Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1896-05-14
AS I4haye said I ssaw..thotsit was Al


had been roughly handled, and alto-
gether was not ii the sweetesttemper.
Sol spoke out. I said that r did not
want any ladjective omitted) preach.
ing from Substantive omitted) like
himself. All Iasked was what his lad
jective omitted) move was.
If you swear any more," he said, II
shall be compelled to cause you consid-
cradle physical pain"
l had bumped head and a barked
elbow. I was fairly copied, and my
temper got the better of me again. It
was foolish Of me, but may have
thought that he, being parson, would
not actually strike me. Anyhow, said
that if he wanted to know what he was
l could tell him. did tell him in four
words. I omit the Words ....
Never in my life have I had such
thrashing as got then. He hit only
with the open hand; if he had used his
fists he'd have killed me. There was no
getting away from him, and no giving
him anything back. It was dirg-dong
all over my face and head until 1
dropped in heap, bleeding like pig,
and nearly sick. 1t finished me- ...-..s,4r
you're bossH said. "You can give
your orders. I only wanted to see"
He stood there smiling, as if he had
rather enjoyed himself.
"Pick up your boots," he said, land
put them on"
On entering the window I had my
boots hanging round my neck by the
1orl Col
knocked me over. While was putting
them on he turned back his cuffs and
washed his hands at the sink. When he
had finished he pointed to the sink.
''There you are" he said. ''You caa
repair damages" '.a-' =
Twas bleedig from my nose, and from
a cut lip, but the cold water soon
stopped that. When I had finished he
asked me if I was all right.
''Pretty WE'LL" I said. ''I'm a bit
shaky on the legs-that's all. You
gave me good doing"
stake the candle, then, and go in front
of me into the study. I expect you
know the way" Of course did. Show
me the outside of any house, and the
inside is no puzzle to me. .,.,,s. .>-~-.~. -
He picked up my knife, the revolver,
and the small Jenny, and followed me
into the study. He lit the lamp, gave me
the knife back again, and locked the
revolver and the Jenny away in a
drawer. y
Sand now," he said, won't you sit
down?" He spoke to me as if were a
lady visitor. l sat down, and he, taking
chair opposite me, began to fill little
old clay pipe.
II really can't make this out" he said.
YOU'RE SO small and clumsy. You've
got nasty temper, but you're not very
Plucky. What on earth made you think
of trying to be a burglar?'''
3; 4 don't Know,' said. 'Blf there's
one thing I'd'like to ask you, and no dis
respect. What made you think of being.
parson-a man of your build and!
strength, and so handy with your fists 2.
[ ask pardon, but you might have done
BETTER I
He didn't seem to take that as cheek
at all. For moment he didn't answer,
and sat sucking MS little clay. Then he
sighed: and said: 81 have sometimes
thought so myself. But it is quite GER
tain that you might have done better
How did you come to this?" 4
II had no. bringing up, and I read
penny trashy novels"
He tapped his foot inpatiently on the
carpet. ''Well, well-go on"
''Then 1 was led away by bad COM
panions and took to drink and gam
bling, and not knowing what it was to
have mothers tender
He got up and interrupted me. ':Now
drop all that,' ne said. II want facts;
tell me the story of your life. How did
you come to this?" $685.
Partly from admiring the man, and
partly from whim, I did not tell him the
story, and told him the plain truth too
1t was pretty strong, but left nothing
out, and he never stopped me. When
had finished he thanked me.
"Then," he said, looming of decent
people, and with fair education and
good chance in life, you none the less
have been from your earliest boyhood
just about as bad as you are now-bad
all through always bad"
'"rhat is about the mark, answered.
Then thought to myself that it would
be one of two things-either he would
take me out and hand me over to the po-
lice, or else he would ask me to join him
in prayer. 1 expected the latter. He
did neither. He walked up and down
the room, with his hands behind him,
saying to himself: "And preach ser
mons-sermons- sermons!" Suddenly
he smiled again in that queer way of
his. you've. kept me up very late," he