Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-07-21
.uceesslon of eheers greeted dc as

succession of cheers greeted the dis
closure of its contents. The organ was
set up in the place which had been pre-
pared for it, and its delighted owner
ordered champaign all round by way of
christening what was unanimously pro-
nounced to be the most beautiful piece
of furniture ever seen in Aspen.
Is it better'n palmer, jaek?" was
asked.
"Better'n a pianner! Why, if a deuce
is better'n an ace; if a f1sh-horn's bet
tern brass band, so can this here ma
chine give pianner high, jack, game,
and win out.
Give US q tune, then, was suggested
and echoed at once by a dozen voices.
AN right. cheerily responded Jack;
-and If you fellers don't swear you never
heard real music before in all yer lives,
I'll give up every dollar I've got.
He sat before the instrument with an
air of unwOnted circumstances, and
| pressed his fingers upon the keys. But
| the s.. 900 investment failed to give forth
the slightest sound, and a yell of de-
rision greeted his failure to produce the
only real music they had ever heard"
Stuck, by thunderl The damned
| things a dummy, and the drinks are
on me-"
But the Professor" came to his
rescue, explained the use Of keybOards,
stops, pedals and bellows, and Jack
made another attempt. The effect was
electrical, and the success of the second
| effort most complete. It was indeed q
weird, fantastic scene. AS If by magic,
every sound save that of the organ was
hushed. and a hundred desperadoes
| stood gathered in restful attitudes
around it. while this enthusiastic out
| cast. for the first time on record, played
| the holy strains Of Rock Of Ages" in a
/ Western gambling hell
1t is not the purpose of the writer to
dwell upon the history OF that organ at
The Little Casino, nor to particularize
as to Its many successful recitals.
| Suffice 1t to say that it proved the har-
| binger of a stupendous run Of luck to
Jack BOwdoin, and he made such a
rapid advancement as an organist that
/ within a month he committed to memory
every selection he had heard in the lit
/ tie brown church.
To effect this result he was forced to
pass through the same fiery ordeal Of
ministerial anathema whenever he at
! tended service, and that was twice every
| Sunday. He felt that whenever the
worthy pastor shook his finger at him
and shouted the usual cumbersome plat
itudes, he was being held up before the
congregation as a terrible example, but
| he bore it all patiently, and his uneasy
/ twistings In his seat ceased whenever
/ the choir began to sing. He drank in
/ every sound of voice and organ with
studiOus avidity, and when service was
| over he would duplicate them in The
| Little Casino"
After a time he grew dissatisfied at
the brevity and simplicity of his roper
| tory, for the selections of the church
| choir had grown to be a tiresome series
| of repetitiOns. He purchased volume
after volume of organ music and read
the titles of hundreds of offertOries,
| sOnatas, and TIE Deums by the great
( masters, but the notes were as unintel-
/ ligible to him as the signs of the Oabala,
/ and he was all the more helpless because
| the Professor" could not read a note of
music.
There was but one way out of what
| had grown to be a serious trouble; he
I must take lessons from the lady organ
] ist, and as she could be reached only
/ through the minister. that worthy must
| be interviewed without delay.
In less than half an hour Jack was
knocking at the door of the parsonage.
and the minister's wife, opening it,
| stood eying him with an inqUiring
| glance.
I want to see the parson."
Who shall I say, please?"
-Er-ah-Mr. Thompson, of Denver,
| on most important business.
Not the Rev. Mr.. Thompson?"
-Well-er-nO, mum, not exactly-er
| Pm his brother"
He will be glad TO see you, I am
sure. You will find him there in his
study" And she indicated the direction
I OF that sacred snuggery by wave Of
| her hand
Jack entered the room and stood ner-
vous and uncovered in the presence of
the Rev. Joshua Sampson. He had
far rather have faced a pair Of loaded
revOlvers, but although he never for a
moment lost his self-pOssession, he was
doubtful as TO how to begin the inter
view.
Finally Mr.. Sampson broke the ST.
lence, which was beginning 10 grow
| painful:
Mr.. Thompson. Of Denver. think I
/ heard you say21
-well-er-yes. did say so. but. you
see, lied
And was that necessary, my good
( friends" This with an expression Of
/ mingled surprise and pain
Yes, reckon il was, because IL I'd
given yer my real name yer wouldn't a
! let me in. I'm Jack BoWdoin, the gam
bier, and I'm no good. Hold on, don I
throw me out-Tn make il all right
Name yer price, and, whatever 1t is III
pay it; but I tell yer, ParsOn, I'm in
trouble
Don't get excited. Mr.. Bowdoin, re-
torted Mr.. Sampson, kindly. I had no
f.. intention OF throwing you out. as~yoU