The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-10-11
CHAPTER II-contInued.

The routine never varied. Elinor
unlocked the door to winding stair
case, which led to a basement room
where the steel vault stood In its CO.
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
ary drew 20 that last year, each of
the others 10-a total Of 60 per cent.
The 10 per cent remaining was d.
vided, or sent as a 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; q shipment Of guns and am
munition 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 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 Judes 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 ta-
bile, after the dinner, to the rector.
"Use it where it will do the most
good" he would say.
''The church organ"
mot a cent to the church organ.
Buy the youngsters a playground, or
build a lying-in ward in the hos
ptal."
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
resolutely. 1t took courage.
Mr.. Kingston" he said, "the church
needs men like you. Why be Chris.
tian in the spirit and-avoid the let.
ter?"
Tut" Old Hilary rose and looked
down at him. 81 am like all gamblers
This annual check to your poor is the
Hop l 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 ole
Hilary to her. She had never seer
death before, except on the streets o,
Mexico, and for a good many years h
had been all she had-since her las
governess, in fact, had been discovered
wecreting the rosary and had beer
~ord-scourged from the house in tears
She tainted, and wrinkled Henrietta
laid her on couch.
Boroday, the Russian, had brough
the body home, and now he stood, look
ing down at Elinor and stroking hi
English-cut beard.
"He expected it, Henriette," he saiC
"He thought 1t would have come soor
er, in the Parker matter. wonder
He glanced through the open door
the billiard room, where old Hilary
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 lamp
or if
This white and carven thing in tn
next room, with stlffening hands an
the gray derby at Its feet, surely ther
was no mystery about it. This wa
not old Hilary: that was all. BJ
where, then, was old Hilary? The Ru
sian, who had been raised within tt
pale and on an ancient faith, and VII
had now lost his best friend, felt q
the bitterness OF his unDellef.
Elinor stirred.
"He will have to be buried" sal
Henriette. "The news has goI
through the town. The assistant rect'
of the church has telephoned, and
on his way here now. What am
DEF"
''Let them bury him as they will
said BOrOday. "What does 1t matter
he would himself have seen the hum
of it."
Hilary Kingston had been shot du
ing the daylight robbery of the Agr
Piau bank messenger. He was shot
an innocent bystander, and was I
ferred to by the press as philanthropy
ana martyr. So much for years Of ca