The Forrest City times., 1890-09-13
BERRY;
 on, THE FRUITS OF INTERFERENCE.
BY GEO. w. wooLsEY.
tCopwight, 1889, bv tho Author.l
CHAPTER XII CON rixuEp.

CHAPTER MI CON iiNtEb.l
 Tnose Tn the room passed the usuai com pliments of the evening, and the woman | stenned up to the bar and ordered the | drinks for all in tho room. Having drank l a couple of glasses each, tho mcn returned ! to their respective games, and the woman [ crossing the room, opened door and en. tered an adjoining room. which Roy could | see was lighted and elegantly furnished. | A half dozen women had preceded her and were enjoying themselves only as de | graded women of the drinking class can | Shortly afterward number of other wo
 men came in, some of whom were accom-
 panied by men. and in a few minutes tn,
 room was comfortably filled with men | and women, who were enjoying them
 selves in various ways. Soma were drink l ing, some were playing cards and other | games, while others were waltzing tc piano music The room was so adroitl, | arranged that the merriment on the tnsid, could not be heard by passers-by on the outside.
 i Roy watched them through the partially open door for long while when his ob- servation was intercepted by colored water-boy who came out of a room open 1 ing to the rear of the bar. He came out | leaving the door open behind him, and, | crossing the hall, went into the room where the men and women were and closed the door when he had got on the in i side, and Roy turned his attention to the room out of which the negro came. This i place had the appearance of a sick room. A number of cots q few chairs, and ta- i ble were all the furniture that could be seen.
 1 A dim light was burning in the room and Roy could see two or three persons | lying around on cots, and apparently in great agony. They probably were respect able drinkers soberng up from a pro | longed drunken spree. The man at the bar noticed the open door and hurriedly | closed it, and then cast an uneasy look at Roy, who had been gazing iutently into | the room.
 l Roy remained there only few minutes longer, and then went into the front room ngain. Shortly afterward Si came in and coming up to Roy whispered something in his ear. They sat down near the middle of the room and kept their eyes fixed on | the door leading to the street. | At about ten o'clock when the room was | full of men and boys, someone ran in. and | crowding his way up to the bar, told the 1 proprietor that the crusaders were com | ing down the street, and that they had been praying and singing in all the sa- looms.
 1 ''Just let 'em come iu here if they think 1 1t is at all safe. and I'll teach 'em Il lesson that will do em d---d sight more good than all their singing and prayingl" said the burly proprietor
 /, He then commanded George. colored servant. to bring in the dogs. "Mr. Geyser, shoah you's bon. dem'er dogs n tar up every Twin puson in dis | ha'r room, shoah's dcy get loose" said George excitedly 'Thay's pow'ful vicious ! shoahs you're bon"
 1 "D----n the difference: get them ready ] and when whistle take off their muzzles and let them come in, and I reckon they will break up q crusade party on short notiec."
 1 The negro went out to obey the orders as he we'll kuew further argument would avail nothing
 | In small out-huilding to the rear of the saloon Geyser kept two large and very
 violous dogs, and had repeatedly boasted | that if the women crusaders ever came in l to his saloon that he would turn the dogs loose among them and let them bear the consequences
 Presently the negro came into the back room with the dogs
 Tho dogs growled and bayed savageiy and George found 1t difficult to control
 them
 Strong men shuddered as they listened
 to the vicious brutes, and one hy one they
 went out until the saloon was nearly cmptied.
 Roy whispered to St. and told him that
 he intended 10 stay, and. If possible, aid the ladies if they should need protection.
 Good enough, md l will stay witt 1 you" answered Si
 | In q few minutes the door opened ana l five ladies came in, and going mp to tn,
 bar, spoke pleasantly 10 Mir. Geyser, ana
 told him that they had not come to do hin
 any harm, but that their mission was tC persuade men to lead better life; and l looking around the room congratulated
 him on his quiet surroundings Yes" said he. pretty d---n quiet jus | now, but 1t will not be very long fl yot
 commence any of your religious dongs ii 1 here" And then, in a tautslislug man | ner. said to them; "If you want somethin.
 to drink step right up here like ladies and 1 I'll treat every one of you, but don't wan
 any of your d-n singing and praying ir
 here. and don't yon attempt it.
 After receiving this rather uncompll
 mentary welcome, the ladies formed
 circle. and kneelng on the floor, com
 menced singing
 Rock of ages cleft for me, Let me hiGe myself in Thoc." l Geyser stood as mute as \ statue durini the singing of the hymn, but when th
 singing ceased and the ladies had close,
 their eyes, and with uplifted hands wcr
 engaged in fersent devotion. and thei
 leader, a noble Christian woman. wa 1 praying aloud Gcyser whistled, md the
 dogs raved and growled viciously.
 Si took from his pocket revolver, and
 held it, cooked. by his side.
 The dogs rushed into the room. growl-
 ing and snapplng at everything in their
 way.
 The ladies. undaunted. continued in
 earnest prayer
 Si raised his revolver and was ready tc
 nre deadly shot at the first attack. The dogs came on to where the ladies 1 were kneeling, but Instead of tearing
 them to pieces as was intended, the first
 one came up and licked the face of the lady
 who was praying aloud and then came 1 close to her side and laid down upon hel
 skirts.
 The other dog made circuit of the i group of deyout worshippers and then
 emulated the example of his companion
 by lying down on the opposite side of the
 lady from the position occupied by the
 first dog
 They remained calm and did not stil
 from their position until the women ceased | praying and arose to their feet
 Geyser was too greatly surprised to utter . word. but stood there looking at them
 md upon that solemn scene like one in a
 dream. lie indistinctiy remembered ol
 hearing his mother read 10 him. when h,
 was . small boy, something about mar
 who was put into den of iions. but ths
 Hons did not harm him: and again of some
 one who had been cast into fiery furnace
 and were not injured by the heat. These
 and many other things passed rapidly
 through this wicked mans mind and Inc ! exclaimed aloud-A-