The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-05-31
CONTINUED ]
CHAPTER V.

As people walked up In Milton the
Wednesday morning after the shoot
ing of Philip Strong they grew con-
scious of the fact, rs the news came to
their knowledge, that they had been
nursing for 80 years one Of the most
brutal and cowardly institutions on
earth and licensing it to do the very
thing which at last it had done. For
the time being Milton suffered gcnu-
Inc shock. Long pcnt up feeling against
the whisky power burst out. and pub
lie sentiment for once condemned the
source of the cowarlly attempt to muir
der.
Various rumOrS were flying about. 1t
was said that Mr.. Strong had been
stabbed in the back while ont making
parish calls in company with his wife
and that she had been wounded by a
pistol shot herself II was also said
that he had been shot through the
heart and instantly killed. But all
these confused reports were finally set
at rest when those calling ut the par
sonage brought away the exact truth.
The first shot fired by the man from
behind the tree struck Philip in the
knee but the ball glanced Off. He felt
the blow and staggered, but his next
impulse was to rush in the direction of
the sound and disarm his assailant.
That was the reason he had lcaped into
the street But the second shot was
better aimed. and the bullet crashed in
to his upper arm and shoulder shattcr-
ing the bone and producing an exceed
ingly painful, though not fatal. wound.
The shock caused Philip to fall, and
he tainted away, but not before the
face of the man who had shot him was
clearly stamped on his mind. He knew
that he was one of the saloon propric-
tors whose establishment Philip had
visited the week before. He was man
with harelip, and there was no mis-
taking his countenancc.
When the people Of Milton learned
that Philip was not fatally wounded.
their excitement cooled little. y
wave of Indignation, however, swept
over the town when it was learned that
the would be murderer was recognized
by the minister, and 1t was rumored
that he had openly threatened that he
would "fix the cursed preacher so that
he would not be able to preach again"
Philip. however, felt more full OF
fight against the rum devil than ever.
As he lay on the bed the morning after
the shooting he had nothing to regret
or fear. The surgeon had been called
mt once. aS soon as his wife and the
alarmed ncighhors had been able to
carry him into the parsonage. The ball
had been removed and the wounds
dressed. Ey noon he had recovered
somewhat from the effects of the OPP
Grafton ard was resting, although very
weak from the shock and suffering
considerable pain.
what is that stain on the floor,
SARAH he asked rs his wife came in
with some article for his comfort.
Philip lay where he could see into the
other room.
ut is your blood, Philip" replied his
wife. with shuddcr. at drippcd like
stream from your shoulder as we
carried you in last night. Oh, Philip,
II is dreadful. 1t seems to me like an
awful nightmare. Let us move away
from this terrible place. You will be
killed if we stay here"
"Thcre isn't much danger If the rest
of 'cm are rs poor shots as this fell
low" replied Philip. "Now, little wo-
man." he went on cheerfully, don't
worry. don't believe they'll try it
again"
Mrs. Strong controlled herself. She
did not want to break down while Phil
Up was in his present condition.
"You must not talk" she said as she
smoothcd his hair back from the pale
forehead.
That's pretty hard on n preacher,
don't you think, Sarah? My occupa-
ton is gone if | can't talk"
"Thcn I'll talk for two. They say
that most women can do that
"Will you preach for me next Sun
day."
What. and make myself n target for
saloon keepers? No. thank you. | have
half mind to forbid you ever preach
ing again. 1t will be the death of
you"
ut is the life of me. Sarah. l would
not ask anything better than to die
with the armor on. fighting evil. Well
all right | won't talk any more.
suppose there's no objection to my
thinking littleT'
"Thinking is the worst thing you
can do. You just want to lie there
and do nothing but get we'll"
"All right. I'll quit everything ex'
cept eating and sleeping. Put up lit
tie placard on the head of the bed say
ing: Biggest curiosity in Milton! A
live minister who has stopped think
ing and talking! Admission 10 cents
Proceeds to be devoted to teach sa
| loon keepers how to shoot straight!
Philip was still somewhat under the
| influence Of the doctors anpsthetic
and as he family murmured this alb
surd sentence he fell into slumbel