Show ll l j r B 0 Joseph McCord McCord Service SYNOPSIS The congregation of the Old White While I Church In Locust Hill turns out In full I force to look over the thc new preacher Dr Jonathan Farwell and there is much speculation among the communicants esto as es asto asto to what sort of man he will be Cassius Brady treasurer of the church had recommended Dr Farwell for the tho post after afler hearing his baccalaureate sermon at the graduation of Dale Farwell his hisson hisson hisson son who is a geologist Bradys Brady's daughter daugh daugh- ter Lenora nom interests Dale who lives i alone lone alone with his father Dr Farwell meets the members of his congregation personally person person- ally accepts their tributes but refuses to be impressed b by the bankers banker's family the J whose daughter Evelln Evelyn Eve lyn obviously sets her cap for Dale Meanwhile the women of the town are arc curious about the tho mystery of the thc Farwells Farwells' Farwells Far Far- wells wells' womanless housekeeping CHAPTER II Continued n 3 It remained for tor Abbie Brown to tr try to seek information on this score With her characteristic energy energy en en- ergy erg she marched briskly up to the front door of the parsonage bearing a pan covered with a white cloth No sooner had bad she rung the bell than she chided herself with a awant awant want of foresight in not presenting herself at the kitchen entrance Still SUll that might have looked rather funny funny fun ny fly was her consoling thought as she heard approaching steps in the hall ball Jonathan Farwell answered the summons Oh good morning Doctor Ive I've brought you something Please come in Miss Brown I guess you'll think k Ivo Ive got a n nerve was Abbie's bright comment comment comment com com- ment when the doctor relieved her herI hery I y of the proffered pan and ushered her into the parlor Its something I I know every man loves and Im I'm sure you dont don't make them yourself I This is the coziest room Miss Abbie's glance traveled swiftly and md hopefully about the parlor parlor parlor par par- lor as the minister r deposited the pan on the center table Fancy Doctor Im I'm such a rattletrap rattletrap rattletrap rat rat- when I get going I never once thought to tell you ou what I brought Doughnuts How thoughtful Yes Mother was baking this morning She's really quite famous here in town for her doughnuts They're not greasy like so many And I said Im going to take some over to Doctor Farwell and his son I know they'll adore them She was shocked But my brother Tom used to love doughnuts When he was living at home with us before he was married that is he be was wasi i forever Please thank Mrs Brown for lor the two of us They look delicious It was about this same time that Albert Hickman Locust Hills Hill's popular popular pop pop- ular milk dealer was mystified at atthe atthe the sudden interest along his route in the daily deliveries of ot his product at the parsonage It developed that Mr Hickman was in the habit of A leaving two quarts of Grade at the Farwells' Farwells but always deposited deposited deposited de de- posited the bottles on a table within the kitchen porch He reminded ded ed persistent inquirers that his arrival I was timed with the dawn or there there- Hence the table arrange arrange- ment So there was little help from that quarter If It the towns town's ho housewives ever permitted permitted permitted per per- their imaginations to tour the second floor of the most of them were too modest to give voice to such speculation As Asa a matter of fact they would have found this portion of the dwelling more revealing than they hoped Doctor Farwell had selected the large spare room for his own use A broad table with books and papers scattered untidily about the I base of a shaded green lamp stood in front of the tower windows One entire wall was given over to ranks of crowded bookshelves A double bed and dresser had places in the background but the general atmosphere atmosphere atmosphere atmos atmos- phere was that of a workroom Its appearance suggested that sleep was a matter of secondary importance importance importance tance to the occupant A bath used jointly separated the ministers minister's quarters from his hisSon's J Jons Sons Son's n's ns t Dales Dale's room was sparsely furnished furnished fur fur- fished severe as ns the cell of a monk with painted floor and windows A narrow iron bed in one corner maple chiffonier and wood- wood bottomed chair accounted for the major comforts A table with neat piles of textbooks and writing ma ma- A possible explanation for forso forso forso so Spartan a simplicity was a punching bag affixed to a side wall Under the apparatus a pair of Indian Indian In In- I dian clubs stood at soldierly atten atten- tion Two pairs of boxing gloves glo were suspended on a hook There was but a single effort at adornment Within a niche formed by the