Show 1 so 04 r THE Y BALL A L L OF 0 F F FIRE I 1 R E by GEORGE RANDOLPH CHESTE CHESTER P and LILLIAN CHESTER illustrated BY C D RHODES EJ copyright UK by the ned dook book corporation SYNOPSIS 2 at a vestry meeting of bf the It market square church gall sargent listens to a discussion about tho the sale bala of the church tenements tene monta to edward U M A local braction Ir traction action king and when asked tier liar opinion on of if tho the church by bv rev kev smith hoyd boyd saysell say sll it la Is apparently a lucrative business enterprise allison takes gall riding tn in his ha motor car ica r CHAPTER 1 U I continued gall gail too was waa disturbed willie while sho had bad laughed to cover the embarrass of her mishap she che had been quite collected enough to thank aall son for his ready aid but she had felt the thrill arll 0 that tensed arm and it had la wakened in her mind an entirely new vein of puzzled conjecture uro gravity with a man invariably leads him back to the consideration of hla his leading joy in nto life business and the first thing allison know knew he was ingan ing in a unique weakness for him he ha was bragging bragg not exactly flat footed but with tolerably strong insinuation he bo gave tier her to understand that the consolidation of the immense traction interests of now york was waa about as tremendous an undertaking as sho she could comprehend and that having attained so dizzy a summit lie he felt entitled to turn himself to lighter things to enjoy life and gaiety gayety and frivolity to rest as it were upon his laurels gall gail was amused as she always was when men of strong achievement dropped into this weakness to interest girls she did appreciate and admire hla his no doubt tremendous tr accomplishment tt it was only his fits which amused her and to save her she could not resist the wicked little impulse to nettle him film to his suggestion that he could now lead a merry life because he was entitled to rest upon his hie laurels sho she had merely answered why I 1 he dropped into a silence so dense denro that jhb thump was waa almost audible endsle and end she was contrite she had pricked him deeper than she knew however she had not understood how gigantic the mans ambitions had been nor how vain he be was of his really marvel progress atter after all why should he pause when he had such power in him she did well to speak slightingly of any achievement made by a man of such proved ab ability litty now new ambitions sprang up in him the next time he talked business with her he would have something startling under way something to compel her respect CHAPTER III the change in the rectors eyes the grand privilege of mrs airs jim argenas argents ar gents happy lite life was to worry all she liked just now as she sat eat on the seven chairs and the four benches of the mahogany panelled panel led library amid a wealth of serious minded sculpture and painting and rare old prints she was bathed in a new ecstasy of painful enjoyment she was worried about gaill gallt it was six thirty now and gall call had not yet returned from Lu lucilea Luc lloa ciles mrs heler helen davies dressed for dinter dinner with as e as if she had an been about b to attend one of the unattainable tai annu als came sw sweeping down the marble stairs with tho the calm womb of one whom nothing kw and lorgnette in hand turned into the library im so glad you came down helen I 1 breathed mrs airs sargent with a sigh of relief im so wor worried riedl 1 gall come home from Lu lucilee Luc lles ciles mrs helen davies sat beneath the statue of All minerva nerva presenting wisdom to the world and arranged the folds of her gown to the most graceful advantage you expect her on time coming from lucilee Luc Lu lles ciles she observed with a smile of proper pride she was immensely fond ot of her daughter luclle lucile but she preferred to live with her sister lister 1 I have a brilliant idea grace ill telephone and without seeming to exert herself in the least she glided gilded from her picturesque high backed flemish chair and sat at the library table and drew the phone to her and secured her daughters number hello ello lucile she called in the most friendly of tones better send end gall call home before your aunt grace develops wrinkles mrs helen davies listened to the answer a sparkle in her black eyes where Is she interrupted mrs sargent Bar gent holding her thumb out driving reported sister helen have you sent your lour invitations for the house party lucile and fib ehe discussed that important subject until mrs sargents Sar gents thumb ached with whom is gall driving and where asked sister grace anxious for detail mrs helen davies touched all of her fingertips together in front of her on the library table and beamed on grace dont worry about gall gail she smilingly advised she Is diving with edward B E allison All lson lie he Is the richest bachelor in new york though not socially prominent no one has ever been able to interest him I 1 predict oi gail a brilliant future and she che moved over contentedly to nor her favorito favorite contrast with minerva gall would attract anyone returned mrs sargent complacently and then a little crease camo came in her brow 1 I wonder where she mot met him at the vestry meeting lucile said bald oh and mrs