The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-02-15

] couldn't use them. I came here and
loafed around town for a while, be-
cause folks said Mount Mark was 30
fast asleep II did not even wake up
long enough to read the daily papers.
I heard about this parsonage bunch,
and knew the old man had gone of to
get more religion. This afternoon ut
the station I saw a detective from Chi.
cago get on the train, and knew what
that meant. But needed some cash,
and 30 wasn't above a little job Of
this kind. never dreamed Of getting
done up by q bunch of preachers kids.
! went upstairs to get those family
jewels I've heard about, and one of
the little ones gave the alarm. al
ready had some of them, so I came
down at once. stopped In the dun
geon to get that money, and first thing
! knew the door banged shut. That's
all. You're welcome to the FIVE hun
dred dollars, ladies. Someone was
bound to get II sooner or later, and
I'm partial to the ladies', every time"
Mr.. Starr on Thursday morning had
taken the early eastbound train to
Burlington. He attended the evange-
listic services at the tabernacle In the
afternoon and evening, and then went
to bed at the hotel. He slept late the
next morning. When he finally ap-
peared the clerk came at once from
behind the desk to speak to him. Two
or three other guests. who had been
lounging about, drew near.
"We've Just been reading about your
girls, sir" said the clerk respectfully.
TITS a pretty nervy little bunchi You
must be proud of themi"
my girlsl" calculated Mr.. Starr.
Haven't you seen the morning pa
peri You're Mr.. Starr. the Methodist
minister at Mount Mark, aren't your
II ami But what has happened to
my girlsf Is anything wrong3 Give
me the paperi"
Five minutes later Mr.. Starr and his
suitcase were In q taxicab speeding
toward Union station, and within eight
minutes he was en- route for Mount
Mark-white in the face, shaky In the
knees, but tremendously proud in
spirit.
Arriving at Mount Mark, he was in
stantly surrounded by an EXPLANATORY
crowd Of station loungers. The name
Of Prudence was upon every tongue,
and her father heard Il with satisfac-
ton. In the parsonage he found at
least twO-thirds of the Ladies' Aid So
ciety, the trustees aud the Sunday
school superintendent, along with a
miscellaneous assortment of ordinary
members, mixed up with Presbyterians.
Baptists and few unclassified outsid-
ers. And Prudence was the center Of
attraction.
She was telling the "whole story"
for perhaps the fifteenth time that
morning, but she broke of when her
father hurried In and flung her arms
about him. "Oh. papa" she cried,
they mustn't praise me. / had no
idea there was a burglar In the house
when ran down the stairs, and hon.
estly can't see that much credit Is
due me-"
But Mount Mark did not take 1t so
calmly. And as for the Methodist
church-well, the Presbyterian people
used to say there was mo Lying with
those Methodists4 since the girls caught
a burglar In the parsonage" OF course
II was important, from the Methodist
point Of view. Pictures of the par
sonage and the church were In all the
papers for miles around, and at their
very next meeting the trustees decided
to get the piano the Sunday school had
been needing for the last hundred
years!
When the five hundred dollars ar
rived from Chicago, Prudence felt that
she had no real right to the
money. I'VE must divide IT," she in
sisted. "for i didn't earn 1t bit more
than any of the others. But II is
perfectly glorious TO have five hundred |
dollars, isn't It? Did you ever have
1--WE hundred dollars before? Just take |
It, father. and use 1t for whatever we
need. It's family money"
Neither the younger girls nor their
father would consent to this. But |
when Prudence pleaded with them ear
nestly, they decided to divide 1t.
II will deposit two hundred and fifty |
dollars for the four younger Ones" he
'aid. "and that will leave you as
much"
So II was settled. and Prudence was
! happy girl when she saw 1t safely
nut away In the bank.