The Coconino weekly sun., 1896-05-14
THE CHURCH MILITANT.
BY BARRY PAIN.

As passed the vicarage, thought that it looked likely place. Iwalked on a few yards, and then it seemed to me a pity not to see if the place was us good as it looked. So l went back and asked at the bacl, door if they could give me a job of work.
 The ktChcnmaid said there was no work for me, and she was not inclined to talk. But she fetched me some bread and cheese, and had chance to look round. Imarked 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-a window like that is. It seemed to me one-man jol', and just as good that night as any other night.
 So that night, by half-past ten, I was in the shrubbery of the vicarage gar den, smoking my pipe and watching the house. There was only one light; twas in the study W indows downstairs At Il o'clock that light went out and another appeared in the upstairs Will dow. That's all right" 1 said to my self Parsons finished writing his sermon and gone up to bed" When the whole house was dark, went round it once or twice. just to see how things lay. couldn't find anything better than the sculery window, but that was quite good enough. l was impatient to begin, but did not consider it safe to start work until half-past twelve. The window gave me more trouble than ] had expected; the catch was very stiff, and had nothing but my pocket knife to force 1t back with. However, got it back at last and opened the win- dow very slowly, an inch at time, mak- ing no noise. Then got in.
 l no sooner got my feet down on the scullery floor than was knocked head long, and found 13-stone weight on my chest. I asked it, speaking under difficulties, to get off again. was a bit dazed, for I had come down hard and bumped my head, but I saw the only thing to do was to sham drunk, end l spoke thickly. I undid one end of my collar. pulled my hair over my forehead, hung my lower lip, and put on 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. Will liam Lake himself. And the more I 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 ?"
 l hiccoughcd and answered.: Thor finish was my housh-nummer twenny Nillctsh Tcrrish. Ain't thish ri'?"
 That won't do," he said; "I heard you round the house an hour ago--or l shouldn't have been here waiting for you. Besides, drunken men don't open windows that way. You're not drunk. Drop it."
 l Thought about it for moment, and saw that there was good deal in what he said. So I dropped it. fastened my collar again, sat up, and pulled off my cap.
 Very well," said, "then what's the move now?"
 suppose he saw my hand slipping round, for he said, quickly: Have you any weapons?"
 Bless you, no! 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 I didn't try again. It wasn't only that he was bigger, heavier and stronger than most men; he was quick as light, and you could never 'eli from his eye what he was going to GO next. He went all over me carefully and took my knife, and the shooter, and my Jemmy. Then saw that tine game Vas up.
 What silly little liar you are!" he said.
 As l have said, saw that it was all up' and l couldn't make it any worse. ] | was good deal disappointed, and l N"u been roughly handled, and alto se'her was not in the sweetest temper. DO spoke out. I said that I did not wan, any (adjective omitted) preach, inG rom a Substantive omitteD like ndhsclf. All asked was what his (ad- Iec'lve omittcd) move was.
 IT you swear any more," he said, 'I snail be compelled to cause you consid- eraoie physical pain."
 had bumped head and a parked e'0ow' l was fairly copped, and my