he hero learned that he had not
told the governing body of that church of his former career. Had he done
so, they most certainly would not have called him. The leading man in
that church body was the hero's patron and kindest friend. The question:
What was the hero's duty in the matter?

Of course the first question asked was whether or not the ex-sideshow
proprietor was sincerely repentant and honestly trying to walk the
straight path and lead others along it. Albert replied that his hero had
interviewed him and was satisfied that he was; he had been "converted"
at a revival and was now a religious enthusiast whose one idea was to
save sinners.

That was enough for Captain Zelotes.

"Let him alone, then," said the captain. "He's tryin' to be a decent
man. What do you want to do? Tell on him and have him chucked overboard
from one church after another until he gets discouraged and takes to
swindlin' again?"

Rachel Ellis could not see it that way.

"If he was a saved sinner," she declared, "and repentant of his sins,
then he'd ought to repent 'em out loud. Hidin' 'em ain't repentin'. And,
besides, there's Donald's (Donald was the hero's name) there's Donald's
duty to the man that's been so good to him. Is it fair to that man to
keep still and let him hire a minister that, like as not, will steal the
collection, box and all, afore he gets through? No, sir, Donald ought to
tell THAT man, anyhow."

Olive was pretty dubious about the whole scheme. She doubted if anybody
connected with a circus COULD ever become a minister.

"The whole--er--er--trade is so different," she said.

Mr. Kendall was not there that evening, his attendance being required at
a meeting of the Sunday School teachers. Helen, however, was not at that
meeting and Captain Zelotes declared his intention of asking her opinion
by telephone.

"She'll say same as I do--you see if she don't," he declared. When
he called the parsonage, however, Maria Price answered the phone and
informed him that Helen was spending the evening with old Mrs. Crowell,
who lived but a little way from the Snow place. The captain promptly
called up the Crowell house.

"She's there and she'll stop in here on her way along," he said
triumphantly. "And she'll back me up--you see."

But she did not. She did not "back up" any one. She merely smiled and
declared the problem too complicated to answer offhand.

"Why don't you ask Albert?" she inquired. "After all, he is the on