EVENING LEPGEB-FHILDEL'pmX SATTJKDAY, JUNE 12, 1915;
in
HE
GOD
M.VdrU ftHnastr
fe-rlht. lel5, Br """
Fr . tKing-rnn had been shot.
H'fild Hilary had been a familiar fig
.tha village of Wofllngham for
!t" a i ...... tit a tnV dftrhv
The eccentricity u. ... .-
.. hrAwn Vita fllwnvn
-.., i.An ne ktuj u.i.i ... --
P." iveg. his erect, rather heavy
W. , singled hm out from tha ma8S
or M ...... .,nnn hn cltv
r; rtmUterB in'- -Fi
Tho gray derby was a part of
rttilAfV. Except un ".- -
F" . , attended service at St.
S?..T. ... never seen without It.
&tid on the hilt above tho village.
B1'". .... t..i llvort there for 10
-rt... tfflll was beautiful, but old
Wt received no visitors, returned no
m" ..,-,. .i.n.nrht fhlK curious.
BBl-.. VIBIIUIB "lun ---
liu."1. :.:-. nrosoerous business men
M4"""..i. Bhriieced their shoul-
38 J?h man's house was his own. If
K t that ho could do witnout mo
SftSPA VllL VT,iM cet alontr without
en, tne iu" "
5' ,. no mystery about tho lfall,
Pf m curiosity. Cars going to tho
RMjllt,8..5U".;rt under tho brick wnll
in?'".? ,.- .-,i.n. Their occunants
&mes caught a glimpse of minor
lomeunico .n.ilni In n. rose arbor.
ft-ston '- ones nnd Iris In
fSs or cutting sprays of phlox In
aMWnuner. -it,r involv: hn
Sita'cdd" with her blonde hair and
a"- rri.A nnsiBiniii ifi-iiu tn ni.
RffiVw como to tho village, met her
I ! to "nco on one of his long country
KLiki a montn or ho k .... n
Kith and could not forgot her.
IW, J"1.. -rntlnn lo hr thnt
lle, Jo l" ""'"
r. -i - Jlnn.r.
IW " . . r.r." hn rteRcrlhed hei.
Ife almost tragically sad"
IS,. Bryant. In honor of tho new aBslst-
lint reclO", ""u .,. v. . ., ....
rl '. .,..-.. nnnnlnltlnn to the vlllncc.
RVwore the Bryant pear-shaped pearl
& spoke rntner curtly' HI lh1U,'d "J
&,. w .xnulslte-but you probably met
g,nor Kingston Hersadne.. Is a pose.
J- ...i.i.nt rr-ftnr was younc. but
rv wise. So ho spoko no more of Elinor
IP?...!! . ,n,1 lAft thn tnhlR. Then
tttll me wu"-" "-
lovtnturea again.
&S. t (nln the army of those of us
Pii. mnr.hln from afar," advised tho
L WBU . " - . - , ... ..
'wiuth wno naa muvcu up ueuo ..in.
"StloS tn lovcucot uiiMB ... k... """ "i
kite country. Mi"- excepk ou. auu
ittclor, no one ever gets to put a foot on
Etfifl pUce. It S exciUBlveiiesa iu iiiu iilu
Etower, and then some. There's a lot of
Italic of course, or used to be. Old Klng-
liton brings nis Bervaniu .rum iiew a.u.i,
Biii, except an elderly housekeeper, none
.. iV. .uti. Inr-llnh. Thcv used to
Bit) round hero that ho was a refugefc.
Itif that's all rot. He's a stingy old
B....t nftaM anmA hnndRnmo vouth like
ISjMlf will captivate the girl. Thafa all
Itters Is to It."
BkThe assistant rector, whose name was
Bffird, smiled perfunctorily. Instead of
Rie fltamlng table, spread with (lowers
Rnd candles, with the gay colors of cor
Wilijt and liqueurs, ho was seeing a girl
Rnd gazing down Into the valley and the
Klitant village witn somDro eyes.
Faith, hopo and charity, and tho grcat-
ut of these Is faith. Faith In ourselves.
filth in thoso arouna us, ana mat suunm
Ktst faith of all which trusts In Something
pejond. To all men is given sucn inun ai
MU1Q DrgUlIllllH w. 11. u, 1111U buhiu .cell lb
Kto tht end. Elit here and there Is one
tw&o has lost It, wno cannot turn nis eyes.
Gp and say "Lord, Lord." Old Hilary
111 not kept the faith.
