The Ordway new era., 1916-04-14
CHAPTER XVIII.
A Matter Of Conscience.

| GaH STOOD at the ran OF tne "hite-
cap, gazing out over the dancing blue
waves with troubled eyes.
Penny for your thoughts The I'M
possibly handsome Dick Rodley had
strolled up. in his blue Jacket and
white trousers and other nautical EN-
belishments.
THE news in the paper" she told
him. It's so big
Dick looked down at her critically.
She was so new a Gail to him that he
was puzzled, and worried. too, for he
felt, rather than saw. that some
trouble possessed this dearest Of his
friends.
"Yes. it is big news" he admitted;
big enough and startling enough to
impress anyone very gravely." Then
he shook his head at her. But you
mustn't worry about 1t. Gail You're
not responsible"
Gail turned her eyes from him and
looked out over the white-edged waves
again.
1T is a tremendous responsibility"
she mused. whereupon Dick. as be-
came him. violently broke the thread
of thought by taking her arm and
drawing her away from the rail. and
walking gayly with her up to the for
ward shelter deck, where, shielded
from the crispness of the wind. there
sat, around the big table and amid
tangle of Sunday papers. Jim Sar-
gent and Rev. Smith Boyd. Arly and
Gerald Fosland. all four deep In the
discussion of the one possible topic
of conversation.
"Allison's explosion again." objected
Dick. as Gail and he Joined the group.
and caught the general tenor of the
thought Il suppose the only way to
escape that Is to jump off the White
cap Calls worse than any OF you. |
find she's responsible for the whole
thing"
Arly and Gerald looked up quickly.
81 neither said nor intimated any
thing of the sort" Gail reprimanded
Dick. for the benefit of the Foslands,
and she sat down by Arly, whereupon
Dick. observing that he was much Of
Tended. patted Gail on the shoulder,
and disappeared in search OF Ted
I'D like to hand vote of thanks to
the responsible party" laughed Jim
Sargent. to whom the news meant
more than Gail appreciated. with
Allison broke, Urbank of the Midcon.
tinent succeeds to control of the A.-P.
and Urbank is anxious to incorporate
the Towando Valley in the system. He
told me so yesterday"
The light which leaped into Calls
eyes, and the trace Of color which
flashed into her cheeks, were most
comforting to Arly; and they ex-
changed a smile OF great satisfaction
They clutched hands ecstatically un-
der the corner of the table, and want
ed to laugh outright. However, 1t
would keep
THE destruction of Mr.. Allison was
a feat of which any gentleman's con-
science might approve" commented
Gerald Fosland. who had spent some
time in definitely settling with himself
the ethics of that question. THE
company he proposed to form was q
menace to the liberty of the world and
the progress OF civilization"
THE destruction didn't go far
enough" snapped Jim Sargent. CLARK,
Vance, Haverman, Grandin, Babbitt,
Taylor. Chisholm; these fellows won't
be touched. and they built up their
monopolies by the same method ALI.
son proposed; trickery. force and
plain theft!"
Harsh language, Uncle Jim Sar.
gent, to use toward your respectable
fellow-vestrymen," chided Arly, her
black eyes dancing.
CLARK and Chisholm" and Jim Sar.
gents brows knotted. They're not
my fellow-vestrymen. Either they 20
or dol"
Il would like you to remain" aui.
etly stated Rev. Smith Boyd. 81 hope
to achieve several important aItera.
tions In the ethics Of Market Square
church." He was grave this morning
He had unknowingly been ripenins
for some time on many questions; and
the revelations in this mornings pa.
pers had brought him to the point Of
decision. II wish to drive the money
changers out of the temple" he added
and glanced at Gail with smile In
! which there was acknowledgment.
N "A remarkably lucrative enterprise
Ell Gail?" laughed her Uncle Jim. re
mefnberfng her criticism on the occa
sion Of her first and only vestry meet
! ing. when she had called their attsn
ton TO the saelrs Of the stained-slats
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