The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-02-04

man" said Graeme ch%eerfully.
"And you beat me fair, and, bedad, 1t
was a neat one that laid me out, and
there's no grudge in my heart till you"
can right, Slavin. Wen perhaps UNI
derstand each other better after this"
"And that's true for you, sir, and I'll
see that your boys don't get any more
than they ask for" replied Slavin,
backing away.
"And 1 hope that won't be much"
put In Mr.. Craig. but Slavin only grin
ned.
When we came back to Craig's
shack, Graeme was glad to rest in the
big chair.
Craig made him a cup of tea, while 1
smoked, admirlng much the deft neat
ness Of the minister's housekeeping
and the gentle. almost motherly, way
he had with Graeme.
In our talk we drifted into the future,
and Craig let us see what We're his am
billions. The railway was soon to ome
The resources were as yet u~nexplored,
but enough was known to assure a
great future for British Columbia. AS
he talked his enthusiasm grew and car
ried us away. With he eye Of a gen.
eral he surveyed the country, fixed the
strategic points which the church must
seize upon. Eight good men would hold
the country from Fort Steele to the
coast and from Kootenai to Caribou.
1.-THE church must be in with the rail
way. She must have n hand in the
shaping of the country. If society crys-
tallizes without her influence, the coun-
try is lost, and British Columbia will
be another trapdoor to the bottomless
pit"
"What do you proposeT' l asked.
"Organizing a little congregation here
in Black Rock"
"How many will you get?"
"Don't know"
"Pretty hopeless business" I said.
Hopeless! Hopeless!" he cried.
'There were only twelve of us at first
to follow him, and rather a poor lot
they were. But he braced them UP, and
they conquered the world"
"But surely things are different" said
Graemc.
"Things? Yes, yes, but he is the
same"
His face had an exalted look, and his
eyes were gazing into faraway places.
"A dozen men in Black Rock, with
some rea grip of him, would make
things SO. Well get them, too" he
went on in growing excitement. 81 be-
lieve In my soul We'll get them"
Look here, Craig. If you organize,
I'd like to join" said Graeme ipapul-
sively. 81 don't believe much in your
creed or your church, but I'll be blow
ed il 1 don't believe in you"
Craig looked at him with wistful
eyes and shook his head.
ut won't do, old chap, you know. l
can't hold you. You've got to have a
grip Of some one better than I am, and
then, besides, 1 hardly like asking you
now" He hcsitated. "Wcll. to be ons'
and out, this step must be taken not
for my sake or for any mans sake, and
I fancy that perhaps you feel like
pleasing me justnow a little"
THAT / do, old fellow" said Graeme,
putting out his hand. "I'll be hanged if
1 won't do anything you say"
"That's why 1 won't say" replied
Craig. Then reverently he added: 1.-THE
organization is not mine. 1t Is my Mas
ter's."
"When are you going to beginf"
asked Graeme.
I'VE shall have our communion serv-
ice in two weeks, and that will be our
roll CALL"
Glow many will answerT' I asked
doubtfully.
~ know Of three" he said quietly.
tNTIroat fHHa.1 ora OnO p,t1nro o~1
$50 lumbermen. Three!' And Graeme
looked Mt him in amazement. "You
think it worth while to organize
threeT'
"Wcll," replied Craig, smiling for the
first time, "the organization won't DO
elaborate, but 1t will be effective, and,
besides, loyalty demands obedience"
We sat long that afternoon talking,
shrinking from the breaking up, for we
knew that we were about to turn down
a chapter in u lives which we should
delight to linger ver in after days, and
In rQy life there is but one brighter. AT
last we said goodby and drove away,
and, though many farewells have come
in between that day and this, none Is
80 wildly present to me as that be-
tween us three men. Craig's manner
with me was solemn enough.
"'He that loveth his life'-goodby.
Don't fool with this" was what he
said to me, but when he turned to
Graeme his whole face lighted up. He
took him by the shoulders and gave
him n little shake, looking into his
eyes and saying over and over in a low,
sweet tone:
you'll come, old chap, you'll come,
you'll come. Tell me you'll come"
And Graeme could say nothing in re-
ply, but only looked at him. Then
they silently shook hands, and we
drove off, but long after we had got
over the mountain and into the wind
Ing forest road on the way to the lum-
Der camp the voice kept vibrating in
my heart, "You'll come. youth come"
and there was a hot pain in my throat.
We said little during the drive to the
camp. Graeme was thinking hard and
made no answer when I spoke to him
two or three times till we came to the
deep shadows of the pine forest, when,
with a little shiver, he said:
ut is oil a tangle, a hopeless tan
gle"
Meaning whnt?" 7 asked.
This business Of religion. What
quaint varieties-Nelson's, Geordie,s,
Billy Breen's-if he has any--then Mrs.
Mayor's-she Is a saint, Of course