The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-01-27

Suddenly she broke away with q
laugh, and, taking the twopassenger
sled from Smith Boyd, who still stood
in pr%eoccupation at the edge of the
group. she picked 1t 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, eve alert in his chosen
profession. grabbed a light steel racer
from the edge of the bank, and, with q
magnificent run, slapped himself On
the sled and darted in pursuit! The
rector's lip curled the barest trace at
n corner, but Edward E. Allison,
looking down the hill, grinned, and lit
q cigar.
Coming Allison?" 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
E~rector also declined with pleasant
thanks, Allison gave the voyagers a
hearty push. and walked back to the
camp fire.
Il 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 a different man
now. 1--WE discussed your proposition
thoroughly, and decided that, in ten
years, the property 10 worth fifty mil
lion to you, for the purpose you have
in mind. Consequently why take lessr'
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 profess
, sionally in It. business is business"
Allison grunted, and ficked his
ashes into the fire.
by George, you're right" he agreed.
1--WE been trying to handle you like
a IL III, puI " L LA 6olhS dllCl yOu
like the business organization you
are"
Rev, Smith Boyd redeemed. 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 q cash
sum which, in ten years, will accrue
to fifty million dollars, or you may let
it alone" and his zone was as force
fully crisp as Allison's, though he
could not hide the musical timbre
of 1t.
II won't pay that price, and I 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 sat down on his sled
with a thump.
Splendid exercise" he gasped, hold
ing his sides. II think about q week of
1t would either reduce me to a 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. Whats the trou-
bile with you? Trying to take a bust
ness advantage of a church."
I'D have . better chance With a
Jew" was Allison's contemetuous 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 ildignity."
why not: Market Square church
puts itself in a position to be consid-
cred in the light of any other grssping
organization"
Rev. Smith Boyd, finding in himself
the growth of a most unclothlike Al
ger, decided to walk away rather than
suffer the s~ggravatton 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 a cigar.
Largely paternai," and the presi-
dent of the Towando Valley gr:nned.
I'VE feed 1t when it's good and spank
it when 1t cries"
Hold control Of the stock?"
mo. only it, transportation" ~
turned Sargent oonplacently.
Stock is a good deal scattered. I
suppose?"
Small holdings entirely. and none
of the holders proud" replied Sargent.
1T 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 10 be
worth buying" observed Allison, with
vast apparent indifference.