Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-04-24

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press them he felt they were the sin.
cere impulses OF his nature. But he
had gone too far, now, to confess to
his friends that he entertained
doubt that he had been wrong. He
had the courage to oppose the war
and the Governments policy, but he
lacked the moral courage to admit that
he had entertained opinionsAor had
expressed opinions-that an American
should not have entertained.
He attributed-at first-the change
that was coming over him to Molly's
treatment of him.
For Molly, while she was coldly po.
lite and dignif1ed in his presence, did
not speak one word to him that was
not absolutely necessary to the car.
rying on of the business relations be.
tween them. There were times when,
waching her, Corwin wondered If he
could ever regain her respect.
For he knew that he had lost that
respect. He felt the hostile glances
she sometimes threw at him when he
was not looking at her; and sometimes
when he did meet her gaze he saw her
eyes fash with something that must
have been very near contempt. But
Corwin said nothing There seemed
to be nothing to say.
Meanwhile, it appeared that Fall.
town was going to fail again. Despite
the vigorous campaign carried on by
the Liberty Loan Committee, sub
scriptions Jagged. Most Of the towns
citizens seemed to think as Corwin
had expressed himself-that since the
war was over there seemed to be no
need of any more Liberty Loans.
There was no enthusiasm, no clam.
or, no indication of success. Though
the bond statesmen labored hard, they
made slow headway. When the cam
paign was half over Falltown had not
raised more than a third of it's quota;
and when there remained only a few
days more, and the Committee re-
doubled it's efforts, the goal was still
distant and seemingly unattainable.
Desperately the committee appealed,
and though there were some re-
sponses, when the last day of the
campaign dawned Falltown was more
than two hundred thousand dollars
behind its quota. The Committee ex-
pected that perhaps hundred thou
sand would be turned in from sales
men not yet heard from-and from
those who were deliberately holding
back subscriptions for driving finish.
but that there would still be hun
dred thousand dollars TO raise ap-
peared certain.
Shortly afer noon on the last day
of the campaign Gary Miller and Nor
ley Roberts entered Corwin's Office.
The men had come by appointment to
discuss certain phase of a financial
transaction concerning Roberts and
Miller-Corwin acting merely as at
torney-but they had scarcely dropped
into their chairs toward which Corwin
upon the subject in which Falltown
at that moment was vitality interested
the Victory Loan.
Molly had asked to be excused for
the afternoon. She had given no rea-
son for the desired absence; she had
not even spoken to Corwin after OBJ
tanning his permission = she had
walked out, her shoulders squared,
her head held high. Many times Cor.
win had looked at the vacant chair
with disquieting interest
They talked of the Victory Loan
both Roberts and Miller. Corwin said
nothing, for of late he was strangely
reluctant to talk about the bond is
sues. He was even beginning to feel
guilty every time he thought of them.
He was quick to note that both Mil
Ter and Roberts had lost some of the
vindictiveness that had formerly char
acterized their reference to the bond
issues; they spoke in quieter tones;
they were not so demonstrative; they
weighed their words more. 1t seemed
to Corwin as he watched and listened,
that their faces expressed guilt such
as was in his own heart.
Roberts brows were wrinkled; his
eyes held subdued, almost anxious
expression. He seemed to be nervous
he folded and unfolded his hands;
he scuffed his feet on the floor; his
face was red.
Miller, too, seemed to be in the
clutch of a perturbation that would
not be shaken OFF. Twice he cleared
his throat as he looked at Corwin; and
the second time he spoke.
Looks like Falltown's going to fail
again." he said.
Corwin looked sharply at him, for
Miller's voice was hoarse and low
quite unlike his usual high pitched,
assertive tenor.
L coid pnhortc chort1y
The three men exchanged glances.
Failure is getting to be a habit
with Falltown," remarked Corwin. In
a former day he would have said that
exultantly. Now his voice was ex.
pressionless, fiat. The other two did
not even smile at his words.
Roberts, though. spoke heavily.
"The Liberty Loans are not popular