Show a EA r service 0 joseph mccord SYNOPSIS the congregation ol of the old white church in locust rill kill turns out in lull full force to look over the new preacher dr jonathan farwell and there Is much speculation among the communicants as to what hat sort of 0 man he be will be cassius brady treasurer ol of the church had recommended dr farwell for the post after hearing Is baccalaureate sermon at t the graduation of dale farwell his ton son who Is a geologist bradys daughter lenora interests dale who lives alone with his father dr farwell meets tle members of 0 his congregation personally accepts their tributes but refuses to be impressed by the bankers family the Marble stones whose daughter evelyn obviously sets her cap for dale meanwhile the women ot of the town are curious about the mys mystery c ry of the far wells womanless housekeeping in the privacy of his room date dale has enshrined a picture of a beautiful woman inscribe inscribed d in childish lettering elaine El alne the marble stones invite the Far farrells farwells wells to dinner ath with cassius brady at the dinner evelyn monopolizes nopo lizes vale dale CHAPTER ill III continued I 1 that sounds dreadfully energetic im sure that someone told ms me you were studying for the ministry under your father evelyn said dale chuckled with und s amusement hardly if I 1 ever had an idea of becoming a preacher I 1 would have been discouraged long ago my fathers too shining an example to my way of thinking he wonderful theres something so so fascinating about him quite mad over him only you know im rather in awe of him he looks so dignified and stern Is tie he really oh no I 1 used to feel that way about him when I 1 was a kid dale remarked reflectively of course we seen such a lot of each other these past years perhaps I 1 understand him better now hes a mighty square shooter im sure he is have you met many people here almost no one oh there have been quite a few dropping in at the house but father does the honors then you have no friends here only one you might say I 1 seen her since I 1 came really evelyns eyes widened to sudden attention the drawl in her tone vanished whom are you talking about miss brady I 1 met her out west oh I 1 never thought do you mean she attended the same school you did why how odd you are a friend of lee brady I 1 knew she had been in college somewhere but I 1 never supposed then youve known her for a long time evelyn said but I 1 the funny part of it I 1 never met her until mr brady came to commencement men cement time he heard father preach the baccalaureate sermon and introduced himself miss brady was with him when I 1 found we had been together at the U for two years and I 1 never knew it oh evelyns evelyn s red mouth curved in a smile lee is a dear we were in high school together and went to the same kid parties here I 1 seen so much of her lately are you children getting acquainted quain ted I 1 thought id look in mrs marblestone rustling into the room to stand looking in vague perplexity at the two on the settee please sit down M mr I 1 farwell Par well she resumed 1 I can squeeze in between betwee n the two of you like this she suited action to the word evelyn youve been smoking I 1 dont know what doctor farwell would think what do you think she turned to dale who was trying to accommodate himself to what was left of his former place 1 I quite approve he assured her hei gravely dear dear Every things so dif terent ferent these days its a trying thing to bring up an attractive young daughter you know when I 1 was a girl for the next hour mrs marble stone dominated the conversation familiarizing herself wholeheartedly wholehearted with her guests past present and an future when doctor farwell came downstairs with henry marblestone he found dale still in his corner his appearance suggesting that of a witness enduring a cross fire of examination and hoping to remember the salient points of his story the m minister inister came to his aid by refusing a chair he off offered ered the preparation ei of his evening sermon as an excuse for taking an early leave brady it appeared had some business to discuss with his host and had remained in the library weve been having such sch a nice visit with your son mrs marblestone beamed so sorry you must go evelyn and I 1 were so interested te such a pity your dear wife was not spared to share your labors evelyn took up the theme as her mothers voice trailed away in its customary indecision Is dale a good cook doctor farwell she wanted to know ive been wondering if I 1 dared drop in on yoi at bacal racal time tir ie almost have to ask me to remain you know of course there was no suggestion of amusement in the ministers ister s dark eyes then I 1 think I 1 win will I 1 could help with the dishes at least im sure that dale would like to have me help him you evelyn turned to him with a smile and a flash of tier her white teeth dale and I 1 are old campaigners farwell interposed quietly just the same mrs marblestone bl trying again for the first time since his arrival in locust hill the minister volunteered information regarding his personal affairs the present arrangement at the parsonage is temporary our housekeeper will be here shortly and now I 1 really must say goodnight good night CHAPTER IV aside from more nore or less routine duties constable kerney of locust hill permitted himself one diversion it was meeting the half dozen north and southbound south bound trains whose schedules called for a stop within the province of his authority the office of the law was little nore more than a stones throw from froin the railroad station and only pressing business prevented the officer from wait just a minute you mean you work for the reverend whatever the little man grinned im impudently pu dently im his hired girl well so long see you in church kerney stood staring after the departing figure as if uncertain of the best course to pursue when the latter vanished around the corner of the station the constable followed A moment later he sighted his quarry walking briskly along market street in the direction of old white kerney followed at a distance calculated to disarm suspicion it hurt to shadow this new arrival to his chagrin he saw the man with the suitcase turn with a friendly wave of his paper parcel as he entered the parsonage yard kerney continued his stroll watching the next scene from the corner of his eye he saw the door opened by doctor