The San Francisco call., 1906-05-20
Vaughan waited inouir,ne,v.


thousand and the parsonage. How would
you like to go there?"
Neughan's eyes sparkled Even Della
would be satisfied with four thousand and
a parsonage. But-was this the work to
which he had vowed himself In the white
dawn at Lewis2 Again the scenes of
that hellish night rose before him: the
drinking. dancing. quarreling horde. the
wounded man sobbing and signing in
his sleep. the glare of the bonfire, the
drunken miner with the dynamite Again
he heard the oaths. the ribald talk, the
explosion, the screams, and again he
said to himself. These are the men and
women for whom Christ died"
Perhaps you'd rather think IT over
suggested the superintendent, noting the
young preachers hesitation.
No sir; l can give you my answer
now, returned Vaughan steadily
Theren be enough to take such a place
as that Send me where no one else will
60"
IAN right" said the superintendent,
relieved. Wen send you TO Eureka"
That night Clement wrote TO Della,
more fully than before. Exulting that
his own heart had not failed. he gave
hers chance. He told her what he had
done. how he had refused the easy place
and the big pay, and had chosen the hard
place with no pay worth mentioning,
anu dppedIcu 10 ner as IlS Wlles MS nelp-
mate, TO join him in the sacrifice, de-
voting her life, as he had devoted his.
10 the furthering Of the work. When he
had finished and reread his letter he did
not see how any one, man or woman.
could resist those burning words. Mary
Henley. 10 whom he intrusted the con-
tents. felt as he cid. He did not take
Frank into his confidence.
The men at Galena spoke approvingly
of he nj taken They
said he was "onto his job" The women
made Of him a hero-especially Minnie
Hollaway. She would have liked 70 have
him taken her life !n his hands and shape
II, tell her exactly what she should and
should not do. When he did not accept
the opportunities she gave him 10 do this
she went at the matter point blank.
Mr.. Vaughan" she said one morning,
when the Henleys were preparing for
day-long drive, and Minnie and the parson
were alone in the sitting-room together.
I want TO ask you something very i'm
portant-"
Il snail be very glad to help you. II
I can returned Vaughan gravely.
DO you think a girl ought TO marry
a man when she doesn't love hirn?" pur-
sued Minnie There's Martin Young@I
don't know why should make any secret
Of it. he doesn't-he thinks he could make
me care, but I don't think so. Ind do
Ike William Dover. If he is only
miner"
III is a great mistake to marry on any
other basis than that OF affection" said
Vaughan loftily. and began a discourse
on love. marriage and the responsibilities
OF life. which more than satisfied Min
MES expectations.
The Henleys interrupted him with fare
wells and orders for the day, but Clement
had already said some very good things
rzf 20 fl~ -.
ture use.
Minnie took every word as gospel truth,
10 be followed 10 the letter. When the
men came in for dinner she snubbed Mar
tin so openly, so openly favored William
and so plainly looked TO Vaughan for ap-
proval that Martin was not slow TO place
the responsibility where it belonged, and
said to himself, He done it; he put her
up TO it, damn him, III get square with
him.
After dinner he gathered all the idlers
in the place and promised them some fun.
He was going TO offer TO give Black
Birdie 10 the parson IL he would ride her.
BLACK Birdiei" exclaimed 10; do you
think the parsons fool?'
"She broke the cinch when Jack Hen
shaw was trying to break her" said Tim
what she needs" returned Martin,
'.is q nice p'lite-spoken gent like the par
2. L
you throw a saddle over her and bring her
a-front Of the store. I'll have the parson
along In g 5iffy"
''Betcher he won't comet" said 10.
Take ye," said Tim.
'rWhat'u We make II? Come now"
Betting became lively, first as TO
whether the parson would come, second
as TO which would win. Here odds were
all on the horse.
While they discussed the subject Mar
tin and the parson appeared on Henley's
stoop, while Tim brought TO the front or
the store the cuveting. dancing, plung-
ing creature, black and lustrous as bit
OF coal.
II Vaughan had been inclined to hes
itate all scruples vanished when he saw
the horse.
What a beauty" he cried and bounded
across the street. Martin sauntered after,
winlxing first one eye and then the other
at the conspirators, as they stood around
grinning.
Black Birdie continued to prance, and
to pull Tim this way and that The sun
light rippled over her dazzling tanks, her
oufvering nostrfls showed their scarlet
lining. her great eyes rolled from side
10 side. Everything she saw sent great
shudderfng waves of terror and resistance
through her sensitive body.
..Blindfold her!" called Martin, and one
OF the men whipped out a hanokercnlel
and tied II over the restless eyes.
Now, parson," he said encouragingly'
"git on-if you dass to-"
s.If L" Vaughan ended with a leap
which landed him on Black Brides tall.
The onlookers roared with delight
Nerved TO supreme effort by their oe-
ris,on. he made another spring and this
time gained the saddle.
Let her gcl" he directed. The men
obeyed, whipping or the bandage.
with great leaps the terrified animal
bounded forward Reaching the slope
OF the canyon she clambered straight UP
its almost perpendicular sides, her iron
shod hoofs ringing against the rocks.
Vaughan clung to the horn OF the saddle,
his coattails floating out behind Up,
I'D went the horse. snorting and strug-
Cling. then suddenly stopped and shook
like an aspen.
''Go on,'' shouted Vaughan. Hosrse
shouts answered him from below The
crowd was beginning to syrnpatht-e ano
applaud
"Stick 10 herr
ssBlack Birdie wheeled and looked down
the way she had come. shivering
do you want TO 60 DOWN asked the
ahu -40bs uAfU 90 down /"