Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-08-11
Q5eBAIIfT Id
HGE0RG[ RANDOLPH CHESTfR
and LILLIAN CHESTER ~.
3 1Ss e e., ILLUSTRATED 6~CDRH0DES
c00oosaUaY

sidelong glance. which she was startled
to recognize in herself as distinct CO
quetry.
Il have prior claim" laughed ALI
| son, stepping up and taking her by the
arm. Its my turn to guide Miss Sar-
gent on the two-passenger sled"
There was something new about Al
lison tonight. There was the thrill
and the exultation of youth in his
voice, and twenty years seemed to
have been dropped from his age. There
was an intensity about him. too, and
also proprietorlike compulsion,
which decided Gail on a certain diver
sion she had entertained She was
| oppressed with men tonight. The
world was full of them, and they had
closed too nearly around her.
Suddenly she broke away with a
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
it, 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
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
a cigar.
Coming AlIison?" called Cunning
ham. There's room for you both,
doctor"
Il 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.
Il received the ultmatum of your
vestry today, Doctor Boyd" observed
Allison when they were alone. "Still
that eventual fifty million"
We'll, yes" returned the rector
briskly, and backed up comfortably to
the blaze. He was a different man
now. I'VE 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?"
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 a little more?"
81 don't see the use of metaphor"
retorted the rector, who dealt profes-
sionally in it. Business is business"
Allison grunted. and ficked his
ashes into the fire.
"By George, you're right" he agreed
I've been trying to handle you like
church. but now I'm going after you
like the business organization you
! are"
Rev. Smith Boyd redeemed. The
charge that Market Square church was
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 a 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 it.
I 81 won't pay that price. and l won't
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 putting
/ up to the fire. and cat down on his sled
with thump
Splendid exercise" he gasped, hold
ing his sides. 81 think about week of
1t 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"
pulled Jim Sargent. What's the trou-
BILE with you? Trying to take bust
ness advantage of church"
I'D have a better chance with a
Jew" was Allison's contemptuous re.
ply.
"Oh, see here, Allison!" remonstrat-
ed Jim Sargent seriously. He even rose
to his feet to make it more emphatic.
''You mustn't treat Market Square
church with so much indignity."
why not? Market Square church
puts itself in position to be eonsid-
cred in the light of any other grasping
! organization"