Clears ago lie had not been evil. He
li.rt iron tmm nhllnsnnhv tntn unhnllef.
Hthat route which nil must travel. But,
MlXe the many, ho had not come DacK.
IfHo had started with socialism, out
Socialism must bo founded on the Christ,
and Him he scorned. So from Socialism
Je had drifted to anarchy. To rob tho
Vfoh t. vliri. .a .Via .. flrC T.ntat.
in, to rob the rich, to Incite seditions, to
arm me reueiuous on, it was comprenen
Kje tnough, vastly wicked with that
Bpoit terrible lawlessness of all, that
MlWTes Itself law.
t'rVft nit ta Tift a n ira Innt Vt a nmt-Ti nnrf
Kli-that had been old Hilary's creed.
pFor the oppressed" had been at first the
plltan of the band he gathered around
uwa. -.Agatnat me oppressor u oecarao
bww uu. vastly aiucrenb mo iwu. jiusi
ko human charity and kindliness lay
pruihed down nnd trampled underfoot
During old Hilary's progress from Christ
w Anucnnsi.
.Tha hand ImH Vin Mth.Mi1 with munh
Iare. Respectability, order, decorum
K.veq SIICU OlllCl V U1U miUl ? O UJ3.U.O
EBlnil. Most of them were younger sons of
HEnjllih landed families, with a sprinkling
K? other nationalities. Young Huff was an
gAiwinan, ior instunce, tno son or a
Stalthy sheep owner. Boroday tho Hub-
rw-Miiyinjuigu ltl (iQ UVlllV kll.U.V.lII.
Bhat destroyed the minister of war was a
Raobleman. Jld Hilary had got him out
Hf Siberia rturSne those early days when
a, nsmea what, to his crooked mina,
Inhere were 13 in the band at the begin
Juij, and for five years there were no
ffiangea. Then came the kidnapping and
BjoMlnj for ransom of Mackintosh, the
p..:., ln luwo, ana me unepecieu tmr
grout of the State militia. The band
?. maaen Mackintosh in a aesertea
BR"'' nd three of the band went down
S'u snooting that rollowea nis aiscov
Kfr. In the looting of Tiffany's vaults,
WMaYi U. Lll.l 1
,-..vH ,ltta never ueen ijudiisiicu, u
Kwtnraro namea uupres was Kiueqj
BM only recently a tire had burst after
K holdlns up of the car of the Gover-
Bsr oi Delaware, and their car, overturn-
. ,u vtuancu jerruiu, mo iiickuaiuu
th band and old Hilary's chauffeur.
$ way and another, there were only
'IU left Talhnt nnri T.Athhrlriirn- the
Sillshraen: Boroday. Huff and old
ry himself. And old Hilary's hour
aimoat come.
Q, Hilary lived well, aa he might,
foreign servants were artists. He
d ffootl fnnri pnml win,. trfint hooks.
( ,ven had a few pictures from the
going galleries of Europe. He hung
iw.iu wm iiouse at wounnKiiuiu, wim
fwa smile.
MT"i place in me wona, no omu ."
H Henriette, who protested. "The vll
( has never even heard of them!"
ld ao jn this atmosphere with which
surrounded filroself, of fine living and
Dha. ftkLt.i - , . 1 . 1.Ad.
t .miiiMnir, oi ameiBin uiacM i...v9.
tellglon, of no law and no Christ, old
'j utm orougm up ms aaugnicr. .d
n proua or ner in nis way; uou
i'y selfish, too. She had had no other
fntlng out the churchgoers, as they
pve together on Sunday mornings, as
to a myth. Also, he taught her
io a tie. ana to tnve aims, antiy
ir life their drlvea together had been
..UH1.CH wun questions.
t my mother Is dead, where is
uuq r.iinor on one ui iwci...
Hiiarv iaiT vaA hue from under
'ows that were already gray.
lives tn the raamoriea of those
knew and loved her."
Ul I n.v.i lrnn. h.r. Then fOT Sie
doesn't live! But Mademoiselle"
checked herself Suspicion had been
nog in old Hilary's eyes.
io is me na. ne saiu nnj. -
t. i . . .. kA Tint
uarwin ana xxaeeK . ---
en4 of the drive be Interviewed
wwjseue ana sent ner nyius w
iber where, from under the cerpet
Itn her bureau, she aot her row ry
wept over it
r a m tbe year her fatnerow.
r WeU educated. OW.inlsury
o tt. ip tM 1
A GREAT MYSTERY STORY
Spanish-Hilary had spent much time In
Central America helping the Insurgents:
t was he who financed the Insurrection
m northern Mexleo-and wrote fluently
tho form of shorthand that her father
had devised as a means of communication
between the lenders of the band, A keen
eyed. wlstfuUmouthed slip of a girl, shut
off In tho great house on the hill above
nofflnghnm, living her life of big the'
orles nnd small duties, calloused to rob
bory and violent deeds, nnd viewing wist
fully from her windows the little children
In the road below.
