Mary Louise and the Liberty Girls | Page 7

the county supervisors. The girl looked
at Professor Dyer, whom she knew slightly, and said pleadingly:
"Won't you defend our administration and our country, Mr. Dyer?"
He smiled deprecatingly but did not speak. He was a tall, lean man,
quite round-shouldered and of studious appearance. He wore double
eyeglasses, underneath which his eyes were somewhat watery. The
smile upon his thin features was a stationary one, not as if assumed, but
molded with the features and lacking geniality.
It was the Hon. Andrew Duncan who answered the Liberty Girl.
"The difference between Mr. Herring and eighty percent of the
American people," said he in stilted, pompous tones, "is that our friend
Herring unwisely voices his protest, while the others merely think--and
consider it the part of wisdom to say nothing."
"I don't believe that!" cried Mary Louise indignantly. "The American
people are loyal to their President. There may be a few traitors; we're
gradually discovering them; but--"
"I am busy," Herring interrupted her, scowling, and he swung his chair
so that his back was toward her.
"You won't be busy long, if you keep talking that way," predicted the
girl.
"Tut-tut!" said the Hon. Andrew, warningly. "Your threats, young lady,
are as unwise as Mr. Herring's speech."

"But they carry more weight," she asserted stoutly. "Do you think any
grocery man in Dorfield would buy goods of Mr. Herring if he knew
him to be disloyal in this, our country's greatest crisis? And they're
going to know it, if I have to visit each one and tell him myself what
Mr. Herring has said."
A tense, if momentary silence, followed, broken by the Professor, who
now said in his smooth, unctuous way:
"Mr. Herring's blunt expression of his sentiments was not intended for
other ears than ours, I am sure. In confidence, one may say many things
to friends which he would prefer to withhold from an indiscriminating
public. We are well assured, indeed, that Mr. Herring is a loyal
American, with America's best interests at heart, but he does not regard
our present national activities as leniently as we do. I have been
endeavoring, in my humble way, to change his attitude of mind," here
Herring swung around and looked at the speaker stolidly, "and though I
admit he is a bit obstinate, I venture to assure you, Miss Burrows, that
Silas Herring will stand by the Stars and Stripes as long as there is a
shred of our banner to wave in the breeze of freedom, justice and
democracy."
A cynical smile gradually settled on the grocer's stern face. The Hon.
Andrew was smiling with undisguised cheerfulness.
"We are all loyal--thoroughly loyal," said the latter. "I've bought some
Liberty Bonds already, my girl, but you can put me down for a hundred
dollars more. We must support our country in every possible way, with
effort, with money, with our flesh and blood. I have no children, but
my two nephews and a second cousin are now in France!"
"For my part," added Professor Dyer, "I have hesitated as to how much
of my meagre salary I can afford to spend. But I think I can handle five
hundred dollars' worth."
"Thank you," said Mary Louise, somewhat puzzled by these offers. "It
isn't like risking the money; it's a solid investment in the best securities
in the world."

"I know," returned the Professor, nodding gravely, "But I'm not
thinking of that. I'm a poor man, as you probably know, but what I have
is at my country's disposal, since it is evident that my country needs it."
"Doesn't that shame you, sir?" asked Mary Louise brightly, as she
turned to Silas Herring. "You're a business man, and they say--although
I confess I doubt it--that you're a loyal American. You can convince me
of the fact by purchasing a liberal share of bonds. Then I can forget
your dreadful words. Then I can carry to everyone the news that you've
made a splendid investment in Liberty Bonds. Even if you honestly
think the administration has been at fault, it won't do any good to
grumble. We are in this war, sir, and we've got to win it, that you and
every other American may enjoy prosperity and freedom. How much
shall I say that you have subscribed, Mr. Herring?"
He studied her face, his expression never changing. Mary Louise
wondered if he could read her suspicion and dislike of him, despite her
efforts to smother those feelings in the cause of Liberty. Then Herring
looked at Professor Dyer, who stood meekly, with downcast eyes. Next
the grocer gazed at the supervisor, who smiled in a shrewd way and
gave a brief nod.
Mr. Herring frowned. He drummed nervously with his fingers on his
mahogany desk. Then he reached for his check-book and