Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-04-17

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sand.s
When he had signed his name on
sne Of the blanks Molly bent over him
md stuck Liberty Loan button on
Ne lapel of his coat
Whether It was because Molly, IN
attaching the button, had been forced
10 come very close to him, or whether
hes surrender to her opportunities had
drought him neeting sensation Of
satisfaction. he did not know. But
somehow, after Molly left, and he
hooked down at the button. he felt less
n1ty. But he knew he had not sub
n1fbed through patriotic motives, or
hecause he had felt 1t was duty he
owed to his country; he had merely
Auught the bonds because Molly had
Demed 10 insist-because there had
seemed to be no way Of denying her.
Hs convictions were the same-they
would not change.
Corwin was not bothered again un!
I'M the last day of the campaign. Then
DiIlon sent a representative to see
htm.
The town was going to fail, the rep
Eesentatve said; 1t would not sub
scribe its quota. Not very much more
RhAn half the amount had been sub
scribed, and today was the last day.
lThIltown would be disgraced. 1t was
Fupon such men as Corwin that the
committee depended to save Falltown
from the disgrace Of failure.
That's up to the Committee" said
Corwin, evenly. Il have done all
can, and I shan't subscribe anothar
dollar"
The mans persistence angered him
brought a reckless wrath into his
heart
'~rhis campaign was doomed to fail
ure from the beginning!" he declared.
IT'S fool war, and is being con-
IAucted BY q lot OF incompetent MIN
oompoops! II they wanted the thing
10 succeed, why didn't they appoint q
1ive wire instead of Dillon?"
"Dillon isn't as energetic as he
might be-" gravely admitted the man;
''but we are not doing this thing for
Dillon. Mr.. Corwin; we are working
for the interests Of the brave boys that
are going overseas-we are doing it
Nor humanity"
Corvin felt like telling the man that
|the whole idea Of war was wrong; he
tlonged to express his opinion Of the
President and the war cabinet and of
the heads Of all departments clear
down to the members Of the district,
(oouuty and township committees. Bat
(snmehow, he had a feeling that ia
have expressed himself thus would
eeem puerile-if his words would not
)ereate in the mans mind an impres.
bsion Of absolute disloyalty. Those bit.
ftar, savage and resentful thoughts
that seethed through Corwin's mind
would not sound we'll when expressed
verbally. They we're stealthy. trea.
eonAble and venomous thoughts-and
khey had almost wrecked the slight
structure Of patriotism which Corwin
had erected that day when leaning
against the corner column Of the Mer.
chants Bank he had made the mental
hight to Europe.
He dismissed the representative
with a curt: q
Nothing doing"
But a little later, when he turned
land saw Molly watching him with a
lstraight, level. scornful gaze, he
iiushed to the roots OF his hair.
And during the remainder Of the
day Molly did not speak to him ex
cept to answer question. Even ther
her voice was curt and cold; and
Corwin looked twice at her after she
spoke.
She made the day miserable fu,
him, and when he left the Office fol
home that night there was a scowl o.
his face and wrath in his heart.
He was glad the next morning
when he found that Falltovn had moi
gone "over the top" He found him
self wishing that other districts had
failed also; for a general failure
would have meant that the war wa
not popular, and Congress and ths
President had been rebuked.
Molly did not speak to him that
morning.
CHAPTER v
IRON Gary Miller-who had beguz
u I'm strictest confidence" to criti
ciEe the system of financing the war
!Corwin learned that the Government
early In the summer. had begun t.
issue certificates of indebtedness u
the banks throughout the country
This. Miller said. WAS an Assuranoe
that another loan was soon to b
6oated.
'-They raised the first by the Skin
Of their teeth" declared Miller;
they won't find it so easy to hoat .
second loan. The country cant
stand it--business will crack unde,
the strain-it's too big drain OF
the cOuntry's resources"
Miller's prediction, however, was Z
rather inaccurate one, for the Sec0nt
Loan was hoated with greater facility
than the hrst. But again Falltowr