CHAPTER II.
ONCE a year the association closed Its
books. During all of the June before
old Hilary's sudden death Elinor had been
busy arranging figures, collecting data
in tho cryptic shorthand she knew. Then,
on tho 1st of July, Hilary gave his an
nual dinner,
Tho band, from 12, was down to Ave.
Oorodny, the Russian, glancing around
tho table, shrugged his shoulders. It was
tho chance of tho game they played,
and percentages would be larger. Never
theless thero was a weight of depression
over them all.
4,i . . . .... i ... i.
junur whs fit ner miners rigm nun
ply dressed. Tho dinners wero always a
trial to her. She was palpitatingly anx
ious that tho papers beforo old Hilary
bo in order nnd accurate. They wero her
worK. ine deeper signmcance ui hi
meeting sho was not so much Ignorant
of as profoundly Indifferent to If her
farther did a thing, It took on order, be
came law.
Thero Were present Talbot and Lcth
brldge, tho Englishmen. Boroday, whose
rescue from Siberia had made him old
Hilary's henchman, and young Hurt.
Huff was the mechanician. He had been
trained In tho Blcrlot works; aeroplanes
to wireless, automobiles to automatic pis
tola, ho knew them nil all makes, nil
grades. If old Hilary was the brains,
Hurt was the hands of tho band.
He sat bcsldo Elinor, and watched her
with worshiping eyes. Perhaps It was
as well that old Hilary was Intent on
his food nnd on tho business In hand.
rvur, fnntinn rt thA Annual dinner sel
dom vailed. Flvo of them then, that last
dinner nround tho table. In evening
clothes, well sot up, spare, three oi mem
young, all temperate, honorable about
women ns polished, as harmless In ap
pearance, ns death-dealing, ns tho gleam
ing projectile of n 12-Inch gunl
First old Hilary went over the books.
It might have been tho board meeting of
some respectable bank. Ho stood at his
end of tho table, and the light from the
chandelier fell full on him.
"I havo to report, gentlemen," he
would sny, "a fairly sucessful year." This
Is where It differed from a bank. The
nusnrlntlnn had had no bad years. "While
our expenses have been heavy, returns
havo been correspondingly so." And so
on, careful lines of figures, outlays and
roturns to tho end. For old Hilary was
secretary and treasurer as wellaa presi
dent. This time, when he had reached tho end
of what was to be his last report, he
paused and cleared his throat
"Unfortunately, that Is not all, gen
tlemen. "Nothing can wo call our own
but death.' And It Is my sad duty to
report this last year the loss of three of
our number. A calamitous year, gentle
men." ' ,
Ho might have been a trustee, lament
ing the loss cf valued supporters to a
hospital!
Afterward, In the library, with Elinor
ombrolderlnif'by tho lire, they cashed In.
They dealt only In cash. Securities wero
dangerous Onco or twice Boroday had
successfully negotiated with a fence In
Paris, but always under old Hilary's
protest.
Tho routine never varied. Elinor un-,,.-j
n. ..An, tn n wlnrilnir staircase.
which led to a baiemcnt room where tne
steel vault stood In its cement walls. The
five went down, returning shortly with tho
cash boxes. The money was divided on
tho library table. It went by percentages.
Hilary drew ii) that last year, each of the
others 10-a total of CO per cent. The 40
per cent, remaining was divided, or sent
as whole, according to the sense of the
meeting. Beilln got It all one year, for
Instance, to Boroday'a disgust. Russia
generally received a large proportion.
Tho Chinese revolution, tho defense of
Berkhardt, who kilted Eckcr. the pork
packer; a shipment of guns and ammu
nition to Central Amerlca-thus It went.
Although they preferred only money,
now and then theP loot included jewels.
By common consent, such gems, "tripped
of their lettlngs. were put aside for
Elinor. They meant nothing to hen Had
any one told her that for several years
Ser share had been greater In actual
value than all the money that had fallen
to her father she would not have believed
it.
