Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-09-18
CHAPTER x.

{ lighted. She avoided 1t. making a de-
tour that led By side entrance into
old Hilary's library. Fpr obvious rea.
sons, old Hilary's private telephone
was In q sound-proof closet.
Before Walter had taken a hundred
watchful PAGES down the road she
had Ward at the other end Of the
line. What with running and terror,
she could hardly speak. Once, long
ago., she had heard q dAscussion be.
tween Boroday and her father about
the use Of the telephone Its sub
stance was that when the transmitter
Is held to the chest . clear message
my be sent, but with the effect Of dis
lance. She held the 6ansmitter to her
breast then, and It seemed to her that
Ward must bear the throbbing Of
I her heart.
Hello. hellow came his quick re.
Spouse.
No need to ask who It was. She
knew every infection Of his voice.
"This is-a friend" Elinor painted.
II want to tell You something"
"YesT Very incisit0 now.
'Tonight-very soon-an attempt"
She stopped. What was she doingi
She, her fathers daughter, the head
of the band! BY warning Ward she
might be sending Walter to his death.
A vision Of old Hilary, gray-headed
keen.eyed. at this very telephone
aashed into her mind, old Hilary,
whose religion had been Of keeping the
faith, not with his God, but with his
men.
"Who are you1" Tho impatient
Soice was saying in her ears. "Are you
sure you want met This Is Ward, of
Saint Jude's."
Elinor quietly Aung up the telephone
transmitter. and stood in the darkness,
her hands to her throat.
Old Henriette. ever watchful, came
Into the library beyond. Elinor could
hear her wandering about, knew the
moment when abe discovered her wrap
on chair. heard her plaintive voice
speaking through . window TO the
empty terrace.
Miss Elinor,. she called. Miss
/ E]inor!" -
Elinor let her 20. When her shut
ding footsteps had died away, Elinor
took the receiver down again, and
called the assistant rector's house. But
this time she spoke directly into the
transmitter.
This Is Elinor Kingston. Mr.. Ward.
wonder II you are very tired to-
night?"
II? Tiredi I'm never tired"
because I am thinking Of asking
you to come up. There are some
things want to talk about, questions
that are troubling me. know 1t Is
late, but"
Il saw you at the early service. OF
course I'll come up
He had seen heS then!
''I'll do my best" he was saying "Of
course, you know I may disappoint
you. These questions, that come from
within, must be answered in the same
way. But I'm csning at once"
Elinor's battle was only half fought,
but she had great sense of relief.
Let him.meet Walter on the way. So
much the better. Let Huff know that
Ward was out, and the offering pre-
sumably unguarded. He might hate
the man, but no hope of a running
fight with him would deter him from
his main object, the money.
To save Ward, she was willing, even
anxious. to let Walter succeed.
Women sometimes meet large crises
with small vanities. But Elinor had
no vanity Without SO much as a
glance at the mirror she went out in
to the garden to listen for Wards step
Oh the road. She knew his walk al
ready; the forceful, certain step of an
energetic and purposeful man.
The illuminated dial on the steeple
Of the Baptist church showed some
thing after ten when Ward finally
came up the hill. The relief of seeing
him unframed sent Elinor down the
terrace steps with both hands out.
Before he could take them, Ward was
obliged to stoop and deposit on the
ground at her feet a small box that
he carried.
'The morning collection" he said
smiling. and took her hands in his.
Her quick alarm showed In her face.
n ':but you aTe reckless: nc Sc about
with 50 much money
Ward was following her up the
steps
Il dare say It is safer With me than
any place else In the world. Did any
one ever hear Of an assistant rector
going about with q fortune In his
hand?"
He followed her into the library and
placed the box on the great table
where old Hilary had been wont to
divide the annual earnings Of the band.
Ward pointed to It with his humorous
4 smile.
.would anyone suspect" hs said,
R shat In that box there is stone par
ish house, new church organ, and .
childfen's Playground
Then, glancing at her with keen
eyes, he was struck By her pallor.
"You to ask me IL am tiredl" he
cried. "Why, you poor child, 1t IL you
who are worn out. Wouldn't It be bet
ter to have me come tomorrow and 90
over the things you-spoke about r
II think we had better talk about
them now z. aaid Elinor, desperately
calm. n n "A
~ = quarter before eleven that sun