Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-05-02

Now, parson, fire away. Ii you've got
any gospel thatll reach this crowd. it'll
hev TO be like my whisky. hot and
| strong
1.-THE preacher sprang upon table
and began TO sing a Gospel song. His
voice was full and powerful and the air
was a popular war ballad. The chorus
was simple and all were urged TO join in
singing IT, In less than five minutes
half the crowd were singing as Justify
as class-leaders and pounding time
with their fists upon the card tables.
After the hymn was sung. a short
prayer was offered and the sermon be-
gan. 1t was plain, fervent. manly
talk. straight from an earnest heart.
The preachers face was sympathetic.
his voice was tender at times and then
IL rose in a ringing tone like the blast of
a 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 10 regain the innocence
and purity of their childhood days. He
was in the midst of pathetic picture
of the far-away home, where loved ones
were thinking. weeping and praying
for the wicked wanderer. and the crowd
was hanging in breathless silence upon
his words. An angry alteration was
begun at the feet of the preacher. IT.
was fierce and brief.
AN old man with the face of demon
and the form of giant was playing
cards with young lad with long curly
hair and the sweet innocent face of
girl. The giant was called Slippery
Dick He was the terror of the town.
He was such a consummate trickster
with cards that every game was DELHI
crate robbery upon his part. The lad
was called The Baby because of his
face and curls. When the two sat down |
10 play, every one in the saloon had said |
TO his neighbor:
"'What a fool THE Baby" is TO try |
to play cards with slippery Dick
'"nhe death-hke silence which was
stirred only by the low, gentle voice Of
the preacher was broken in upon by
The Baby's' clear boyish treble:
You're a cheatl'
"'sippery Dick roared with the
fury OF a mad bull:
YOU'RE liar!'
Both sprang TO their feet. The old
man snatehed his revolver from his
belt. The hammer caught in the fold
If his flannel shirt, and before he could
ooseu it, the young man was upon him
With the spring of a tiger. The little
rand, as strong as steel, grasped the
rant by the throat, huge bowie knife
dashed in the light, and the next sec
md was buried in the old mans heart.
lie sank back in his chair, killed in
family. Before a man could stir, Jack
lad pressed a revolver against The
3aby's' breast and shouted:
"'Move and you're a dead mani
The young man coolly folded his
rms and said in ringing, defiant
dice:
"'He cheated me and I've killed him.
DO what you pleased!
Jack gave orders to search the body
4 the dead man. When whole pack OF
ards were found concealed about his
erson, all accepted this as certain evil
ence Of fraud. Jack roared out:
"'rhis court decides that slippery |
lick" was caught cheatin' and THE
ABLY" is guilty of justifiable homicide
nd goes free. All in favor of the mo-
lon say "Ayel"'
"A thunder of Ayes responded.
"'All opposed say "No."' said Jack
5 he cooked his revolver and glared
bout the room. A moments death
Ike silence followed. Jack in a lower
one said:
This court is unanimous and THE :
ably" is acquitted. The parson will I
ow say prayer for SLIPPERY Dick"
nd we'll take him out and plant him
"The great bell rang out as Jack j
louted: 4
"'Ali up. gents; hats Off Every one
God and uncovered the head. h
IL have heard many prayers in my Il
Re, bubnever one like the parsons over v
slippery Dick The preacher lowered 4
bove the sea OF heads, and. with eyes a
osed. talked with God lie pleaded for
ercy for the mob Of sinners before 5
I'M who were on the road to eternal n
ain. He uncovered the hard and cruel A
carts about him with the fearless and D
eady hand OF a master surgeon. You v
,uld hear the quick gasp Of suppressed
as each one Of the pack of :,
'probates felt the unsparing hand re- :,
,al his own guilty secret. =,
"Ihe prayer for Jack, the ringleader 1.
sin. was like a blast from a furnace r
lck covered his face with his SLOUGH N
Al and trembled like a leaf. The pc Ii
tion for slippery Dick was a picture
awful sin receiving its awful penalty
accordance with Divine law. II
ought a sob OF terror from a score OF
,arts. When the prayer reached The C
ably the hard voice trembled and s
'oke into a wall and ended in a heart
.eaking sob. The strong man plead a.
the name OF the mother. who through b
y burning tears prayed day and night
u the loved boys return. | have seer | N