Four days or so after the annual meet
ing the rector of Saint Jude's was always
asked to d?nner. And although the raver
eVtd gentleman, would under norm.1 dr-
nUemn ever' went until" this "function was
n,e never "t"T ... , .......injr hia creed.
?eVseprecteatno .n. A certain percentage,
then of old Hilary'., share went over tho
library table, after the dinner, to the rec
t0'Use It whew It will do the most good."
he would say.
So? fcto'tTurch organ Buy
the youngers a PlOT" -bul,1
hko mo&K dW'ch.ldMrth,
""I'.nrJSf old Hilary's choice cigars,
pn'randlacei hi? host resolutely.
It took courage. .
B0P l,i tone closed the discussion. Tha
And his tonej ciosei a i He
Word 'fi"'. Wrrnu way down the
thought over It on m
e'ry Vor 'cashed the check the next
day.
.. .... iihmrv that sunny
.EUnTnrv when they brought old Hilary
August day when ney
t0 her; i the streets of Mexico, and for
ex"ptmftnv years he had been all she
i 50lce heVIatt "overne... in fact, had
nad Ji. Covered seoretlng the rosary and
been dlscoyerea j houso
radtX" She 3$ and wrinkle4
l 'life jMtvT bought .
rtWw h tood, looking
S&'a at Elinor ana stroking his English-
"".'wTIxpected it. Henrlette." he said.
-H. ftbSSt tt would have oome sooner,
in tbPker matter. I wonder '
SaTIrtuWtQ buried." said Hn-
He w.hr"wj; has gone through the
" T?e aseUUntotor of the church
aJ&J T "What dee. it matur? H.
f.Mi himself have seen the humijr of It-
' r?rr'taa-ta.raaui aad manyr.
By MARY ROBERTS RINEHART tLt 1
So much for years of caution and the
annual gift to Sslnt Jude's.
As a matter of faot, the Agrarian af
fair was calamitous In several ways. It
bore too close a resemblance to a St,
Louis matter of several yeais buck, In
which Boroday had come under sus
picion, On a Tuesday morning, the cash being
more than tho bank cared to havo nbout,
two hundred nnd ten thousand dollars
was sent to the clearing house. Two
clerks from the bank accompanied tho
messenger, who went by taxlcab.
Thoro are two direct routes to the
clearing houso; one along one of tho great
avenues, tho other through tho newspaper
u.o...... .imu, v lU,OU ill UlU lllUtlllllg,
things nro rather milct, and except for
vans delivering rolls of paper, there is
llttlo tramc.
The taxlcab went by this latter route.
Opposite the Record ofllee, where tho
presses stood, rllent monsters waiting to
leap, old Hilary Kingston was standing,
kldglovcd .in I wearing the gray derby
hat he affected. As the taxlcab bore down
toward him he halted It.
"Taxi!" ho called.
Tho taxlcab sluwed down. Old Hilary,
seeing It occupied, waved It olf with his
stick. But it had come to a full stop.
There was nn alleyway beside tho Record
Building, and now three men ran out
from there, and thrust revolvers through
o air. warn ciimoeo. me mil, anu
whistled. One may think while whistling.
"u mullein ui iue cricKei ciuo, ana oi me
Injustice of his arrest the day before for
speeding hl car,- From that to . old
Hilary's French machine, nnd a wonder
If It would be sold now nnd so to Elinor.
ti .... ...... . ..i ... --., ii ,.
..c nun yuunK Hiiu vJKUiuua, mm uimur b
face had been but a temporary obsession.
i.D.ciuiuicBn, na iiu Hpiiutit:iieu me I1UUDO
his heart beat a little faster. Boroday
met him In the hall, Old Hilary was up
stairs by that time, lying In his great
bed. All the doors and windows were
open, nnd sunshine filled the rooms. Ward
thought It An unusually sana house of
mourning.
"I'm glad to see the sun," ho said. "So
many people close things up."
"Miss Kingston wished things undis
turbed." "I came up to tell her but I suppose
sho doesn't caro to see any one tho rec
tor Is away on a holiday. I'll wlro him,
of course."
Boroday led the way into the library,
where the rector had so recently received
his check. He turned and eyed Ward.
"Why bring the rector back?" he
asked. "It Is a little late for the com
forts of religion."
"Mr. Kingston gave lavishly to the
church. Whatever the church can do "
"I rnther think," snld Boroday politely,
"that he gave, not to the church, but to
the poor."
bo at the country club, and hatfway
around tho links. The car, with its
changed license plates, would be standing
In the eminently respectable country club
gnrage.
