Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1909-06-25

Nosk--~
MY children do not play IN promisc,i.
Ous lnmcs." said the t0idotD fcflu
IN r he roared I'm the frightened mans
ear.
EMERSON sputtered and stammered.
but nothing definite came Of the
sounds; so Strong again turned to Miss
Perkins:
What is goin' onT" he demanded.
The spinster shrugged her shoulders
and lifted her eyes heavenward. know
ing that nothing could so madden the
deacon as this mysterious inference of
things too terrible 10 mention. She
was right. Strong uttered n desperate
"Bahp and began pacing up and down
the garden with reckless strides.
Mrs, Willoughby watched him with
secret delight. and when he came to
halt she wriggled to his side with
simpering sweetness.
"what could folks sayr she asked.
"a minister and a young circus girl
living here like this with no one to-
She found no words ut this point. and
Strong. now thoroughly reused. de.
clared that the congregation should
have no further cause for gossip and
went out quickly In search Of Douglas.
When Strong was gone EMERSON
looked at the set faces OF the women
and attempted n weak apology for the
pastor. II dare say the young man
was very neutrality-suspicious. she
came"
Lonely" snapped Miss Perkins.
well, IL he was lonely didn't know
| H."
The deacon excused himself nerv.
ously and went to join Strong.
The women gathered up their bunt-
ings and retired with bland smiles TO
the Sunday school room. feeling that
they had accomplished enough for the
| time being.
Strong and Elverson crossed the
! yard. still In search OF the pastor.
| They turned at the sound OF fiuttering
leaves and beheld Douglas, hatlcss.
tearing down the path. Strong called
10 him. but Douglas darted quickly be.
hind the hedge. The deacons looked at
one another in speechless astonish-
ment. Presently the silence was
broken by the distant voice OF Polly
counting from one to hundred. The
secret was out! The pastor. leader
OF the church. was playing hide and
seekl
'Mr. Douglasr shouted Strong when
his breath had returned.
Hush. hushr whispered Douglas,
looking over the hedge. He peeped
cautiously about him, then came to-
ward the men with sigh OF relief.
'Its oil right. She has gone the other
way"
"ltll be n good thing for you II she
never comes back" said Strong, and
Douglas quick ear caught an unpleas.
ant meaning In his tone.
whats thatT' the pastor asked In a
low. steady voice.
"We don't like some OF the things
that are goin' on here. and want to
talk TO you about EN-"
very WELL but see IL you can't talk
In lower key"
"Never mind about the keyw shout.
ell Strong angrily.
"But l do mind" Something In his
eyes made the deacon lower his voice.
1--WE want 10 know how much longer
that girl is goln' 20 stay here"
Indeed! Aud why" The color was
leaving Douglas face and his jaw was
becoming very square.
Because she's been here long
enough"
Il don't agree with you there"
'Well, II don't make no difference
whether you do or not. She's got 70
go"
"GoG" echoed Douglas.
YES, slr-e-bob. We've made up our
minds TO that"
and who 90 you mean by 'wer"
The members OF this congregatIon.''
replied Strong impatlenuy.
Am | 10 understand that you are
/ speaking for themy" There was a
deep frown between the young pas.
tors eyes. He was beginning TO be
perplexed.
YES. aud as deacon OF this church"
Then as deacon OF this church YOU
tell the congregation for me that that
/ Is my AFFAIR"
Your affair" shouted Strong. when
that glrl Is Twin under the church's
roof, eatin' the church's bread!'
Just one moment, You don't quite
understand, I am minister OF this
church and FOR that position I receive
/ or am supposed 90 receive n salary IN
ITO be continuedO