"'Gene's right, by ginger," cried Jim Hardesty. "Shake, 'Gene. I've been ag'in this thing all along."
"I never did approve of it," said Mr. Bolton.
"Nobody could ever make me believe 'at Justine ever done anything wrong," said Mr. Bossman, emphatically. "You know how I objected to this thing, Maria."
The women looked nervous and ready to weep.
"Mebby we've been too hasty," said Mrs. Harbaugh, in a whining tone.
"I'm goin' over to Justine's to-morry, pore girl," said Mrs. Bolton.
"I'm goin' home now," said 'Gene, "but I want to say jest this: I'll see that she gits fair play. Now, you mark that, every one of you. An' as fer you, parson, I want to say, bad as I am, that I'm too good a man to go inside your church ag'in."
He went out, slamming the door behind him. After a long pause James Hardesty exploded:
"Who in thunder called this meetin', anyhow?"