Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1902-05-09
WHACkER Y
BILLS e
CONVERSION J

u.
+ .. .. Mcclure Company e
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Rev. John Rollins did not notice
that his wife was holding out his bear
skin coat with both hands. He con-
tinued to stare into the depths Of the
open fireplace.
The nickel alarm clock licked noisily
ON the high mantelshelf, the only
sound in the cabin tucked under
Bilger's hill. The minute hand touch
ed 12, and Mrs. Rollins coughed apollo
getically.
The Reverend John came out Of his
trance and slipped into the waiting
coat. His wife cast an adoring look
up at his square shouldered six feet
one.
II hated to interrupt your thoughts.
Jack. but the stage is due in a minute.
Were you thinking Of your sermon7"
mot much, my girl" replied Rollins.
Il was thinking Of that twenty-four
mile ride with Whacker Bill. It IL
honestly the worst feature Of this
charge. I like to 60 over to Las Vegas.
They're friendly set. and they're al
ways glad to see me. But the ride
that foul mouthed Bill, with his swear
Ing at every rut In the roadl But Ill
cure him yet. feel somehow as II
I'd been sent to this place to save
Whacker Bills soul, and I'm going to
do It."
John Rollins set his mouth in the
firm curve that his wife could remem-
Der from the old football days, long be-
fore he had taken orders In the church.
The little woman clasped and un-
clasped her hands nervously.
Il hope, Jack. dear, you'll be very.
very careful In dealing with Bill. He's
an awful character, they say-and"-
Eyes. he claims to be the champion
bad man of the Las Vegas valley, but
you remember a certain little sling
once did the business with another
braggart. and I'm loading up with
stones for the same trick"
He smiled cheerily into his wife's
anxious face, kissed her tenderly and
crossed to the door.
Don't worry, little woman. I won't
hurt him or lay myself liable to the
law"
The Reverend Rollins threw open the
door and gazed down the winding
mountain street. The commotion in
front of the postoffice told him that
the stage had arrived. He stalked
down the flower edged path to meet 1t.
When the stage plunged and swayed
past the cabin, Mrs. Rollins waved her
hand to her husband, sitting straight
and smiling beside the rough driver.
Then she ran into the house. where.
burying her face in her husbands big
chair, she had hearty cry.
On and on swung the stage, Bill
chatting amiably of his former
trlumphs when the vigllantes repre-
scented the law and life was worth liv-
Ing. Nothing happened to disturb his
serenity until they had passed Las
Cruces. when they suddenly came upon
a patch Of road that made the stage
Jerk and plow from side to side, like
ship In the teeth Of gale.
What Whacker Bill said about the
road commissioners of the county
would not bear publication. AS he
stormed and raved in the maddest Of
profanity the Rev. John Rollins squar.
ed round and looked Whacker Bill fair.
~ In the eye.
Here, you trlangulated sine qua non
Of a perambulator. shut up!'
Bill stopped In the middle Of q
| otO Mt 10
sionary In amazement. So preachers
lost their temper. and such a quiet
chap as Preacher Rollins too!
Bin forgot the condition Of the road
while he ruminated over this fact
Then they struck an ugly stone, .
mailbag dew through space. and Bill
came back to earth by most profant
route. Rollins held the reins while
Bin went back to gather up Uncle
Sans possessions. The offending bal
went up with crash and an oath. ant
Bill was following with still mlghtiel
accompaniment Of profanity when h,
felt the young missionary's grip Of
steel on his wrist.
"You bifurcated prismodial Of n,
plus ultra iconoclast. stop that nois,
and tend to businessv'
Whacker Bill climbed into the sea
without word. Rollins calmly light
ed cigar and studied the scenery. ant
they rode five miles III eloquent silence
Then Bill could stand It no longer.
"Pardner. whar did you Farm it.''
"At college," came the terse reply.
''Lordy, an I've hecrd 'em callet
religious cemeteriesw murmured Bill
and silence once more settled between
them.
Rollins was smoking his third olga
and feeling bit nervous as they GOV
cred the last two miles into Las Vegas
Just Ms they caught sight Of the town.
lights twinkling in the mist one of tn
lead horses stumbled and fell. In tel
4 seconds there was a mad combination
Of horses. tangled harness and profan
ity In front Of the stage. When TIL
damage had been repaired to a stead,
fire Of cuss words, Bill returned to hi