The San Francisco call., 1906-06-03

dered the box and started for the pare
sons study.
There. vas no one there. The door
stood ajar, as if to let in some OF the
faint autumnal sunshine, in lieu OF other
heat Vaughan was saving his tue! for
the extreme weather promised later. For
the Sunday services and the mid-week
meeting he kindled a fire in one OF the
big black stoves near the door. But
the corner where il stood was dlscour.
agingIy remote The study partook but
little of it's beneficent glow; the bedroom.
still farther away. was beyond hope.
From the Paiutis who had encamped
on the hill behind the church he OBJ
tanned a pair of heavy blankets for his
bed and did not suffer at night, During
the day. when he studied and wrote. he
broke away from his desk every. now
and them. to walk up and down and
swing his arms.
shed slowly whirled himself around in
the office chair and made inward coif~
ments:
''Colder'n charity.''
'''Darker'n the graves
''Not damn picture ga tire pface?''
Sheds big, handsome house was suis
of pictures, warm as summer. and there
were plants in the windows ana "a canary.
sit beats Hanah Cook
This was the final word with Shed
When q thing beat Hannah Cook shcre
was no more to be said.
'.By gum. I'll take the darned thing
Backs he said 90 himself, land tell the
boys I wont do is. But Poole would jump
at the chance. and l believe Winslow
would. Hullo, there he comesi''
Vaughan entered eagerly He was fun
Of confidence. these days. Wherever he
had lectured people had been kind to him.
The attendance had been good at the
ciabIes,. not yielding concessions to those
who desired to drink and dance. but offer
eng attractions OF their own. Jack had
made lemonade, without a stick" bar
reiful each time. ad had offered it az his
donationt and there had been songs and
games.
Every day the young preacher felt that
he drew nearer to his followers and that
they drew nearer to him. He did not know
1t was cold and dark in the study. Nor
did he hold the absence of ornament a
lack, as did his visitor. The austerlty of
his surroundings. if he had considered it.,
would have struck him as much more de-
sirable than the equipment of the ranch
mans gaudy home on Richmond Hill. 1t
was with no discrimination against his
own poverty in comparison with the 9TH
er's wealth. but quite the reverse that he
welcomed the cattle magnate. He in
quired for Mrs. Wellman and for. Tom and
the little Maud. talked of church matters.
of the affairs of the town and looked at
the box.
some of the boys of the S. L. Co. Shed
began. neryously untying his bundle,
thought 'twould be good joke to send
you this-oH-on account of your titles,
you know. They thought you were tryin'
to fool EN-. They took it as kind of q
stump"
Shed perspired freely and grew very
ty he handed over the medal. With COR
responding gravity Vaughan received it.
There was an ominous pause.
Finally Vaughan laid the thing on his
desk.
you know it's considered a great COM
pliment round here to be called good
liar" Shed tried to speak lightly.
''Indeed?" returned the parson. with a
lift of the eyebrow: They'd better make
! sure first. that I'd lied. Why didn't they
write to England and ascertain whether !
had a right to tlese-titles?''
They have AT least Barker was going
to-" Shed made haste to rejoin. But they
couldn't. wait"
/ II see'' said Vaughan, again taking up
the medal and putting II back into the
box. 'I'll defer my ACCOMPLISHMENTS until
they've heard"
"knd so I. come away feeling like a
blam-jam idiot"' Shed declared to Pitcher
who mhe found alone in the store few
minutes later. Where's Poole?''
Gone out"
We'll. you tell him. when he comes in
with my compliments. that he's made ar
ass of himself a message promptly de-
4 livered by Pitcher
.''oh, he did say / was an ass, did her
rejolned Poole.
Now. don't get mad said Pitcher.
II am mad" said Poole. and he grew
madden. not with Shed, sIngularly enough
but with the parson.
i've wanted to smash his face evei
since he come TO Eurega." he confessed te
Pllcher; and Pitcher looked, as he felt
sympathetic. He, too, was unprepared, b,
/ temperament and education, to resist ar
/ Impulse oof this kind.
When Vaughan passed the store on hi.
way to the postotfice, as was his custom
late that afternoon, Pitcher was on thu
steps and accosted him. why don't yo,
call in, some time when you're goin by?'
he inquired affabiy.
Il will replied Vaughan, who Away,
met friendly advances at least halfway.
You might stop when you come back,
| suggested Pitcher.
IF It's not too late ! will" promised
Vaughan. When he returned he founc