The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-12-17
CHAPTER Vl.-Continued.

OFaN presenting country CNurcn with Sl,UUV
CHAPTER W.-Continued.
Just then | heard the voice OF N,
fool raised SO that all might hear:
Friends, on the dusty highway O.
life, can take none of the honor OF
credit you so kindly offer me. The
money have given you today | came
by honestly. l stepped into your COO
and restful house of worship this morn
! ing in search of bodily ease. The small
| voice OF conscience stirred within me
had not been inside a church for two
| years, and | was greatly shaken But
as | listened to your eloquent pastor
was aware that the green wall paper
interrupted my soul currents. That
vegetable-green tint is notorious as a
psychical interceptor. Spend the
money as you like, gentlemen, but if
|, stranger, may suggest it, try some
less violent color scheme in your
mural decorations"
He seemed choking with emotion as
with bowed head he pushed his way
through the circle ard strobe past me-
The people stared after him, myStitied
and marveling. | heard an old man
calling out:
"How wonderful are the ways of
Lord
| let Gillespie pass, and followed him
slowly until a turn in the road hid us
from the staring church folk. He
turned and saw me-
You have discovered me, Donovan
Be sure your sins will find you out,
A simple people, sigularly moved at
the sight of a greenback. have rare
ly caused caused so r0uch excitement"
Il suppose you are trying to ease
your conscience by giving away some
of your button meney.'
THAT is just it, Donovan. You have
struck the brass tack on the head. But
now that we have met again, albeit
through no fault of my own, let me
mention matters of real human inter
est"
you might tell me what you're do.
ing here first"
walking; there were no cabs, Don
ovan."
You choose a queer hour of the
day for your exercise"
"One might say the same for your
ride. But let us be sensible. | dare
say there's some common platform on
which we both stand
We'll assume it," I replied, dis
by the roadside that might
talk more easily, Bandages were still
visible at his wrists, and strip of
across the knuckles of
his right hand otherwise testified to
the edges of the glass in st. Agatha's
garden. He held up his hands rue
fully.
Those were nasty slashes; and I
ripped them up badly in climbing out
of your window. But | couldn't Iinger:
am not without my little occupa.
tons"
"You stand an excellent chance of
being shot if you don't clear out of
this. If there's any shame in Won
you will go without making further
trouble"
1T has occurred to me-" he began,
slowly, that | know something that
you ought to know. saw Henry Hol,
brook yesterday"
"Where?" | demanded.
"On the lake. He's rented a sloop
Yacht called the Stiletto, / passed it
yesterday on the Annandale steamer
and saw him quite distinctly"
It's all your fault that he's here!"
blurted, thoroughly aroused. IF
you had not followed those women
hey might have spent the remainder
If their lives here and never have
'een molested. But he undoubtedly
'aught the trail from you"
Gillespie nodded gravely and
roWned before he answered.
Il am sorry to spoil your theory,
ny dear Irish brother, but put this in
our pipe: Henry was here first, He
'ented the sailboat ten days ago-and
made my triumphal entry week
alter, Explain that, if you please, MIR.
Donovan"
was immensely relieved by this
disclosure, for it satisfied me that 7
lad not been mistaken in the identify
i the canoe-maker. l had, however,
10 intention of taking the button king
nto my confidence.
Where is Holbrook staying?" !
sked> casually.
Il don't know-he keeps afloat. The
tlletto belongs to a Cincinnati man
Tho isn't coming here this summer
nd Holbrook has got the use of the
acht. So much | learned from the
oat storage man at Annandale: then
passed the Stiletto and saw Henry on (
GARD"