, 1890-11-13
A MINISTER HELD UP
Audaoious Highwaymen Who Re-
spected Not the Cloth of Spo-
kane Falls.
Neither Chief Harbord Nor Provi-
denoe Would Come to the
Rescue.

On Sunday night Rev. w. II. Sell
lecll, assistant pastor of the Howard
street Methodist church, was mis-
taken for real estate agent.
AT comparatively early hour he
concluded his tusslc with sin in his
stronghold in the auditorium of the
church. 1t was with sense of self
satisfaction that comes of good
digestion and Il consciousness OF
deeds of merit well accomplished
that he turned the back of his great
ovcrcoat to the scene of his labors,
and threaded his way through piles
of brick and lumber to his home on
| Fifth street.
The wickedness of mankind in
general and the necessity of u
properly directed correcting in
fiuence formed the burden of the
dominie's walking dream as he
walked briskly up Howard street.
At the crest of the hill he turned to
the right. At the middle of the
block OH Fifth, between Howard
and Mill, three well-dressed men
approached.
They, too, were walking briskly,
but in an opposite direction. No
thought of harm entered the minis.
ter's mind. "Of course,n he rea-
soned "these gentlemen, like my
self, are but late wayfarers, detained
by their attendance at a place of
divine worship"
The illusion was quickly dispelled
"Hands upW yelled one of the
trio, tall, light-complexioned
young fellow with Dundreary whis-
ker and beautiful nosegay in the
| button-hole of his overcoat.
Mr.. Selleck needed him not.
"IIalt! or I'll plug the daylights
out Of you," continued the spokes-
man Of the walking delegation.
The minister evidently thought
that there was some mistake. He
look up with n mild air of disap-
| proval, but continued on his way.
BY this time the'two lines of bat
| tie bad come together. The domi-
ME was siezed by one of the oppos-
ing host, while the tall man with
the Dundrearies grasped him by the
thumb. He suddenly realized his
danger With all the lung power
that he could muster he shouted:
Help! help! oh Lord
The first was addressed to the ear
of possible passing policeman. The
last was call for divine interior
ence in behalf of the man of God.
There was short breathing spell.
Mr.. Selleck thought of the passage
in the good book that refers to the
ability of one righteous man to
whale 10000 sinners. Then he
took fresh hold upon the English
language with his vocal organ, and
the battle began anew.
The enemy executed flank
sistency succeeded in scaling the
mil listers breastworks from behind.
The battle waXed fierce.
Help, help" shouted Mr..
SelIccl.
shut your fly trapw was the
rude reply.
"Police, fire, murder, robbers"
yelled the preacher, with en-
thusiasm.
"Go to--EllepsburghW was the
| Dattle cry OF tne enemy.
"Oh! Lord, look down upon your
servant in his dire Distress" added
Mr.. Selleck, as he took the tall
mans thumb in his mouth and
chewed it as it had been n Cmur
a. Alene beeisteak.
"The Lord be d-d,n piously
calculated the dude footpad.
AT this .juncture there was u flas h
of shining steel and II loud report.
MIR. Sel!eck continued to invoke
the aid of Providence and Chief
Harbord. The battle ragged. Neither
side had gained an advantage.
Suddenly the minister bethought
himself OF his Bible. With all the
force that he could command he
hurled IL at his enemy. Then the
footpads fled. Mr. Selleck continued
his journey home.
Early yesterday morning he re-
turned to the scene of conflict. His
Bible lay beside the path, partly
open. A speck of dirt attracted hi.
atten tlon. He brushed it away and
read:
''lf n man compel thee to give him
thy coat, give him thy cloak also. u
MIR. Selleck proudly reflected that
the Saviour, in his famous sermon,
made no reference 10 the relinquish,
ing of possession of such sundries as
gold watches and purses of pocket
change. To-day he nurses sprained
thumb, but can yet give II satislac.
tory answer to the question: "What
O'clock is it?"