Courier Democrat., 1904-12-15

oaue, as II ne were In pam. a sllence
fell on the men as he walked IN
through the crowd and up to the bar.
He stood 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:
"1s this the room you said we might
have:"
The Frenchman shrugged his shoul-
ders and said:
"Therc is not any more"
The lad paused for an instant. but
only for an instant. Then. lifting
pile of hymn books he had near him
on the counter. he said in grave.
sweet voice and with the quiver Of
smile about his lips:
Gentlemen. Mr.. Latour has allowed
me this room for religious service.
It will give me great pleasure if you
will all join" and Immediately he
handed q 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:
"No. I don't want 1t; I've no use for
itv'
The missionary flushed and drew
back as If he had been struck, but inn
mediately, as If unconsciously, the
Duke, who wss standing near.
stretched out his hand and said, with
courteous bow. Il thank you, I
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 of their hats. Just then in came
Muir, and behind him his little wife.
In an instant the Duke VAS on his
feet, and every hat came OF.
The missionary stood up ut the bar
and announced the hymn, Jesus,
Lover of Ny Soul" The silence that
followed was broken by the sound of
a horse galloping. A bucksktn 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
the door. He gazed in an amazed,
helpless way upon the men. then Mt the
missionary, then back ut the men. and
stood speechless. Suddenly there was
a high, shrill, boyish laugh, and the
men turned to see the missionary in a
dt Of laughter. 1t certainly was
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. strode up to
the bar and nodded to old L.atour. who
served him his drink, which he took
at gulp.
"IIcre, old man, 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 a
book and pointed him to seat.
shall never forget that service. AS
q religious affair it was dead fail
ure, but somehow think the Pilot, as
Hi approvingly said, "got in his funny
work." and it was not wholly a de-
feat. The first hymn was sung chiefly
by the missionary and Mrs. Muir,
whose voice was very high. with one
or two Of the men softly whistling an
accompaniment. The second hymn
was better. and then came the lesson,
the story Of the feeding of the five
thousand. AS the missionary finished
the story, Bill, who had been listening
With great interest, said:
II say, pard, think I'll call you
Just now"
'I beg your pardonw said the star
tied missionary.
you're givin' us quite song and
dance now. amt you:"
81 don't understand" was the puz-
zled reply.
.How many men was there in the
crowd?" asked Bill with judicial air.
give thousand"
"And how much grub?'
"Five loaves and two fshes" IN.
swered Bruce for the missionary
''Well," drawled Bill with the air of
man who has reached a conclusion.
''thats a little too unusual for me-
Why" looking pityingly at the mis-
sionary, lit ain't natarel"
Fright you are, my boy" said Bruce,
with laugh. ITS deucedly unnatu-
ral."
mot for him." said the missionary
quietly. Then Bruce joyfully took him
up and led him on into discussion of
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