farwell the man in the cap dropped his parcels and extended both hands with a shrill hey dominie dominic there was no mistaking the smili of greeting on the ministers pale face as his own hands went out tc clasp the strangers well I 1 vow kerney ejaculated as he turned and retraced his steps in the direction of his office jonathan farwell smiled across CC c 0 Z W 1 Z Y we W lee came to the door t taking aking his unobtrusive stand near the telegraph operators observation window a few moments before each trains arrival public buses and automobiles would have furnished a more accurate index to the towns transients sie ants but the station offered a convenient method of keeping ones finger on the traveling pulse berneys Ker shrewd eyes were ever on the alert nearby cities furnished him with frequent fliers describing wanted criminals rog rogues gues gallery likenesses aliases and not infrequently a mention of tempting rewards the constable acquired the knack of keeping these unfavorable portraits in the back of his mind locust hill with its quiet respectability might easily appeal to some fugitive as a peaceful haven this uncompromising vigilance appeared to have met with possible results one afternoon number from the north slowed to a grinding halt on time the last passenger to clamber down the steps of the smoker was a small man who clutched a shabby suitcase in one hand and a paper parcel in the other an unprepossessing figure this stranger looking about uncertainly from under the cap drawn low over his thin face A livid welt ran from the outer corner of his left I 1 eye across the cheek check and under the I 1 jaw the ear on the same side seemed to have suffered damage all its own the scarred face brought no response from berneys Ker mental collection but he felt amply justified in accosting the new arrival lookin for somebody buddy maybe Is this a pinch that depends was the grim reply 1 I like to know who folks are that get off here I 1 get paid tor for it the eyes under the cap scanned kerney coolly there was a slight nicker flicker of amusement in their gray depths okay flatfoot flat toot I 1 was just to pay a call on my boss chos he doc farwell know him do you 1 I know him all right but th then en you might t show me where he hangs out trail along if it suits you his church is up the next street got a high steeple doctor farwells farrells Far wells house is on the far side by the graveyard sounds cheerful thanks the parlor at his guest who lolled easily in the largest of the upholstered chairs puffing on a cigarette and grinning delightedly the ministers smile held a warmth that no locust hill acquaintance had been privileged to see pink it does seem good to see you again no boolin fo olin some nice dump the man called pink looked about the parlor approvingly the old stuff looks pretty familiar farwell emitted one of his rare laughs he had relaxed strangely in this little mans presence sitting low in his own chair with his long black legs outstretched and hands thrust in in his trouser pockets the two men chatted for a time pink telling of his trip and asking pointed questions regarding locust hill and its people thought I 1 was goin to see it from inside the hoosegow he chuckled sailing his cigarette butt into the fireplace with an accurate flip cop down at the depot took me for one of them public enemies I 1 guess you told him of course that you were coming here sure but he trailed me an all the same say dominic aint it about time my sidekick side kick was up 1 I expected him before this farwell drew a large open face watch from his pocket and studied it thoughtfully has he made up his mind yet what hes goin to do he is going back to school I 1 do not know just how soon the sooner the better pink grumbled here he is now daiv in up with a dame classy an all right get a load of her will you farwell stepped near enough the window to look over the smaller mans shoulder she is the daughter of one of my members his dark eyes contracted a trifle then you picked a good church here comes the kid quick steps sounded in the hall the parlor door was flung open and dale stood framed in the entrance pink gee but im glad to see you pink dale had the little man by the shoulders shaking him affectionately same here but not in them trick pants bad enough t to 0 go in in tor for a sissy game without dressin you look pretty fit otherwise and youve been with dames I 1 see I 1 should have got here sooner and started you 11 dale farwell interposed the word almost sharply 1 I imagine that pink would like to go to his roo room in will you show him the way the minister stood without moving after the pair left the parlor his brows were drawn into a frown as he stared down at the rug the expression on his face did not change until the silence was broken by a sound from the second floor it was the staccato tattoo of a punching bag vibrating under the attack of professional knuckles within forty eight hours locust hill was mulling over a farwell problem that dimmed its predecessors completely this new and intriguing tri guing puzzle was the latest addition to the parsonage household who was this pink the fact that he had been seen conversing with constable kerney gave rise to rumors that mr was a sometime gangster employed by the pastor for purposes of reformation pinks sinister appearance pe arance made the suggestion entirely feasible must be a servant mister fa awell pink thrust his head into the living room dale was there stretched comfortably on the couch reading a magazine phone pink yeah the girl friend want me to dust off the clubs never mind IU ill get it he rose and made his way out to the telephone hello he said briefly hello returned a cheerful voice its lee brady oh I 1 when did you get to town I 1 bayl say are you going to be home hom e this afternoon and may I 1 call if you can spare the time dale thought he heard a suppressed laugh please do lee went on hurriedly 1 I want you to meet the nicest person in locust hill dale was quickened by a thrill of anticipation as he strode on his way to that afternoon appointment he quite realized how eager he was to see lee again the brady home somehow looked the way dale had hoped it stood in the center of a large lawn A house of drab brick topped by a mansard roof its colored slates laid in patterns A house to live in lee came to the door the same lee of the brown eyes and ready smile of the bronze curls TO BE CONTINUED CONTINUE OI |