THE STEADFAST HEART
door after him, and stood a moment until he had the eyes of his employees.
“Gentlemen,” he said, “may I have your undivided attention for a moment?”
Their curiosity made them quick to respond.
“Angus Burke is coming here to work,” said Mr. Woodhouse in his grave, dignified, unhurried way. “He is coming to stay—I hope. It has occurred to me that you may share the absurd prejudice against him which seems to be so lamentably general in Rainbow—a prejudice not without a foundation in malice, and wholly without justification. What I wish to impress upon you now is this: Angus Burke must be treated as courteously and as fairly as you would treat me…. I am sure I shall be understood.”
They did understand; Mr. Woodhouse possessed the quality of making himself clear and impressive; no threat, no mentioned penalties were necessary….
Half an hour later Druggist Ramsay came in, lowered his voice, and glancing toward Mr. Woodhouse’s door, whispered: “’Tain’t so is it—the rumor that’s runnin’ around town? That young Burke’s hired to work in the bank?”
Chet nodded, his lips primly compressed.
“Wa-al, I snum!” exclaimed Mr. Ramsay. “I calc’late folks ’ll be some stirred when they know it’s true….” And with his tidbit of news
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