Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-23
CHAPTER v.
Three Friends and an Enemy.

Il long string OF oaths which meant nothing.
Nor did he waste his explosives When
Jack swore it was because the occasion de-
manded It, as now.
What he saw was the wide-open door or
the unused Methodist Church. halfway up
the hill. with slender, dark-robed figure
darling in and out.
I'm be damned" said Jock. eli he amt
settin' up housekeepin right in the shop
Well, he means to stay with itl'
This was precisely what Vaughan meant
to do. After a two days trial of the Wild
der McClintocks" boarding house ne had
decided to keep himself and there being
long, narrow empty place In the church
behind the audience room he conceived
the idea OF turning it into study ana
bed room
Pending the consent OF the superintend-
once, he moved In. What Jack saw
were the final preparations; the mar
row iron bed. the wooden chair. wash
bowl and pitcher.
He amt goin' In for Injuries" muttered
Jack but he means to wash and he
swore again
The next day a number of packing boxes
arrived, containing the books. the desk and
the chair, sent for weeks ago ST.
Vaughan was too busy to do more than
snatch hasty meal from the nearest gro
Gerry between unpacking and setting up his
books on long shelves which extended the
entire length of the apartment both
sides At one end, by a window stood the
desk and chair. The other end. partitioned
off for bedroom. held the bed, the wooden
chair and a washstand the latter made
out of a packing box. Over 1t he had tack
ed some chntz.
AS he stood up and stretched himself, af-
ter this last fastidious touch he felt as any
living thing feels when 1t has made for IT.
self home. He had now a she'll a cover
Ing. castle. Out of it he could go to meet
the world, into 1t he could retire when he
through
select portions as he might invite inside
The two Sundays since he came to Eu-
reka he had had respectively ten and
twelve In the congregat ton. This would
never do. He must plan some way to at
tract hearers to the searching, kindlng ser
mons he meant to preach.
He walked out to the front door of the
church and looked down at the saloon. as
the owner of 1t had looked up at him.
There were enough people going into that
place, he thought enviously. Why shouldn't
some of them come TO him? He seized his
sombrero and hurried down the hill
"Pere Hyacinthe'' was serving drinks at
the bar. He was not really Pere Hyacinthe,
but resembled that illustrious man SO close
~ that no one called him anything else
The parson advanced and held out his
hand. I'm Vaughan, the new Methodist
preacher he announced, as If Pere Hya-
cfnthe ought to be glad there was one and
that this was the man. Are you the pro-
prietor?''
Pere Hyacinthe shook his head Jacks
in there he said, pointing to one of the
little rooms opening into the big one He
thought the new preacher had come to talk
with him about his soul and he was too
busy to enter upon any such Improbable
discussion. Jack" he called. here's
some one lookin' for We"
Jack came out of the little room. Six
feet four he stood with shoulders that
matched his height, gray haired. smooth
shayen, stopped a little, limped a little
rheumatism had somewhat crippled his
| hands He was no longer the man who had
kept order in Virginia City in the old days.
when to be sheriff in such a place meant
killing somebody at frequent intervals in or
der to preserve the lives of the rest; but he
was Jack Perry STILL and Vaughan, without
knowing his history, felt its Influence
I'm Vaughan he said, holding out his
land as he had to Pere Hyacinthe 1.-The
new Methodist preacher. L came to ask If
there was any objection to my putting up a
little notice in your place, inviting the men
to my services?"
Jacks eyes twinkIed. II aint never adj
vertised your sort o. wares he said in his
slow drawl. They most genally conflict
with mine"
Every one comes here" pursued Waugh
an, too much in earnest TO take in the full
humor of the situation. There ought to be
a few who would come to me once in a
while
Certain" said Jack
We'll. then. if you don't mind, I'll run
home and write the notice and come
back here and tack it up
vaughan
riad away.
Jack stood looking after him. hands deep
in his trousers pockets, chuckling to HIM
self, when Mat Kyle drew near. Mat was
sherln at Eureka and the two Were friends.
What's tam funny?" inquired Mat
twisting his short, fat neck to examine
Jacks expression
1t told him nothing further than the fact
that Jack was enjoying himself, and he
turned to follow the whimsical steel-gray
eyes in their journey up the street. Waugh
an was just then disappearing within the
church, his long coat-tails, as usual, flying
out behind.
"The parson?" queried Mat
Jack nodded. He wants me to advertise
his gospel shop in my saloon. Sent here
by the Methodys to Spite my business and
will help him do it," Jack laughed aloud
He's got his gall with him." commented
Mat,
Don't say a word" returned the saloon
keeper. Let him work, let him work.
Vaughan hurried down the HILL hammer
and tacks In one hand and in the other
neatly printed notice, which he handed to
Jack. If you'll run your eye over that,
Mr.. Perry he said deferentially.
Jack obeyed. There was nothing to Of
fend the most sensitive, a mere statement of
hours and themes.
That's all right" he said. handing the
paper back to the Methodist. "Put it where
you lika.''
Vaughan selected a vacant space between
the picture of a female with floating hair
and preternaturally large eyes, Offering an
open box of Lone Star" and presentment
of Highland Whistles: The Best" and
tackled up the notice.
AS he stood back and confronted it. well
pleased with the result, suddenly the lowing
of cattle was heard in the street and their
muffied tread. then-the cry of a child
They rushed to the door. Down the road
from the Geiger Grade poured. a mass of
shaggy heads and tossing horns.
Mart Young takin steers to Shed Well
man.. commented Mat. and then, Good
God, look at that"
Straight in the path of the onward-moy-
ing. living tide little girl in a tricycle.
was doing her futile best to get out of the
way. Behind her white-eapped maid
screamed for help while she pushed the
small vehicle frantcally along. adding her
inadequate strength to that OF the child.
Jack and Mat sprang forward, but
Vaughan was there before them. He
quickly lifted the child out of the carriage.
caught the maid by the arm and returned
with them to place of safety.
The cattle snrged past, followed by men
on horseback. One of them was Martin
Young They shouted hoarsely defty
swinging their riatas as they rode here