The Colfax chronicle., 1898-06-04
Reaching Their Hearts
By Tnos. p. MoNTFoRT.

VITHEN travelling evangelist came
wv to Dodge City, Kan, in the early
days of that town and arranged to be-
gin an old-fashioned tent camp meet
ing everybody thought it solemn duty
to advise him to be careful how he han
died the cowboys, and their iniquities,
in his discourses.
"Those fellows are terrors when they
get started" one citizen said warning
ly, land if you should say anything to
roll them they will certainly play the
mischief with you.'
"Why, what are they likely to do to
me?" the minister asked.
'There is no telling. They are like
ly to do anything mean, such as tear
ing down the tent, riding through the
congregation and firing their pistols,
or even to shooting you."
"Are they 50 bad as all that?"
bad! Brother, if there is species
of meanness under the sun that those
cowboys are not guilty of it is certainly
something that is totally unknown to
this part of the world"
''Is it possible?" ?"
1T is. Furthermore, these cowboys
run things here to suit themselves. The
whole town is under their domination
and you cannot look to anybody for
protection against them. The people
fear them and the Authorities are pow
erless. So 1 would advise you to use
great caution in dealing with them"
every well, brother" the minister
said. 81 will endeavor to profit by your
friendly advice, and l hope / shall not
arouse the animosity of the cowboys.
l don't anticipate that shall have any
serious trouble with them"
However, the meeting had not been
in progress more than three or four
days when one night several cowboys
rode into town, dismounted and filed
into the tent. They took seats well
back from the minister's stand and for
few minutes remained as quiet as
mice. The congregation, however, be-
came nervous and uneasy and kept
casting eager, inquiring glances back
in the direction of the cowboys. That
the latter were not there for any good
purpose was we'll understood, and no
one doubted for a minute that they
would, sooner or later, break out into
some kind of devilment.
The preacher announced his text and
began his sermon. He spoke slowly
deliberately and calmly, showing that
he was not in the least disturbed by
the presence of the cowboys. His audi
ence wondered at his GOODNESS, and
more than one thought that he was not
aware of the seriousness of the situa
ton. He had been speaking for five
minutes, perhaps, when suddenly old
Zeph Bowers, the leader of the cow
boy crowd, let loose terrific yell thai
startled the entire assemblage. The
other cowboys followed Zeph's lead
and for two or three minutes a regular
pandemonium of yells filed the tent
The minister waited patiently until ths
noise subsided, then he went quietly
on with his sermon.
But he was not allowed to proceed
far without interruption. He had
scarcely gotten started again when
ttuoSC y CiiS iohC Jul lOuIlolu S(IOuRtI
than ever, and at last old Bowers
called out:
Its no use, parson, you can't talk
against all of us. We come here to break
up this meeting, and we're going to dc
1t If it takes all night"
Finally the cowboys howled them
selves out, and again it became quiet
Then the minister made one more effor
to speak, and he started in to reason
with the intruders; but they refused t,
hear him, and before he had uttere,
dozen words they were whooping an,
yelling again, and to add to the terro
of the situation, two or three of tn
boys began to fire off their pistols.
A good portion of the audience lef
the tent, feeling that it was no longe
safe to remain there. Others fidgete,
about in their seats, wishing they wer
safely away, but disliking the idea o
showing cowardice by retreating Will
the preacher remaiped.
One brother in the church, who wa
sitting near the minister, urged hin
to fly. but the minister only shook hi
head.
"They wilIshoot you, sure" the broth
y usvs& " y0u persist y dssziRl