The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-12-11
CHAPTER v.
FIRST ROOD.

SH&dD nerves are steadiest But |
was determined to try to have the
baseball match postponed. There could
be no difficulty. One day was as much
of holiday as another to these easy
going fellows But the D@ke. when
suggested a change in tie day simply
raised his eyebrows an eighth of an
inch and said
Cant see why the day should be
changed" Bruce stormed and swore
all sorts of destruction upon himself
if he was going to change his style Of
life for any man. The others followed
the Dukes lead.
That Sunday was day of incol-
gruities. The old and the new the
east and the west. the reyerPntial past
and the iconoclastc present Were
tumbling themselves together in bewil-
dering confusion. The baseball match
was played with much vigor and pro
family. The expression on the Pilot s
face as he stood watching for awhile
was a curious mixture of interest, sur
prise, doubt and pain. He was read
justing himself He was so made as
to be extremely sensitive to his sur
roundings. He took Oh color quickly
The utter indifference to, the audacio S
disregard of all he had hitherto consid-
cred sacred and essential was discon
certing They were all so dead SUR.
How did he know they were wrongF
1t was his first near view of practical
tic, in -
book did not disturb him; he could put
down words against it. But hara it
was alive, cheerful, attractive indeed
fascinating; for these men in their
western garb ana with their western
swing had captured his Imagination.
He was in a fierce struggle. and in
few minutes l saw him disappear in o
the coulee.
Meantime the match went uproar-
ously on to finish, with the result
that the champions of Home had ito
stand the pain killer their defeat be
ing due chiefly to the work of Hi and
Bronco Bill as pitcher and catcher.
The celebration was in full swing, or.
as Hi put it, the boys We're takin'
their pizen good an calm" when in
walked the Pilot. His face was still
troubled and his lips were drawn and
blue, as if he were in pain. A silence
fell on the men as he walked in
through the crowd and up to the bar.
He stood q moment hesitating, looking
round upon the faces, flushed and hot,
that were now turned toward him in
curious defiance. He noticed the look,
and it pulled him together. He faced
about toward old Latour and asked
him in high, clear voice:
SIS this the room you said we might
haveY
The Frenchman shrugged his Shout
ders and said:
"There is not any more"
The lad paused for an instant but
only for an instant. Then, lifting a
pile of hymn books he had near him
on the counter, he said in a grave,
sweet voice and with the culver of
smile about his lips:
Gentlemen, Mr.. Latour has allowed
me this room for a religious service.
| 1t will give me great pleasure if you
| will all join and Immediately he
| handed a book to Bronco Bill who,
! surprised, took it as if he did not know
what to do with it. The others fol-
lowed Bronco's lead till he came to
Bruce, who refused. saying roughly:
mo, l don't want it; I've no use for
/ it,
The missionary flushed and drew
back as if he had been struck but i'm
mediately, as if unconscously, tie
Duke, who was standing near,
stretched out his hand and said, with
"A courteous bow, Il thank you.
should be glad of one"
Thank you" replied the Pilot sim
ply as he handed him book The
men seated themselves upon bench
that ran round the room or leaned up
against the counter, and most of them
took off their hats. Just then in came
Muir, and behind him his little wife.
In an instant the Duke was on his
feet, and every hat came off.
The missionary stood up at the bar
and announced the hymn, Jesus,
Lover of My Soul" The silence that
followed was broken by the sound of
a horse galloping A buckskin bronco
shot past the window. and in few
moments there appeared at the door
the Old Timer. He was about to stride
in when the unusual sight of row
of men sitting solemnly with hymn
books in their hands held him fast at
| tho door a OOU in an
helpless way upon the men, then at the
missionary then back at the men. and
stood speeches.. Suddenly there was
a high, shrill. boyish laugh, and the
men turned to see the missionary in a
fit of laughter. 1t certainly was 4
shock to any lingering ideas of religious
propriety they might have about them;
but the contrast between his frank,
laughing face and the amazed and dis
gusted face of the shaggy old man in
the doorway was too much for them
and one by one they gave way to roars
of laughter The Old Timer, however
kept his face unmoved, strobe up to
the bar and nodded to old Latour, who
served him his drink, which he tooS
at gulp.
Here, old mani" called out Bill. Get
into the game; here's your deck offer.
ing him his book But the missionary
was before him, and with very beauti
\ full grace he handed the Old Timer q
book and pointed him to a seat
i l shall never forget that service. AS
religious affair it was dead fail
ure, but somehow think the Pilot as