the church aisle with her umbrella. The
Woman would have preferred to attend the concert, though she was a
Methodist, but Trooper's lively interest in it had decided her to
adhere to her church, and she was not slow to take this opportunity of
showing her disapproval of his choice.

Whatever happened, Piper Lauchie did finally reach the hall, but he was
too angry to either play or speak. There was no sign of the committee
that was to meet him, for Trooper and Marmaduke had fled down the dark
alley between the hall and the blacksmith shop and were lying in an old
shed, trying to keep from shouting.

Gavin Grant had arrived late, after a very busy day, and with a little
group of boys had also witnessed the catastrophe. Gavin stepped up to
the old man to apologise and explain, but Lauchie shoved him aside and
marched noisily into the hall, ready to murder any one who stood in his
way.

He burst in just as Dr. McGarry arose and announced:

"Ladies and gentlemen, the next item on this programme is----"

And Piper Lauchie shouted from the back of the building in a high thin
yell:

"The next item will be that some one will be hafing his brains knocked
out, whatefer!"

And he tramped straight up the aisle to the platform, his old plaid
streaming from his shoulders, his pipes held like a drawn claymore.

The Chairman, like the rest of the crowd, had been listening to "All's
Well" and did not dream that things had been going otherwise. He stood
for a moment staring at the enraged Piper and then Gavin, who had just
slipped into his seat in the choir, leaned forward, and touching the
Chairman's elbow, strove to explain.

"Mr. McDonald went to the wrong meeting," he whispered, but he got no
farther.

Old Lauchie slammed his pipes down on the Chairman's table, upsetting a
glass of water and a big bouquet of flowers from Craig-Ellachie, and
turned upon Gavin, his fists clenched.

"I would be going to the wrong meeting, would I?" he shouted, and Gavin
backed away hastily. The old man pursued him hotly.

"It would be you and your fell tribe that would be sending me to the
Messodis meeting house!" he shouted. "Ta Messodis," he repeated in
withering scorn, "I'll Messodis you----"

Gavin was continuing to back away in a most ungallant fashion, till he
got to the wall and there was no means of escape, when rescue came from
an unexpected quarter.

Just at the end of the front row of seats, where the pursuit came to a