Mower County transcript., 1903-02-11

Dorothy, II WILL" there was distinct
uncertainty Of feeling. There was a
lack Of spontaneous Joy at his action
which he knew well enough meant that
somewhere he had not been true to the
best that was In him. FL
Nevertheless in the morning he wrote
the letter in answer to the editor, &C.
cepting the position and asking him to
give him time to sever his relations
with the church, etc.
He took the letter and went out early
after breakfast to mail it. he would
hand in his resignation at the weekday
church meeting and write to the super
intendent later in the day.
He was thinking it all over as he
neared the main stret, when q farm
wagon drove up noisily and stopped
near him. / +
"Oh, Mr.. Kirk, viii you come right
out to The Forks with me7 Phil Is In
q terrible way and has been calling for
you all nightr' '.''a'i =
It was Mrs. Barton, and her thin,
eager face hooked down at Malcom as
she sat there, hooking at him apxjously.
Into Malcom Kinks heart there came
4 distinct shock, almost Dc he he 2hGdf
been detected IN doing q selfsh thing.
Here again was this appeal for help
coming at q time when It seemed 70
him as II the burden he was carrying
was too great for him.
He looked up at Mrs. Barton.
"Why, certainly, III go right out
with you," he said, every instinct Of
helpfulness In him rising and going out
toward the cry for help.
Just then Carver came walking by.
post In his hand.
"Say, Carver, win you mail this let
ter for me as you go by the Officer"
Malcom asked, and Carver eagerly
took the letter, more than willing to do
Mr.. Kirk a favor.
Malcom at once got up into the wag-
on with Mrs. Barton, and they drove
out Of town rapidly. Carver stood
watching them moment, then he
turned and went on down the street.
At the first saloon he hesitated, but
finally went In. Before noon he had
gone into three or four different saloons
that lay between him and the postof
fee, and the letter remained in his
pocket forgotten.
On their way to '"The Forks NAL
com learned from Mrs. Barton that
while Philip was on his back, unable
to leave his bed, one Of the farmer
boys living on the next ranch had
brought out several bottles of whisky
and smuggled them into the house.
The result was that young Barton was
having del1rium tremens while in the
terrible condition caused by his de-
bauch at the time Of the great fire.
His mother had spent fearful night
with him, and at last desperate and
heartbroken, dry eyed. but weeping
her blood away within, she had come
into town for Kirk.
1T is all of the devil, this drink bust.
ness!'' groaned Malcom as he went in.
to the house and into the room where
Phil Barton lay. .t
Never in all his life had Malcom
Kirk seen such sight. Barton knew
him as he came in, and he spoke his
name. Then he began to curse in the
most awful manner. The lower par,
Of his body was paralyzed, but his
arms moved necessarily, and his head
rolled back and forth on the bee
while he called on all hell to blast ev
cry living creature on earth. .-'%
Malcom put Mrs. Barton out of thu
room and shut the door. Then fo1
three hours he spent the most trying
period he had ever known by the side
Of suffering and sinful human being
At the end of that time Barton LAY
quiet, and Malcom was weak an(
trembling, wet with perspiration ant
unnerved as if he had been facins
some great peril. The doctor came jus
as Malcom went to tell Mrs. .BartoI
that Philip was sleeping. She had no
been able to find any physician whel
. she had gone in that morning and hat
left word for one to come out.
what is going to become of N!
i boy, Mr.. Kirk 2" Mrs. Barton asked al
4 he was getting into the doctors bugg,
to 90 back with him. III 8ss.5 3s:5s
Malcom had not the heart to Ga,
ANYTHING al first n his soul q pro