The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1915-11-25
CHAPTER xvIii-ContInued.


With model tenements.
CHAPTER xvIii-contInued.
II attend a vestry meeting now and
then" he replied, and then he laughed
Bhortly. "I'd rather do business with
forty corporations than with one YES
Try. A church always expects to con-
duct it's share of the negotiations on
D strictly commercial basis, while 1t
expects you to mingle little charity
with your end of the transactions.
1.-THE Vedder court property" she
guessed, with q slight contraction OF
her brows.
"still after it," said Allison. and
talked of other matters.
Jim Sargent returned, and glanc1ng
Into the little reception tete-a-tete as
he passed, saw Allison and came back.
II didn't expect to see you so soon"
wondered Allison.
I'VE broke up in a row." laughed
Jim Sargent. "Clark and Chisholm
were willing to accept your price, but
the rest of us listened to Doctor Boyd
md Nicholas Van Ploon, and fell. We
Insist on our cathedral, and Doctor
Boyd's plan seems the best way to
get it, though even that may necessi'
tate four or five years delay"
Whats his plan?" asked Allison.
Rebuilding" returned Sargent. eve
can put up tenements good enough to
pass the building inspectors and to
last fifteen years. With the same
rents wa are now receiving, we can
Ioffer them better quarters, and, as
Doctor Boyd suggested, redeem our.
selves from some of the disgrace of
this whole proceeding. Clever, SEN
sible idea. think.
Gail was leaning forward, with her
fingers clasped around her knee; her
brown eyes had widened, and little
red spot had appeared in either cheek;
her red lips were half parted, as she
looked up in wonder at her Uncle
Jim.
lis that the plan upon which they
have decidd?" and Allison looked at
bis watch.
well. hardly" frowned Sargent.
I'VE couldn't swing Clark and CHS
holm At the last minute they sug
gested that we might build lofts, and
the impending fracas seemed too seri-
Dus to take up just now, so we've
tabled the whole thing"
Allison smiled, and slipped his
watch back in his pocket.
foi 6rit ho,
you won't sell" he concluded.
mot at your figure" laughed Sar-
gent. If we took your money, Doctor
Boyd would be too old to preach in the
new cathedral"
Hell pull it through some way" de-
clared Allison. Hes as smart as
whip"
Neither gentleman had noticed Gail.
She had settled back in her chair dur
Ing these last speeches, weary and
listless, and overcome with a sense
Of some humiliation too evasive to be
properly framed even in thought She
had sense that she had given away
something vastly precious, and which
would never be valued. Neither did
( EQey uOtlCS LudI Su0 CuduSSO SuUu0uly
to relief. She had been justified in
her decision.
She took the reins of conversation
herself after Uncle Jim had left, and
entertained Allison so brightly that he
left with Impotence at the tea party
which monopolized her.
Later, when Rev. Smith Boyd
dropped in, he met with surprising
and disconcerting vivacity- In his eyes
there were pain and suffering. and in.
expressible hunger, but in hers there
was only dancing frivolity; little too
ebullient, perhaps, if he had been wise
enough to know; but he was not
The study door was open when late
that evening Houston Van Ploon Sc
dately escorted Mrs. Davies and Gall
into the library, one of those rooms
which appoint themselves the 1nstinc-
tive lounging places of all family init
mates. Gail turned up her big eyes in
sparkling Acknowledgements as the pune
bilious Van PlooE cook her cloak, and,
at that moment, as she stood grace
fully poised. she caught the gaze OF
Rev. Smith Boyd fixed on her with
such infinite longing that it distressed
her. ahs did not waat him to sunes'