"Yes, yes, come now," he replied, taking her bundle and putting himself on the outer side of the walk. He had forgotten my appointment for the moment.
When they reached the courthouse he said: "Just run into my room there; I've got to catch Sheriff Karr before he gets away."
He opened the door of his private office, thrusting her gently inside, and hurried away. I turned to meet my father, and there was Marjie. Tear drops were on her long brown lashes, and her cheeks were flushed.
"Why, my little girl!" I exclaimed in surprise as she started to hurry away.
"I didn't know you were in here; your father sent me in"—and then the tears came in earnest.
I couldn't stand for that.
"What is it, Marjie?" I had put her in my father's chair and was bending over her, my face dangerously near her cheek.
"It's Amos Judson—Oh, Phil, I can't tell you. I was going to talk to your father."
"All right," I said gayly. "Ask papa. It's the proper thing. He must be consulted, of course. But as to Judson, don't worry. O'mie promised me just this morning to sew him up in a sack and throw him off the cliff above the Hermit's Cave into the river. O'mie says it's safe; he's so light he'll float."
Marjie smiled through her tears. A noise in the outer office reminded us that some one was there, and that the outer door was half ajar. Then my father came in. His face was kindly impenetrable.