Connecticut western news., 1890-01-15

week an pray the same. Elf you don't like it, don't come. This yer's busi- ness, and business is business. All invited. Smokin' allowed, but I'll lick the fust man as laughs in meetin'. I ain't CT seekin' no fuss. I'm CT peaceable man, but business is busi- ness. Pm yer ter save souls, an they must be order in meetin'. All want is square deal"
 He had come in on horseback, and without taking his feet from the stir rups he pronounced the benediction, nodded pleasantly to the crowd and galloped off in the direction from which he had come.
 It was done absolutely before man in the crowd could realize it. The preaching in Four Hole City! Benediction! Prayer!
 The strangest pert of it all was that the psrson had compelled an unmis- takable feeling of respect. He had left them impressed with the idea that he was superior somebody, amply able to take care of himself, and not too sanctified to fight.
 Three days later he came again.
 This time they were ready for him. Slippery Sam Digger was the spokes- mon for. tho orourA
 ''This yer town," said Sam, "is Four Hole City. We are the gang as lives yer, in Four Hole City. We don't want no preachin' an we won't have none of it!"
 The parson was thoughtful for g few seconds, weighing the matter de- liberately, and then quietly announced that there would be meeting, and that if Sam didn't like it he'd have to move.
 Then they hitched. It didn't last long. Sam was carried off on one of the benches, and the parson took his position at the outdoor pulpit as quietly as if nothing had happened. "Owin' ter the racket" said the parson, ssthey won't be nothin' this evenin' but the benedictiOn. Hereafter they won't be no racket, an reg'lar services will be held"
 Then he pronounced the benediction upon as orderly and appreciative a congregation as ever faced preacher.
 Then he rode off leisurely, just as he did before, without ever once looking behind him.
 After that, as the parson had pre- dicted, there was no disturbance at the meetings. The parson soon be- came an established and very import ant institution. He knew that coun- try like book, and every mine in it, and his advice was reliable. His in- fuence had on more than one occasion prevented bloodshed. In many ways the parson made himself popular and a power for good. Somehow or other they had learned that his name was Josh, but even this information was rarely made use of, and he was simply '.the parson.''
 Four Hole City was slowly but surely undergoing change.
 It was becoming civilized.
 The first step was taken. The par son had led them.
 One afternoon year or so after the parson appeared first in Four Hole City, eighteen or twenty men, covered with dust and liding jaded horses, rode into town with prisioner. That pris- oner was the parson.
 ssMistakel Mistake! Mistake!" said the citizens.
 No, it wasn't a mistake. That was Red Murphy, murderer and horse thief.
 "Proof!" 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 limb.
 "Wanter pray?" he was asked.
 He looked doubtful for moment. '.Unbind my hands," said he. "There're 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 unconcern was another consideration in granting the request. He seemed resigned to his fate, they noticed. Il couldn't do any harm.
 The parson raised his hands, his face turned upward.
 ''I have done some good," he said slowly, 's'an some bad. I have stole some horses, but never took the last 'un from a DO man. l have killed some men, but done it far. All want, O Lord, is a squar' deal in this I sin lick eny two in this crowd-eny three. They know it."
 The parson stopped suddenly, knife in his hands.
 In another instant the rope around