Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1908-03-12

lite shut up the heavens that they give
no rain?" he angrily exclaimed.
And is my lord the king content
to suffer such a low-born fellow TO
trouble him?" spoke voice behind
him. There was a cruel, harsh con-
temptuous ring to the words as they
fell with accentuated intensity, and
Ahab turned suddenly to look into
the beautiful face of his wife Jezebel
LET Baal our god drink the blood
of this pestilential fellow she con-
tinued, with an air of decision, and
then as though the only question
which remained to be settled was the
manner of carrying out her decree of
DEATH she added:
Let the servants of the king be dis
patched at once to seize the prophet,
and l will see that the prophets of
Baal are prepared to receive him. II
will be great day for Israel and
Israel shall know that Baal is god
indeed, and that he knoweth how to
destroy those who are his enemies
But suppose the God of Elijah had
shut UP the heavens and was mightier
than the god Baal?" questioned Ahab
rising fear taking possession of his
heart.
'Woulst thou leave the worship OF
Baal to serve the God of this wander
ing Tishbite?" contemptuously de.
manded Jezabel. Are not the gods
angry with us because such a pesti-
lentiaf fellow is suffered to trouble the
land, and will not rain come when the
aifront to Baal is wiped out with his
blood?"
Perhaps" admitted Ahab.
Nay, not perhaps but for truth
Wilt thou not send and search for
this fellow" Jezebel pleaded in soft
er, quieter mood, and by way of re-
enforcing her appeal she threw her
beautiful arms about his neck and
looking into his eyes, she whispered,
softly: Where is there more glori-
GUS king than thou? Be king indeed
In thine own land He who dares to
speak curses upon the land let him
feel the kings displeasure.'
Thou hast spoken well, verify be-
lieve," exclaimed Ahab, yielding him
self to the charm of those eyes and
that face, for long since had this beau
tiful but wicked woman gained COM
plete ascendancy over him and she
knew how by her wfles 10 completely
dominate both the political and the
religious atmosphere of Israel. 1t was
her influence which had established
the worship of Baal so completely
upon Israel, and it was she who was
now ready to boldly and fearlessly
take issue with the prophet of the
Lord and bring him to an accounting.
And so it came to pass that day ere
the sun had set that messengers of the
king were speeding here and there in
search of the prophet Elijah. They
had traced his movements from the
time of his meeting with Ahab through
the various places he had visited since
then and came at last to the dwell
ing in little village where It was
said that the prophet had taken lodg-
ment.
To the insistent, imperious knock
of the soldiers the door was at last
opened, and, in spite of the protests of
the woman who came to the door they
pushed their way in and demanded to
know where the prophet Elijah was
Powerless to resist, the woman led the
way to the little room where the
prophet had found shelter and pushed
open the door. Eagerly the soldiers
crowded in, but the room was empty,
and search the house from end to end
as they might no signs of the prophet
could be found.
When did he leave?" demanded the
soldiers. And whittier went he?"
Il know not" faltered the woman,
light breaking in upon her puzzled
| heart, save that last night / heard
him speaking as though in prayer and
then heard him moving softly about
his room. After that l fell asleep
and heard nothing more, and still sup
posed he was resting and meditating
within, as was his won't"
| Baffled and disappointed, the mes
sengers of the king reported to him,
and at once Ahab sent messengers
into all the nations about demanding
whether the prophet Elijah had come
| thlther, and asking that diligent search
be made for him. Thus was the quest
| kept up, man measuring his skill with
that of the Almighty God and always
! being disappointed and baffled for who
is there who can search out the hid
ing places of God? And who is there
mighty enough to harm when God
holds within the hollow of his hand?
But to the land of the Zidonians the
messengers came not, for Jezebel ex-
claimed with lofty scorn:
There be none in my fathers land
who would give shelter to Elijah, for all
there are worshipers of Baal, even as
are the people of Israel since we de-
stroyed the remaining prophets of the
Lord
But Jezebel knew not that within a
stones throw of the palace walls in
the caves in the hills 100 prophets of
a. NgN.l II.