The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-06-14
By
RALPH
COMMON
CONTINUED.

eral he surveyed the country, nAed the
strategic points which the church must
seize upon. Eight good men would hold
the country from Fort Steele 70 the
coast and from Kootenai 10 Caribou.
.The church must be In with the rail
way. She must have hand in the
shaping of ;Ae country. II society crys-
tallizos without her influence the coun-
try Is lost, and British Columbia VIII
be another trapdoor 10 the bottomhss
pit"
what do you proposeT | asked.
"Organizing a little congregation here
In Black Rock"
How many Will you getT'
"pon't know"
Pretty hopeless business" said.
Hopeless! Hopeless" he cried.
..There were only twelve of us at first
| to follow him. apd rather poor lot
rahey were. But he braced them up, ana
they conquered the world
"But surely things are different SAID
Graeme.
"Things2 Yes. yes, but he is the
same"
His face had an exalted look, and his
eyes were gazing into faraway places.
"a dozen men In Black Rock, with
some real grip OF him. would make
things 20. Wen get them, too, he
went on in growing excitement. Il be
lieve in my soul Wen get them"
Look here, Craig. If YOU organize,
I'd like 20 join" said Graeme impul+
slvely. 81 don't believe much in your
creed or your church. but Ill be blow.
ed If | don't believe IN you.
Craig looked M him with wis'ful
eyes and shook his head.
ut won't 10, old chap. you know 4
can't hold YOU You've got to have a
grin OF some one better than am, and
then. besides, hardly like asking you
now" He hesitated ''Well, 10 be OUT
and out, this step must be taken not
for my sake or for any mans sake, and
fancy that perhaps you feel ike
pleasing me just now little
THAT do. old fellow" said Graeme,
putting out his hand I'll be hanged II
won't do anything you say
That's why / won't say" replied
Craig. Then rcverenny he added: The
organization is not mine. 1t is my Mas
ter's."
"when are you going to beginr
asked Graeme.
1--WE shall have our communion serv.
ice I'm two weeks. and that Will be our
roll call"
"How many will answer asked
doubtfuly
81 know Of three" he said quietly.
'.Three! There are 200 miners anc
100 lumbermcn. Three And Graem'
looked mt him in amnzement No'
think It worth while TO organic
threeY'
"Wen,' replied Craig, smiling for tn
first time. "the organization won't b
elaborate. but II VIII be effective. and
besides, loyalty dcmGnds obedience.
We sat long that afternoon talking
shrinkine from the breaking UP, Ger ~
knew TINT we were about 10 turn dow
n chapter in our lives which Fe shout
delight 10 inger oyer y after days. an
In my lie there is but one brighter, a
last we said goodby and drove nwa'
and, though many fnrcgiells have com
in between that day aud this none
so wildly present 70 me as that b
tween us three men. Crlig's mannt
with me was solemn enough
"He that loyeth his life goodb.
Don't fool with this" was what !
said 10 me. but when he turned
Graeme his whole face lighted up Il
took him by the shoulders and gay
him a little shake, looking into j
eyes and saying over and over In 10y
sweet tone:
"Youll come, old chap, you'll com
you'll come. Tell me you'll come"
And Graeme could say nothing IN
piy, but only looked ut him. Th'
they siledIy shook hands, and
drove of, hut long after we had 3
over the mountain and into the win
ing forest road on the way TO the lui
her camp the voice kept vibrating
my heart. You'll come, you'll come
and there was hot pain In my throi
we sgid little during the drive TO
camp. Graeme was thinking hard a
made no answer when spoke 70 n
two or three times TIL we came 20
deep shadows Of the pine forest. wh'
with little SILVER. he said
III IL al tahs'' "VP'iO9' !"
gle"
"Afeaning rvhat?" | asked.
"This BUSINESS OF religion. WI
quaint varieties Nelson's. Geordi'
Billy Breen's-if he has any-then NJ
Mavor's-she Is n saint, Of cours
and that fellow Craig'sl What tru
he ISL And without his religion h
be pretty much like the rest OF MS.
Is too much for me-"
His mystery was not mine. Bl'
y Rock varieties of religion were certa
ly startling, but there was undou
ediy the streak OF reality through th
all. and that discovery felt to b
distinct gain.