Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1939-06-20
CHAPTER SIXTEEN


"OH, HELLO" Sarah Anne said
to the thin young man who was
renting the parsonage guest room.
His eyes were bright. hooking,
oddly disturbing. 80 you're the
man who's going to sleep under our
roof?
If your mother thinks I'm a
good influence for youth" His
voice was as provocative as his
eyes.
Aren't you afraid Of what we
may do to you? This is a parson-
age and we insist on church at
tendance"
"And 1 am a minister's son and
you can't show me thing about
it. BY the way, I'm Lynn Rhodes.
do some writing about business
conditions and I'm using your town
as a focal point. You have enough
factories within a radius of a cou-
pie of hundred miles to make it
worth while. Besides, the Ransom
steel industry is here and that's
good for lot Of time"
But you like privacy SO you're
stunning hotels? Mr.. Rhodes, don't
you know there is no privacy in a
parsonage? We may even borrow
your room for visiting clergy" She
talked lightly not caring.
That's all right. It's the mail,
the telephone calls from the Office
in New York, 1 want to avoid. So
I'll pick up such small matters at
Preston and live in peace" He
arose suddenly as Miss Sarah Mof-
felt came back with Mrs. Melton,
and Sarah Anne slipped away. He
was courteous, deferential. Even
the minister's wife yielded to his
charm. a
The next time Sarah Anne saw
him her eyes were dark with right
eous indignation and her cheeks
were flushed. It was ten o'clock in
the morning. She alone was at
home. She had bound back her
brown curls with a red ribbon and
she was wearing an old white ten
mis- frock, for she had been work.
ing in the garden at the rear of
the parsonage. A small creek me-
andered leisurely under the trees,
back there, and she had a tea table,
a few chairs and a shelf built
against a tree, where the yard
dropped suddenly to meet the little
brook. But today the peace of the
scene was not affecting her in the
least.
A strange had paused and said
IN clear, even tones: miss Melton,
maybe you aren't aware that the
parsonage electric light bill is
overdue and I've been sent to turn
off the electricity"
Overdue? 1t can't be-" She put
down her rake. The man held out
come statements.
"How much is it?"
He named the sum. For a mo-
ment Sarah Anne eyed him furi-
ously. Then she shook her head.
We can see by candlelight! If
II :"
She was thinking Of her fathers
old shoes. She was wishing she
hadn't spent the few dollars on that
new evening frock. Minister'S
daughters must not give vent to
their emotions. She must not saw
TO this impersonal man, IF the
president of your company. who is
& deacon in our church, would paw
up his dues so my father could col
iect his back salary, we could meet
this bill" She must not add: 1--WE
might turn off the faucet that
brings him spiritual help" No this
man was just an agent.
Upstairs Sarah Anne had q few
collars, money carefully saved TO
TAKE a summer course at a small
university in an adjoining town
well she didn't need to do that
ana anyway, maybe the back sal
airy would come. Maybe it wouldn't
Let the bill wait.
you turn off the electricity in
the attic-the third door to the
right at the top of the stairs on the