one idea was to save sinners。
That was enough for Captain Zelotes。
〃Let him alone； then；〃 said the captain。 〃He's tryin' to be a
decent man。 What do you want to do？ Tell on him and have him
chucked overboard from one church after another until he gets
discouraged and takes to swindlin' again？〃
Rachel Ellis could not see it that way。
〃If he was a saved sinner；〃 she declared； 〃and repentant of his
sins； then he'd ought to repent 'em out loud。 Hidin' 'em ain't
repentin'。 And； besides； there's Donald's （Donald was the hero's
name） there's Donald's duty to the man that's been so good to him。
Is it fair to that man to keep still and let him hire a minister
that； like as not； will steal the collection； box and all； afore he
gets through？ No； sir； Donald ought to tell THAT man； anyhow。〃
Olive was pretty dubious about the whole scheme。 She doubted if
anybody connected with a circus COULD ever become a minister。
〃The wholeerertrade is so different；〃 she said。
Mr。 Kendall was not there that evening； his attendance being
required at a meeting of the Sunday School teachers。 Helen；
however； was not at that meeting and Captain Zelotes declared his
intention of asking her opinion by telephone。
〃She'll say same as I doyou see if she don't；〃 he declared。 When
he called the parsonage； however； Maria Price answered the phone
and informed him that Helen was spending the evening with old Mrs。
Crowell； who lived but a little way from the Snow place。 The
captain promptly called up the Crowell house。
〃She's there and she'll stop in here on her way along；〃 he said
triumphantly。 〃And she'll back me upyou see。〃
But she did not。 She did not 〃back up〃 any one。 She merely smiled
and declared the problem too complicated to answer offhand。
〃Why don't you ask Albert？〃 she inquired。 〃After all； he is the
one who must settle it eventually。〃
〃He won't tell；〃 said Olive。 〃He's real provokin'； isn't he？ And
now you won't tell； either； Helen。〃
〃Oh； I don't knowyet。 But I think he does。〃
Albert； as usual； walked home with her。
〃How are you going to answer your hero's riddle？〃 she asked。
〃Before I tell you； suppose you tell me what your answer would be。〃
She reflected。 〃Well；〃 she said； 〃it seems to me that； all things
being as they are； he should do this： He should go to the sideshow
manthe minister nowand have a very frank talk with him。 He
should tell him that he had decided to say nothing about the old
life and to help him in every way； to be his friendprovided that
he keep straight； that is all。 Of course more than that would be
meant； the alternative would be there and understood； but he need
not say it。 I think that course of action would be fair to himself
and to everybody。 That is my answer。 What is yours？〃
He laughed quietly。 〃Just that； of course；〃 he said。 〃You would
see it； I knew。 You always see down to the heart of things； Helen。
You have the gift。〃
She shook her head。 〃It didn't really need a gift； this particular
problem； did it？〃 she said。 〃It is notexcuse meit isn't
exactly a new one。〃
〃No； it isn't。 It is as old as the hills； but there are always new
twists to it。〃
〃As there are to all our old problems。〃
〃Yes。 By the way； your advice about the ending of my third story
was exactly what I needed。 The editor wrote me he should never
have forgiven me if it had ended in any other way。 It probably
WOULD have ended in another way if it hadn't been for you。 Thank
you； Helen。〃
〃Oh； you know there was really nothing to thank me for。 It was all
you； as usual。 Have you planned the next story； the fifth； yet？〃
〃Not entirely。 I have some vague ideas。 Do you want to hear
them？〃
〃Of course。〃
So they discussed those ideas as they walked along the sidewalk of
the street leading down to the parsonage。 It was a warm evening； a
light mist； which was not substantial enough to be a fog； hanging
low over everything； wrapping them and the trees and the little
front yards and low houses of the old village in a sort of cozy；
velvety； confidential quiet。 The scent of lilacs was heavy in the
air。
They both were silent。 Just when they had ceased speaking neither
could have told。 They walked on arm in arm and suddenly Albert
became aware that this silence was dangerous for him； that in it
all his resolves and brave determinations were melting into mist
like that about him； that he must talk and talk at once and upon a
subject which was not personal； which
And then Helen spoke。
〃Do you know what this reminds me of？〃 she said。 〃All this talk of
ours？ It reminds me of how we used to talk over those first poems
of yours。 You have gone a long way since then。〃
〃I have gone to Kaiserville and back。〃
〃You know what I mean。 I mean your work has improved wonderfully。
You write with a sure hand now； it seems to me。 And your view is
so much broader。〃
〃I hope I'm not the narrow； conceited little rooster I used to be。
I told you； Helen； that the war handed me an awful jolt。 Well； it
did。 I think it； or my sick