Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1922-04-07
The New Cult
Leader
By MARTHA MACWILLIAMS

only emotiOnally. In behavior she was
the properest hammered young woman
that ever Scuttleq bold adyenturingS
or cut the throat of heady presump-
ton. 1t had passed into a prOverb
| among the younger set that you could
trust her always to face and down a
difficult situation. Hence the dismay,
tinged holly with disgust, when she
fell-fell hard-fOr the travelling apoS-
tie of the most ridiculous among ri
diculous new CULTS one whose jargOn
was incomprehensible to folk Of decent
common Sense-full of The Now, Up
i forthings, Awarenesses and such.
What could be understood by way
faring man was that the cult held it
the whole duty of men, exc of woman,
to give all the money in both pockets
to the spreading Of the mystic creed.
There was the rub. Elinor had
tidy competence, one that might serve
as the cornerstone to fortune, provided
it-and herself-were but. properly
husbanded. The apostle apparently
had elected himself to the improper
outstanding of both.
Yet though The Larger Humanity
was his favorite text, appeals however
| poignant to humanity, common or
garden variety, found him as resistant
as ducks back to rain But he had
not quite succeeded in insulating
Elinor from the electric current of
! pity for starving children. She was
among the first to give a sum every
body knew she ought not to afford for
famine relief. But no friend protested,
not even her trusty some time guar
dian, now her trustee-inarticula
4 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-R by name,
is putting the case more than mildly.
Deeply as he grudged and sOrrOwed
for the money he was worse dis
turbed to find himself not quite her
absolute conscience. He dared not
show that openly. Instead he said
sorrowfully, haste in such giving was
unWiSe
She ought to have let some friend
investigate for her-he himself would
have done it, failing anybody else.
There Elinor broke in, her cheeks hot,
her eyes shining with: starvation
does not wait to be investigated. If
! have saved even one poor baby, I
shall be glad-and if the money does
no good. giving it at least acquits my
conscience have done what / could" "
"A lovely thought" murmured the
dOnbly hyphenated one, feeling that he
had gone too far.
I've hope you believe what you say,
Behaviour, Tommy Samson said be-
hind the apostolic presence. Tommy
had spent two years in India-hence
his cant name for the apostle. prove
that you do believe" Tommy ran on:
Lots of folk are pining to see and
hear you. If you'll let us--the relief
committee, you know-well fix it so
you can speak in the Town hall--at
S. throw, and every cent to go to
the famine fund"
"Impossiblel Simply impossible!"
protested the Bahawdur.
"Why impossible?" Elinor cried
TREMENDOUSLY.
He answered pompOusly: II dare
not vulgarize anything so sacred as my
mission. It, In a way, cOnsecrateS my
poor human self-can l let myself be-
come the target of curiosity?"
you do it for your own benefit"
Tommy flung in, nOnchalantly. "Be
sport, general-come across in this ex-
cellent cause. If you don't-well, some
thing may something you
won't like one little bit"
Tommy, there are limits to even
friendly jestling," Elinor broke in with
quiet dignity that made Tommy sigh
more than ever to shield and save her.
/ Sticking out his chin belligerently he
flung back, mo jest I'm in dead earn
| est. But there are jokes in business
very big ones. For example, income
tax returns of 'em'-wheeling
upon the apostle. "Say, Swami, have
you put in yours? Remember, you can
deduct what you contribute to charity.
If YOU don't want to make holy show
of yourself you can likely save money
and trouble by contributing enough to
bring you down a peg or So"
Income tax!' the new Swami
scoffed. Man, you know earthly laws
do not. touch me-"
IF 1t weren't so impolite I'd say
| you were a liar Tommy answered, his
hands clinching. "And prove it into
the bargain. But / don't yearn to
make myself nuisance. I repeat
be a sport-and come across. hand
somely. You will, if you are wise as
you should be-
Deliberately, without 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 waiting car. 1t had
been Elinor's-a fine, small electric.
| As it sped him away Tommy, breath
ing hard, said through clenched teeth:
Nell, wish you only knew how hard
| I'm thinking damn"
Tommy left town that night on a