The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-11-08
THE FOOL
BY Charming Pollock.

warden, can demand his resignation
from this church. But / want MN
to have every chance. Tell him II
he'll get a grip on himself and re-
consider tomorrow's sermon"
This time il was "Charlie" Benfield
who interrupted. The Christening
shadows of a twilighted church did
not soften the flinty features of the
| man. He was of the type that is
known as self-made. He adopted ar
rogance and insolence to hide his
plaring lack of education, refinement
and appreciation.
The third time DR.. Wadham looked
at his hat he removed it. 2
hello George!" he greeted
"How'd'y, doctor. Am l later
"We've been waiting for you," said
DR.. Wadham nervously. He was al
ways uneasy when Benfield was
| about. Hadn't we better retire to
my study if we're going to discuss
Mr.. Gilchrist?"
"We'rc not" Benfield disagreed
| emphatically. We've been discuss
| ing long enough. All I got to say
now is: Gilchrist leaves this church
or do"
"Now, wait minute" said the
senior warden calmly.
"Isnt that little mandatory"
said DR.. Wadham, taking courage.
= 81 don't know what it is, but it
goes" continued Bcnfield positively.
1--WE worked hard all my life, and
now this fellow gets up and tells mn
what I've worked for is nothing, that
I'm nothing, and that all my ideas
are wrong"
! ,"Wait a minute, Charlie" inter-
rupted Goodkind. "That's not the
tone to take to DR.. Wadham. We all
feel that Gilchrist has gone too far
and we're agreed"
"Does he preach tomorrow Ben
field shouted.
"We're agreed that if he insists
upon preaching about the strike"
"He goes?" =
"He goes!"
"All right. And if he don't insist?"
Gle stays"
"And I go!" .,.s hf
Benfields voice of wrath had
drowned the opening and closing Of
the door. Back to the panel, Daniel
Gilchrist squared his shoulders.
, They were broad shoulders and had
carried him through many a brick
, wall football line in his college days.
!. At 33 he was still trim and fit. This
was partially due to the self-dcnial
) one read in his slender, ascetic face,
Even in the shadow his smile was
visible. 1t lighted his eyes with good
t humor. They were honest eyes, with
t strength and zealousness in their
{ fire. There was nothing forbidding
about his figure. Indeed, there was
, an empyrean sympathy which
5 caught and held, first, the attention,
then the deepest interest
Benfield had thrust his hat back
5 on his head.
t 81 CO., I tell YOU" he clustered.
e "You can decide which is the most
8 valu'ble to your church. 1t amt big
enough for Gilchrist and me-"
r Daniel stepped forward quietly. He
!, was smiling.
]. "A church = that isn't; big enough
e for two little men, Mr.. Benfield," he
y said simply, must be somewhat
v crowded for God"
e CHAPTER v
. Dismissed
Benfield turned on the advancing
: figure savagely. A torrent of vituper-
alton surged through his brain. But
q somehow the tranquility of the fig
E ure before him disarmed him com
U pletely. His attack became nothing
Va more than a scowl and when this
met smile his route was complete.
He stormed past Gilchrist and the
slam of the door moment later was
the only audible indication of his
n ire.
mr.. Benfield is little-ah-a lit
n tie" soothed DR.. Wadham, rubbing
a his hands uneasily.
'e Eyes," said Daniel. "a little" His
u face still glowed from the cold out.
side. Goodkind picked up his hat
"a and sauntered toward him.
pneumonia weather, Daniel" h,
re advised in fatherly tone. where.
a. your overcoat?" .,re "
8 "Outside," was the response. -
p. Play copyrighted, 1922, in tn
Il United States and England. Novel
ICED version by special permission
q of the author and of BrentanO's