Griggs courier., 1898-03-18
clean a. whitewash and soap could
make It, and only wanted the presence

clean az whitewash and soap could
make 1t, and only wanted the presence
of the parson to make il complete.
The excitement grew intense as the
hour drew near when the coach was
due, eliminating in q mighty cheer
when the driver finally pulled up oppo-
site the saloon. Several passengers got
down, but no one answering to the de-
scription Of strong man left the
coach.
Finally Texas Joe said to the driver:
"Say, where's our new parson?"
"There, sitting on his trunk" replied
the man, with broad grin on his face.
Ali eyes turned towards a young,
slender-lool<ing man, who, with eyes
twinkling with amusement, was watch
ing his new congregation. Seeing that
something was expected of him, he
came forward and held out his hand.
"Men of South City," he began, in
clear, musical voice, II have been sent
up here to act, if YOU will have me, as
your new parson. Something tells me
we are going to be good friends, and IT
won't be my fault if we arn't. There's
lots for me to learn from you, and per-
haps can do little for you, too"
His face was so boyish, his hair SO
curly and such an air of sincerity and
truth seemed to surround him that the
miners, although deeply disappointed,
felt their hearts go out to him.
One sultry afternoon the parson of
South City was sitting in his room,
prey to the deepest depression. With
could supply he had done his best to
raise his people, and he had failed, and
he knew it. He saw his miners, at first
shamefacedly and then openly, stay
away from his little church, and his
!,eartwas sick within him. He was won
dering if it were worth while stay
ing on when his door was suddenly
opened and woman, disheveled and
wild-eyed, rushed in.
"Oh, parson, save my boy!" she
gasped, and sank on to chair, breath
less with her haste.
"Why, Mrs. Mace, what OH earth is
the natter?-is your son ill?" he asked,
eagerly.
'No, sir, he amt i'll, but he's worse
nor that; the men are going to hang
him."
"What for? Surely he hasn't been
tried. What has he done?"
''Well, SIR" walled, the woman, "he's
got into bad company lately, and
man accused him of horse stealing, and
and" looking fearfully around, cts
true, sir"
Young and inexperienced as he was
in the ways of q frontier camp, the par
son knew that horse stealing was one
of the deadly sins, and his face grew
pale as death.
"I'm afraid. Mrs. Mace, that if the
men have decided to hang your son no
word of mine would stay them"
"And you, q minister, to say that to
me, mother-why, it's none the less
murder, and you know it. Oh, sir!" she
pleaded, there's yet time to catch
them up-for Gods sake, whose word
you preach, try and save my boy. Will
no one help poor mother?" She wept
bitterly, whilst the parson, in imag-
ination, felt himself defying the mob,
and also in imagination saw the CHASTITY
tragedy that would ensue on his inter-
ference.
"Come, Mrs. Mace, let us go and hur-
ry, and perhaps we may do some good"
Selling his hat, he ran from the room
and followed the crowd Of miners whom
he saw were making for some trees
about half mile out of the town.
When he finally caught them up all the
grim preparations were made for the
execution. The rope was around the
shivering youths neck. Six sta1wart
men held the loose end ready ut sig
nal to launch the criminal into eternity.
With his boyish face flushed. with ex-
c1tement the narson pressed to the
front and stood side by side with the
man about to die. A silence fell on the
throng, broken by Texas Joe, who said:
"Now, parson, this amt no place for
you. Judge Lynch have had his say.
and Jim Mace is going to be hanged,
and that's So"
And who are you to take upon your
self to judge and to execute? Don't
scowl at me and finger your gun, for
I'm an unarmed man, and you know it,
Have not you enough blood on your
hands already without killing this boy
who has broken your laws? Give him
one more chance, and you may be glad
yourself of it one day."
The Berseker fury that occasionally
comes over men of quite meek DISPOSE
tions was on the little man who stood
defying the whole mob. His look
seemed to daunt even the men who held
the rope, and it hung loose about Mace's
neck. ,p
Joe saw his authority trembling in
the balance, and, with pistol raised,
said: "Clear him out of the way, boys.
or TIL shoot him where he stands"
"No, you won't, joe" said the par.
son, undauntedly. "You know that
would be murder, and they don't love
you too much, even here, to stand
that