Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-24
THE SAGE BRUSH PARSON
BY A. B. WARD.
Copyright. 1905, by Little. Brown & Company

hours. They are all yours. My door Will
always be open When you want me-
come. and IL l am able will respond On
your part, be friendly. Come and listen
70 my message. Help me to discharge my
duty. Let me speak plainly and frankly
TO you and with you. . have no
doctrines to urge. except the one duty OF
following Christ. the Divine Man. who
taught how to live and how to die.
- Many of you were brought up In
Christian homes. You have drifted away
from the faith of your fathers and
mothers. You know your duty, but you
need to be reminded of it,
He paused. Give us another song, par
son. called some one in the crowd.
Again he sang: then looked about for
Jack. The saloonkeeper lounged out from
the shadow of the doorway where he had
been standing.
Want her toted back. parson?" he IN
ouired.
He beckoned to his men, the instrument
was again lifted and carried back to the
church. A crowd followed and filled the
place. Jack scanned them critically Its
a $50 house If they don't dead head" he
unused, land. by Jimmy. they shant!'
He listened gravely while the parson
preached and prayed and sang. but kept
one eye the door lest any escape As
soon IS the last amen was said Jack was
on his feet.
"Parson.' he called out in his slow drawl,
you've done your part, now We'll do
ourn."
He stepped to the table before the plat
form where the preacher stood and picked
up two long poles, each bearing at one
end a bag of dingy red-and-yellow silk.
Here. Ned" he called to wilkins. who
sat in corner near the door, and Wilkins
| responded to the call. No one ever dis
obeyed Sack Perry.
Take this and go down that aisle and
see that every Teller tips upr He raised
his voice. TN go down the other. faint
often Jack Perry acts as deaking, but when
he does, every bub in the house tips upr
He started on his deliberate way, present
ing the bag to each individual II anyone
hesitated he received a jab in the stomach
and Jacks voice was heard. Come, tip
up! tip up
Before one man he paused some seconds.
whats that?' He could be heard all over
the church Broker" He turned to a
man behind him: Here Bob. lend Pete a
dollar. And sect you put 1t all in, Pete"
The bags were emptied on the table and
the money was counted "Fifty-seven dol
lars and six bits" Jack announced. IF
that amt enough, parson, we'll go round
again.
That's enough" returned Vaughan. I'm
satisfied"
Satisfied! He was overwhelmed When.
since his coming to Eureka, had he had so
much money at once? He rolled about on
his hard bed for hours, that night, review
ing the events of the evening and congratu-
lating himself A last he had made an
impression, had identified himself with the
life of the place, had been recognized by
the people, He could see their wondering
faces press up from below as he stood on
the corner, could hear them following him
down the street. His actual work had be-
gun.
The Eureka Sentinel, the next morning
contained picturesque account of the
services on Jackson's corner, and, in con-
clusion, welcomed to the town the talented
young preacher prophesying that he
would find the harvest great. the laborers
few and the pay damned little" Penrose
the editor, had not, until now 50 much as
recognize his existence.
On Richmond Hill the affair was dis
cussed in all its phases. 1t furnished to
Winsow material for infinite sarcasm.
Haverford could but thinly disguise his dis
gust. Both confessed that all they knew
Of the occurrence was what they had
heard.
Ned Wilkins told Katherine, when they
were by themselves that he had attended
the service, but he did not mention passing
the bag. 1t was queer he said but there
was something contagious about the fell
lows enthusiasm. He spoke apologetically
Ia Uterine caught herself combating an in
definite disapproval. Singing on the cor
neri Marching with his organ to and froi
How absurd, how-inartistici She wished
she might see the young preacher and tell
him what she thought of such methods
Possibly he would not care
He certainly would not have cared at the
time AT the time he was following that
ignis fatuus, Holy Grail, pillar of cloud and
pillar of fire, which was to him his duty.
Go be continued tomorrow