The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1901-05-31


people before him and took in the
: absence of several who had most
loudly and heartily agreed with Jim's
dictum. Jim himself was not there.
"Uh, huh," said the minister to
himself even in the midst of his ex-
hortations. "Uh, huh, erway on some
dev'ment, I be boun'." He could hard
ly wait to hurry through his sermon.
Then he seized his hat and almost ran
away from the little table that did
duty as pulpit desk. He brushed
aside with scant ceremony those who
would have asked him to their cabins
to share some special delicacy, and
made his way swiftly to the door.
There he paused and cast wonder
ing glance about the plantation.
II des wondah whaih dem scoun'els
is mos lakly to be-" Then his eye fell
upon an old half-ruined smoke-house
that stood between the kitchen and
the negro quarters, and he murmured
to himself, LAX ez not, lax ez not"
But he did not start directly for the
object of his suspicious. Oh, no, he
was too deep a diplomat for that. He
knew that if there were wrong-doers
in that innocent-looking ruin they
would be watching in his direction
about the time when they expected
meeting to be out; so he walked off
swiftly, but carelessly, in an opposite
direction, and, instead of going
straight past the kitchen, began to
circle around from the direction of
the quarters, whence no danger
would be apprehended.
AS he drew nearer and nearer the
place, he thought he heard the rise
and fall of eager voices. He APP
preached more cautiously. Now he
was perfectly sure that he could hear
smothered conversation, and he
smiled grimly as he pictured to him.
self the surprise of his quarry when
he should come up with them. He
was almost upon the smoke-house
now. Those within were so absorbed
that the preacher was able to creep
up and peer through crack at the
scene within.
There, seated upon the earthen
floor, were the unregenerate of the
plantation. In the very midst Of
them was Mandy's Jim, and he was
dealing from pack of greasy cards.
It is wonder that they did moi
hear the preachers gasp of horror as
he stood there gazing upon the
Ubiquitous performance. But they did
not. The delight of High-Low-Jack
was too absorbing for that, and they
suspected nothing of Parller's pres
ence until he slipped around to the
door, pushed it open and confronted
them like an accusing angel.
Jim leaped to his feet with a strong
word upon his lips.
II reckon you done fu'got, Brothah
Jim, what day dis isl said tie
preacher.
IT amt fu'got nuffin'," was the
logged reply; 81 don't see what you
dom roun' hyeah, nohow."
"I's a lookin' aftah some strayin'
lambs" said Parker, ''an' I done foun'
'em. You ought to be ashamed O
yo'se'ves, evan one O. you, playin'
guards on de Lawd's day."
There was the light of reckless dew
iltry in Jim's eyes.
"Dey amt no ham in little game
o. guards"
"Co'se not, co'se not,' replied the
preacher, scornfully. "Dem's des lie
sins dat's ca'ied many a man to hell
wild his eyes wide open, de little no.
barn kim"
ct lo-,t rool-or x-o,, ovoh MA 1-r6
cyards," said Jim, sneeringly.
eyes, has played, an I thought I
was enjoyin' myself ontwell I foun'
out dat it was all wickedness an idle
ness"
ooh, I don't reckon you was evan
ve'y much of player. rs knowed
lots O. men who has got u'ligion DIES
case dey couldn't win at cyards.'
The company greeted this sally with
laugh and then looked aghast a:
Jim's audacity.
"U'igion's moughty savin' to de
pocket" Jim went on. ''We kin be-
live what we wants to, and I say you
nevah was no playah, an dat's de rea-
son you TUX up de gospel"
nlG ALL 81. ~" OSy was ~
time when I could "a outplayed any
one O. you sinnahs hyeah, but"
"Prove it," The challenge she,
forth like a pistols report.
Parker hesitated. "What you
mean?" he said.
"Beat me, beat all of us, an We'll
believe you didn't quit playin' case
you allus lost. You a preachah now,
an daih YOU
Parllcr's face turned ashen and his
hands gripped together. He was
young then, and the hot blood sped
unanimously through his veins.
"Prove it," said Jim; ''you CANT.
We'd play you outen yo' coat an back
into de pulpit agin.''
"You would, would your" The
light of battle was in Parker's eyes,
the desire for conquest throbbing in
his heart. "Look a-hyeah, Jim, Sun
day err no Sunday, preachah err no
preachah, play you thee games IN
de gospel sake" And the preacher
sat down in the circle, his face tense