News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1904-11-02
The Devil and
Chaplain Benton
By LOUIS VANCE
Copyright. 1901, by Louis Vance

and looked into the devil Iace. LIZ
latter rode erect his eyes steadily
ahead. his jaw firmly set, but at the
corners of lis mouth a subtle smile
hickered Danger was as wine to MIN.
"He is a man" thought the chaplain.
"He is more worthy Of her than l.
The earth beneath them swept stead
ily backward, a streaked brown plane.
Above, the sun waXed to greater, al
most uncomfortable heat that racked the
body and baked the brain, but it did
not serve to diminish thunder of hoofs
and exultant whoOping in the rear.
The chaplain looked again at the dew
Il. He was riding wildly now, chuc-
king to himself quietly, and his eye
danced with q CLEAN of mad mirth
Chill fear gripped at the chaplainS
heart. The two rode with empty stom
achs. Neither had eaten since the pre-
ceding noon. The heat was terrific.
Well might reason totter on that mem
DRY tortured mind.
"But a little while, padre, and we
will stand before the Judge Oh, it
will be sweet
''Be quiet! We must make it for the
sakes of those
mo hope. 1t is too far"
at is not so far. We may He
glanced over his shoulder, and the
words faded from his lips. OF the
pursuers three had outrun their fell
lows and had gained greatly. The re-
naming two were specks upon the
horizon. He saw the foremost swerve
slightly, and a bullet raised a squirt of
dust at their feet. Two more shots
rang loudly. The chaplain's horse
Ieaped convulsively forward and fell,
throwing him. The devil refined in and
dismounted.
mo use! he said, as he thrust the
reins into the chaplain's hands. Here,
hold Nellie while l amuse the dear
creatures"
The chaplain, dazed by the fall,
stared stupidity as the devil turned and
walked, reeling like Il drunkard, to-
ward the Sioux, who had stopped
abruptly and sat patiently awaiting the
outcome of this unheard of action-not
unlike cats toying with mouse before
delivering the final blow In either
hand the devil held a long Colt. The
chaplain awoke to the situation and
started after him.
Spawn of hell" the devil shouted,
"come on and end it, Come on! Wen
show you how men can die in the
Open!"
He cursed them violently, standing
bareheaded in the blazing sunlight
The Sioux did not move nor reply,
but sat balefully smiling, lingering the
locks of their rifles. The inqLdsition
may have thus looked upon its prey.
The devil ragged, openly insulting each
in his turn, and still they smiled grimly.
Suddenly one of the Indians raised
his rifle The devil swing upon his heel.
and the two reports rang as one. The
Sioux toppled and fell from his saddle,
his head caved in by tie crashing shot.
Instantly The others opened fire. The
devil capeEed with glee, and the Cots
Spat viciOusly between the cracking Of
the Springfelds. Forever after the
Chaplain's memory held a picture of
tall, athletic figure, CARRIED in blue,
dancing furiously in a yellow haze Of
smoke and sunlight. and with the pic
Eure there was an accompaniment of
shrill. unearthly mirth aud the snap
ping of gun play.
When at length it was finished the
Sioux lay dying, while the devil tore at
q gaping wound in his breast.
I've got it, padre!" he cried joyfully.
'I've got it, That was fight! Now l
can die"
The chaplain went to him and helped
him tenderly to the horse. With ag-
OniZing effort he lifted the wounded
man to the saddle and mounted be-
hind.
Afar two Sioux lowered as foiled
vultures. fearful to venture nearer the
living prey.
The horse moved at a hating gallop
under the double load. The chaplain
wound one arm round the devil leav-
ling the other free to hold q revolver.
The reeking heat beat down pitilessly
from brazen sky and was flung back
to scar his eyes and nostrils. Dust en-
veloped them like shroud, fine, i'm
palpable, penetrating to the last de-
gree Of maddening irritation. The
ground rose and fell with sickening IT,
regularity. His arm was tortured to
Inumbness by the dragging strain.
And thus mile upon weary mile was
covered painfully while the human
birds of prey gathered fresh courage
to make wary approaches, swooping
about in ever lessening circles, COM
polling the chaplain to eternal vigi-
lance, though his eyes ached and were
trimmed with burning red, though the
world wheeled and swirled about him
and the merciless sun multiplied to
many suns which swan in fiery arcs
through yellow sky, though an hour
was an untold cycle of hell and a min
ute an infinity of purgatory, till at
last his reason passed from him, and
he rode unfeeling and happy, swelling
a parched throat and finglng husky
tenor upon the quivering air.
Light she was, and like fairy,