Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1899-06-22

ing town of Diamond Center? You fell
lows amt got any patriotism Elk.
| ample! Example be hanged!' says
Pete, scornfully.
There seemed to be lot of sense in
what Pete said, so we pushed on about
| hundred yards into the woods. 1t was
pretty dim outside by this time, and in
among the trees it was really dark, but
Pete was riding in the middle of the
party, and it didn't look as if there was
any way in which he could escape
Pretty soon we reached a tree with big
boughs hanging low down, just the tree
Tor what we wanted.
guess this will do all right says
Dick, who was riding ahead.
I'VE stopped, and one of the boys
threw the end of the rope over the
Dough of the tree, while | fixed the
moose about Pete's neck. Pete had been
riding with his head down, as if he was
thinking pretty hard, and not paying
much attention to what was going on
but when he felt the rope about his
neck he looked up sorrowfuIly and dis
gusted, rather than angry.
guess that this is the first time
any of you boys have ever taken part in
festivity of this kind says he, sort of
sarcastic like.
I'VE allowed it was.
Wen, it is a good thing you have
me, a resident of Diamond Center. to
try it on first. for you would make the
camp laughing stock if you acted this
way with stranger. / wish i had time
to give you rehearsal says Pete. kind
of regretfully, but it's growing too
dark. Why, 1 actually believe you fell
lows would jerk man over the pearly
gates without giving him a chance to
say a few last words and speak little
prayer
I'VE all was silent at this, for we had
forgotten all about that part of the
programme. So Pete dropped off his
horse and went over to little bush
a few feet away from the tree we had
thrown the rope over. Then he began
to pray. 1 don't claim to be an au-
thority on prayers, but L have always
said that was no SLOUGH of a prayer.
Pete began with the Diamond Center
camp and recommended every man,
woman and child in it to the Lord
long prayer. Then he prayed for
the sheriff of the county, and after
that for the governor of the state.
From the governor he went to the
president. Then we thought he was
through and everybody drew a long
breath and prepared to get down to
the regular business of the meeting.
But Pete opened his eyes and looked
at us reproachfully, and then started
in as if he was just getting his second
wind. The queen of England, the enI-
peror of Germany, all the big foreign
ducks Pete could think of were re-
membered to the Lord, and then, just
as we were getting so impatient we
couldn't have stood it much longer,
Pete polished off his prayer with
general sort of blessing which took
in all the parties he hadn't mentioned
by name. 1t was good prayer and
covered the ground, but it took an aw
full long time.
There didn't seem to be anything to
Interfere with the work we had as
sembled together to perform as Pete
styled it in his prayer, when all OF a
sudden Pete cried out:
My God. boys. The woods are On
fire.
1--WE all looked as hard as we could.
but didn't see anything.
eyes, they are said Pete. Look,
you can just see the blaze away of to
the northwest
Now, Pete had sort of entered into
the spirit of the occasion so cheerfuiiy
and seemed so anxious to have the first