Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-02-13

them more tlian any one else. He had
succeeded to a large degree in getting
the other churches to act together in
the agitation now going on all over the
state. He was already noted for his
leadership. throughout the county and
had written and spoken on everv Dossi-
BILE occasion for the proposed prohibi-
tory amendment.
SO there was reason in the suspicion
held by the citizens. AS the evening
wore on proof Of Il certain saloon mans
guilt seemed almost sure. Two or
three persons had seen him coming o,1t
of the parsonage yard that afternoon
of the fire. A child had seen the same
man on the steps of the church q few
minutes after Dorothy had left the mar
sonage.
1t was now 10 o'clock. The crowd at
the corner by the postothce grew eyerv
minute larger and more threatening
Groups of men stood surrounding some
speaker who urged lynchng as the
only satisfactory punishment for such
crime. The citizens were exasperat-
ed and nervous from the great strain
Of the last two days.
Malcolm Kirk came down town late
that night to get the mail from the
east bound express and walked into the
mob just as cries Of Lynch the fire.
bug" rose from many voices. AS soon
as the crowd saw him it surrounded
him eNcitedly.
"AIr. Kirk, we've proof that Big
Jake set fire to your church."
Malcolm looked over the crowd =
moment in silence. He had not been
thinking SO much about the loss of his
church and parsonage as be came down
town as about Dorothy and his future
prospects. But the sight and sound Of
that mob of citizens brought his mind
back to the situate not only in the
town of Conrad, but throughout the en-
tire state. For the time, therefore, he
let his own personal plans 30 as he
faced the fact Of a grave crisis in the
temperance movement.
He had more than one Sunday even
ing held outdoor services at the very
corner whore the crowd now gathered.
Dorothy had often helped him at
such services by playing and singing.
Every man in Conrad was familiar
with the tall, homely, awkward figure
that now lowered over almost everv
head, and every man in Conrad re-
specteu him.
There was an empty dry goods box
near one Of the stores, and Malcolm
Kirk asked some Of the men to drag it
out to the corner Of the sidewalk. The
minute he had mounted it the crowd
became silent.
1t is a rare gift to be able to speak to
a great crowd of men out of doors and
hold them. Kirk possessed that gift.
His voice was splendid instrument,
and he knew how to use it. 1t is saiG
of Gladstone that in the days of bis
greatest power as a speaker people
would linger in the corridors of the
house Of commons when he was talk
ing simply to enjoy the sound of the
tone of his voice, although they could
not distinguish a word that was said.
Something of this same quality made
Kinks voice a fascination for an audi
elce. Whatever it was it could truly
be called great gift of God.
And he used it now in godlike man
ner. He began by calling attention to
the fact that the people of the state
were trying to abolish the saloon by
legislative amendment to the constitu-
ton. At such time as that, for the
temperance people to act in a lawless
manner toward even the enemies of
the home and the church would be an
act Of folly so great that it might en-
bition.
Il am perhaps" continued Malcolm,
''the most interested person in this
whole matter. It is my church that
has been burned and my home that has
been destroyed. And yet 1 say to you
men that if you attempt to use violence
toward Big Jake or any other saloon
keeper on the ground Of this circum-
stantial evidence and take the law into
your own hands l will defend him
from such violence at the risk Of my
own life. Let us act like men in this
matter-like men who see further than
personal vengeance and are determin-
ed that our fight shall be directed not
against the saloon keeper so much as
against the business he represents.
That is what we want to fight for in
behalf of all our homes and churches
and our state and country"
He got down off the box after be had
spoken and appealed in a quiet but
powerful manner to some Of the more
influential men in the crowd not to
let the men act lawlessly. His speech
and appeal had their effect A small
group Of men on the edge Of the crowd
gathered farther up the street, and aft
er kirk had gone home they marched
up to big Jake's" saloon, only to find
it closed and the proprietor fed.
CHAPTER <.
DOROTHY PROVES HERSELF A HELPMEET.
Next day Malcolm Kirk had the mel