The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1892-07-25
A CHARACTER PARADOX.
Jack Bowdoin's Conversion and How II
Came About.
BY CLAY M. GREENE.

4
upon his face-but he would rather have
plunged his hand into seathing fur
mace than defile her virgin form with
his unholy touch They were Elysium,
those two hours il the organ loft; they
were freighted over and over again with
the delicate sense of purity, and the de-
| lightful comfort that has its birth in
peace and rest.
And she? Be it by no means sup
posed that she, too, was not impressed
by the novelty Of her position; that
her girls heart was not stirred by a
depth of sentiment she had never felt
before. She knew that the man by her
side was an apostle of sin, one whom
bad men feared and good men Stunned.
She knew that the delicate hand she
admired. as it flew over the keys of the
stained with fellow-creature's blood.
Stunned him, but, rather, felt herself
of his passion for music, at least by
the hope that hers might be the help
ing hand to drag him out of the pit in
which he had chosen to pass his life.
Must you go so soon, Miss?" Jack
asked, earnestly, as she announced
that the lesson was over.
Yes, they will be expecting me at
home"
When can have another lesson:"
The day after Tomorrow"
why not to- morrow"
Il should be afraid that people might
talk"
L see, 1 see, he replied, sadly. and
you don't know, Miss, how 1 thank you
for takin' this interest in me. What
must do to make myself good enough,
SOS people won't talk when they see us
together"
Our good pastor gave you mankind's
most useful manual to-day. That will
teach you everything"
will it, Miss? Then I'll learn it all
by heart.
and you may tell me how much
you've read at our next lesson. Now,
good-evening.
And she offered him her hand.
He looked at her for a moment in
blank surprise, and then said:
NO, Miss; you don't know what you're
dom My hand amt pure enough to
touch yours-not yet-wait."
Il will take it now"
He seized her hand eagerly, though
reverently, and for the first time in his
life used the name of the Deity other
wise than in the framing of an oath.
God bless yer, Miss; God bless
yer!"
Then placing a bank note in her hand,
with the remark that he would rather
pay as he went along, he left her alone
in the loft, descended to the church,
passed out into the street, and walked
hastily in the direction Of the Little
Casino"
After he had gone, Helen examined
her first fee, and gave vent to Il scream Of
surprise. 1t was a one-hundred- dollar
bill.
Arriving at his place of business, Jack
was received with shouts of drisive
laughter, which continued for some mo-
ments. After it had subsidized, he spoke:
We'll, what's the matter now?"
"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed a buriy gam
bier, we've got yer now, Jack; we've
got yer dead to rights! Amt we boys?"
Yes, yes, sure.' from twenty threats.
Why, what are you driving at?
asked Jack, with flashing eyes, for he
had begun to divine their meaning.
Why, we watched We this afternoon
and seen We sneakin' into the church
with that yaller-haired young heifer at
Jacks pistol was out in an instant,
and his face grew livid with rage.
Now, listen to me, every one of yer! I
won't explain, because this is no place
to drag her name into. But let me tell
you this, and you all know [ never give
a warnin' but once. II one o you men
ever dares to speak that lady's name in
my hearin' again, by God, III kill him
dead."
There was a lu!l in the room, and no
one made any attempt at Il retort, for it
had long been a well-established fact
that when Jacks pistol was out he
never stopped to handy words. After a
glance about the room. to satisfy him
self that his threat had produced the de-
sired effect, Jack turned coolly to his
head employee.
"How's the game runrin', Shortly"
~Fust-rate; we win three tn .usand."
LET her go!" calculated Jack, cheer
lily. You don't need me, so I'll go
home and do some r.adin'. Good
night" And, leaving the saloon, he went
to his room at Mrs. Browns boarding
his pocket the Bible given him by Mr..
and began to read. He de-
voured the entire book of Genesis, or
dered his supper, and spent the next
hour in eating, smoking, and musing
over the strange history of the crea-
tion-read for the first time.
Six days." he queried. How could
that be? Now, I've got a rock behind
my bar that was bowed open and fish
found inside. Professor Smith said that
been made in a million years.
Guess I'll have to ask the parson about
that He passed into the second stage
Of Bible reading and did not pause till
he had completed Exodus, when he lit
another cigar and then continued his
reading. 1t was not an inspiriting pas
time to man of his tastes, but he re-
membered his promise to Helen and
chung to his task with stolid pertinacity,
until the little clock on his table struck
two, when he undressed himself and
went to bed.
There's one thing like about the
Bible. he unused before going to sleep.
. THERE'S not ono word in II oin fAa1ip'