Then he began with jocular pokings to push the folks out of the door, and even subjected Deputy-Sheriff Purday to that treatment when the zealous officer came along to have a private word with him.
“But look-a-here, Squire,” protested Purday, hanging back, “Klebe is really under arrest, you know, and you understand what the law is.”
“Deputy,” the Squire said, holding him by the arm a moment, “under the circumstances the highest law I know of is this: ‘What God hath joined together let no man put asunder.’”
He pointed to the mother and the father with the children between them.
“The grand jury of human hearts returns no indictment. Go home.”
He pushed Purday out behind the last straggler and slammed the door and bolted it on the inside.