Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-09-23

of the thing had struck Pierce. Never
had there been such q thing in the
line of novelty for Newton, and al
said before. novelty was Newton's
strong point.
1T wasn't very long until the word
of the coming services had reached the
other resorts in town and the place
couldn't hold the crowd that nocked
to hear the preaching. Opposition
proprietors, finding that they couldn't
even hold their regular patrons, closed
their places and came to listen and
to learn. Arrangements were made
that the preacher should hold forth
from the balcony from which the must.
clans were wont to grind out their
enticing strains AMI Bible and hymn
book in hand he mounted the steps.
The games, however, continued and
the constant click of the chips rather
detracted from the impressive silence
which would otherwise have reigned.
Just at this junction a difficulty
presented itself. What was the
preacher going to do for a choir?
Psalms he must have. but without
choir it was impossible. Volun-
teers were called for and the
strangest choir that ever faced a
strange congregation was the result.
Monte Bob, Judge Bayard, who I
mentioned before, Con Johnny and
Wicked Jimmie said they would give
the preacher lift and up they mount
ed to the balcony. No. don't know
their real names. We never had any
right names then. That's where ]
got to be known as Long JOHN I
reckon I'll never lose it.
''Well, anyway, those fellows got up,
there and sang hymns till the
preachin' began. They were not what
you would call accomplished singers,
but they were about as good as the
average vocalist SAY but they did
whoop those hymns up until even
Faro George stopped dealing for
moment and gummed the game. Not
only that but the admiring congrega-
ton insisted on showing their appre-
citation for the efforts of the singers
Every time that the choir would sing
some song that the boys liked they
would insist on buying the choir
drinks, and as they sang several
selections before the preaching began,
they were pretty we'll loaded by
the time the preacher arose. In the
the meantime eight bartenders worked
as they never worked before.
Then came the sermon. One of
the old-fashioned kind with plenty of
ginger in it. That fellow with the
fire escape whiskers just ripped it
into us for being children of the devil.
| Some of the boys didn't like this, but
Pierce explained that was the regular
procedure in sermon so they took
it in good part The preacher threw
in little birthstone sketch of the
place where we all were going, but
that seemed only to amuse the bunch.
That's right, preach, give 'em
hell" yelled a cowpuncher down in
the front and the minister did
'NThe preaching had just been con-
cluded and the choir was singing it's
last hymn in manner that was hardly
creditable to songbirds, when Billy
Wilson, the neighborhood desperate,
rode up in front anu inquired what
in purgatory' was going on.
| 'Preachin' replied one of the boys
who was standing out in front being
overcome with his emotions and other
strong stimulants.
WHAT screeched Billy as he slid
off his broncho, Couldn't you protect
yourselves? Gimme air or something
stronger
Before the true nature of the affair
could be explained to the startled cow
puncher he had rushed to the rescue
and proceeded to extinguish the lights
in the manner much approved at that
time. The fifth light had just gone
out accompanied by the report of Billys
revolver, when the congregation dis
missed itself. I can't recall just now
that / ever did see religious organ
ization disband with less Formally
They all had pressing engagements out
doors and didn't take time to wait for
/ the benedicition. Preacher didn't
seem overly anxious to say it either.
In fact, the stairs going down from the
balcony were to busy with the mem
bers of the choir at the time the idea
struck him that he wanted to leave
! that place, SO he took the aerial route
over the baniSters. / never did see
such a fussy congregation. They didn't
seem at all satisfied with the accom-
modations the front door was giving,
SO they just incidentally took the
whole front out. = =
1.-THE preacher? Oh, when Pierce got
to cleaning up the debris they fished
him out from under the check case
No he didn't take time to argue about
the pay coming to him but left i'm
mediately. Left his Bible and hymn
book too as he didn't want to be both