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152 "What did she want?"

"She wanted," replied Lamar, "to capture Mary."

"What for?"

"To get her into the Church; to make a hypocrite of her."

"The Church ain't such a bad thing, accordin' to my way o' thinkin'," said the old woman. "Both o' ye'd be better off if ye seen more of it. Who was the other young lady?"

"That was Miss Chichester, mother."

"What did she want?"

"She wanted," replied Lamar, "to protect young Malleson."

"Can't the man take care of himself?"

"Not when Mary's around, he can't."

"Why not?"

"Ask Mary."

But the old woman didn't ask Mary; she gave a little, cackling laugh, and retreated to the kitchen, closing the door behind her.

"I suppose you know the purpose of Miss Tracy's visit," said Lamar when he was again alone with the widow.

"I can imagine what it is," was the reply.

"If she can get you interested in the preacher," he continued, "and the preacher can get you interested in the Church, you're as good as lost."

"I might be as good as saved," she replied.

"That's religious cant. You know what I mean. The moment you get into the Church capital will have its clutches on you. You'll be lost to socialism, lost to labor, lost to me. None of us can afford it."

"You seem to value my services," she said.

"I do. Socialism does. You've brought us more genuine recruits in the short time you've been with us than all those high-toned, college-bred fellows that train with us could get for us in years."

"You are extravagant."