Ward had risen. He towered far above
Elinor. Because of his heavy shoulders,
ho never looked his full height, Boroday,
In the corridor, stole a moment from his
anxieties to find the young clergyman
every Inch a man, and to throw him tha
grudging admiration of defeated middle
age for youth and vibrant life.
"Then I shall not send for the rector?"
"Please, no "
"Is there anything at all that I can
do?"
Elinor looked out at tho corridor, where
Boroday'a restless eyes were onco more
on tho road,
"Do the the police know about this?"
"Surely. I suppose you have been told
what happened."
"They will tell me nothing."
There was a car eomlnff tin th hill.
That would be It. Boroday eased his
aching arm. He did not dare a swing,
but the hand was thrust In tho pocket
of his coat If only tho hemorrhage did
not start again! He braced himself and
watched.
"It was a robbery, you know that," said
Ward, In the library. He picked his
words carefully. "As I got the story, a
taxlcab on Its way to the bank was held
up near tho Record ofllcc. Your fathor
"Nice room," he said. "But e Jolly lot
of good It does the old gentleman nowl
Nice little girl downstairs, too I've seen
that chap In the hall somewhere."
The Coroner drew the sheet up over old
Hilary's peaceful face.
"The preacher? They all look alike.
It's the vest and the collar."
"The other man, with the accent Ger
man, I take It, or Russian."
Boroday was waiting for them at the
foot of the staircase. In the library was
a tray, with drinks and sandwiches. The
shades had been lowered.
Tho Chief nto and drank. And as often
as he raised his glass- he looked at the
Russian over It. At last:
"Haven't we mot somewhere, Mr."
"Boroday. I rather think not"
"You remind me of some one I'll place
you, or tho person you resemble, pretty
soon. I havo a slow mind. It's like an
Airedale dog; It's a long time getting
started, but when It begins It hangs on
like tho devil."
The drinks were cold, and the house
cool; The prospect of starting out In the
heat nnd dilst did not allure tho two men.
Bitting there nt his case, tho Chief ran
over the points of tho outrage,
"In several ways," he observed com
fortably, "the affair resembles ono that
happened In St Louis several years sgo.
There's the same quality of audacity
nnd thero are other things." '
Quito suddenly a light came Into his
eyes.
"Old Hilary, gray derby and all, went down where he stood.
tho open wlndjws of the cs.j. After that
it was hot work. Marshall of tho bank
went back with a bullet through Ms
lung. The bank messenger fired polnt
blank and mirsed his target; but old
Hilary, gray dtrby and all. went down
wherThe itood. 20 feet away. The un
injured clerk had an automatic gun. and
swept a circle with It over the bag which
lav at his feet There was no getting In
side that ring of death. The bandits re-
elt drin! a, they ran. nnd cim.bed
Into an automobile up the street. Vkhen
the reporters in the Record offlco wakened
to the tot that there was a
their windows, the street was clear. Only
oM i Ilary lay dead on the pavement,
with a bullot Ir. his head.
The chauffeur of the tf,xIcavb11dE0
madly to the hospital with Mha", , who
was dying, and then to police quarters,
where he kave himeelf up. He was re
..".IS nt course. His name was Walter
" . t .... n he i new man
Huff. He waa muwh k
but sober and Industrious, ow .of ; the
Pest drivers In the employ of the tax cab
company. . It was , sum emm. ,-.... --
KlnKston naa nu ! --
We stopping. Mr. Kingston was a regu
far Sh. had meant to tell Mm that
n five minutes he would come back and
PHurt waTunder surveillance for three
days. His conduct was ii"""""
11.. n.aiiianf "rrtor
TT was. after an. u. - -----
1 of Saint Jude's who came up the hiU
tk.t nn Auiruat day. me nowo u
away on hU. deferred fishing trip, where,
Tti ecclesiastical nose he was quite
Srorhr-Tru.r &
Kingston was dead, and violently done
death But to Mr. Ward death was
hut the gateway to a larger life, and
only very wd In the young, who have
nMry Ward'was young, a broad-shoul-aIa
vountr man. with elear. rather
n!reyJs and -a firm mouth. The
deep-set MM.?"? nroohesied that
Keel" WS.M h-r of Mr. Ward There
was Ul ' e bar to his progrew; he bad
7 uL tumor- It seemed to the p
Sa TsaSsTTude's that religion tt a
rflE tbtaga U. ut brtag, ad
m reus-
inasmuch as ye give unto one of the
least of these." Ward replied, and re
turned Boroday'a gaic.