sargents Sar gents brow cleared instantly jim introduced them I 1 wonder where jim Is the door opened and jim sargent came in wiping the snow from his stubby mustache before he be distributed life hlo customary hearty greetings to the family wheres Wh eros gall gail he wanted to know out driving with edward B E alli son bon both ladles ladies still inquired jim sargent and then he laughed ashes a clover clever girl smart as a she nearly started a riot in the vestry was willis cunningha cunningham in there inquired mrs airs davies interestedly took me in a corner after the meeting and told me that gall bore a remarkable resemblance to the fratelli madonna und and might he be call to the telephone bell rang and sargent who could not train himself to wait tor for a servant to sift the messages answered it immediately with his characteristic explosive first hello oh its you uncle jim called a buoyant voice mr air allison and I 1 have T 0 A rev smith boyd came out with his HI mot most active vestryman found the most enchanting roadhouse road bouse in the world and were going to take dinner here its all right it certainly he replied equally buoyant enjoy yourself chubay and he hung up the receiver chatis Wh atIs it asked mrs airs davies in a tone distinctly chill she had bad a premonition that jim sargent had bad done something foolish lie ile seemed so pleased I 1 1 gall wont be home he announce announced ed carelessly c are lessly starting for the stairs ashes dining with allison at some roadhouse road bouse I 1 gasped mrs davies ashes all right helen remarked jim starting upstairs Alli sons a fine fellow dut but what will he think of gall gaill I 1 protested helen that sort of unconventionality his has gone clear out jim have to got back that num berl soy sorry regretted jim cant do it against the telephone rules and he be went upstairs positively humming bumming the two ladles ladies looked at each other and sat eat down in the valley of the shadows of gloom there was as nothing to bo be donel done it was not until nine that they expressed their worry again at that hour ted and luclle lucile teesdale and arly fosland came lu in with the exuberance of a new years evo eve celebration its great sleighing tonight stated Lu lucilea Luc llos ciles husband who was a 4 thin young man with a splendid natural gift for dancing all missing Is the bells bella chattered the black haired arly breaking straight for her favorite big couch in the library the only way to have any speed in an auto is to go sidewise were to get up a skidding match so I 1 can bet on our chauffeur laughed luclle lucile fl uffing her blonde ringlets before the big mirror in the hall we slid a complete circle coming down through the park and never lost a revolution ol ive been thinking it must be bad driving fretted mrs airs sargent gall should be home by now I 1 Alli sons a safe driver comforted ted who liked to see everybody even body happy jim sargent came to the door of the study in which he was closeted with rev smith boyd jim was practically the younie young rectors business guardian I hello fello folks he be nodded gall gail home not yet responded mrs sargent in whose brow the creases creasea were becoming fixed its hardly time estimated jim and went back into the study im tarr terribly ably vexed confided luclle lucile stopping behind teds beds chair and idly tickling the back of hla his neck 1 I thought it would be such a brilliant scheme to give a winter weekend week end party but mrs airs acton is IB going to give one at her country place before or after demanded mrs davies with whom this was a point of the utmost importance A week after answered luclle lucile but her invitations are out I 1 wish I 1 mailed mine what can we do to make ours oura notable that being a matter worth considering in g the entire party with the exception of aunt grace who was listening tor for the doorbell set their wits and their tongues to work mrs afro helen davies took a keener interest in it than any of them the invitation list was the most important of all for it was a long and arduous way to the heaven eaven of the socially elect and it took generations to accomplish the journey the murdock girls grace and herself had no great grandfather murdock senior had made his money after murdock junior was married but in time to give the girls a thorough polishing in an exclusive ex academy thus launched helen had bad married a man with a great great grandfather but grace had married jim sargent jim was a dear and had plenty of money and was as good a railroader as graces father with whom he had been great chums but still he be was jim sargent galls gails mother who had married jims brother had seven ancestors but a mothers family name Is so often overlooked nevertheless when gall came cam aie to marry the maternal ancestry all 1 other things being favorable might even secure her an invitation to mrs waverly galtes annual I 1 reaching this point in her circle of speculation mrs airs helen davies came back to her starting place and joked at the library clock with a shock ten and the girl was not yet homel rev smith boyd came out of the study t dy with his hia most active vestryman and joined the circle of waiting ones ile he was a pleasant addition to the party tor for in spite of belonging to the