The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-10-05
CHAPTER VI.


So great had the urgency OF Boro-
days position become TINT the band
met at the hall on Thursday of the
week after the conntry-club affair.
Lethbrldge was 10 get his instructions;
Talbot wished 10 discuss his prospect.
After dinner, the night being warm,
they had their coffee on the terrace.
A summer storm had come up. All
at once flash threatened Saint
Jude's
Hun lenpcd to his feet.
ave got ltin he said. "What Is 1t
they call the big building back of the
churehT"
None Of the men knew. II was, as n
matter Of fact the parish house Leth-
bridge, however, knew Its function.
Fine prospect that" he drawled.
THAT'S whore the Sunday school Is
held, and whore they keep the plated
knives and forks for the church sup
pers"
"It's dorned fne building" said
Hun what would they do II II burned
down."
They were too unfamiliar with
church affairs to hazard guess. ELL
nor, who Ind been sitting silent, sud
denly voiced an objection to HUNS un-
spoken plan,
There must be some other way"
she said "The chlldren-they have
sewing classes and entertainments for
the children there It's the parish
house."
'If lightning struck the parish house
tonight" Hun said quite eagerly
"Thls Is Thursday, BY Sunday morn
lng they would be taking up whack-
ing big collection to rebuild It,"
The Idea had taken hold Of his lmagl-
nation. Even the suggestion that a
large part Of the offertory might be in
checks mattered not. But Ellnor was
uhdurate.
you can do II some place else" she
said. "Not here. They struggled very
hard TO build the church and they need
money now. Mr. Ward told me-"
Hun turned on her jenlously
"Ward--thats the preacher chnp?"
ellie II the assistant rector" Ellucr
replied with dignity,
"IIe's been coming here theu2"
'"rwlcs. Once when father died, and
once 20 warn me against all OF you"
I Not that she had forgotten that few
minutes Ia the garden under the moon /;
\ but that had been an nccldcnt--hardly
/ Il call
Talbot chuckied, But Hun was
thinking hard Elinor hnd been differ.
cnt lately a little softer, Ward rep
resented an that the men Ellnor knew
were not--law to their violence, order
to their disorder There was almost a
suarl IN his voice.
"uc'd hotter stay down In his valley
with his old women" be said, "Ond
leave you alone. You don't need him."
/ I'm not so sure Of that" Ellnor re-
piled quietly. ana left him staring
Hun burned the parish house the
next night. lie did II himself without
the assistance Of the hand into Il he
put not only tie dcvillsh ingenuity Of
long experience, but his new hatred Of
Ward
Church property Is always easy OF
access. Il was the work of FIVE min.
utus 70 crawl through basement win
dow aud Of half an hoar to make ls>
preparations,
He looked at Ills watch when he ha5
finished, II was just midnight In tvs
hours, or before the fire began. ht
would he back Ia the city, ESTABLISHING
his nllhl,
The fre-whlstlcs IN the ylllag,
wukencd Ellnor nc something pftc
three o'clock An Of her room wa
nued with the red glare u the burn
ing parish house. Old Hcnsiett
knocked az her door
/. "The church Il burning down tn IN,
valley" she called. "Its CRANE
sight"
EllnOr was throwing on her clothing
She must see Ward. She would sci
her pearls. She would build a neN
! parish house. She said this over an
, over to herself as she struggled dow
, the hill.
A new parish house. better than Ia
old. with plenty OF room FOR the chi
tlren to play IN AT least Il was nigh
and the children safe In their beds
thank God for that! she was too Dis
turbed to notice that she had thanke
[. the God in whom she did not believe.