Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1909-01-09

! too old to commence now
We'll, about two weeks later l saw
Hornbeck again, an he drew me aside
an SAIL:
1--we bin thinkin' the matter over.
Seth. an I've about como to the con-
clusion that have been denyin' myself
the consolation OF religion in my old
age.
well. laughed, an laughed, an
laughed. an then | commenced an
laughed all over again. for Hornbeck
had a reputation for free thinkin' that
had followed him and extended over
three counties.
What's the joker said I. thinkin'
that the real laugh was yet to come.
There Amt no joke said he. as
solemn as an owl. i've seen the error
of my ways. an henceforth l walk the
straight and narrow way
WELL said I, IL you hold on TO
that ranch you will need all the relig-
lon you can git!'
well, sir. In spite Of what he said
to prepare me for what he knew
would be an awful shock. you could
have knocked me- down with q feather
when l heard, that he had been to
church. You never saw such change
come over a man in your life as came
| over Hornbeck when he got religion.
Before that he would laugh an Joke
| an tell funny story with the best Of
us. But now he went around with his
mouth droopin' down like rainy
moon, an he had a way of lookin' at
you an shakin' his head an groanin'
an then walkin' on, that made you
| feel like askin' who was dead. Next
to Newly he was the biggest walkin'
| tombstone around here, an I saw that
Newly was. gittin' a little nervous for
fear that Hornbeck was after his
| job.
well, one Sunday was comm
| along the road, havin' bin huntin',
| when met Hogpbeck an Newly on
their way home from church.
Seth, said Hornbeck, we are
about to feed the inner man after a
feast Of the soul down at the church
under the beautiful guidance of Broth
or Newly. Will you jine us, an while
| We eat chicken listen to the beautiful
thoughts that flow so gently from the
| lips of our dear friend an BROTHER
well. that word chicken caught me,
an went along. Mrs. Hornbeck has
reputation for cookin', an I knew I
would be taken care Of; besides I saw
that Newly didn't want me along. so
went Just to spite him. Well, sir,
Hcrnbeck was very quiet during the
meal. and looked as IL he had some
thing on his mind that was worryin'
him. When the meal was over he
turned to Newly. and said:
Brother, I have had a terrible
weight upon my soul ever since I
jined the church an saw the blessed
light, an l fear for the welfare
| Of dear friend of mine. know
he means all right now. no matter
what his intentions may have been
in the past; but he Is in doubt
how to make the proper retribution.
Some time ago this man discovered
| gold on the land of another. Now, in
stead of maxim his discovery known
/ to the owner. he concealed the fact
an bought the land for what it was
worth for farmin' purposes
81 saw Newly set up with sudden
start an turn kinder green an white
around his gilIs. But l didn't know
at that time that Hornbeck had
dropped a gold nugget on the plate
! that mornin' at church.
Twas it wrong for him to secure
this land with the secret knowledge
that he possessed? asked Hornbeck.
ahxiously.
Wrong?' gasped Newly. holdin'
up his hands In horror. why he will
be lost forever unless he allows the
poor man he robbed at least portion
Of his ilI-gotten gains!'
"T'm in doubt, in doubt said Horn
beck. with a groan.
"'He's lost II he Doesn't exclaimed
Newly.
"'He's dern fool If he does said I
well, sir, for more'n four weeks
every time that Newly would send the
plate around Hornbeck would groar
an drop gold nugget on 1t. An
every time that he done 1t Newly
would twist and squirm an try to lool
pleasant, but he made mighty pool
job of it. I'm hanged If didn't git II
the habit Of goin' to church ever,
Sunday just to see Newly squirm.
well, l saw the whole thing then
Just as plain as day. Hornbeck hat
discovered gold on the Newly rancl
before he bought 1t. 1t didn't surpris'
me much, for it lays up agin thu
mountains, an I've always said tina
they would find gold around Their
somewhere. But what tickled mo wa
the fact that Hcrnbeck was cut
enough to keep it still an git Newb
to let the place go under the impress
sion that he was sellin it to sucker
. Well, sir, when / really grasped tn
/. situation l laughed till l thought
| would bust! An every time l sa,
Newly I would hold my sides an laug