The Rev. Howard Douglass came into the hall, and Mrs. Vernon, who had risen and gone out there, greeted him.
"No; what news?"
"The negro, Burke Williams, has escaped, and is now at liberty. He assaulted the jailer, and succeeded in locking the door on the officers in the jail. The police are hunting for him now."
Judge Vernon listened in a greater degree of excitement than he had shown even during his conversation with his wife.
"Come in here, Mr. Douglass. If you can spare the time, I should like to talk over matters in Freetown. We are waiting for Claude to come home. This news of Williams adds to the thought I have been having lately about the people in Freetown."
Howard Douglass hesitated.
"It is rather late. But I am specially interested in the conditions over there. In fact, the matter of what to do with Freetown was the main subject of discussion at our League meeting to-night. Something ought to be done over there, or we shall have a heavy account to answer for at last, when the deeds of the body are summed up for judgment. The Christian people of Merton will be held largely responsible, I believe, for failure to help Christianize that spot."
CLAUDE VERNON'S RETURN.
"I begin to believe the same," replied Judge Vernon gravely.