Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1900-01-24

pened. Neither did the two men Burn:
still sat with his head bowed between
his hands The man leaning against the
fence looked at the bishop with face
in which new emotions of awe, repent
ance. establishment and broken CLEAN
of joy struggled for expression
The bishop rose.
Come, my brothersl God is good
You shall stay at the settlement tonight
and will make good my promise as tt
the work y
The two men followed the bishop il
silence. When they reached the settle
ment. it was after O'Clock. The bishop
let them in and led them to a room. Al
the door he paused moment His tall
commanding figure stood in the door
way. and his pale face, worn with hi
recent experiences. was illuminated
with the divine glory
God bless you, my brothers'' ht
said. and, leaving them his benediction
he went away
In the morning he almost dreaded te
face the men. but the impression Of the
night had not worn away True to his
promise. the bishop secured work fol-
them The janitor at the settlement
needed an assistant. owing to the growth
of the work there. So Burns was giver
the place. The bishop succeeded in get
ting his companion position as driver
for firm of warehouse dray manufac-
tlrers not far from the settlement.
AMI the Holy Spirit, struggling in
these two darkened. sinful men. began
his marvellous work of regeneration
It was the afternoon following that
morning when Burns was installed in
his new position as assistant janitor
that he was cleaning off the front steps
of the settlement when he paused a
moment and stood up to look about him
The first thing he noticed was beer
sign just across the alley He could al
most touch it with his broom from
where he stood. Over the street imue-
diately opposite were two large saloons,
and little farther down were three
more
Suddenly the door of the nearest sa-
loon opened, and man came out At
the same time two more went in A
strong odor of beer floated up to Burns
as he stood on the steps of the settle
ment. He clutched his broom handle
tight and began to sweep again He
had one foot on the porch and another
on the step just below He took another
step down. still sweeping The sweat
stood out on his forehead, although the
day was frosty and the air chill The
saloon door opened again. and three or
four men came out. A child went in
with a pail and came out a moment
later with quart Of beer The child
went by on the sidewalk just below him,
and the odor of the beer came up to
him. He took another step down, still
sweeping desperately His fingers were
purple as he clutched the handle of the
broom
Then suddenly he pulled himself up
one step and swept over the spot he had
just cleaned He then dragged himself
BY tremendous effort back to the floor
Of the porch and went over into the cor
aer of it farthest from the saloon and
began to sweep there 20 God" he
,ried, IF the bishop would only come
oackl'' The bishop had gone out with
Dr.. Bruce somewhere, and there was
no one about the settlement that he
Knew
He swept in the corner for two or
;hree minutes His face was drawn
With the agony of the conflict. Gradu-
lily he edged out again toward the steps
md began to go down them He looked
oward the sidewalk and saw that he
lad left one step unswept The sight
eemed to give him reasonable excuse
or going down there to finish his sweep
ng. He was on the sidewalk now,
the last step. with his face
coward the settlement and his back
turned partly on the saloon across the
'lley He swept the step dozen times.
The sweat rolled over his face and drop
led down at his feet. By degrees he felt
hat he was drawn over toward that
md of the step nearest the saloon. He
:ould smell the beer and rum now as
he fumes rose around him 1t was like
;he Internal sulphur Of the lowest hell
md yet it dragged him. as by a giants
land. nearer its source
He was down in the middle of the
sidewalk now. still sweeping. He clear
ID the space in front Of the settlement
md even went out into the gutter and
swept that He took off his hat and rub
led his sleeve over his face. His lips
we're paid. and his teeth chartered He
rembled all over like palsied man
md staggered back and FORTH as if he
we're already drunk His soul shook
within him
He had crossed over the little piece Of
tone tagging that measured the width
f the alley. and now he stood in front
f the saloon, looking at the sign and
taring into the window at the pile of
whisky and beer bottles arranged in
'reat pyramid inside. He moistened his
ips with his tongue and took Il step
looking around him stealthily.
The door suddenly opened again and
ONE one came out Again the hot.
'enetrating smell of the liquor swept
ut into the cold air. and he took an
ther step toward the saloon door.
which had shut behind the customer.
IS he laid his fingers on the door handle
tall figure came around the corner. It
vas the bishop.
He seized Burns.by the arm and drag
ed him back upon the sidewalk. The
renzied man, now mad for drink,
hrieked out curse and struck at the
bishop savagely: It is doubtful if lie
eally knew at first who was snatching