The indicator., 1904-10-29

The Pilot was ready with his answer.
The cost would be 81 200. The church
building fund would contribute 800.
the people would give $500 In labor
and the remaining $7OO lie thought
could be raised In the district in two
years time.
Aye" said Robbie and the tone and
manner We're sufficient to drench any
enthusiasm with the chilliest Of water.
SO much was this the case that the
chairman, Williams. seemed quite jus
tihed in saying:
1T is quite evident that the opinion
of the meeting is adverse to any at
tempt TO load the community with n
debt of $1,000" and he proceeded with
very complete statement of the many
and various objections TO any attempt
at building a church this year The
people We're very few. they We're dis.
persed over large area, they were not
Interested sufficiently. they were all
spending money and making little in
return: he supposed therefore that the
meeting might adjourn.
Robbie sat silent and expressionless
in spite of his little wifes anxious
whispers and nudges. The Pilot looked
the picture of woe and was on the point
of bursting forth when the meeting
was startled by Bill.
Say. boys. They hain't much stuck
on their shop. heh?' The low. drawing
voice was perfectly distinct and arrest
ing.
"Hain't got no use for it seemingly"
was the answer from the dark corner.
"Old Scotchie takes his religion out
In prayin', | guess drawled In Bill
but wants to sponge for his plant"
This reference to Robbies proposal
to use the school moved the youngsters
to tittering and made the little Scotch
man squirm, for he prided himself
upon his independence.
There amt S700 in the hull blanked
outfit" This was strangers voice,
and again Robbie squirmed, for he
rather prtted himself also on his abil-
ity to pay his way.
NO good!' said another emphatic
voice. "A blanked lot of psalm singing
snipes.'
Order, order" cried the chairman.
"Old Windbag there don't see any
show for swipin' the collection with
scotchie round" said Hi. with a fol.
lowing ripple of quiet laughter, for
Williams reputation was none too &C.
cure
Robbie was In most uncomfortable
state of mind. So unusually stirred
was he that for the first time in his
history he made n motion.
Il move we adjourn, Mr.. Chairman"
he said in voice which actually vi
brated with emotion.
Different here! Eh, boys?" drawled
Bill
You betm said Hi, in huge delight
1.-The meetin' amt out yit"
"Ye can bide till mor-r-nin'," said
Robbie angrily. Am gaen hame," BE-
ginning to put on his coat.
Seems as If he orter give the pass
word" drawled Bill.
Right you are. pardner," said HI.
sprlnging to the door and waiting in de-
lighted expectation for his friends lead.
Robbie looked at the door, then at
his wife, hesitated moment. I have no
doubt wishing her home. Then Bill
stood up and began to speak.
"Mr. Chairman, l hain't been called
on for any rcmarks"-
"Go onr yelled his friends from the
dark corner. Hear, hear4'
-"an' ! didn't feel as if this war
hardly my game, though the Pilot amt
mean about invitin' feller on Sunday
afternoons But them as runs the shop
don't seem to want us fellers round
too much"
Robbie was gazing keenly at Bill, and
here shook his head. muttering angrily:
"Hoots, nonsense! Ye're welcome
eneuch."
But" went on Bill slowly, ~ guess
I've been on the wrong track. I've
been a-cherishin' the opinion" ["Hear.
hear!" yelled his admirersl, "cherishin'
the opinion" repeated Bill. that these
fellers," pointing to Robbie. was stuck
on religion. which l amt much my
self. and reely consarned about the
blocking of the devil, which the Pilot
says can't be did without regular
gospel factory. OF course. 1t amt any
biznis of mine, but If us fellers was
reely sot on anythin' condoocin',"
["Hear hearw yelled HI in ecstasyl.
"condoocin." repeated Bill slowly and
with relish, "to the good Of the Order
(Bill was brotherhood NAM, 4
b'lieve I know whar $500 mebbe cud
per'aps be got"
You bet your sox," yelled the
strange voice in chorus, with other
shouts of approval.
"Of course, l amt no bettin' man."
went on Bill insinuatingly, "as a regu-
lar thing, but I'd gamble few jist
here on this pint; If the boys was stuck
on anythin' costin' about 500, it seems
to me likely they'd git 1t in about two
days, per'aps."
Here Robbie grunted out an AYE" Of
such fullness of contemptuous unbe-
lief that Bill paused, and, looking
over Robbie's head, he drawled out,
even more slowly and mildly:
IT amt much given to bettin', as l re-
marked before, but II man shakes
money at me on that proposition I'd ac-
commodate him to a limited extent"
["Hear, hear. Bully boy" yelled HI
again from the door.l Not bein' too
bold. cherish the opinion" [again yells
Of approval from the cornerl that
even for this here gospel plant, seein'
the Pilots rather sot on to 1t, I b'lieve
the boys could nnd $500 inside Of
month, II perhaps these fellers cud
wiggle the rest out Of their pants"
Then Robbie was in great wrath,
and. stung by the haunting, drawing
voice beyond all self command, he
broke out suddenly:
"Ye'll no can max that guid, doot"
"D'ye mean amt prepared to back
ALL The CANDIDATES