Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1899-06-10

Ill make one OF my rarttn1cf> 20. ~hO
you can stand around and see The show
Now. parson. Gre away. IL you've got \
any gospel thatn reach this crowd. it'il I
hev TO be like my whisky. hot and
strong.
The preacher sprang upon table
and began 90 sing Gospel song His |
voice was full aud powerful and the arr
was a popular war ballad. The chorus
was simple and oil were urged TO join in
singing IL. In less than five minutes
half the crowd were singing as Justify
rs class-leaders and pounding time
! with their fists upon the card tables
After the hymn was sung. short
prayer was offered and the sermon be-
gan. IL was plain. ferveus. manly
talk. straight from an earnest heart
The preachers face was sympathetic.
his voice was tender al times and then
IL rose in a ringing tone like the blast Of
trumpet The words were simple.
bold and true. he plainly told them of
the danger Of sin. the certainty OF pen
atty for the sinner. and ended with an
exhortation 20 regain the innocence
and purity OF their childhood days. He
was in the midst OF pathetic picture
OF the PARKWAY horne. where loved ones
were thinking. weeping and praying
for tho wicked Wandcrcr. and the crowd
was hanging IN breathless silence upon
his words An angry alteration was
begun at the feet OF the preacher. IL
was fierce and brief.
AN old man with the face rf demon
, and the form Of giant was playing
cards with younv lad with long curly
hair and the sweet innocent face OF a
girl. The giant was called slippery
Dick lie was the terror OF the town.
lie was such consummste trickster
with cards that every game was DELHI
crate robbery upon his part The lad
was called The Baby because Of his
I face and curls When tbs two sat down
J 70 play. every sc in the saloon bad sa'd
10 his ueighbde
"'What a fool THE Haby" is 20 Try
20 play cards with slippery Dick.
: THE dcath-Hkc silence which was
: stirred only 10y the low. gentle voice O
? the preacher was broken in upon by
!, The Baby $ clear bovish treble:
X You're chcat,'
y slippery Dick roared with thu
fury of q mad bull:
L You're q liar
Both srrang 20 their feet. The oil
y man suatchcd hrs revolver from hi
= belt. The hammer caught IN the folk
j. o. his flannel shirt. and before he couh
loosen 30. fic young man was upon hin
= with the spring Of a tiger The iit.
= hand. a. strong as steel graspcd III
giant bv the throat. a huge bowie knit
= flashed in the light. ard the nest sec
ie ond was buried iu The old mans hear
= lie sank back in his chair. killed %
y stantiv. Before man could stir. JAG
"a had pressed a revolver against III
ia Baby's' breast and shouted.
"'Nove and you're dead mani
ne -Thc Young man cooliy folded h
p; arms aud SAID In ringing. dehaI
% voice:
d ~.He cheated me and I've KILLED hin
Al DO what you please
Jack gave orders 10 search the bod
= Of the dead man. When whole pack
cards were found concealed about h
IN person. an accepted this as certain eN
ne dencc o. fraud Jack roared oat.
ny This court decides that slipper
Dick was caught chcatin' and IT
MS Baby is guilty Of justifable homici
sE and goes free. All in favor Of the IN
nc tiou say Aye"
II ~ thunder OF Ayes responded.
nc "sAu opposed shy NO said ia
y" as he cooked his revolver and giar
about the room. 4 moments deaf
LEI Ike silence followed. Jack in n low
a tone said:
~ This court is unanimous and IT
Baby" is acquitted. The parson "
~ now say . prayer for slippery Dicl
Ms and well take him out and plant hin
The great bell rang out as ia
-; shouted;
"a ~'All Up. gents; hats or Every c
- stood and uncovered the head.
,+e II have heard many prayers in !
be Hfe. buunever one like the parsons o.
slippery Dick The preacher tower
.. above the sea Of heads. and. with e.
= T closed. talked with God. lie pleaded
orr mercy for the mob Of sinners bef'
him who were on the road 10 eter
,.,d ruin. He uncovered the hard and CT
hearts about him with the fearless Z
steady hand OF a master surgeon.
could hear the quick gasp OF suppress
= ,rea1hing as each one of the pack
IT. reprobates feiS the uusparing hand
the veal his own guilty secret.
tn THE prayer for Jack, the ringlea
.snl IN sin. was like a blast from furn.
Jack covered his face with his slo
hat and treInbled like leaf. The
v.s, tition for slippery Dick was pic;
"a. os awful sin receiving its awful pens
-. IN accordance with Divine law.
brought sob o. terror from a scOr
hears When the PRAYER reached