The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-07-03
MALCOLM KIRK
by Rev.
Charles NJ. Sheldon
Continued From Seventh Page,

with the cnurcn, etc.
He took the letter and went out early
after breakfast to mail it. He would
hand in his resignation at the weekday
church meeting and write to the super
intendent later in the day.
He was thinking it all over as he
wagon drove UP noisily and stopped
| near him.
"Oh. Mr.. Kirk, will you come right
out to The Forks with me? Phil is in
| terrible way and has been calling for
you all night"
1t was Mrs. Barton, and her thin,
eager face looked down at Malcolm as
she sat there looking at him anXiously.
Into Malcolm Kinks heart there came
distinct shock, almost as if lie had
been detected in doing selfish thing.
Here again was this appeal for help
coming at time when it seemed to
him as if the burden he was carrying
was too great for him.
He looked up at Mrs. Barton.
"Why, certainly, I'll go right out
with you" he said, every instinct of
helpfulness in him rising and going out
toward tie cry for help.
Just then Carver came walking by.
Kirk had the letter he was going to
post in his hand.
Say, Carver, will you mail this let
ter for me as you go by the Officer"
Malcolm asked, and Carver eagerly
took the let:e., more than willing to do
Mr. Kirk favor.
Malcolm at once got up into the wag-
on with Mrs. Barton, and they drove
out of town rapidly. Carver stood
watching them a moment, then he
turned and went on down the street.
AT the first saloon he hesitated, but
finally went in. Before noon he had
gone into three or four different saloons
that lay between him and the postof-
fee, and the letter remained in his
pocket forgotten.
On their way to "The Forks NAL
com learned from Mrs. Barton that
While Philip was on his back, unable
to leave his bed, one of the farmer
boys living on the next ranch had
brought out several bottles of whisky
and Struggled them into the house.
The result was that young Barton was
having delirium tremens while in the
terrible condition caused by his de-
bauch at the time of the great fire
His mother had spent a fearful night
with him, and at last, desperate and
heartbroken, dry eyed, but weeping
her blood away within, she had come
into town for Kirk.
Ut is all of the devil, this drink bust
ness!' groaned Malcolm as he went in
to the house and into the room where
Phil Barton lay
Never in all his life had Malcolm
Kirk seen such a sight. Barton knew
him as he came in, and he spoke his
name. Then he began to curse in the
most awful manner. The lower part
of his body was paralyzed, but his
arms moved necessarily, and his head
rolled back and forth on the bed
while he called on all hell to blast ev-
cry living creature on earth.
Malcolm put Mrs. Barton out of the
room and shut the door, Then for
three hours he spent the most trying
period he had ever known by the side
of suffering and sinful human being.
AT the end of that time Barton lay
quiet, and Malcolm was weak and
trembling, wet with perspiration and
unnerved as If he had been facing
some great peril. The doctor came lust
as Malcolm went to tell Mrs. Barton
that Philip was sleeping. She had not
been able to find any physician when
she had gone in that morning and had
left word for one to come out.
What is going to become of my
boy, Mr.. Kirk?" Mrs. Barton asked as
he was getting into the doctors buggy
to go back with him
Malcolm had not the heart to saw
| anything at first. In his soul pro-
found horror and divine Indignation
against the saloon greater than he had
ever known had risen
AT last he said: Mrs. Barton, | hope
TO live to see the day when your boy
VIII not be GEAR this temptation. The
saloon and all it represents is an enc
my OF mankind. We will not cease to
work and pray and suffer until the
curse OF it is removed from our life as
state" For the time he had forgot
ten he was going away.
Promise me, Mr.. Kirk, that YOU will
90 what you can for Phil There's no
one living he thinks so much of. You
saved his life. Save his soul too. Don't
give him up. will you, Mr.. Kirk?
Malcolm trembled. How could he tell
this wretched heartbroken woman, liv-
Ing in that desolate, ruined home. that
he had already made his plan to leave
Conrad. She clung to him as the lar
gest and only hope for her boy that
she knew. What could he say to her?
The doctor, who had been listening
sympathetically but in silence, had
gathered up his reins, and the horses
1mpatiently made movement to start,
and still Malcolm Kirk said nothing
u know you won't give him I'D, Mr..
Kirk. If you don't save him, no one
else will Don't you think he's worth
saylng?"
She stood by the buggy and laid her