Elinor had pulled herself together. By
.... ...nnnafn thnt tlnd Hlltd her UlO
she acted now her father's wishes.
Ward, brought face to face with ner,
.. .... ,,nnnt,m,hntilp. calm, almost
IOUI1U 11C1 mit""-"- ----- - . ...
cold. Found her very lovely, too. and let
his ardent young eyes rem. n . -"
than was wise. Her situation appealed
.. Li- v. -..mn tn hn nulte alone.
to mm. Dim o... - - ---save
for the Russian with the beard.
"If I can do anyming. "" '. ";
to your relatlvea-anythlng of that
"I have no relatives. My mother died
when I was born. I-I have a curious
feeling that everything In the world has
stopped-as though I'd reached the end
"itemed to Mr. Ward that he should
offer some of the comfort of his faith to
this shrinking, wide-eyed girl before him.
But what? Rumors had come to him, or
"Death Is only a tragedy when we think
of it as an end and not as a beginning,
he said. "It Is always sad. I hope you
understand that I know how terrible all
... . m ..... tj.i tn irva lived ones
iff" active "and well and useful to the
end. and then to depart. In the fulness
of days? for new actlvltles-somewhere
elEHnoV shivered In the warm sunshine.
"You see." she said drearily. "I do not
believe those things I Jt
now." Then, almost defiantly. He .was
useful You will never know the things
he did that were helpful. But perhaps
we would not agree on that, either.
The Russian was walking up and down
the hall, impassive. waiwu.. ,......
stoical indifference, he was He Ins tor
tures. A bullet from the automatic had
gone through his left arm grailng the
Done. LuckllW the bullet was not Jn the
wound. Henrietta had bathed and
"leansed it. but he was In was
suffering pain, bereavement, defeat. His
"ace expressed only decorous and conven-
"NonTmen he glanced in at the li
brary door, but generally he watebed the
road up the hilt As he had watched
the church ascending, so now at any time
Sght come Law. He would be Ppared.
H. had grown a beard since the St
Louie matter. That would help. AM m
fY.r!r.i . .....rr. nn claim old HU-
-iry's body, until the Record extra had
announced nis annus .. .-o - -.
Sown ihe wl.de ball Ue keen IM was
".' " ..... 3....1 k. natall. over the day.
Tttt aad LeUHd t car had
. m -. ... . .h. nnrt. in hnll the taxi.
liau d.cijjjcu iw ...w -. - -
and-lt happened then, a a stray bullet
from one of the Danaus gunu.
Boroday, eyes on the car, heard the
statement, and, with the chief coming
up the steps from the road to the garden,
took the time to repudiate It
"Pardon!" he said. "It was not a weap
on In the hands of the bandits. It was
the revolver of the bank messenger.
Ward turned in surprise. Boroday s
eyes were fixed on Elinor's, with reas
surance In their depths. The assistant
rector was not subtle, but he had a
curious feeling of something behind all
this, He was uncomfortable.
"I trust," he said earnestly, "that these
various outrages will be at an end now.
Surely the police "
"Possibly." The anarchist's gaze wan
dered to the garden, where even then the
chief was making nis way "'
house. "Of course, these bandits are
trained men of unusual Intelligence. II
the police were or. mieiu.- ' '
with them "
"Yes?"
"They would not be on the force, at
meage? salaries and petty graft. They
would be"-he shrugged his shoulders
"bandlts themselves, very possibly.'
Ward left after that-left with an un
comfortable feeling of having got no
where He was convinced of one thing
death, which for him was an open gate
way. was for this girl a. closed and fas
tened door. And he knew something else.
No other woman had ever so Profoundly
impressed htm as tms Bi """" -
hope in her grief, met it with a high head
ai?60.ure0U.''!.Jltf-,n ,f0rt in one
thing. Elinor had made a concession, and
Hilay Kingston, lavish giver to the par
ish poor, was to buried from St Jude's.
