The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-10-30
CHAPTER VII
A Friend i'm Need

Clare paused a moment. expectant
Il seemed incredible that he would
let her go that way. Surely he would
say something. Surely he would see
that he was wrong.
| She waited for his surrender. Gil.
christ was sssnt. He stood staring
at the ring which lay in the palm of
his hand, shorr of it's symbolism.
She turned. expecting that his hand
would reach out to halt her He did
not move. Slowly she made her way
/ toward the door She paused a mo-
ment with her hand on the knob,
waiting for his footsteps behind her.
/ The sombre silence of the church
seemed like a deafening roar in her
ears.
She~,could not see Gilchrist's face.
There was no answer il HIS attitude
| She took a step forward, but still he
did not move. Then she walked slow
" to his side
Don't you think you're making a
He looked up from the ring. His
answer was in his eyes, and she read
it there. But he repeated it.
No he said simply.
| Clare lifted her head with a de-
/ fiance that was characteristic of her
other self. This time there was no
hesitancy in her step. She strobe to
/ the door with resolution. Without
looking back she opened it. Four
numbers tingled in her brain. "Pov-
erty - six nine - four two"
No, that wasn't the exchange. How
idiotic. It was "Rhinelander She
did not stop to close the door.
Gilchrist looked after her. He
waited until the outdoor had echoed
I her departure, then walked slowly
over and closed the door. Quietly he
PLACED the ring in his pocket
An organ began to play softly in the
choir room. Its tremendous notes
/ echoed through the vast emptiness of
the Church.
The solitude Of 1t all seemed to
comfort him. He felt a companion.
ship in it. There were not even shad
ows now. He and the darkness were
alone. There was solace from the
silence in the quiet music of the or.
gan.
He crossed to the altar and stood
looking up at the benign forms out
lined in the painted winodsw. How
far away they seemed! And yet how
resi-! The Shepherd in the center
He turned suddenly at the sound OF
a step. The church was wrapped
completely I'm a darkness which his
eyes could not penetrate.
Again came the step.
who's there?" Gilchrist inquired OF
the obseurity. An echo repeated the
question mechanically, losing the tone
Of soucitude that was in Gilchrist's
voice.
There was no answer, but Gilchrict
sensed a presence.
Are you looking for soneone?" he
asked again.
''Yes% came voice. Gilchrisi
peered into the darkness.
I'm the assistant rector. Mr.. Gil
christ" he explained without raising
his voice
IT know you, Mr. Gilchrist," came
the voice.
A sense of recognition came to Gil
christ. His air of inquiry disap
peared
%Oh. yes, I remember" he said
You're the man who was cold Can
I do anything for your"
az think you cam said the man.
Gilchrist had made out the form
now, in outline near the door.
Tell me- he asked sympatheti-
cally.
Perhaps I can help you, too" par
ried the man. s
Gilchrist remembered now. It was
] he who needed help. The irony Of it
all came to him. Here was he offering
aid to another when he himself was
needy-needy Of comfort, of sym
i pathy
my poor man." he said, "I wish
you could" He clasped his hands.
The remembrance of his despair i'm
PEELED him to confde, even in this
vague figure. II was so sure of what
I wanted to do" he said, and now l
begin to wonder whether 1t can be
done"
1t seemed as though he were alone
again--alone with the darkness and
the silence
''It has been DONE" the man as
sured him.
but. in this day-in this practical
world-can any man follow the Mas
ter?" Daniel put the question halt
ingly.
The answer came back positively.
"Why not? Is this day different
from any other? Was the world
never practical before7 Is this the
first time of conflict between flesh
and spirit? If 1t could be done then
why not now. and. If it was ever
worth the doing, why not now?"
But how?" 1t was Daniel who had
turned seeker.
I'VE have been told before re
lrninded the man.
H Gilchrist thought back over pages
Take noi thought for the morrow
he read there. Sell whatsoever thou
| hast. aid give to the poor-I1ovs thy
neighbor as thyself-Bless them tina,