Silently he made his way through their midst, and Venna watched him walking leisurely toward Mayor Holden's, the crowd staring after him in wondering surprise.
Quickly she closed the door again.
"Well," said Miss Harriet sharply, "we all acted as though we were afraid. What's the matter with us all anyway?"
"It's the devil's power," said Mr. Allworth, shaking his head slowly. "I felt as though he cast a spell around us."
"And I, too," said Miss Mary, meekly.
"It will take more than our good intentions to get rid of that man!" declared Miss Harriet. "We'd better go home."
And so the crowd slowly turned tail. From under the stoop, a little figure bobbed up, and gazed after the retreating forms.
"Golly! That's no game fight!" said Bud, disappointed. "Tho't we'd had somethin' 'citing and could ha' used my water pistol. Gee! All he had ter do was ter look at 'em!"
The next day an official poster was put up on the post outside of Holden's store.
"Anyone attempting to annoy their neighbor, will be dealt with according to law.
"Signed
"Mayor Holden."