The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-27

and BY the middle of the week he really
had what seemed like an old fashioned
revival in full swing. Some OF the W0-
men folks We're really religious and they.
of course. had welcomed his coming and
helped him all they could.
There was a number of men, women
and children who professed to find re-
ligion and Ruggles was certainly
hustler. for he actually organized a
church and a Sunday school before the
week was out. and we who We're paying
for il all agreed to chip In for the per-
manent rent of the hall till the chapel
should be finished and for few other
necessary expenses to keep the thing
going.
I'VE all expected that Ruggles would
make a play for call as permanent
pastor of the church, so Il was half in
jest and half in earnest that the black
smith made the proposition he did while
the postmaster was shutting for the first
deal Saturday night.
- suppose he said. that our crowd
will have to put up most of the money
! to keep this new racket going. and for
me / don't object. | think It's an ex-
cellent speculation, and | hear those
/ fellows in Dinkus are talking about
| trying the same thing. It's lucky we
got in first. It's going to cost consid-
cradle. though, and | don't know but
what II would be a good idea to start
/ d kitty. 'Sposing we put in a blue chip
| for RuggIes on two pairs or better.
That's a pretty stiff kitty, but it'll be
/ the easiest way to raise the money.
Just then the door opened and in
came Ruggfes and Jack Whitaker.
/ The first sight of rhe dominic was a
sufficient surprise, but before we had
fairly recovered ourselves we say that
Jack, though he had the grace to be
half ashamed of his company. was al
| most bursting with laughter. Then
we saw that Ruggles had been drink
ing.
Gentlemen said Jack, with mock
soIemnity. our beloved pastor is about
to leave us. and as he did not like to
go without saying goodbye to you all.
he insisted on coming around here.
told him it was not a prayer meeting
But he said that made no difference.
I'm afraid he said IL didn't make a
damned bit of difference
"Ruggies looked around gravely
while Jack was talking. and slow
smile came over his fat face at the last
sentence.
Possibly | did say that. gentlemen.
he said The fact is that | find my
professional labors so onerous that |
feel compelled to unbend at times.
That Is, in truth, the reason why | feel
compelled To seek a new field of use
fitness. Your town is all right in some
respects, and | don't know but it's equal
to any other place In this God-forsaken
part of the world, but it's too Internally
slow for me | trust. however. and
here his face grew serious, i trust that
| have given satisfaction while | have
been here
This was too much for our gravity,
and we all laughed. long and loudly.
Then the blacksmith said very serious
iy, i am bound to say Mr., Ruggles
that your public efforts have been ali
we could ask for. I'm afraid. though
that this kind of a blowout at the end
of weeks preaching is going to spoil
the game
Don't be alarmed about that said
Ruggles easily 1 am cautious about
my behavior in public | spotted oul
young friend. Brother Whitaker. as d
, | desirable companion. and | have mol
INDUCED in any friyolity excepting with
| him. We had a few drinks together In
my room al the hotel. and in answer tc
, | my complaint that the town was slow
, he proposed bringing me around here
but | would not consent to come til
he assured me there would be no sean.
dai'
: II own up said Jack. That's tbs
: way 1t was. And we all laughed
again. for we saw only the funny side
| of ii then.
! "A round of drinks was ordered fol
| MIR. Ruggles benefit. and then he in
? | vited himself to join in our poker game
: Nobody objected. and the pasteboard
were soon flying around.
!, we played 81 limit. TO which Mr.
Ruggles rather objected when he he'll
s a full hand on the fourth or fifth deal
and wanted to whoop 1t up. We coul'
= not consent to a change, though. an
! he submitted gracefully enough. say
! ing with a laugh; / suppose / cal
! lose my weeks salary quickly enougl
, at this
! II was watching the rascal prett,
5 closely. however. and | did not thinl
!, he had any intention of losing. In tn
: first place. | did not think he wa
nearly as much affected by liquor as h
: | appeared to be. and thtn was suspi
!, cious of the way he handled the cards
: / thought he was pretending To b
!. clumsy with the intention OF playin
: crooked.
!, THE game went on. though, for som