Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-10-29

OlncrS, Tor he could beat tnpm az tneF
own game and still be modest about
it, Once more his enthusiasm came
back and his brightness and his cour
age. The Duke was not present to
witnesn his triumph and, besides, he
rather despised the game. Bruce was
there. however, but took no part in
the general acclaim. Indeed. he
seemed rather Disguised with Moore's
sudden lenp into favor. Certainly his
hostility to the Pilot and to all that
he stood for was none the less open
and bitter.
The hostility was more than usually
marked Mt the service held on the Sun.
day following. 1t was. perhaps,
thrown into stronger relief by the
open and delighted approval of Iii. who
was prepared to back UP anything the
Pilot would venture to say. Bill, who
had not witnessed the Pilots perform
nnce in the pitchers box, but had only
His enthusiastic report to 20 upon,
still preserved his judicial air. 1t is
fair to say, however, that there was
no mean spirited jealousy in Bits
heart even though Hi had frankly as
sured him that the Pilot was a de
mon" and could give him points"
Bill had great confidence in HIS opn-
ion upon baseball. but he was not pre-
pared to surrender his right of private
judgment in matters theological, so he
waited for the sermon before commit
ting himself to any enthusiastic ap-
prevail
This service was an undoubted sue
cess. The singing was hearty, and in
scnslbly the men fell into n reverent
| attitude during prayer. The theme,
too was one that gave little room for
skepticism. 1t was the story of Fac
cheus, and story telling was Moore's
strong point. The thing was well
done. Vivid portraitures of the out
cast, shrcwd. converted publican and
the supercilouS, self complacent, crit
ical Pharisee were drawn with a few
deft touches. A single sentence trans
ferred them to the foothills and AR
rayed them in cowboy garb. Bill
| was none too sure of himself, but II
with delightful winks. was indicating
Bruce as the Pharisee. to the latter $
scornful disgust. The preacher must
have noticed. for with n very clever
turn the Pm, gisce was shown to he the
kind of man who likes to tit faults up
'on others. Then Bill, digging his ell
bows into His ribs, said in an audible
whisper:
Say. pardner. how does It ct nowl'
you git out" answered HI indig-
nantly. but his confidence in his inter
probation of the application was shsk-
on. When Moore came TO describe the
Master and his place in that ancient
group we in the stopping Place parlcr
fell under the spell of his eyes and
voice and our hearts We're moved
within us. That great Personality was
made very real and very winning. HI
was quite subdued by the story and
the picture. Bill WAS pcrpleXed. II
was all new to him. but Bruce was
mainly irritated. To him It was all ole
and filled with memories he hated tc
face. At any rate. he was unusually
savage that evening. drank heavily anc
went home late, raging and cursinE .
things in general and the Pilot in par
ticular. for Moore in q timid sort OF
way had tried TO quiet him and hell
him to his horse.
"Ornery sort O. beast now, amt he? 2
said III. with the idea of comfortin;
tie Pilot. who stood sadly lookins
after Bruce disappearing in the gloom
NO, no. he answered quickly. $40
a beast. but BROTHER
Brother. Not much. II | know m,
relations" answered hi disgustedly.
"rhc Master thinks a good deal O
him" was the earnest reply.
Cit out" said HI you don't meal
It! Why" hc added decidedly, "he'
more struck on himself than that meal
old cuss you was tellin' about thi
afternoon, and without half til
reason
But Moore only said Kindly, "Don'
be hard on him, HI" and turned away
leaving Hi and Bin gravely discuss
ing the question with the aid or seV
eral drinks of whisky They were still
dScu sing when. an hour later, they
too. disappeared into the darkness tina
swallowed up the trail to Ashley ranct
That was the first Of many such serv
ices. The preaching WAS always o
the simplest kind. abstract question
being avoided and The concrete /,
, those wonderful Bible tales, dressed
in modern and in western Rarb So
, forth. Bill and Hi were more tha
ever his friends and champions, am
; the latter was heard eXultantly TO eA
claim to Bruce:
He amt much to look AZ as pan
son. but he's a ketchin' his secon
wind and fore long you won | ace hill
for dust"
CHAPTER VII,