The evening world., 1914-03-03
CHAPTER VI.
1.-THE Church Racket"

ns she deacended the stairs and she
watched him breathlessiy.
"Mornin', Doc" lie nodded IN
friendly nonchaiance and her heart
lcaped in relief.
He know nothing Of the QUARREL
wait q minute. Mr.. Terribsrry."
she called. and he stopped. Say.
what church do you belong TOT What
are your
Mr.. Tsfribsrry suffered from pyor-
rhsa. and the row OF upper teeth
which he now displayed In . genial
grin looked like . garden rake. due
to his shrinking gums.
I'm . Presbyterian, Doc. but
don't work At II. why7"
Lets get together ana build a
church. I'll go around with . SUBJ
scription paper myself and raise the
money. I feel lost without . church,
I honestly DO. Its downright heath.
That's Co." Mr.. Tsrr.bsrry agreed
heartily. there's something damned
respectable about church. II makes
q good impresaion upon strangers to
come into . town and hear Q church
hell ringin'. even II nobody. eoes. Doc.
you're all right" he patted her shoul-
mond; you can put me down for $50"
When Mr.. Terribsrry had gone his
way DR.. Harps smiled and reiterated
mentally: There's nothing IKE the
church racket: II always wovlss."
She passed on into the dining room
whore the Dago Duke who had sung
himself out Of the calabooss sprang
TO his feet and. laying his hand upon
his heart. bowed low In . burlsequsd
"A tribute to Your skill ana learn
Ing, madam"
she stared at him stonily aad his
white teeth flashed.
How she hated him! Yet she felt
helpless before his impudence and
nudacity. He had .presence." poiss.
whatever lengths she might 20 In ~
taliation no would 90 further. She
would only bring upon hsfsolf dis
comfture by such . course. 6ho
knew that she had forfeited his re-
Wpsct: more than that, she felt that
she had incurred Q deep and lasting
enmity which seemed 10 her out OF
oil proportion 70 the cause.
HIS horseback companion Of the
previous day was hreAkfastin9 beside
him and che found the young mans
cold. impsrsonal scrutiny a. hard
TO bear - ths DaSo Dukes frank
impudencs - she gwaggered to her
ssat At the end q the long dining
diffsrent In his way from the men
sbout him - the Dago Duke. yet he
differed. too. from that conspicuous
person. He seemed sslf.eontalned.
reserved 10 the point Of reticenoe. but
with . quiet assurance OF manner a.
pronounced ~ the others sffrontery.
lie was dressed in q blue flannel
shirt and worn corduroys. His face
was tanned. but Il was the sunburnsd
face Of an invalid. There were hol.
lows In his checks and . tired look
In his gray eyes. Having critically
examined her. Dr.. Harps observed
that he seemed TO forget her.
Essie Tisdale passed her without .
glance. but Mr.. Terriberry came 10.
hind with tho breakfast OF frisd po-
ou the platter which SERVED also a.
q plate. from which menu the Terri
berry House never deviated by 30
much ~ q mutton chop.
I'm sorry you and Essie fell out"
said Mrs. Tsrriberry apologeticAlly a.
she placed the dishes before her.
nut she seems awful Get ON not
waitin' on you."
Dr.. Hsrps dropped her eyes for an
instant.
"It's up to her"
"Shs's ~ good natured a. any
body ever saw, but she's high
strung. too: she's got :. temper"
DR.. Harps lifted . shoulder.
shed better have my friendship
than my snmity. even II she has q
'Essis's mighty we'll liked here"
Mrs. Terribsrry returned quickly.
Popularity 10 . mighty uncertain
asset In . small town.
Don't forget that yourself. Doc"
returned Mrs. Terrtbsrry. nsttlsd by
her tone.
DR.. Harps laughed good turedly;
she had no desire TO antagoniss Mrs.
Terribsrry.
She watched the Daso Duke hold
up . warning finger as Essie placed
tho heavy hotel dishes before him.
BE careful Miss, be very careful
not to nick this fragile ware. A a
lover OF ceramic art. 1t would pol,
me to 500 II injured"
The girl dimpled and. in spite ~
which was 10 merry and contagious
that the grave stranger beside him
looked mp at her with an Interested
ind amused smile, az though seeing
her for the first time.
He interested DR. Harpe. this other
stranger. and a. soon as her break
fast was finished she looked for his
name upon the register,
ogden Van LennOp." she read. and
his address was q little town In the
county. She shook her head and sail
To herself: He never came from this
neck OF tho woods. Another black
Gheeo. wonder?"
DR.. Hsrpe lost no time In agitating
the subject Of q church. and II tick
led Crowheart's disabilities. since she
was the last person 70 be suspected
OF spiritual yearnings-h personality
seeming incongruous with religious
fervor. But while they laughed II
was with good nature and approval
FOR II merely confirmed them In thor
opinion that with all her idiosyncra-
sizes she was at heart what she liked
to no considered. "a rough diamond
sympathetic and kind Of heart under
meath her blunt candOr.
That she had never been known Il
} refuse a drink to the knowledge ol
anu In Infant ~as one ~ the atOCL