Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-17

mat was the whole thing in nutSheii,
those We're the commands of the Great
White Lord, and Bender needed them
Devotional hysteria ran high that even
ing, and it was midnight before Bender
the second floor, rear, was taking his
siesta. Ordinarily Bender's nerve would
have failed him, but the influence of the
Hot Time" was still potent and he deter
mined to begin his mission at once.
I'VE had poorly good time over at the
Army tonight
The man looked up without speaking.
Yes, I-you see, l belong to the Salvation
Army" Bender bravely kept on, and. not
getting an answer. asked: You don't be-
long to the Army?"
NO, scarcely, was the harsh reply.
Il think you ought to- declared Bender
fervently. 1T made man O. me all right
and you ought to join them too, for"
What do you mean?" exclaimed the
man angrily.
"Oh, nothing, only it makes man much
happier and-well, it does lot o things"
1T can't make me or mine happy and
I'm more interested in getting food than
happiness" growled the stranger
THE Army'l give you food
ITO be sure they will and then will take
mortgage on my manhood. There's such
thing as self-esteem; it's the only pos
session 1 have and 1 will not beg. l have
reached the limit of misery, am forsaken
by every living soul, even she-but l won't
beg"
But when man is in your fix Bender
Lord can help him.
THE Great White Lord?"
Yes replied Bender. 81 amt never
been to school, but 1 know that the Great
White Lord can help if you only will pray
to Him."
"And you are crazy enough to believe
that?" sneered the man.
Il know it's so and all you got to do is to
try it."
"You fool! If there were any truth in
that He would have helped me long ago.
But did you pray to Him.
81 prayed to Him and l cursed Him-and
all without avail. And they called me
crazy because of my belief in Him. Now
ah, but why waste time in idle talk"
sinner' 1t slipped involuntarily from
Bender's lips.
II must have been" Knocked the other.
II was one of those fools who tried to sat
isfy champagne appetite on a beer in
come. l played the grand bluff and when 1t
didn't work any longer they called me ire
sponsible, put me away and dubbed me
crazy But 1 got away and they shan't
get me again. And if she,'-he pointed
upward in the direction of his room-'1f
she gives me away, then I'll give them
chance to put me away-and for good
What to reply to this Bender did know.
you ought to tell it all to the Great
White Lord" he said, hesita tingly. Hell
help you-and I'll pray for you anyway
You, and your Great White Lord,
pshaw!' and the tenant of the second floor,
rear. went up to his chamber.
Alone, Bender realized that he was facing
a crisis. But what was he to do? Only one
thing was obvious, he must procure some
food for them. But that is no easy matter
when one is without a penny. What was
he to do?
They were working all night at the
mornings opening. Several men We're
bossed about by the swarthy proprietor
and the place was a bed!am of noise when
Bender entered.
n. Render made he knew
but after pledging his next days pay, he
left the restaurant loaded with bundles.
Careful not to lose any of the packages. he
gingerly assembled the StoOp of his house
and opened the door.
Somebody was in the hall.
There was no possibility of burglars
there was nothing to steal-still it was
strange to find somebody there at this hour
of the night. Bender went straight to the
figure, shrinking into the shadows-and
found the wife of the second-fioor tenant
dressed for the street.
"Why-how-you amt going out?" he
stammered.
Yes, I'm going. Please don't detain me-"
she answered, eager to get away.
II think l know what you're going out
for but it amt necessary. 1 got it right
here" Bender smiled slyly, displaying his
bundles.
The woman's glowing eyes had been
fastened on Bender, but now they saw the
packages and the smiling face above them
and as people in some rare moments will,
she understood a great deal.
And you-you got this for u.s."
Sure" he said. 1T amt much, but in
the morning I'll get you some more. Any
way l wouldn't have him doubt my Great
White Lord
Your Great White Lord?' the woman
asked wonderingly.
Eyes, He who says you might entertain
an angel unawares."
And you think that he, upstairs, might
be an angel unawares?"
Bender did not like the sound of her
scornful laugh.
II don't know about that, but 1 believe in
what the Great White Lord says and"
"And He should tell you that that man Is
a fiend," cried the woman. Il have been
loyal to him through all our stages of
degradation, l have stood his insinuations
and Sights, but now the end of my endur
ance has been reached Tonight he told
me I was the sole cause Of his misery, and
and I can't stand it any longer. The.
street is more welcome than
'Oh, now you're talking about as crazy
as he Does Bender declared with charm
ing frankness. "All married people have a
little row oncet in while and then they
make up. All he's got to do is to believe in
the Great White Lord and everything will
be all right. l know he's laughing at 1t
now, but it's worth while trying anyway.
Look what he's made O. me-.
Gently taking her arm he led the way to
the stairs and helped her retrace her steps.
Sobbingly she went with him and leaned on
him until they entered the room.
emptiness and not turning when he heard
them. She wavered for an instant but
then went to him and placed her hand on
his shoulder.
Edward" she whispered, Il have come
back; l couldn't CO."
The husband stood up, and, without a
glance at Bender who lowered in the back
ground, he folded his wife in his arms. The
humble intermediary thought this a good
opportunity to absent himself and stepped
to the table to leave his bundles. Bat be-
fore he had reached the door the wife had
him by the arm
"Oh, don't go yet" she pleaded, looking
also at the husband. I'VE must thank you
first and"
Yves, 1 suppose we have to thank you,
but l shall re-well, l shall make it all
right in a day or two." mumbled the hus-
band, greedly cycling the packages
The wife, not at all satisfied with the
husbands manner, insisted on Bender's re-
manning.
The packages were quickly opened and
the two fairly gorged themselves The food
disappeared rapidly. This unexpected feast
seemed to intoxcate the husband
1.-The Great White Lord isn't such bad
fellow, after ALL he mumbled between
mouthfuls. But say, you're a mighty
queer looking cuss to be so intimate with
such great parsonage"