Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-12-26


"Say, don't be mad, for l know you
amt scared, but II after you've got
up to speak and all on a sudden de-
eide you don't want to, after all,
why-a"
Reddy smiled indulgcntly out at
the stars.
Eyes, go on be answered resign
eddy.
"Oh-nothiD'. You'll do 1t 50
what's. the use?"
Reddy swung open the door.
"Then good ni-why Micky what's
the trouble?" And the captain
wonderingly peered down into the
anxious eyes raised to bis.
"Oh I'm fool, l suppose. But II
you should lose your nerve" and a
little arm flew up as II to ward Oh q
blow, "look for the man with the
great, kind eyes. He'll pull you
through. You don't notice much
else about him. He's tall and strong,
l think, and's got q splendid face.
But the eyes Of him! Reddy-if you
ketch sight Of O him you're all right.
That's what l wanted to say. Good
night"
"But who Is he? Have | ever
seen him." curiously.
mo. Iguess not. You wouldn't
forget him II you had"
"You know him Micky?"
"Why-not very we'll. I've seen
him. But you could see him too.
Anybody what looks hard enough
can. That's what the mission
teacher told me-"
ooh" and a tiny ray Of enlignten.
ment shot through Reddy's brain.
Then with an awkwardly gentle
thump on the drawn shoulders the
chief said, "good night" and left the
unconscious little sermon behind him
with its preacher, because his own
head was too foil Of his bet for any
thing else.
1t was Christmas Eve, Saint Marks
mission was brave in holly and mis-
tletoe, gay with childish chuckles
and eager eyes, and glorious In sweet
good cheer. A song, a prayer, and
the program began to unfold itself.
The name of Gordon Dune was read
out an electric thrill passed through
the audience as Reddy stepped calm
ly into view behind the chancel rail.
Truly Saint Marks was doing wonders
In bringing such black sheep into the
fold. With shoulders squared, chest
out eyes upon a mental vision Of a
long black bottle shrouded In cigar
cite smoke--the reward Of his vic
tory.to.be-he opened his mouth.
"Oh little town Of Bethlehem
could that be his voice: so small, so
faint, so very far away? He stag.
gered under the shock and the allur-
Ing picture in his brain faded out. But
1t seemed to him thousand open
below him were waiting to
catch the rest of the tale, so he
parted his lips once more.
"How still-we-see-we"
with a spring and click his jaws
together and the brave
captain turned with a right about
face and stalked off the platform
only to plunge back with glittering
eyes and clenched fists. Now he held
the faces OF his comrades before him.
His voice rushed out tense and
shrill-
"Oh, little town Of Beth"
the faces vanished quite away, leav-
Ing him staring at the wall with
throat parched and dry, and most
strangely acting knees. Once again
he turned his back to the audience.
ooh, Micky, won't you help me?"
his Inundated soul cried out and
for the third time he came back |
before the rail. But Micky's gentle
lace fluttered slowly out OF sight.
This desertlon stung him most.
He turned his face Of dull despair to
The radiant Christmas tree so near
him, with the little wax baby smil-
ng down from the top. Then sud-
lently his gaze was cut Off. There
vas some one in his way-some one
,all and strong. Some one with a
treat, kind eyes. He gasped, faltered
! step forward and threw up his head.
lost to his bet, his comrades, to
dicky and himself, he simply locked,
Then In voice that rang clear and
,,,o lao tnlJ tn thnsa aunp ahrva ain, |