Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-10-30
LOCKED IN A CHURCH.
A Newspaper Mans Odd and Un-
usual Experience.
in THE MOST COMPLETE DARKNESS
He Pounded on the Door and SO Brought
About Release at Last-Left There
by the Sexton.

A newspaper man of New York had
singular experience short time ago
which he would not care to repeat.
Having business engagement with u
certain Brooklyn clergyman, who
has one of the outest little studios in
the city, where some of the best sermons
that come from Brooklyn pulpit are
made and sealed. but not delivered
until the following Sunday. the news
paper man met the clergyman in ques-
tion. according to appointment. The
study is in tower up winding stair
case that reminds one of an intellectual
corkscrew and the ascent of which is
likely to frighten bores and inquisitive
intruders on a minister's time and
patience.
The tenant of the little sky parlor.
from the windows of which the oity
spread out before the spectator. de-
signed it himself, and although a man
of weight morally and physically. as
cends the staircase as if he were boy
in his teens. 1t is wonderful TO see
the ease and grace with which he does
this aerial act. 1t puzzles his visitors,
and they frequently look as if they
were IN brown study themselves. de-
batting in their minds as to whether
the doctor has taken a course Of gym.
nastics or whether in the best sense of
the term he has been sparring for
wind. But, however. to return to the
story. The newspaper man had trans
acted his business, bade the Clergyman
good night, and after receiving the
latter's caution about finding his way
out started down the little staircase ON
his way home. The seeker after news
nodded his head in pleasant way as
if there were no doubt about it. but at
this point it was the unexpected came
in. He reached the end Of the spiral
staircase and of another fight, and at
this time there began to be a flight in
the imagination. He pushed forward
boldly, however, and, as he was doing
his level best to make his exit. the
sexton was heard running in another
direction and before the newspaper
man had time to divine his idea the
lights went out as if they had been ex-
tinguisbed by machinery. Then came
soliloquy over Shakespeare's Put
out the light and then put out the
light, with special emphasis ON the
word "then."
1t was Saturday night, and the SEX
ton was probably anxious to do his
marketing, but what was the news-
paper man to do? The air was chilly
and clammy, and suggestion OF cata-
combs made its unpleasant intrusion
on the church prisoner. He pounded
and kicked the doors and called in
vain to the sexton, who had under
taken to exercise church economics to
the letter by not wasting light. Surely
there was every indication of spending
the night in the church, and for once
the member of the press realized the
meaning of that abstruse phrase that
he had been let in on the ground floor.
Then came thoughts of pneumonia and
church mice, with no reason for either
except that the first named was un-
pleasant and the latter was suggestive
of that charity with which all news
paper men are running over. Then
followed recollections-youthful ones,
too-of Jeremy Taylor's Holy Living
and Dying" followed by feeling of
extreme hunger and EXTREMIST thirst.
This was succeeded by sickly antici-
patton of breakfast and Sunday morn
ing devotions.
Then there was reaction. when his
imagination grew cold and he pounded
the only thing that he had to lean on
in the world-a church door-and
much to his astonishment and greatly
to his relief came the sexton running
and let the newspaper man out and
put stop to narrowing tale. 81
thought I heard some one, said the
doctor, with merry twinkle in his
eye. What was the matter ?"
why" said the newspaper man, 81
was all right until the light was put
out, and then was like ship without
a compass. 81 don't wonder" said
the church member. you might
have spent the night under lock and
key" And now this little tale carries
a moral to the effect that church SEX
tons should call out before closing their
edifices at night a warning to strang-
ers. and not try to increase the church
mem bership by the close communion
plan.
Mrs. Knayber-Can / have cupful