The San Francisco call., 1906-06-03
THE SAGEbRUSH PARSON

Henieys saw. that plainly when he passed
the house, with drove of cattle, on his
way to Eureka. He WAS on horseback
and so were the twomen with him. They
lifted their sonibreros as they passed,
but Martin glanced neither to the right
hand nor the left
He's been like bear with a sore head
ever since matters were settled between
Minnie and WILL" said Frank.
Il should have liked to send some mes
sage to Clement sighed Mary.
You'd better not mention Clements
name to HIM." said Frank. He thinks
Clement was at the bottom of his trouble
with Minnie
How could he be?'0 cried Mary indig-
nantly.
oh she asked his advice or something
of the sort Minnie's a nice girl but she's
q fool, said Frank,
The cattle: ran lowing down the hills.
The splendid October air was in their
nostrils- A thin crisp of snow was under
their feet. Martin, being in haste TO get
them down to Eureka before more snow
should come to block the way. took ad-
vantage of their high spirits and fine ply
sicai condition, and by noon had reached
the field outside the town where Shed
Wellman was to meet him.
al suppose you'll stay over Sunday
said Shed, when their business had been
concluded.
'rd calc'lated to.'' returned Young.
'.Better drop in and hear our new min
ister," suggested Sned.' by the way, he's
friend of yours, amt he2 He told me
he knew you--got a horse from you up at
Galena."
Martin grunted.
''Mighty smart young feller!.' comment
ed Shed. lawfully popular around here.
Goes in for everything. has fine sociables
Jack makes the lemonade for 'em-a
barrelful every time
''There'd have to be a ,barrelful If Jack
made it, Martin grinned for the first
time.
a.He don't put anything in.,,' Shed made
haste to add.
"Don.s hes'' cried Martin. '.Wanter
bet?''
ct know he don t,'' insisted Shed. II
guess I've drunk enough of II. See here"
he turned before mounting his horse.
'.You don't wanter circulate any gossip of
that sort round here. 1t might make
trouble" He swung himself into the sad
die and rode away: There was an evil
look in Martins small. reddish-brovn
eyes as he, too, mounted and rode after
Shed.
He went straight to the Widow McClin-
tock's boarding house and the very first
thing he said to. the tablefui of boarders
was, Il hear Jack Perrys maxim the lem
onade for the Methodist sociables and
that's why with grimace, they draw
such crowd
He don't put in any 'budge,' said an
honest-faced young miner. "Parson
wouldn't allow it.
Don't be too sure o. that" criod the
widow, with a toss of her head.
"The parson amt so ail-fired different
from other folks" she declared, with
acidity.; She had not forgiven Vaughan
for his sympathy with the attempt to pull
Dick out of the McCiintock trap.
That's just as sure's you Hive" declared
Martin Young. ''You wanter look out for
these fellers that don't smoke. nor chew,
nor drink, nor swear. nor shave"
"He can fight broke In the honest
faced miner. He give Poole the kock-
out t'other day. Didn't he, Jim?" He ap-
psaled to comrade who sat near him.
That's what be did, Joe,'' said jim.
I'VE seen him.
Then Martin had to hear the. whole
story Everywhere he went he heard it.
Everywhere he went they spoke of the
parson approvingly. admringIy. even.
Martin sic-.ened. III you knew him
as wells do" he exclaimed.
What do you know" they asked him.
He could only buster in generalities.
If he told them about Black Birdie they
would say the Parson was smarter than
he was If he told them about Minnie
Hollaway tehy would say fellow de-
served to lose his girl If he couIdn' t
hold her
You wait; yon'll see. one of these
days" he replied significantly. and again
repeated, 'I hear Jacks maxim lemonade
for the Parsons sociables, and that's why
so many go"
BY Sunday afternoon the talk had
Hrifted around to Jack. eff Mart Young
comes in while I'm gone. you hang onto
| him." he said to Perei Hyacinthe. 1--WE
got somethin to say to him. I'm soin'
to meetin' now. Jack rarely missed a
! Sunday night service.
''I WILL" said Pere Hyacinthe. He was
arranging the tumblers in pyramids on
| the shelf behind the bar.
| Not long after Jack went out Martin
appeared. He had found three miners
who expressed their willingness to ''set
! in to game
The four dumped noisly in and entered
| one of the small rooms. throwing their
hats on the floor. A pack of cards lay
on the table. Martin took them UP and
shufiied them, calling loudly for Pere
| Hyacinthe to bring ON the moisture
Martin had already had enough, the
bartender decided. He loitered,. hoping
Martin would forget his order. One of