III + 

At the second conference with Mannie Silverhorn and Oscar Dowler, Hettie was present, along with Elmer and T. J. Rigg, who was peculiarly amiable. + 

They sat around Mannie’s office, still hearing Oscar’s opinion of Mannie’s indiscretion. + 

“Well, let’s get things settled,” twanged Rigg. “Are we ready to talk business?” + 

“I am,” snarled Oscar. “What about it? Got the ten thou.?” + 

Into Mannie’s office, pushing aside the agitated office-boy, came a large man with flat feet. + 

“Hello, Pete,” said Rigg affectionately. + 

“Hello, Pete,” said Mannie anxiously. + 

“Who the devil are you?” said Oscar Dowler. + 

“Oh⁠—Oscar!” said Hettie. + 

“All ready, Pete?” said T. J. Rigg. “By the way, folks, this is Mr. Peter Reese of the Reese Detective Agency. You see, Hettie, I figured that if you pulled this, your past record must be interesting. Is it, Pete?” + 

“Oh, not especially; about average,” said Mr. Peter Reese. “Now, Hettie, why did you leave Seattle at midnight on January 12, 1920?” + 

“None of your business!” shrieked Hettie. + 

“Ain’t, eh? Well, it’s some of the business of Arthur L. F. Morrissey there. He’d like to hear from you,” said Mr. Reese, “and know your present address⁠—and present name! Now, Hettie, what about the time you did time in New York for shoplifting?” + 

“You go⁠—” + 

“Oh, Hettie, don’t use bad language! Remember there’s a preacher present,” tittered Mr. Rigg. “Got enough?” + 

“Oh, I suppose so,” Hettie said wearily. (And for the moment Elmer loved her again, wanted to comfort her.) “Let’s bat it, Oscar.” + 

“No, you don’t⁠—not till you sign this,” said Mr. Rigg. “If you do sign, you get two hundred bucks to get out of town on⁠—which will be before tomorrow, or God help you! If you don’t sign, you go back to Seattle to stand trial.” + 

“All right,” Hettie said, and Mr. Rigg read his statement: + 

I hereby voluntarily swear that all charges against the Reverend Dr. Elmer Gantry made directly or by implication by myself and husband are false, wicked, and absolutely unfounded. I was employed by Dr. Gantry as his secretary. His relations to me were always those of a gentleman and a Christian pastor. I wickedly concealed from him the fact that I was married to a man with a criminal record. + 

The liquor interests, particularly certain distillers who wished to injure Dr. Gantry as one of the greatest foes of the booze traffic, came to me and paid me to attack the character of Dr. Gantry, and in a moment which I shall never cease to regret, I assented, and got my husband to help me by forging letters purporting to come from Dr. Gantry. + 

The reason why I am making this confession is this: I went to Dr. Gantry, told him what I was going to do, and demanded money, planning to double-cross my employers, the booze interests. Dr. Gantry said, “Sister, I am sorry you are going to do this wrong thing, not on my behalf, because it is a part of the Christian life to bear any crosses, but on behalf of your own soul. Do as seems best to you, Sister, but before you go further, will you kneel and pray with me?” + 

When I heard Dr. Gantry praying, I suddenly repented and went home and with my own hands typed this statement which I swear to be the absolute truth. + 

When Hettie had signed, and her husband had signed a corroboration, Mannie Silverhorn observed, “I think you’ve overdone it a little, T. J. Too good to be true. Still, I suppose your idea was that Hettie’s such a fool that she’d slop over in her confession.” + 

“That’s the idea, Mannie.” + 

“Well, maybe you’re right. Now if you’ll give me the two hundred bucks, I’ll see these birds are out of town tonight, and maybe I’ll give ’em some of the two hundred.” + 

“Maybe!” said Mr. Rigg. + 

“Maybe!” said Mr. Silverhorn. + 

“God!” cried Elmer Gantry, and suddenly he was disgracing himself with tears. + 

That was Saturday morning. + 