The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1917-08-10
Ii-cortinued.

unlocked the door to q winding stair
case, which led to a basement room
where the steel vault stood In it's ce-
ment walls. The five went down, re-
turning shortly with the cash-boxes.
The money was divided on the library
table. II went by percentages. Hill
ary drew 20 that last year, each of
the others 1O-a total Of 60 per cent.
The 40 PET cent remaining was d.
vided, or scnt as a whole, according
to the sense Of the meeting. Berlin
got 1t NIL n year, for instance, to
BOrOday's disgust. Russia generally
received q large proportion. The Chi
nese revolution; the defense Of Berk-
hardt, who killed Ecker the pork
packer; a shipment Of guns and am
munitfOn to Central America-thus 1t
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 Ellnor. 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 thGt had fallen to her father
she would rot have believed 1t. /. !.
Four dayn or 80 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 wns over For old Hilary, de-
testing his creed, respected the man.
A certain percentage, then, of old Hill
ary's share went oyer the library ta-
BILE, after the dinner, to the rector.
use 1t where 1t will do the most
good" he would say.
The church organ"
Not 4 cent to the church organ.
Buy the youngsters q playground, or
build q lying-in ward in the hos
pital."
Elinor's mother had died in child.
birth.
The last check had been unusually
generous. The rector, who had been
smoking one of old Hilary's choice
cigars, put It down and faced his host
res0lutely. It took courage.
Mr.. Kingston," he said, 'the church
needs men like you. Why be . Chris
tian In the spirit and-avoid the let
terri
Tut" Old Hilary rose and looked
down ct him. ~ am like all gamblers
This annual check to your poor ID 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 hil
poor were very poor. He cashed the
check tho NEXT day.
Elinor was In the library that sunny
August day when they brought old
Hilary 70 her. She had never seen
death before. except on the streets Of
Mexico. md for ! good many years be
had becn III she had-slnce her las,
governeaN n fact, had been discovered
secreting the rosary and had beer
w~ord-scourEed from the house Ia tears
She tainted. and wrinkled Henriettl
laid hor On ! couch.
Boroday. the Russian. Ind brought
tho BODY home. and now no stood, look
Ing dowu at Elinor and strotlng biz
EnsliaA-cut beard.
"He expected Il, Henriette," le said
~He thought It would have come soon
e. n the 2arker matter. ! wonder
He giancec through the open door "a
the btlliard ro0m. where old Hiinry'a
body ~ On the table. He was minded,
was Bocoday, TO wonder many thing
whether, after III, old Hilary's daunt.
LEES spirit had gone ont like : lamp
o. IL
This white and cafven thing II the
next room, with ~stii1ening hands and
the sEay derby 1t it, feet, surely there
was 10 mystery shout II. This waa
not old Hilary: that was all. But
where. then. was old Hilary7 The Rms.
MAN. Who had been raised within the
pale ma o. ~ anclentl faith. andSwho
Ind now lost ~ besk friend, felt "a
ne bltteenele "a N 1nbelte1.
Jniner all115oGL
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