Middletown transcript., 1917-09-01

| NOue VI LHe lueIl KNEW. II was, as Il
matter of fact, the parish house. Leth-
bridge, however. knew its function.
"Fine prospect that" he drawled.
That's where the Sunday school is
held, and where they keep the plated
knives and forks for the church sup
pers."
"It's a darned fine building" said
Huff what would they do if 1t burned
DOWN."
They were too unfamiliar with
church affairs to hazard a guess. Eli
nor, who had been sitting silent, sud-
denly voiced an objection to Huff's un-
spoken plan.
"There must be some other way"
she said. "The children-they have
sewing classes and entertainments for
the children there. It's the parish
house."
"If lightning struck the parish house
tonight" Huff said quite eagerly.
''This is Thursday. By Sunday niurn-
ing they would be taking up a whack-
ing big collection to rebuild It."
Thei idea had taken hold of his imagi-
nation. Even the suggestion that a
large part of the offertory might be in
checks mattered not. But Elinor was
obdurate.
''YOu can do it some place else," she
said. "Not here. They struggled very
hard to build the church and they need
money now. Mr.. Ward told ne"
Huff turned on her jealously.
"Ward-that's the preacher chap?"
"He Is the assistant rector" ElinCr
replied with dignity.
Hes been coming here, then?"
"Twice. Once when father died, and
once to warn me against all Of you"
Not that she had forgotten that few
minutes in the garden, under the moon !;
but that had been an accident-hardly
q call.
Talbot chuckled. But Huff was
thinking hard. Elinor had been differ
ent lately, a little softer. Ward rep
resented all that the men Elinor knew
were not-law to their violence, order
to their disorder. There was almost
snarl in his voice.
He'd better stay down in his valley
with his old women" he said. "and
leave you alone. You don't need him."
I'm not so sure of that" Elinor re-
piled quietly, and left him staring. !. e. :.
Huff burned the parish house the
next night He did it himself, without
the assistance of the band. Into it he
put not only the devilish ingenuity Of
long experience, but his new hatred of
Ward.
Church property Is always easy Of
access. 1t was the work Of five min
utes to crawl through basement win
dow and of half an hour to make his
preparations.
He looked at his watch when he had
finished. It was just midnight In two
hours, or before the fire began, he
would be back in the city, establishing
his alibi.
The fire-whistles in the village
wakened Elinor at something after
three o'clock. All of her room was
filed with the red glare of the burn
ing parish house. Old Henriette
knocked at her door.
"The church is burning down in the
valley" she. called. "Its grand
sight"
Elinor was throwing on her clothing.
She must see Ward. She would sell
her pearls She would build a new
parish house. She said this over and
over to herself as she struggled down
the hill.
A new parish house, better than the
old. with plenty Of room for the chill
dren to play in! At least it was night,
and the children safe in their beds;
thank God for that! She was too dis
turbed to notice that she had thanked
the God in whom she did not believe.
The fire had gained too much head
way to be checked. All the efforts Of
the volunteer department and the small
engine were directed toward saving
the church. For time it seemed as II
Saint Jude's must 60.
Elinor watched the destruction. 1t
seemed as though band had fastened
itself around her chest. Then she saw
Ward. He was on the ridge-pole Of the
church roof with hatchet. The ridge
pole was burning slowly. She Guild
see him chopping.
From that time she never took her
eyes away from him. Other men were
there. She did not see them. She saw
only Ward battling on the ridge-pole,
and high above on the steeple the
sturdy cross of his faith.
Once the men on the street below
turned the full force Of the hose on
him. She saw him reel, saw him re-
cover himself by a miracle.
The fire glare died into the dawn.
Saint Jude's was saved. Behind 1t In
its park the charred skeleton Of the
parish house showed how thoroughly
young Huff had done his work. Not
until Ward had descended safely to the
street did Elinor relax.
Ward found her sitting in one Of the
chairs along the pavement, her hair
still in its long braid. her feet thrust |