The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-05-22
-I'l-I7--'I-I7--ITI''l7-IFl-l7---l-l'I--7 " : WHACKER . BILLS } CONVERSION
By H. wAdsworth Parker
Copyright. 1909. by
 s. s. Mcclure Company

tinucd to stare Into the depths of the open fireplace.
 The nickel alarm clock licked nolsily on the high mantelshelf, the only sound in the cabin tucked under Blger's hln The minute hand touch cd i2. and Mrs. Rollins coughed apolo getically.
 The Reverend John came out of his trance and slipped into the waiting coat His wife cast an adoring look up at hls square shouldercd six feet one.
 q hated to interrupt your thoughts, Jack. but the stage Is due in a minute Were you thinking of your sermonT
 Not much, my girl" replied Rollins q was thinking of that twenty-fouI mile ride with Whacker Bill. It is honestly the worst feature of thii charge. I like to go over to Las Vegas They're a friendly set and they're al ways glad to sec me. But the ride that foul mouthed Bill, with his swear Ing at every rut In the road! But ID cure him yet feel somehow as U I'd been sent to this place to save whacker Bnrs soul. and I'm going to do lt."
 John Rollins set his mouth in the drm curve that his wife could remem- Der from the old football days, long be. fore he had taken orders in the church
 Tho little woman clasped and un- clasped her hands neryously.
 "I hope. Jack. dear, you'll be very very careful in dealing with Bin. He's an awful character. they say-and'-
 "Yes, 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 checrlly Into his wifo's anxious face. kissed her tenderly and crossed to the door.
 Don't worry. little woman. wont 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 i'm front of the postohice told him that tho stage had arrived. He stalked down the flower edged path to meet it
 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. Ther she ran into the house, where, burylng her face in her husbands biz chair, she had a hearty cry.
 On and on swung the stage, Bill chatting amlably of his former triumphs when the vlgllantes repre- sented 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 blow from side to side, llke a ship in the teeth of a gale
 What WhackCr Bl said about tho road comr 'ss'ocers cf the county would n.t Lear publication. As he stormed and raved in the maddest Of profanity the Rev. John Rollins squar cd round and looked Whockcr Eil fair ly In the eye.
 "Herc, you triangulated sine qua non Of a pcrambulator. shut up"
 Bnl stopped in the middle oi a mighty oath and stared at thc mis. sionary In Rmazcmcnt So preachers lost their temper, and sUcl 4Alei chap as Preacher Rollins teo,
 B.!! forgot the condition of the roat while he ruminated over this fact Then they struck an ugly stone, Q mailbag flew through space, and Bln came back to earth by a most profanC route. Rollins held the relns while Bin went back to gather up Uncle Sam's possessions. The offending bag went up with a crash and an oath, and Bnl was following with a stlll mightleI accompaniment of profanity when hC felt the young mlssionary's grip Of steel on his wrist.
 "You bifurcated prlsmodlal of a nc plus ultra iconoclast, stop that noise and tend to buslnessw
 Whacker Bm climbed Into the seat without a word. Rollins calmly light cd a cigar and studied the scenery, ant they rode i've miles In eloquent silence Then Blll could stand it no longer.
 "Pardner, whar did you rarn it!"
 At college" came the terse reply.
 "Lordy, an I've heerd 'em called religious cemeteriesr' murmured Bill and silence once more settled between them.
 Rollins was smoking hls third cigar and feeling a bit nervous as they GOV cred the last two miles Into Las Vegas Just as they caught sight of the towns lights twlnkling In the mist one of the lead horses stumbled and fell. In ter seconds there was a mad combination of horses, tangled harness and profan ,ty in front of the stage. When tht damage had been repaired to a steady fire of cuss words. Bill returned Co hli post. swearing as he mounted the step swearing as he gathered up bis lines swearing as he cracked tho whip. Taci that calm, even voice fell upon hi' ear.