Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-12-26

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fed tosfight
Three days later he came
This time they were ready tor lalg..
sSNeperu lam Digger was the 61ok okeax14lkl
fof fho c1pw This yer town. Z raid
Sam. is< 6uf Hole City. w Afe the
rang a. liy1b yer ii Four Hobs City.
We don't ant no praachin and
we won't have noneQf itls
The parson was thoughtful for few
seconds, weighing the matter delibe.
rately, and then quietly announced thas
there would be meeting. and that 4 sAnA
Hdn' like It he'd haveto move.
Then they hitched Il didn't last long.
Sam was carried on on one Of the,
benches, and the eparson took his posi-
tionsat the outdoor pulpit as quietly IS u
nothing had happened
OWN ter the racket" said the par-
son, '.they won't be nothin' this evenirs
but tile benediction. Hereafter they
won't be no racket, an reg'lAr serticea
will be held"
Then he pronounced the banedicti6n
upon as orderly and appreciative DON
gregation as ever faced a preacher.
Then he rode off leisurely just M he
did before. without ever once looking
behind him.
After that. as the parson had predict
ed. there was no disturbance at the meet
ings. The parson soon became an estab-
lished and very important institution.
He knew that country like book, and.
every mine in it. and his advice was re-
liable. His influence Had on moro than
one occasion prevented bloodshed. IN
many ways the parson made himself
popular and power for good. Some
how or other they had learned that his
name was Josh. but even this informa-
tion was rarely made use Of, and he was
simply 1.-THE parson."
Four Hole City was slowly but surely
undergoing a change.
It was becoming civilized.
The first step was taken. The parson
had ledthem.
One afternoon, a year or so after the
parson appeared firstin Four Hole City.
eighteen or twenty mdn. covered with
dust and riding jaded horses, rode into
town with prisoner. That prisoner was
Eshe. .parson.
'.Mistakei Mistake, A1istaler' said the
citizens.
No. itwasn't mistake. That was red
Murphy, murderer and horse thief.
"Proofr demanded the citizens.
Plenty Of proof. The horse he was tied
to was one he had stolen.
The citizens were obliged to believe it
The parson said nothing in answer to
questions, and seemed as Indifferent Of
danger as the horse he was riding.
His legs were unstrapped, and he was
taken from the horse. The rope was put
around his neck and thrown over q limb.
"Wanter prayr' he was asked
He looked doubtful for q moment.
"Unbind my hands. said he. There
are enough of you to eat me.
Let me pray with my hands loose"
In consideration Of the good he had
done, the request was granted. though
there was some objection. His own un-
concern was another consideration in
granting the request. He seemed re-
signed to his fate. they noticed. II
couldn't do any harm.
The parsoIraised his hands. his face
turned upward.
~ have done some good" he said,
slowly, ian some bad. have stole
some horses, but never took the last
'un from po' man. have killed some
men, but done it far. All want, O
Lord, is q. squar' deal in this. kin lick
eny two ia this crowd-eny three. They
know tt
The parson stopped suddenly, knife
In his hands.
In another instant the rope around his
knees was loosed, and then at his feet,
and he was fairly in the saddle and
started before shot was fired.
The parson was of-pursuit was out
of the question. They fired recklessly,
and he escaped .unhurt.
They watched him then until he and
his horse were q speck on the horizon.
"Red Murphy's luck, growled one Of
the men, as he turned to his horse.
Good fer our parson, "grinned Slip'ry
Sam. Glen Waters in Atlanta Constitu-
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