The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-06-22

manner were SuDnc1ent 10 0renCn any
enthusiasm with the chllliest of water.
So much was this the case that the
chairman, Williams, seemed quite jus
tilted in saying:
at Is quite evident that the opinion
Of the meeting is adverse to any at
tempt to a the community with a
debt of $1,000" and he proceeded with
a very complete statement OF the many
and various objections to any attempt
DIT building n church this year. The
people were very few, they were dis
Persed over a 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
I'm spite of his little wife's anxious
whispers and nudges. The Pilot looked
the picture OF woe and was on the point
Of bursting forth when the meeting
vas startled by Bill.
Say, boys! They hain't much stuck
On their shop, hehT' The low. drawing
voice was perfectly distinct and arrest
ing.
"Haiu't got no use for 1t seemingly
was the answer from the dark corner.
~Otd Scotchie takes his religion out
In prayin'. I guess" dmwled in Bill,
but n to sponge for his plant"
This reference to Robbie's proposal
- use the school moved the youngsters
TO httering and made the little Scotch
man squirm. for he prided himself
Upon his Independence.
There ain't 800 in the hull BANKED
out1t." This was a strangers voice,
and again Robbie squirmed, for he
rather prided himself also on his abil-
iy to pay his way.
mo good!" said another emphatic
voice. "A blanked lot Of psalm singing
snipesw
Order, order" cried the chairman.
"Oid Windbag there don't see any
show for swirtn' the collection with
Scotchie round" said HI. with a fol
lowing ripple OF quiet laughter, for
Williams reputation was nonc too Sc.
cure.
Robbie was in n most uncomfortable
state OF mind. SO unusually stirred
was he that for the first time in his
history he made n motion.
IT move we adjourn, Mr.. Chairman"
he said in n voice which actually vi
bratcd with emotion.
Different here! Eb, boysf" drawled
Bill.
You bet.' soid HI. In huge delight.
':The meetin' amt out yit."
Eye can bidc till ~morr-nin'," said
Robbie anGrily. cam gaen hame," be-
ginning to put on his coat.
"seems as IL he orter give the pass
word" drawled Bill.
Fright you are, %pardner," said Hi,
apdnRing to the door and waiting in de
lighted expectation for his friends lead.
Robbie looked at the door, then at
his wife, hesitated n moment, 1 have no
doubt wishing her home. Their Bill
stood up and began to speak.
"Mr. Chairman, 1 hnin't been called
On for any remarks
"Go on!" yelled hts friends from the
dark corner. Hear, heart
-'an' / didn't feel as IL this war
hardly my game, though the Pilot amt
mean about invitin' n Teller OH Sunday
afternoons. But them as runs the shop
don't seem to want us fellers round
/ too much"
Robbie was gazing kcenly Mt Bill, and
here shook his head, muttering angrily:
"Hoots. nonsense! Yc're welcome
eneuch."
But" went on Bill slowly, 81 guess
I've been on the wrong track. I've
been a-cherishin' the opinion ["Hear,
heart! yelled his admircrsl, "cherishin'
the opinion repeated Bill, chat these
fellers," pointing to Robbie, "was stuck
on religion, which l amt much my
self, and RELY consarned about the
blocking of the devil, which the Pilot
says can't be did without n regular
gospel factory. OF course, IL amt any
biZnis of mine, but II us fellers was
RELY sot on anythin' c%ondoocin','
l%"IIenr. heart" yelled Iii in ccstasyl,
~"condoocin'," repeated Bill slowly and
with relish, ito the good of the Order
(Bill was n brotherhood mani, II
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.
o course, 1 amt no bettin' man."
went on Bill insinuatingly, "ns n Z
lar thing, but I'd gamble n few list
here OH 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. pcr'aps."
Here Robbie grunted out an aye" of
such fullness OF contcmptuouS unbe-
lief that Bin paused, and, looking
over Robbie's head, he drawlcd out,
even more slowly IL mildly:
II amt much given to bcttin', as I re-
marked before, but II II man shakes
money MT me on that proposition I'll ac.
commodate him to n limited extent"
t"Hear, hear! Bully boy!,' yelled Hi
again from the door, mot bcin' too
bold. / cherish the opinion" [again wells
of approval from the cornerl that
even for this here gospel plant. seein'
the Pilots rather sot OH to 1t. 1 b1icve
the boys could find $500 inside of n
month, IL perhaps these fcllcrs 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 u suddenly:
G no can max that guild, I doot."
Dye mean I amt prepared to back
1t up"
Aye" said Robbie grimly.
"Tatn't likely I'll be called on.
guess $500 Is safe enough" drawled
BIZ, c%unningly drawing him on. Then