The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-06-26
THE CHURCH MILITANT.
BY BARRY PAIN.

AS passed the vicarage, thought
that it looked a likely place. l walked
on a few yards, and then 1t seemed
to me a pity not to see if the place was
as good as it looked. So l went back
and asked at the back door If they could
give me Job of work.
The kitchenmaid said there was no
work for me, and she was not inclined
to talk. But she fetched me some bread
and cheese, and I had chance to look
round. / marked the scullery window;
it was out of sight of the road, fas-
tened with the usual simple catch, with
no bars or shutters. A regular invita-
tion-n window like that is. 1t seemed
to me a one-man jolt, and just as good
that night as any other night.
So that night, by half-past ten, was
in the shrubbery of the vicarage gar"
den, smoking my pipe and watching
the house. There was only one light;
it wns in the study windows downstairs
At ii o'clock that light went out and
another appeared in the upstairs will
dow. That's all right" l said to my
self. "Parson's finished writing his
sermon and gone up to bed" When the
whole house was dark, ] went round 1t
once or twice. just to see how things
lay. l couldn't find anything better
than the scullery window, but that was
quite good enough. / was impairment
to begin, but / did not consider 1t safe
to start work until half-past twelve.
The window gave me more trouble than
I had expected; the catch was very
stiff and I had nothing but my pocket
knife to force it back with. However
got it back at last and opened the vim
dow very slowly, an inch at time, max
ing no noise. Then got in.
I no sooner got my feet down on the
sculleYy floor than was knocked head
long, and found 13-stone weight on
nv chest. | asked 1t, speaking under
difficulties, to get off again ] was .
bit dazed, for | had come down hard
and bumped my head, but / saw the
only thing to do was to sham drunk.
and 1 spoke thickly. I undid one end
of my collar, pulled my hair over my
forehead, hung my lower lip. and put
on a bleary stare. BY the time that
man had got off my chest, struck a
match on the heel of his boot, and lit the
candle behind him, looked complete
drunk if ever any man did.
l could see now that the man who
had knocked me over was Rev. VIII
liam Lake himself. And the more !
looked at him, the more felt sorry that
had ever come.
= "Well," he said. "you dirty little
ginger-headed, two-penny half-penny
,scoundrel. what are you doing here!'
hiccoughed and answered: Thor
thish was my housh-nummer twenny
Willetsh Terrish. Amt thish ri'?"
''That won't do" he said; II heard
YOU round the house an hour ago-or
shouldn't have been here waiting for
YOU. Besides, drunken men don't
open windows that way. You're moi
drunk. Drop it."
thought about it for q moment, and
saw that there was good deal in what
he said. So 1 dropped it l fastened
my collar again, sat up, and pulled OIL
my cap.
Every WE'LL" I said, "then what's the
move now?"
suppose he saw my hand slipping
round, for he said, quickly: "Have you
any weapons"
"Bless you, mol only"
Before l could finish he was sitting
on me again. l tried smash at him
but he caught my wrist and nigh broke
it. After that / didn't try again. II
wasn't only that he was bigger, heavier
and stronger than most men; he was
quick as light, and you could never
tell from his eye what he was going to
DO next. He went all over me carefully
and took my knife, and the shooter, and
my Jenny. Then saw that the game
was up.
What o silly little liar you arel" he
said.
AS have said, l saw that 1t was ali
up, and | couldn't make it any worse
| was a good deal disappointed. and
had been roughly handled. and alto
gether was not in the sweetest temper
So | spoke out. / said that did not
want any adjective omitted) preach
ing from q Substantive omitted) like
himself. All asked was W nat his lad
iective omitted) move was.
IF you swear any more" he said. 81
shall be compelled to cause you consid
cradle physical pain"
l had a bumped head and barked
elbow. l was fairly copped, and my
temper got the better of me again. II
was foolish of me, but ! may have
thought that he, being q parson, would
not actually strike me. Anyhow, SAID
that if he wanted to know what he was
| could tell him. did tell him in -four
words. | omit the words.
l. .