chimney was a shelf Over It a framed photograph the length full portrait of a young woman There was wistful beauty In the girlish face The wide appealing eyes were so like Dales Dale's own that even a casual casual casu al inspection would have Identified the picture as an early one of Mrs Farwell The trailing gown with Its high collar and long sleeves be l L- L longed to a past mode A wedding dress presumably On the under margin of the print was a single word It was done in ina a childs child's painstaking lettering ELAINE An old fashioned brass candlestick candlestick candlestick candle candle- stick stood at either end of the shelf The arrangement suggested a shrine CHAPTER in III You get all the mail today Dale announced coming into the kitchen where Doctor Farwell sat at the table pouring himself a cup of coffee It looks interesting As Ashe he spoke he laid a he heavy vy white envelope near his fathers father's hand band It was addressed in a n womans woman's handwriting handwriting handwriting hand hand- writing fashionably angular and bold The minister tore the letter open glanced through gh the contents with each time by Marblestone's dislike of losing an auditor He did discover discover discover dis dis- dis- dis cover however that Lenora had taken her mother on a brief motor trip that included a stay with rela rela- tives They would be coming home shortly At the conclusion of the meal Marble Marblestone tone suggested an adjournment adjournment adjournment adjourn adjourn- ment to his library on the second floor Dale was never to know whether the banker considered him mature ture enough to be Included in the manly session for Evelyn had bad plans of her own Come on Dale Out In the sunroom sun sunroom sunroom room she suggested slipping her hand within his arm May I offer you one of these Cassius Inquired of the minister as they followed their host Into a n room with a beamed ceiling and a huge fireplace at one end The walls were lined with books Brady had bad taken several cigars from his pock- pock 1 l Ir Mrs 1 Very simple Miss 1 Marblestone l a A an expressionless face then hel held d it out to his son Dear Doctor Farwell I Mother has asked me to invite you ou and your son to our home for Sunday dinner I have hate delayed the tIe note purposely purposely pur so that you ou will not have the opportunity to refuse us again Please do accept Jr We c will find you ou after morning morn morn- ing services Just a family famil dinner of oJ course Hastily but sincerely Evelyn Marblestone Ive seen her rolling round mound ina in ina a big roadster Are we accepting Dale wanted to know I presume we shall have to Farwell dismissed the subject by opening the morning paper Henry Marblestone's genial expansiveness expansiveness expansiveness ex- ex was in full flower as ashe ashe ashe he waited for his bIs chief guest to receive receive receive re re- re- re a subdued chorus of acclaim after the morning service And with reason The ushers had been obliged to fill the aisles with chairs and the banker appropriated a ashare ashare ashare share of the credit Weve another guest today today today-a a friend of yours he remarked to Doctor Farwell as the two men followed by Dale walked to the church Cash Brady You met him out West Surely I did not know that he was in the city Back yesterday Another wIdower widower widower wid wId- ower the banker suggested with his his- usual freedom His wife's in poor health Off Of on a little trip with the girl Great fellow Cash Best prosecutor weve we've ever had Keen as they come mouthed close as a n clam Hes He's about the onI only man m-an in Locust Hill I ever tell my business business business busi busi- ness to Brady was standing by the Marblestone Marblestone Marblestone Mar Mar- limousine listening to his hostess and her daughter when the others came up He stepped forward forward for tor- ward at once to greet the Farwells ls and bid them a delayed welcome to the church and community Then came Dales Dale's turn to be Introduced to the occupants of the car When Marblestone stowed his guests to his daughters daughter's satisfaction satisfaction satisfaction tion he took his owns own place beside the chauffeur and conversed steadily and loudly over one shaul der Dinner proved to be a long drawn out affair served with little attempt at formality Marblestone carved and orated In generous fashion from I Ithe the head of the board demanding frequent confirmation of his many opinions from the older men Evelyn Eveln dressed again in green gave bored attention to the masculine masculine masculine line talk occasionally giving Dale Dalea a smiling glance from across the table Intended to sIgn signify y that she considered the situation hopeless That young man found the meal something of an ordeal marooned as he was between his bis hostess and Cassius Brady Dale attempted several several sev sev- eral times to converse