clergy he was able to conduct himself in rome in a quite acceptable roman fashion pleasant as he be was they wished wl hed he would go homo because it was not convenient to worry in his h s c company a and nd by this time luclle lucile he herself was beginning to watch the clock with some anxiety only mrs bar gent felt no restraint an automobile honked at the door as it if it were stopping and sho she half arose then the same honk bonk sounded half way down the block and she sat down again im so worried about gaill she stated holding her thumb wo we all are supplemented mrs airs davies quickly she has been dining with a party of friends and the streets are so slippery 1 I should judge mr allison to be a very capable driver said rev smith doyd boyd and the ladles ladies glared at jim 1 I envy them their drive on a night like this I 1 wonder it there wilt will be good coasting fine judged jim sargent looking out of the window toward the adjoining rectory that first snow was wet and it froze now theres a good inch on top of it and at this rate raie there should bo be three by morning A little thaw and another freeze and a little more snow tomorrow and ill be tempted to make a bobsled bob sled ill help you offered rev smith I 1 doyd boyd with a glow of pleasure in his particularly fine eyes 1 I used to have a twelve seated bobsled bob sled which never started down the hill with less than fifteen 1 I never rode on one complained arty arly 1 I think im due for a bobsled bob sled party youre invited luclle lucile promptly told her uncle jim you and doctor boyd will have to hunt up your hammer and saw ill start right to work offered the j young rector with the alacrity which had made him a favorite it if the snow holds well go over into the jersey bills and slide promised sargent with enthusiasm ill give the party 1 I seem to anticipate a pleasant evening considered ted teasdale whose athletics confined entirely to dancing well ride downhill on the sleds and uphill in the ina machines chines barred immediately protested jim the boys have to pull the girls uphill that right doyd boyd it was correct form when I 1 was a boy returned the rector with a laugh ile he held his bis muscular hands out before 1 him as it if he could still feel the cut of the rope in his bis palms lie he squared his big shoulders and breathed deeply in memory of those health giving days there was a flush in bis checks and his eyes which were sometimes green glowed with a decided blue arlene fosland looking lazily across at him from the comfortable nest neat which she had not quitted all evening even lug decided that it was a shame that he pad had been cramped into tho the ministry theres gaill cried mrs airs sargent jumping to herfert her feet and running into tho the hall before the butler could come in answer to the bell she opened the door and was immediately kissed then gall came back into the library without stopping to remove her furs she sha was followed by allison and she ear carried something inside her coat tier her cheeks checka were rosy from tho the criep crisp air and the snow sparkled on her brown hair like tiny diamonds weve been buying a bogl she aho breathlessly explained and opening her coat she ehe produced an animated teddy bear with two black eyes and one black pointed nose protruding from a puff ball of pure white she set it on the floor where it waddled uncertainly in three directions and finally curled down between R rev ev smith boyds feet A co collie lliel I 1 and rev nev smith doyd boyd picked up the warm infant for an admiring inspection its a beautiful puppy it a dearl exclaimed gall taking it away from him and favoring him with a smile she whisked the fluffy little ball over to her aunt grace and left it in that ladys lap while she threw off herfurt her furs where could you buy a dog at this hour inquired mrs airs davies glancing at tho the clock which stood now at the accusing hour of a quarter of eleven wo we woke up the kennel men laughed gall turning with a sparkling glance to allison All lson who was being introduced trod ceremoniously to the ladies by uncle jim we had a perfectly glorious evenings even ingi we dined at roseleaf inn entirely surrounded by hectic lights then we drove live miles into the country and bought flakes we came home so BO fast that mr air allison almost had to hold me in she turned laughing to find the eyes of rev smith boyd axed on her in cold disapproval they were no longer bluel blue I 1 CHAPTER IV too many men A conscience must be a nuisance to a rector sympathized gall sargent as she walked up the hill beside rev smith boyd the tall young rector shifted the thin rope of the sled to his other hand epigrams are usually more clever than true he finally responded with a twinkle in his bla eyes it had been in his bis mind to sharply defend that charge but he reflected that it was unwise to assume the speech worth serious consideration moreover he had come to this toboggan party for healthful physical exercise exer cisel I 1 then youre guilty of an epigram retorted gall who was annoyed with rev smith boyd without quite knowing why you cant believe all you are compelled as a minister to say 11 that returned rev smith doyd boyd coldly Is a matter of interpretation ile he commended himself for his p patience as he |