The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-03-14
THE Dali Il
SHORE STORY.
Midas's TTnderstudy
y MARTHA MecULLocH vii.
LIAMS,

NJ. AAkuf uu.k Ully tuVLlUudlly. III.
behavior she was the prope-.
est hammered young woman that
ever Bcuttled bold adYenturings or
cut the throat OF heady presump.
ton It had passed into a proyerb
among the younger set that you
could trust her always TO face and
down difficult situation. Hence
the disnay, tlnged hotiy with dis.
guAt, when she iell-fell tard-foi
; the travelling apostle OF the most
Ridiculous among ridiculous new
cults, one whose jargon was incom.
prehensible to folk OF decent com.
mon sense-ftill Of The Now, Up.
torthings, Awarenesses and such.
What could be understood BY a
way-farlng man was that the cult
held II the whole duty or man.
eke Of woman, to give all the mon.
ey in both pockets TO tho spread.
ing Of the mystic creed.
There was the rub. Ellnor had a
tidy competence, one that might
serve as,the cornerstone to fortune.
provided it-and ferself-were but
properly husbanded. The apostle
Apparently had elected himself to.
the improper outstanding Of both.
Yet though The Larger Human
~ WIS his fayorite text, appeals
however poignant to humanity,
common or garden variety, fouuG
him as resistant as a ducks back
torain. But he had not. quite sue.
ceeded In insulating ElInor from the
electric current OF pity for stapy
ing children. She was among the
first to give a sum everybody knew
she ought not TO afford for famine
relief. But no friend protested, not
even her trlsty some time guar.
dian, now her trustee-inarticu- 4
lately all felt that what the famine
relief got was so much saved from
apostolic greed.
TO say that her largesses peeved
The apostle, Lorenzo Magna.Rey by
name, Is putting the case more than
mildly. Deeply as he grudged and
Borrowed for the money, he was
worse disturbed to find himself not
quite her absolute conscience. He
dared not show that openly. In.
stead he said sorrowfully. haste In
such giving was unwise.
She ought to nave let some friend
Investigate for her-he himself
would have done 1t. failing any
body else. There Elinor broke in,
her cheeks hot, her eyes shining,
with Starvation does not wait To-
be investigated. II have saved
:, even one poor baby, shall be glad
and II the money does no good
giving It at least acquits my con
scIence-IhaYe done what could"
,ssAss1oyely thought" murmured
fite d6ubly hyphenated one, feeling
that he had gone too far.
We hope you believe what you
say. Bahawduah Tommy Samson
said behind the apostolic presence.
93nmy ran on: Lots OF folk ars
dia-hence his cant name for theI
apostle. Prove that YOU dosbsll eya. :
Romy ran on: Lots OF folk arel
pining to see and hear you. III
you'll let us-the relief committee,
YOU know-we'll fix It SO you can
speak In the Town Hall-at IS a
throw, and every cent to go to the
famine fund.-
impossible! Simply impossible!"
protested the Bahawdur.
why impossible?" Blipor cried
trenulously.
He answered pompously: 81 dare
not vulgariZe anything SO sacred as
my mission. 1t. In a way, conse-'
{ crates my poor human self-can
\ let myself become the target Of
curiosity?'
you do 1t for your own bene
tit Tommy flung in nonchalantly.
BE sport, goneral-come across
in this excellent cause. II you don't
WE'LL ssomething may happen
something you won't like one little
bit"
Tommy, there are limits to even
friendly jesting. ElInor broke in
with quiet dignity that made Tom
sigh more than ever TO shield
aud save her.
Sticking out his chin bellIgeSent.
ii he flung back, "No Jest; I'm in
dead earnest. But there are jokes
ia business very big ones. For
> example, income tax returns-some
Of em"-wheeling upon the apos.
tie Say, Swami, have you put in
yours? Remember. you can deduct
what you contribute to CHARITY II
You don't want to make q holy show
ofyourself you can likely save mon.
ey and trouble by contributing
enough to bring. You down a peg
or so..
Income taxi" the new Swami
scotfed. MAN, you know earthly
laws do not touch me- =
If It weren't so irnpolite I'd say
bis hands cllHching. "And prove
Il into the bargain. But don't
earn to make myself nuisance. I
repeat = be sport-and come
across, handsomely. You wlIl.. II
you are wise as YOU should be-"
Deliberately, without a word. the
apostle turned his back, walked
away; at the top OF the steps he
was almost running nor did he
slack speed until he was In his walt
ing car. II had been Elinor's-i
fine, small electric. AS It sped him
away Tommy, breathing hard. said
through clenched teeth: Nell, I
SSlsh you only knew how hard Tn
tlnking damn"
Tommy left town that night on 4
mysterious errand to the city four
hundred miles away. Elinor wat
u. Aan.s. aa.n. i.la nk.n.a. LII