The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-10-04

"Say, Phin, let's put up joke on
the preacher" said jim Larkins
loutish fellow, to his ne'er-do-weel
camrade in many drinking bout at
the village tavern.
I'm in it, whatever it is" replied
Phin Crowle, with a vicious grin.
These worthless were notable sports
and dog-fanciers, and each had his
bulldog that could whip anything
of its size and weight in the country.
1t was agreed, therefore, to bring their
respective dogs to the evening preach
ing, to keep them asunder till the ser
vice was we'll under way, and then 10
incite them to fight. A few we'll
directed digs with their heels eX-
cited the beasts to angry growls and
snarls, to the great amusement OF the
village toughs and to the great alarm
of the women and girls.
Lawrence Temple, student from
neighboring college, had just been ap-
pointed a local preacher with view to
the ministry. He was sent to try his
prentice hand on the natives of the
-Four Corners SchoolhoUse, a neglect
ed rural neighborhood near the college
town. His first preaching experiences
were likely to be, to put it mildly, not
uninteresting.
His previous practice of athletics III
telling trees in a lumber camp stood
him in good stead He did not easily
get ratified nor lose his head. When the
disturbance became too obvious, he re-
quested the owners of the dogs to keep
them quiet or to take them out. When
the annoyance continued, he an
nounced that the disturbing of a re-
ligious service was a violation OF the
law and must cease at once.
"Nows yer time, Phin," said Lar
kins, in loud aside, "let her go"
and in a minute the exasperated dogs
were rushing at each others threats
and causing a panic Of terror among
the women.
Quickly leaving the teachers desk
which served as a preaching stand,
Lawrence walked down the central
passage to where the dogs were snap
ping, snarling and rolling over each
other on the floor.
"Take your dogs out" he said with
a very decided tone and gesture. See
ing that their owners took no notice,
he added sternly: "And do it at
once"
''Take 'em out yerself if yer wants
to-" said Phin Crowle, "but I warns
yer it's at yer peril. If my Tige grips
yer leg he'll never let go-not if yer
cuts his head Off"
"Open the door, please" said the
young preacher, which was promptly
done by a man sitting near it.
Lawrence had not practised football
in vain. Before their loutish owners
could interfere he had planted a well
directed and tremendous kick on the
interlocked and astonished dogs that
unlocked their jaws; followed by two
others, that swept first one and then
the other over the threshold and into
the outer darkness before they knew
where they wereH
NOW follow your dogs!" he said
grimly to the cowardly bullies-for
your bully is always a coward
"Supposin we don't choose to-"
drawled Larkins.
"I'll simply have to make you!" said
Lawrence with blazing eyes, land to-
morrow have you fined for disturbing
public worship"
Lets go, JIM" said Phin; hes
got the drop on us this time"
"We'll be even with yer yet, Mr..
Preacher. and be BANKED to yer"
growled the human brute, Larkins.
more degraded than his dog, and went
into the blaclIness Of night making the
air lurid with oaths and curses.
In a moment Lawrence was calm
again, and with earnest pleading tones
he read over the words IN the Apoca-