The Chief met Mr. Ward on the ter
race and took o his hat Boroday,
the dim hall, felt a certain sense of eon
tt. othlBg oould have been njere
auspicious, could have set hi- stage better
for hUUttle drama, than the wreBee of
th VoungT clergyman. The whole seeae
Kfef sdvSHa, abort They had
Mtowd The bandit.' . : aad
ending himself in the hh,M,rr,I,
"Be aswred ," he said to BUwr, in hta
best rnaXT "that we'll w rt untU
tTuShCircl-rjd p. . Ih. "
wSl wTlote one of tu best citlseae with
out a violent protest "
With the Coroner he went up tb etalr.
and late old HUar , room .The CWjf
glanced about wane w mu .--
"Ah!" he said, bending forward toward
nnrnriav. r told you I'd net It It was In
St Louis I saw you!"
Their glances ciasneu, mo v.mo a in
tent, the Russian's cool, amused.
"The dog," said Boroday, "holds on
well, but to the wrong throat."
"You have never been In St Louis?"
"Never."
CHAPTER IV.
ELINOR lived alone after the funeral.
Henrlette, who had now a chance to
practice her favorite vice of thrift was
for sending away the other servants.
"I can manage," she said, "For all you
eat-J'
But EllnorVrotested.
"I shall want to keep up the Saturday
dinners. Let things stay as they are for
a time," ...
It had been om niiary s custom to no
such members or tne nana as were avail
able dine with him of a Saturday.
Henrlette raised her hands.
"Things are changed." she cried. "You
are alone here now. To havo those four
men " ,
"That Is better than having one man.
So Elinor had her way. The Saturday
dinners were resumed early In Septem
ber, Boroday coming with Infinite cau
tion from his cheap boarding H":" ,n
the South Side. Talbot and Lethbridge
from the bachelor apartment they rented
I had to be careful." he told Boroday,
aside. "They've got wind of something, I
don't know what My room was searched
today."
Boroday swore through bis beard.
"Then why did you come herer be de
manded. Young Huff laughed, glanced at
Blinor, and back impudently at the Rus-
"You know why I came." he said. In
high good humor. "But I was careful.
It's all right."
Old Hilary's chair had been P4jNf
ni.nH. order. She had borne up well
knot on They had had enanges oi oib- """"-, -ii, -,4-jlrTth.
maebine. By w they should I "
Ctuuur - ...h.r num mUadMt.
cettatnlVre-applairngr ThTquaUty -X
wUtfulnese was moie apparent than ever
around her Buwh. Huff, sitting arw.
hirtly took Us eyes from her. He was
young, and women had baa w Pft
until now to hie acliv. unsfiPiMilsui 1 life.
But JCtla- held nlm In the nab of her
1W wUsed old lUlary. Wa satnmlne
humor. U beetling grey W. And
.niptiia was telling on them- They were
srowlag restive Boroday, artiB cau
f In view of what be tasev. tek the
dUan-eetien among tbe yoauger men.
Jt LetbbrOg who, wnitlai until
u
the servants had withdrawn, rote kA
glanced around the table.
"It seems lo me." he began, "that
have a lot to decide tonight I've been
thinking about It ever eihee tor sent
time Thft first thing, of ceutse. Is
whether we are going to- hang together
or not"
Talbot had rather a weird sense of
humor. He suggested that the word
"hang" bs changed to "remain."
"We've been doing well. We'll do alt
right again, too, as soon as this thing
blows over. It was unlucky, but We've
been pretty fortunate. Now we can do
one of two things. For Bllnors sake I
suggest the first"
"And that Is " Elinor's voice was un
steady. "Send Boroday to Paris to dispose ol
your Jewels. Then get a conservative
lawyer to Invest the money."
"And after that?"
"Forget you ever knew Any of Us."
Huff, across tho table from her, went
white, but said nothing.
"Tou said there was an alternative?"
Elinor was white, too. The room was
profoundly still.
"To keep on as we are at present with
you, Elinor, acting in your father's stead,
receiving and transmitting messages and
keeping tho vault In charge."
Boroday was on his feet in a moment,
protesting. He would take the Jewels
and send them abroad. It was risky, but
It could be done. But this outrageous
arrangement that had been suggested
"What we are, we are by choice," ha
finished. "You havo never had a choice,
nnd now It Is given to you. For Clod's
sake, child, go away now, while you
may."
Elinor's reply, when It came, was un
answerable. l'
"Where could I go? I know In all the
world only you four, and old Henrlette.
and a governess of mine who has gone
Into a convent In France. I shall stay
here with you all."
D. I M ....1...
uu iv naa bqiucu.
That was an , eventful evening, with
Elinor, misty-eyed, moving Into, her fath
er's chair at the table, and the band
swearing the simple oath of allegiance
which held them together. And when
they had moved from tha dining room,
Walter Huff, following Elinor out Into
the terrace, told her he loved her.
