Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1903-01-08

"Andsyou ',eat.me fair, and. bedad, II
was neat one, that laid me out. and
there's no grudge in my heart till you.'
"All right, Slavin. Well perks 4. un.
derstand each other bettc- .,er 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 SIaytn.
backing away.
"And 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 cup of tea, while /
smoked, admiring 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 were his am
billions. The railway was soon to come.
The resources were as yet unexplored
but enough was known to assure
great future for British Columbia. a.
he talked his enthusiasm grew and car
ried us, away. With the 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.
"The church must be in with the rail
way. She. must have 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 propose?" asked.
Organizing little congregation here
in Black Rock"
How many will you get?''
Don't know"
pretty hopeless business" 1 said.
Hopeless! Hopelessw 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
Graeme.
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 real grip of him, would make
things go. Well get them, too" he
went on in growing excitement. II be-
lieve in my soul Wen get them.'
"Look here, Craig. If you organize,
I'd like to join" said Graeme impul-
sively. II don't believe much in your
creed or your church, but I'll be blow
ed if don't believe in you"
Craig looked at him with wistful
eyes and shook his head.
ut won't do, old chap, you know.
can't hold you. You've got to have a
grip Of some one better than am, and
then, besides, hardly like asking you
now" He hesitated. "Well, to be out
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 just now little"
That do, old fellow" said Graeme,
putting out his hand. CPL be hanged If
I won't do anything you say"
That's why I 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 begin7"
asked Graeme.
Eve shall have our communion serv-
ice in two weeks, and that will be our
roll CALL"
"How many will answer?" I asked
doubtfully.
II know Of three" he said quietly.
'Three! There are 200 miners and
$50 lumbermen. Threev' And Graeme
looked at him in amazement. "You
think it worth while to organize
threeY'
"Well," replied Craig, smiling for the
first time, "the organization won't be
elaborate, but it 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
q chapter in our lives which we should
delight to linger over in after days, and
In my 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
SO wildly present to me as that be-
tween us three men. Craigs 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 little shake, looking into his
eyes and saying over and over in 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, you'll come"
and there was hot pain in my throat