The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-12-29
CHAPTER VII.

20 raise her up read as follows:
Preacher-Better pack UP and leave
Milton Is not big enough TO hold you
alive. Take warning in time.
Preachers Wife-As long as you stay
I'm Milton there In danger OF two funerals.
Dynamite kills women as well as men
Philip sat by the study lounge hold
ing these scrawls In his hand as his wife
recovered from her faintlng ht after he
had applied restoTatives. His heart was
nlled with horror at the thought OF COM
plete cowardice which could threaten the
life Of an innocent woman. There was
with II feeling OF intense contempt OF
such childish. dime novel methods or
intimida ton as that OF sticking knife
into the study desk. II IL had not been
for it's effect on his wife. Philip would
have laughed at the whole thing. AS IL
was, he was surprised and alarmed that
she had tainted. thing se had never
known her 10 do, and as soon as she was
able 10 speak he listened anxiousy TO
her story.
1T must have been an hour after you
had gone, Philip. that l thought ! heard
a noise up stairs. and thinking perhaps
you had left one OF your windows down
at the top and the curtain was tapping.
/ went right up and the minute stepped
into the room l had the feeling that some
one was there"
Didn't you carry up a lightY"
mo. The lamp was burning at the end
Of the upper hall and so never thought
OF needing more. We'll. as | moved over
toward the window still feeling that
strange lnaccountable knowledge OF
some one there. a man stepped out from
behind your desk. walked right up 10 me
and held out those letters in one hand.
while with the other he threw the light
from small bulls eye or burglars Ian
tern upon them"
Philip listened I'm amazement.
Sarah, you must have dreamed all
that. II isn't likely that any man would
do such a thing"
Philip. i did not dream. | was ter
riby wide awake and so scared that
couldn't even scream My tongue seem
cd to be entirely useless. But ] felt com
PEELED TO read what was written. and the
man held the papers there until the
words seemed TO burn my eyes. He then
walked over TO the desk and with one
blow drove the knife down into the wood.
and then l tainted away. and that is all
I can remember"
And what became OF the man7" asked
Philip. still inclined to think that his
wife had In some way fallen asleep and
dreamed al least n part of this strange
scene, perhaps DeIOfe fne went 10 the
study, and discovered the letters. ''I don't
know; maybe he Is in the house yet.
Philip. / am almost dead for fear--not
for myself. but for your life"
II never had any fear of anonymous
letters or OF threats" replied Philip. con-
temptuously eyeing the knife. which was
still sticking In the desk. Evidently the
saloon men think am child 10 be
frightened with these bugaboos, which
have figured In every sensational story
since the time OF Captain Kidd
Then you think this Is the work OF the
saloon men?'
"who else can II be? We have no other
enemies OF this sort I'm Milton"
'But they will kill you. oh. Philip, I
cannot bear the thought OF living here i'm
this way! Let us leave this dreadful
place"
Little woman" said Philip. while he
bravely drove away any slight anxiety he
may have had for himself don't you
think It would be cowarily to run away
so soon7'
Wouldn't II be better 10 run away so
soon than 10 he killed? Is there any bra
very In staying In a place where you are
likely 10 be murdered by some coward?"
II don't think shall be-" said Philip
confidently. "And | don't want YOU TO be
afraid. They will not dare TO harm you
No Philip" exclaimed his wife eager
ly: you must not be mistaken. I did not
faint away tonight because 7 was afraid
for myself Surely | have no fear there.
II was the thought OF the peril I'm which
YOU stand daily as you go out among
these men, and as you go back and forth
20 your meetings infthe dark. am grow
Ing nervous and anxious ever since the
shooting. and when I was startled by the
man here tonight I was 40 weak that
tainted. But | am sure that they do not
care to harm me: you are the object OF
hot. Anf
will he you. That is the reason / want "a
leave this place. Say you will. Philip
Surely there are other churches where
you could preach as YOU want 10 and still
not he I'm such constant danger"
II required all of Philips wisdom and
love and consciousness OF his mmedia u
duty to answer his wife's appeal and sa,
no TO ~. IL was one OF the severest strug
giles he ever had There was 10 be tnkcr
into the account not only his own safety
but that OF his wife az well For. thnl
what he would he could not shake Off tn,
feeling that man so cowardly az 20 re
sort 20 the assassination OF n man woul,
not be overparticular even IL q, shoul,
chance TO be a woman Philip was maj
enough TO be entirely unshaken by anony
nous threats. A thousand day woul,
not havee unnerved him I'm tho least III
would have writhed under the sense o
the great sin which they revealed bu
that Is all the effect they would have had
When N came 20 his wife. however tha
was another question. For n moment n
felt like sending In his resignation an
moving out OF Milton as soon as possible
Mrs. Strong did not oppose his decision
when once he had declared his resolve
She knew Philip must do what 10 hr
was the will Of his Master. and with tha
finally she was content
She had overcome her nervousness an,
dread now that Philips courageous pres
ence strengthened her. and she began 1
tell him that ne had better hunt for tn
man who had appeared 80 mysteriousl
IN the study
II haven't convinced rvseif yet tha
there r. any man. Confess. Sarah tha
you dreamed all that"
IT did not replied his wife n'ti
s-dirnanfiy do Won think 7 wrof
those letters end stuck that knife int
the desk rnvseif7"
''Of course. rot mt rav rcrii
man got into 'he efnfv and neiih vo
nor the eiri know 10"
"f did hear n noise ard fhsf l. wha
started me up stairs. And he may n
I'm the house yet. I shall not rest cas-