Evening star., 1925-05-12
One Of a series Of the
years best short
stories.

has felt rather strongly against these
things
"Oh. Of course"
II think perhaps it would be BET
ter" At last she came out brave
with it: i've never deceived Horace
never before. But / do so want
these last years to be-happy.
I'm not going to tell him. Even II it
doesn't seem quite honest. I'm only
going to say it is work in library"
"Of course, il is just that" Mrs.
Stanton felt something Of the disma%
that an unworldly child can stir in
that sophisticated adult breast.
Yes. in a way unused Alice doubt
fully. But her native bravery as
serted itself. Her own little life dill
not matter. It never had mattercd.
Horace mustn't know" she said.
Mrs. Stanton said that they were
running up to Santa Barbara. Mon
terey and San Francisco. But they
would be back within a few weeks.
HORACE BANCROFT walked slowl:.
= to the park. Children were pla:
! ing there, and he smiled. But as n"
moved on to a bench near the water
! the smile faded. Four articles in sue
cession the Christian Tribune had re
turned. DR.. Waterman had sent L
kindly letter with this last one. Hor-
ace had taken time for a glance ovee
II before he put the long envelope
| away in his satchel. 1t seemed thai
he had drifted in some way out Of
touch. 1t was puZZling. Just how
Alice and he were TO go on living was
| not clear. They might be put out OF
their rooms. They might. of course.
| starve. He didn't mind for himself
| -
| friends waited in the beckoning Be
yond. But Alice
| Was his faith weakening? He felt
| for the Testament and read the Ser
mon on the Mount. Then he gazed
UP into the BADLY luminous sky and
repeated softly a line from one Of the
| New England poets whose spirit had
! pervaded hundreds Of his gentle ser-
| mons during the busy years: Build
| thee more stately mansions. o my
| SOUL
He got up and felt in his tail pock":
for the handkerchief that should l.,
| there. His fingers encountered an IN
| familiar fabric. He examined it
! dollar note. creased and soiled from
much handling. He found difficulty in
understanding. Could Alice have put
1t there? She must have. And she
wanted him to so to the barber shop.
He considered this, walking uncer-
tainly up the path toward Seventh
street. 1t seemed extravagant Yot
Alice might be right. 1t would
hearten her to see him better groomed
Those habits. while they might ap
pear trivial, did have a value Blu
he was perplexed. Even as he turned
from the path TO the sidewalk he was
undecided. To return the money with
out word would hurt her. She haa
made the step, and always he had
| leaned on her judgment in practica'
| matters
A creamy yellow roadster turned
from Seventh street into a filing sta
ton. The driver. a slender, darl:
young man, with a soft hat turned
down at one side and a poetical bow.
tie, stepped out, and saying absently.
Ten gallons please-and you might
look at the oil gauge" he reached int
the car and took from the seat q
Bible bound in soft leather, opened 10
the Old Testament and hurriedly
turned the leaves. While the man
cranked the gasoline pump. he read
intently; then, mumbling a phrase
looked up. And then he stared.
Approaching along the sidewali,
came a tall. spare figure Of a man
clad In an old black frock coat of
fashion seldom seen nowadays. black
trousers and an old straw hat. The.
/.
The white beard was full and vener-
able The nose was long and firm, the
skin of cheeks and TEMPLES white and
fine as parchment. He moved SLOWLY,
with dignity. carrying little book ana
reading as he walked.
Il beg your pardon" said the young
man with a nervous uuickness, ~
should like to speak with you
| The old man stopped in mild 81
prise, and then smiled
II am wondering IL you would ri BE-
little way with me-
The patient eyes were looking
the familiar book in the hands OF /,
young stranger.
Il am Sylvester Drake" said tbs
young man, and watched for the ef
rect OF the announcements: but there
was none, merely a courteous atten-
ton. He was plainly taken ahack.
1hat name was known in the smallest
cities Of Europe, in Africa, Australia
Japan. Borneo, South America, wher-
ever motion pictures were shown.
The simple phrase, "A Sylvester
Drake Production in shining letters
on the screen spelled the magic sue
cess to the races Of the whole world.
and yet this kindly old man didn't
know. 1t was disturbing. II was very
nearly incredible.
Il put in a quart of OIL" said the
man OF the pump. Drake passed over
$40 bill and carelessly thrust the
change into his pocket.
1T is important that we should have
a little talk, sir, if You can spare the
time
"Why-why, certainly" replied the
OLD man in some hesitation. His
speech indicated a rare simplicity OF
character. Il was only going TO the
barber shop
Oh. you mustn't do that. III run
YOU over TO my studio. We can talk
there.
So they drove westward TO a vast
fenced-in area where were white build
ings and between them plots of pain
fully nurtured green and climbing
roses. Young Mr.. Drake led the way to
charmingly furnished room with a
desk In 1t, and then spoke softly but
with nervous quickness into a tele-
phone.
I've something to show you" he
said. He had placed the Bible on the
desk and now rested n hand on it,
The greatest book in the world" he
said. He appeared somewhat excited
Il believe it is our duty to bring it
back into the heart of the world
And how can that be done better than
through the films?"