The starlight above, and those nearer
stars that outlined the streets below,
& M aril Mnlnn iMteii r)rll CI ti 4V M
dressed In white; old Hilary had disliked
mourning garments. Elinor was loomns
down Into the village. Tho great spire at
Saint Jude's towered above the town.
Huff, young and ardent thrilled to the
girl's presence close beside him. .
"You are very aloof tonight" he said.
Bhe smiled up at him.
"Not that surely. I was only thinking."
"Of what?"
"Oh, of different thlngs-of tho people
down there In their houses their lives,
the things they believe; we think they
ia nfirvnnf hilt T WMIll.r. A.ftnr &11. if
you and I, who bellevo none of thoso
things, are not the narrow ones."
Huff was not subtle. Possibly he
would not have understood, had not the
Saint Jude's chimes rung Just then.
"Symbols like that seem to mean so
much to them." said Elinor, and fell
silent . .
In the wnrm silence. Huff felt for and
found her hand.
"All this time, when I couldn't see
you," ho said unsteadily, "I've been
I minimi. 01 "" ...... "'""" ,. ,:
trouble. Sometimes I thought I coutdnt
.. - . l rvi e t.. . .. AM.MA mvf avin
stana it, mat x-a novo iu como " -see
you, Jf only for flvo minutes."
"I have always been more or less
lonely. Sometimes I think If I had been
... n anhnnl hhn known Other
girls. It would have been better. I bav.'j
never had any friends except you, an4
the others."
Huff released her hand and faced her.
"I don't want to be your friend, Elinor.
I want to be much more."
Sho was rather shocked at first sno
stood, looking up at him, her tips slightly
parted.
"I? You you want
"I love you. I want you to marry me,
Thero was no doubt of the boy's sin
cerity. It rang true. He stood with his
arms out, and after a moment she went
Into them. Except for the father- who
was gone, this was the first love that
had come Into her life. Sho took it
hungrily. In the starlight she held up her
lips like a child for his. kiss.
The police were still active. So In
slstent was Boroday on caution that all
of September went by Without so much as
a Plan of campaign. Talbot played golf
and established friendly relations that
might be Invaluable later, muff, under
protest retained the taxlcab work.
"It's a dog's life." he said. "They're
not after me now. Give me something
else to do, or else let me take a vaca
tion." ,, . .
But they kept htm nt work. .
Huff fell Into the way of seeing Elinor
once or twice a week. Talbot took him
out "iS-ktaS him up on the edge of town
after dusk, on his way in his car to a
dance or dinner at the country club, and
taking him back the same way.
Aid the boys Infatuation for Elinor
grew and thrived on those late summer
meetings. Her sweetness and eluslveness
Saddened him Sometime, he thought
her never so far from him as when eh.
W."onyohu'lottvenme?" he would dematfd
hairathln'u so. I know I want you to lore
And he had to be content with this.
On the evening, when she was alone
Piinor sat In her arbor and watched the
road up the hlU Ward had called twg,
and each time she had been out w the
long rabbles she took almost dally
After his second visit she stayed In the
house for day, expecting him. But h.
dlShewLmnotTn,t0ve with Ward. Just
as n. w". hot iTlove with Walter Hn
But the clergyman represented. In her
strange aid lonely life, something Pw
.nHirferent. He typified U that .he.
had never known He w in. pnu
rather man mo m.n ,jv..n
time was coming when he would be "roan
only, and after that
liate tn September Boroday ws -ated
The arrest came as a shock to
.hi btnd 1. a matter of ft the potoa
could prove nothing, but the chief had
a long talk with the Russian. t w
The Agrarian affair, of cours.. J .
had rfeognUed him. But so firmly had
in the pu-uc wmu i' "'.,
nected Bwoday only casually with hiss.
l-ott kpw that I ean not WW
thing on you," he bald, "but ycttHSn---
aUoVrf.yetiy " V""
tn the tune of about H yeare.
"Perfectly correct In bolb lnsune-"
.aid Borooay. -" '" - -1.
thing ana ywu u. - -
-r vours?" the cnW- "And I wat
yyridittaltr.. Yo pole have been
B? MWr M at -
A. Wtkn U wVU let vou
S'inwb tW- W JSTUS8!. v
The Chief eejre4 iW sv
toIlttbTd oi that t
iieM I'll Ua what . &
"tw. a bMte ainnnw-nrm w u.
police.
m,
yu
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