with the lawyer but his hopes were dashed et and was extending them tenta tenta- Thank you no Farwell returned returned re re- re- re turned with a quiet smile I smoke only in my study I am a pipe ad ad- dict Marblestone lifted the cover of an ornate humidor and selected a cigar cigar ci ci- gar for himself Ive no objection to your smokIng smoking smoking ing your own cigars Cash he grumbled but I cant can't go em If you think you can stand a good smoke help yourself to one of these He lighted his own as he spoke with little smacking noises of his lips I say Cash you'll have to reform along another line too Hows that Going to church Seeing for tor yourself where the funds get to Youre You're cheating yourself now that the Doctors Doctor's here Real sermon this morning morning two two stuff We had to hang out the SRO sign So I heard Say Doctor Marblestone spoke abruptly I should think you'd find it a slight disadvantage for a man in your profession to to- to not to be married Why Farwell turned to his host His white face was impassive sive Oh you know Its It's more or orless less lessa a popular notion that a preachers preacher's wife has a lot to do with his getting getting getting get get- ting on As a preacher you mean I always have been in the habit of preparing my sermons unaided There was no indication of resentment resentment resentment resent resent- ment In the Ule words Oh no I didn't mean that Of Ol course not I was referring to general general general gen gen- eral success in the community There are arc social affairs for tor In in- stance It takes a woman after all all tt Brady flashed a quick glance at atthe atthe the tho banker There was the suggestion suggestion sug sug- of a warning in the gray grayeyes grayeyes grayeyes eyes behind their shining lenses Why the devil couldn't Henry see that he be was broaching an untimely topic But Marblestone was speaking speaking speaking speak speak- ing again Well its it's always seemed to me that a man In your position would find himself rather on a spot as the saying goes Under pretty close watch and well and well fair game for a alot alot alot lot of unattached females He chuckled at his expression of the Idea as he leaned forward and deposited deposited de- de posited his cigar ash in a heavy bronze tray that rested on a corner of the l library table I am afraid I am not In a position position tion to say from experience was the deliberate answer Then I can tell you one thing Doctor Marblestone resumed good You have the good women here guessing in one respect It worries them to have you and your boy keeping bachelors bachelors' bachelors bachelors' bache bache- lors' lors hall That's a new one on them Brady had bad been studying the glowing end of his cigar abstracted abstracted- ly Your advice strikes me as being sound Henry he observed quietly My liMy advice What about My Iy attending church Brady straightened in his chair It was high time for someone to take the conversation out of the bankers banker's hands In the meantime Dale was making making mak mak- ing lag the acquaintance of Miss Marblestone Marblestone Mar Mar- in the sun room You know Dale she began languidly languidly lan lan- leaning loaning back among the cushions of the willow settee to which she promptly had bad guided her guest its quite an event when a anew anew anew new young man comes to this town You dont don't mind if I 1 call you Dale do you I III wish you would All my friends I do the boy answered politely I Well It Is stupid to be so formal I And we are going to be friends too You'll find some cigarettes inthe in inthe inthe the box on the stand Ill I'll have one if you dont don't object Now tell me all about yourself she demanded after Dale had obliged with a alighted alighted alighted lighted match Do you like being a ministers minister's son Im bearing up he smiled Ive never been anything else I want to know about your past All the dark secrets Very simple Miss Marblestone Evelyn she corrected with a slight lift of her brows Right Well Ive I've been in school and in school school and and in school Most of my vacations have been spent in holding down jobs Since I was big enough That's my recent history But we heard you were graduated graduated graduated I last spring Evelyn said in surprise I II I was by dint of great luck I IThen Then I spent this summer on a I survey I have a chance to go goback goback goback back to the U for tor the second se se- I Have a sort of a job therein there therein in the department I may run out out there sooner and get in some study study- ing After I get father safely set set- He smiled Now I am disappointed We thought you would be here Unfortunately I have to work I have visions of becoming a geologist gist There are a lot of rocks inthe in inthe inthe the world that need somebody's I care Im I'm going to try to break one good rock every day TO DE CONTINUED i iI I |