The Green Forest tribune., 1915-12-10

Suddenly she broke away with laugh, and, taking the two-passenger sled from Smith Boyd, who still stood in preoccupation at the edge of the group, she picked it up and ran with 1t, and threw herself face forward on 1t, as she had done when she was a kiddy, and shot down the hill, to the intense disapproval of Reverend Boyd! DICK Rodley, ever alert in his chosen profession, grabbed a light steel racer from the edge of the bank, and, with a magnificent run, slapped himself on the sled and darted in pursuit! The rector's lip curled the barest trace at one corner but Edward E. Allison, looking down the hill, grinned, and lit cigar.
 Coming Allison?" called Cunning ham. There's room for you both, doctor"
 T don't think I'll ride this trip, thanks, returned Allison, and, as the rector also declined with pleasant thanks, Allison gave the voyagers hearty push, and walked back to the camp fire.
 q received the ultimatum of your vestry today Doctor Boyd" observed Allison when they were alone. Still that eventual fifty million"
 Well, yes," returned the rector briskly, and backed up comfortably to the blaze. He was different man now. We discussed your proposition thoroughly, and decided that, in ten years, the property is worth fifty mil lion to you, for the purpose you have in mind. Consequently why take less 2" Allison surveyed him shrewdly for moment.
 That's the argument of a bandit" he remarked. "Why accept all that the prisoner has when his friends can , raise little more?"
 T don't see the use of metaphor" retorted the rector, who dealt profes- . sionally in it. Business is business"
 Allison grunted, and licked his ashes into the fire.
 By George, you're right" he agreed I've been trying to handle you like a church, but now I'm going after you like the business organization you are."
 Rev. Smith Boyd reddened. The charge that Market Square church was a remarkably lucrative enterprise was becoming too general for comfort.
 "The vestry has given you their de- cision," he returned, standing stiff and straight, with his hands clasped be- hind him. You may pay for the We'd der court tenement property cash sum which, in ten years, will accrue to fifty million dollars, or you may let it alone" and his tone was as force fully crisp as Allison's, though he could not hide the musical timbre of 1t.
 'T won't pay that price, and I won't 1 let the property alone" Allison snap ped back. "The city needs it."
 For a moment the two men looked each other levelly in the eyes. There seemed to have sprung up some new enmity between them. A thick man with a stubby mustache came pulling up to the fire, and sat down on his sled with thump.
 Splendid exercise" he gasped, hold ing his sides T think about week of it would either reduce me to living skeleton, or kill me-"
 Your vestry's an ass," Allison took pleasure in informing him.
 Same to you and many of them" :" [ puffed Jim Sargent. Whats the trou- ble with you? Trying to take busi- ness advantage of church"
 "Pd have a better chance with a Jew" was Allison's contemptuous re- ply.
 ooh. see here, Allison!" remonstrat- ed Jim Sargent seriously. He even rose to his feet to make 1t more emphatic. You mustn't treat Market Square church with so much indignity."
 Why not? Market Square church puts itself in position to be consid- cred in the light of any other grasping organization"
 Rev. Smith Boyd, finding ip himself the growth of a most unclothiike an- ger. decided to walk away rather than suffer the aggravation which must en- sue in this conversation. Consequent ly, he started down the hill, dragging Jim Sargent's sled behind him for com- pany. There were no further insults to the church, however.
 "Jim, what are the relations Of the Towando Valley to the L. and CT asked Allison, offering Sargent cigar.
 Largely paternal," and the presi- dent of the Towando Valley grinned. "We feed it when it's good and spank | it when it cries"
 l Hold control of the stock?"
 "No only it's transportation, re- turned Sargent complacently.
 Stock is good deal scattered, l suppose?"
 Small holdings entirely, and none of the holders proud" replied Sargent. 'It starts no place and comes right back, and the shareholders won't pay postage to send in their annual | proxies"
 Then the stock doesn't seem to be | worth buying" observed Allison, with vast apparent indifference.