The Washington times., 1920-06-30

(Cs.tiase1 from Yesterday
"oh. Well. I'm sorry. but ] really
can't be afraid OF God. II / were.
I'd doubt Him. Grismer.
Goes may / have the little girl?'
do you desire her to abide un-
der your roof after what you have
learned?"
"Why. Grismer. I'd travel all the
way to. hell to get her now, II any
of your creed had managed to send
her there. Come; I've seen the
child. 1t may be a risk, as you say.
In fact, IL can't help being a risk.
Grismer. Butt want her. May
have herr"
M-m-m-" he touched a bell and
q clerk appeared. Then he turned
TO Cleland. would you be good
enough to see our Mr.. Bunce?
thank you. Good afternoon! j am
happy to have conversed again with
my old friend. John Cleland-
m-m-m'yes. my friend OF many
years"
An hour later John Cleland left
-our" Mr.. Bunce, armed with proper
authority to begin necessary legal
Aproceedings.
Talking IL over with Brinton. his
attorney, that evening, he related
the amazing conversation between
himself and Chiltern Grismer.
Brinton laughed:
at isn't religious bigotry; It's
Just stinginess. Grismer Is the
meanest man on Manhattan Island.
Didn't you know it?"
"No. I don't know him we'll
though I've been acquainted with
him for a long while. But I don't
see how he can be stingy."
"why?"
swell. he's interested in char
ity-"
Hes paid a humping big salary!
He makes money out of charity.
Why shouldn't he be interested"
"But he publishes religious
books"
"Of course. They sell. It's a great
graft, Cfeland. Don't publish novels
II you want to make money; print
Bibles"
ais that 2 fact?"
"You bet! There are more para
sites in pulpit, publishing house and
Fcharity concerns, who live exclu-
siveIy by exploiting God. than
there were unpleasant Affections
upon the epidermis of our late
friend, Job. And Chiltern Grismer
is one of them--the old skinfiint!--
hogging his only sisters share OF
the Grismer money and scared stiff
for fear Some descendant might re-
open the claim and fight the ver-
dict which beggared his own sis
teri"
"By Gad!" exclaimed Cleland, very
red: "I've a mind to look into it
and start proceedings again If there
is any ground-
"You can't"
"Why?"
"Not IL you adopt this child"
"Not in her behalf?"
80 "Your motives would be un-
charitably suspected. Cleland. You
can give her enough. Besides. you
don't want to stir UP anything
rattle any skeletons-for this little
girls sake"
mo, of course not. You're quite
right. Brinton. No money could
compensate her. And, as you say,
am able to provide for her amply"
Besides" said Brinton, there's
the paternal aunt Miss Rosalinda
Quest. She's as rich as mud. 1t
may be that she'll do something for
"I don't want her to-" exclaimed
Cleland angrily. "If she'll make no
objection to my taking the girl. she
can keep her money and leave it to
the ~piggers OF Senegambia when
she dies, for all I care Fix it for
me, Brinton."
YOU'D better go down to Bayport
and interview her yourself" said
the lawyer "And. by the way. I
hear she's a queer one-something
of a bird. in fact"
"Bird?"
"well, a vixen. They say so. All
the same, she's doing a lot Of real
good with her money"
"How do you mean?"
"She's established sort of home
for the offspring of vicious and de-
generate parents. It's really quite
a wonderful combination of clinic
and training school where suspected
or plainly defective children are
brought to be taught and to re-
main under observation-really a
finely conceived charity, I under
stand. why not call on herr"
"very WELL" said Cleland, re-
tuctartly, not caring very much
-~sbout encountering "vixens" and
ssbirds- Of tho female persuasion.
Except for this paternal aunt and
the Grismers, there turned out to be