He was
quite right in saying that everybody would know about it. The people
took the slips and read them, and then they stopped to stare and
exclaim to one another, so that there was a regular blockade at the
doors of the church. By the time that a score of the slips had been
given out the members had had time to get their wits back, and then
there was an attempt to interfere.
"This is an outrage!" cried Mr. Curtis, and tried to grab Samuel by
the arm; but the boy wrenched himself loose and darted around the
corner, to where a stream of people had come out of the side door.
"Take one!" he exclaimed. "Pass it along! Let everyone know!" And so
he got rid of a score or two more of his slips. And then, keeping a
wary lookout for Mr. Curtis or any other of the vestrymen, he ran
around in front again, and circled on the edge of the rapidly
gathering throng, giving away several of the dodgers wherever a hand
was held out. "Give them to everyone!" he kept repeating in his shrill
voice.
"The evil-doers must be turned out of the church!"
Then suddenly out of the crowd pushed Mr. Hamerton, breathless and red
in the face. "Samuel!" he cried, pouncing upon him, "this cannot go
on!"
"But it must go on!" replied the boy. "Let me go! Take your hands off
me!" And he raised his voice in a wild shriek. "There are thieves in
the church of Christ!"
In the scuffle the dodgers were scattered on the ground; and Mr.
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