The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-11-06
THE FOOL
BY Charming Pollock.

his arm-load. The Gilliams could
wait. Mrs. Tice was much weather..
With a servile bow Mr.. Barnaby open
ed the door.
CHAPTER III
Mrs. J. OrsOn Tice
Mrs. ]. Orson Tice swept into the
leaden shadows Of the darkening
church in much the same manner that
she had just entered middle age.
refusing to close the door behind her
Hello, everybody" she said in
airy greeting, which Everybody" re-
turned. "Who are those people on
the church steps? A lot of dirty
foreigners blocking the sidewalk"
Its the grating Mrs. Tice,' ex-,
planned the chronically apologize
Mr.. Barnaby. "The furnace rooms
underneath and they're trying to
keep warm"
well, let 'em try somewhere else"
said Mrs. Tice, brushing herself in
unpleasant recollection. Il don't
mean to be unkind, you know, but
there must be missions or some
thing
Proper obeisance having been paid
to Mrs. Tice, Leila Thornbury turned
to the man who had entered leisurely
in her wake. Jerry Goodkind leaned
indolently on shiny, yellow walk
ing stick. 1t was a favorite pose,
.restful and at the same time man
about-townish. Jerry was 35. Hav-
ing had everything he wanted hadn't
left him bored or jaded. On the con-
trary, he was well pleased with
things in general, and himself in
particular.
1--WE didn't hope to see you here,
Mr.. Goodkind," said Mrs. Thornbury
graciously.
~ met him. in front of Tiffany's
explained Mrs. Tice.
"The most dangerous corner in
New York;" Jerry said knowingly,
with a smale. He was always smil-
ing, sometimes carelessly, sometimes
amusedly. But his eyes seldom joined
in the smile.
Il lured him here by mentioning
that Clare Jewett was helping u.s."
continued Mrs. Tice.
Dilly saw chance to tantalize.
"Page Mr.. Gilchrist!" she called
in strident bell-boy tones.
"Dilly!" rebuked her mother.
what way of saying that Glare
is engaged to the assistant rector!
Dilly's looking we'll today, isn't she,
Mr. Goodkind. So young and"
"Fresh!" added Jerry.
swell, good people, must leave
you," Mrs. Thornbury remarked,
turning to her wraps. Jerry was at
her side in a moment helping her
into an enormous fur coat, admiring
it the while.
"Miss Jewett's in the chair room,"
she murmured to him as she left.
"She has an engagement for din
ner, but you notice she didn't say
with whom" Mrs. Gillian said when
the outer door slammed. II don't
think they ought to allow divorced
women in the church,"
"The church won't marry them,"
Mrs. Tice answered.
Chats the trouble" complained
Mrs. Gillian.
"The church will let 'em give
stained-glass windows, though" in
terjected the rebelliouJ billy.
"Where does she get all her
money!? queried Mrs. Gillian,
brushing aside her daughters irony.
"Billy settled for $4,000 year,"
Mrs. Tice replied.
Jerry chuckled.
think of getting $4,000 wear
out of munitions" he laughed. Gee!
what lot of lives that coat must
have cost"
1t was a pleasantly which pleased
Jerry. He saw the tragedy of mems
lives exchanged for women's finery,
one of life's little jokes. The others
Joined in his merriment and the Rev.
Everett Wadham, walking in upon
the scene, found "the flower of his
flock" in high good humor.
Here's DR.. Wadham," welcomed
Dilly. DR.. Wadham bowed in we'll
contrived humility. He was an easy
going man of 60, a kindly, earnest,
pleasant soul. AS rector of a rich
church he had no worries, so those
of others did not occur to him. He
had known no discomfort in his life,
hence it was simple for him to deny
its existence.
Play copyrighted, 1922, in the
United States and England. Novel
lied version by special permission
of the author, and Of Brentano's,
publishers Of the play.