The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-03-22

away amid the blare of brass lnStru-
ments and breaking of champagne bot
ties.
But" said Buckskin Bill, with
grave, unconscious profanity, that
sort of a round up won't do this time.
The Gospel brand has got to be put on,
and who is to do it?"
That was the problem which dis
tracted Logan through four anxious
days Men had died as hunted wild
beasts die; women had yielded up their
souls as warriors give way in battle.
But this time the fair-haired idol of
the camp had gone out into the great
silence without a struggle. Saturday
afternoon she deigned to ride up town
with Bob Stedman and exhibit the
bisque marvel imported by her wor-
shippers from Chicago, whereupon the
leading citizens united with Kentucky
Smitty in drinking the health of the
fairest child and finest doll baby west
of the Missouri In the gray dark
ness of Monday morning her soul
slipped over the divide-and the town
was desolate.
Slanting Annie closed her dance
house in Difference to the public grief.
Wheeler's He'll and Phil Watson's Lad
der to Heaven Hogan abounded in
picturesque nomenclature bore signs:
shut up till after the funeral" Min
ers, cow punchers and ranchmen gath
cred in groups at the corners, silent,
forlorn and uncontrolled.
Down at Marvins the young mother
looked at the floor and rocked mechan-
ically. Mrs. Marvin was one of the four
chaste women of whom Logan was
justly proud. Her morals were above
suspicion. AS Bob Stedman phrased it:
''She amt no beauty, but she's straight,
you bet. She's a staver. She don't
need no props" Beyond that she was
what COW camps had made her, vain
and careless woman. Concerning
spiritual things she knew nothing. Re-
Ggion did not flourish in town with a
brewery, fourteen saloons, nine gam
bling houses, two dance halls, and
neither church nor clergyman. The
Sunday diversions were dancing, faro,
poker and irrigation" of an alcoholic
nature. As the mother of the infant
divinity Logan wors hiped, Mrs. Marvin
headed the list of desirable partners
at the dance.
When she looked into the face of her
little dead child, a longing for some
thing better was born in Mrs. Marvin's
soul. She spoke fiercely to the men
who talked of a procession and music
at the hall. "You sha'n't bury my
baby like that-you sha'n't! l won't
have her buried like a sheep or a gam
bier. Somebody's got to pray or do
something! She shan't be buried that
way!"
That's straight" said Tom Gibson.
1.-THE pious is the thing. We must find
somebody to do that praying"
As men seek for lost lead, so they
searched, with no result save Buckskin
Bills despairing query of Monday
night. The nearest clergyman was
four days journey across the noun
tains, and hence out of the question.
Once, in its beginning, Logan hospita-
bly, entertained a parson for three
weeks. He was cordially welcomed and
invited to take up his residence and
''open a gospel shop" His experiments
turnal exit from the town. This.
coupled with the fact that another
mans horse was his means of trans
portation, destroyed public confidence
in his cloth, and no preacher had since
been permitted to abide in Logan. 1t
was Tom Gibson's horse he took, and
Tom swore at great length and with
much profane particularly of detail
that he would plug him full of lead
on sight" Now the greatness of his
anxiety ingulfed his desire for revenge.
He said, wistfully: IF only Magee was
here, he could"
''No, he couldn't" interrupted Bob
Stedman. THAT miserable scoundrel
couldn't pray over a maverick in this
town, let alone that little" He
choked and went to the door. Before
his eyes came a fair vision with soft
yellow curls, round blue eyes and a
caressing baby voice, saying: ''Fant you
for the wide and the dollie. You may tiss
me, Bcb!" No card sharper and horse
thief could pray over Bobs child angel.
Tuesday morning dawned. Personal
appeal had been made to every man in
the town. Wheeler, popularity known
as Parson Jim because he once was a
Local preacher among the Methodists
in Ohio, was urged and pressed to
of6ciate. ''No, boys" he answered.
most Of you don't know any better,
but do. am mean. but am not in
sulting the Al=iighty; l am not mean