Middletown transcript., 1917-08-11
CHAPTER II-continued.

CHAP u Elk II-COnIlnUe0.
p
The routine never varied. Elfnor
unlocked the door to winding STAIR
case, which led to basement room
where the steel vault stood in its &C.
ment walls. The five went down, re-
turning shortly with the cash-boxes.
The money was divided on the library
table. 1t went by percentages. Hill
airy drew 20 that last year, each of
the others 10-a total of 60 per cent.
The 40 per cent remaining was d.
vided, or sent as q whole, according
to the sense of the meeting. Berlin
got it all one year, for instance, to
Boroday's disgust. Russia generally
received large proportion. The Chi
nese revolution; the defense of Berk-
hardt, who killed Ecker the pork
packer; shipment of guns and am
munition to Central America-thus it
went.
Although they preferred only money,
now and then the loot Included jewels.
By common consent, such gems,
stripped Of their settings, were put
aside for Elinor. They meant nothing
to her. Had anyone told her that for
several years her share had been
greater in actual value than all the
money that had fallen to her father
she would not have believed 1t. .
Four days or so after the annual
meeting, the rector Of Saint Jude's was
always asked to dinner. And although
the reverend gentleman would under
normal circumstances have been fish
ing In Canada, he never went until this
function was over. For old Hilary, de.
testing his creed, respected the man
A certain percentage, then, of old Hill
ary's share went over the library ia
BILE. after the dinner, to the rector.
"Use it where it will do the most
good" he would say.
'The church organ"
"Not a cent to the church organ.
Buy the youngsters a playground, or
build lying-in ward in the hos
pital."
Eainor's mother had died in child
birth.
The last check had been unusually
generous. The rector, who had beer
smoking one of old Hilary's choice
cigars, put 1t down and faced his host
resolutely. 1t took courage.
"Mr. Kingston" he said, "the church
needs men like you. Why be Chris
tan in the spirit and-avoid the let
teri"
"Tut." Old Hilary rose and looked
down at him. 81 am like all gamblers
This annual check to your poor Is the
sop throw to luck. That's all, sir"
And his tone closed the discussion
The word gambler" worried the rec.
tor. He thought over it on his way
down the hill to the rectory. But his
poor were very poor. He cashed the
check the next day.
Elinor was in the library that sunny
August day when they brought old
hilary to her. She had never seen
death before, except on the streets of
Mexico, and for a good many years he
had been all she had-since her last
governess, in fact, had been discovered
secreting the rosary and had been
word-scourged from the house In tears.
She tainted, and wrinkled Henriette
laid her on a couch.
BorOday, the Russian, had brought
the body home, and now he stood, look
ing down at Elinor and stroking his
English-cut beard.
He expected 1t, Henrietta" he said.
HE thought it would have come SOON
er, In the Parker matter. I wonder"
He glanced through the open door to
the billiard room, where old Hilary's
body lay on the table. He was minded.
was Boroday, to wonder many things
whether, after all, old Hilary's daunt-
less spirit had gone out like a lamp,
or If
This white and carven thing In the
next room, with stiffening hands and
the gray derby at Its feet, surely there
was no mystery about it. This was
not old Hilary: that was all. But
where. then, was old Hilary? The Rus
sian, who had been raised within the
pale and on an ancient faith, and who
had now lost his best friend, felt all
the bitterness of his unbelief.
Elinor stirred.
He will have to be buried" said
Henriette. "The news has gone
through the town. The assistant rector
OF the church has telephoned, and is
on his way here now. What am to
do?"
Let them bury him as they will"
said Boroday. "What does It matter?
ne would himself have seen the humor
Vt It."
Hilary Kingston had been shot dur
ing the daylight robbery of the Agra
ran bank messenger. He was shot as
an innocent bystander, and was re-
1erFed to by the press as philanthropist
ahd martyr So much for years Of eau