Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-04-10
CHAPTER w

/, CHAPTER w
jCORWIN, however, had the courage
~ of his convictions. And before the
Liberty Loan campaign was ended he
had many occasions to put his cour-
age to the test For the campaign had
d been fairly started when he re-
ceived an ofiicial-looking letter from
Dillon, the chairman of the commit
tee, requesting him to subscribe ten
thousand dollars. Falltown's quota.
Dillon pointed out, was one million.
and no doubt Corwin wanted to help
the town go 'over the top"
Corwin did not answer the letter:
nor did he send in subscription. He
grinned sardonically as he threw the
letter into waste basket, muttering
a. he did so: 'If they want to carry
ON their fool war they'll do it without
my help"
Aware that he had spoken aloud.
he wheeled in his chair, to see Molly
King watching him curiously.
Corwin flushed with embarrassment.
Molly opened his mail, as usual, and
so Of course she knew what Dillon
had written. Corwin saw her eyes
quicken as she looked from him to the
waste basket.
There seemed to be bit Of malice
in Molly's eyes as her gaze travelled
from the waste basket to Corwin.
some speculation, and CLINT OF
amazement.
But she smiled. oddly. Corwin
would have felt more comfortable had
she glared at him-for the smile was
expressive Of many things that dis
turbed him. He knew she had heard
his vindictivefy muttered words, and
that she wanted to say some very
frank things. OF course it was only
because she was an employee that she
didn't
What she did say seemed to have
no bearing upon Corwin's action. Yet
Corwin knew it was subtle reproof.
ben has Joined the Army, Mr.. Cor.
win," she said. "He was determined
not to wait for the draft-he is SO
eager" And she folded her hands in
her lap and looked steadily at Corwin.
Corwin's face went crimson. He
turned his back to Molly and pre-
tended to busy himself with his corre-
spondence. Later, still uncomfortable.
he got his hat and left the once.
Looking back as he went out the door.
he saw Molly grimly smiling over her
work.
That was only one Of the many Incl
dents that tortured Corwin in the
days that followed. Bond salesmen
accosted him on the streets; they In
vaded his home; they found their
ws6 to his office. Boy Scouts trailed
him here and there; friends inquired
about the absence Of the bond button
that should have graced the lapel Of
his coat.
Patriotic advertisements giared at
him from the pages of the Observer
seeming to have been written directly
At him. 1t was as though he were the
only man in town who had not sub.
scribed for the Loan. that the adver.
tising writers knew 1t. There were
truths in the advertisements, too-the
writers seemed to have an uncanny
understanding of the influences that
kept him from subscribing. 1t was as
though the writer's were inside his
brain. anticipating its thoughts. OF
transoribing them as they appeared.
And that his thoughts were visible
things ,Corwin was becoming con
vinced \ For he began to note thai
men locked at him curiously. inquir
ingly, their eyes seeming to say: "Dit
you buy bond? No? Why?"
1t seemed to Corwin that everybod,
be met knew he hadn't subscribed
And he began to glare defiantly at hi!