River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-08-19
CHAPTER II.
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Wny!"
"Snow!" exclaimed Gail in delight,
turning up her face to the delicate
fakes. "And the sun shining. That
means snow tomorrow"
Allison helped her into his big, pi-
ratical-looking runabout, and tucked
her in as If she were some fragile hot
house plant which might freeze with
the first cool draft.
1.-THE pretty white snow is no friend
of mine," he assured her, as he took
the wheel and headed toward the ave-
nue.. He looked calculatingly into the
sky. "This particular downfall is
likely to cost the Municipal Transpor-
tation company several thousand dol
lars"
I'm curious to know the CONNER
cial value of sunset in New York"
Gail smiled up at him. Allison had
the impression that under the cover of
her exQuisitely veined lids she was
looking at him cornerwise, and having
a great deal of fun all by herself
We haven't capitalized sunsets yet,
but we have hopes" he laughed.
Then there's still a commercial op-
portunity," she lightly returned. Il
feel quite friendly to money, but it's
so intimate here. I've heard nothing
else since l came, on Monday"
Gwen in church." he chuckled.
"You delivered a reckless shock to
Rev. Smith Boyd's vestry."
"Well?" she demanded. Didn't he
ask my opinion?
81 don't think he'll make the mis-
take again." and Allison took the cor
ner into the avenue at speed which
made Gail, unused to bare inches of
leeway, class Allison as demon
driver. The tall traffic policeman
around whose appraised arm they had
circled smiled a frank tribute to her
beauty, and she felt relieved. She
had cherished some feeling that they
should be arrested.
However, even a church must dis
cuss money" went on Allison, as il
he had just decided a problem to
which he had given weighty thought.
Fifty millions isn't mere money"
retorted Gail; ''it's criminal wealth. If
no man can make a million dollars
honestly, how can a church,"
Allison swerved out into the center
of the avenue and passed red limou-
sine before he answered. He had no.
ticed that everybody in the street
stared into his car, and it fattered
him immensely to have so pretty a
girl with him.
1.-THE wealth of Market Square
church is natural and normal" he
explained. 1T arises partly from the
increase in value of property which
was donated when practically worth
less. Judicious investment is respon-
sible for the balance"
ooh, bother!" and Gail glanced at
him impatiently. Your natural i'm
pulse is to defend wealth because 1t
is wealth; but you know that Market
Square church never should have had
a surplus to invest. The money should
have been spent in charity. Why are
they saving it?"
Allison began to feel the same re-
spect for Calls mental processes
which he would for a mans, though,
when he looked at her with this
thought in mind, she was SO thor
oughly feminine that she puzzled him
more than ever.
Market Square church has an am
bition worthy Of its vestry," he in
formed her, bringing his runabout to
rest, with swift glide, just an accu-
rate three inches behind the taxi In
front of them. when it has fifty mil
lion dollars, 1t proposes to start build
ing the most magnificent cathedral on
American SOIL"
"Why?" she pondered Twill a fifty
million dollar cathedral save souls in
proportion to the amount of money in
vested?"
Allison enjoyed that query thor
oughly.
"You must ask Rev. Smith Boyd"
he chuckled. you talk like a hea-
them"
ooh, no." returned Gail gravely, and
with new tone. 81 pray every morn
ing and every hight, and God hears
me-" The note of reverence in her
voice was thing to which Allison
gave instant respect. II have no
quarrel with religion. Why, Mr. ALI
son, love the church" Her eyes
were glowing, the same eyes Eaich