Putnam patriot., 1909-06-04

world sne nad ever expected se see. Are you sky pilets' That's what he am. chile. Mandy x,Ipresi the words in Slyly. for she knew that they were against the pas tors wishes. but she WAS unable to re- strain her miSehieyous Impulse te sow the seeds of curiosity that would soon bear fruit in the inquisitive mind of the little invalid.
 swin you get on to me a=laadln' Into a mixup Ike thisss She continued 10 study the uncomfortable man at her side. .I never thought I'd be a-talkin' to one of you guys Whats your namey'
 Douglas" He spoke shortly.
 .Ain't you got DO handle to it2''
 If you mean my Christian name. it's John"
 .swen. that sounds like sky pilot all right. But you don't look Ike | s'posed they did.'
 "Why not?"
 "I always s.pesed sky pilots was old an grouchy-like. You're a'most as good lookin' as our strong man"
 "I done tole him he was too good lookin' to be an unmarried parson. |" Mandy chuckled. more and more amused at the pastors discomfort
 Looks don't play a very important part in my work" Douglas answered curtly. Mandy,s confidential snickers made him doubly anxious to get to a less personal topic.
 Well, they count fo- whole lot with us" She nodded her head decid- ediy How long you been shewin' in this town. anyhowY'
 About year.. Douglas answered. with something of sigh.
 "A year, she gasped. .ln a burg like this. You must have an awful lot of laughs in your act to keep 'em a-comin' that long" She was wise in the ways of professional success.
 Not many. I'm afraid" He won- dered fer the first time If this might be the reason for his rather indifferent success.
 Do you give them the same stuff. or have you got rep?"
 "A repg" he repeated in surprise.
 sure. repertory. different acts-en- tries. some calls 'em. Uncle Tohy's got twenty-seven entries. It makes heap of difference in the big towns where you have run
 "oh. understandr Douglas answer ed in tone of relief Well. l try to say something new each Sunday
 What kind of splels do you give 'emy" she inquired. with growing in- terest.
 T try to help my people to get on better terms with themselves and to forget their week day troubles" He had never had occasion to define his ef- forts SO minutely.
 Well. that's jes' the same as us.' Polly told him, with an air of coude- scension. "only eircuses draws more people 'an churches"
 Yours does seem to be a more pop. ular form of entertainment" Douglas answered dryly. He WAS beginning to feel that there were many tricks In the entertainment trade which he had not mastered. And. after all. what was his preaching but an effort at entertain. ment? If he failed to hold his congre- gation by what he was saying. hs lis- teners grew drowsy and his sermon fell short of Its desired effect It was true that his position and hers had points of similarity. She was appar- ently successful AS for himself he could not be sure. He knew he tried very hard and that sometimes a tired mother or sad faced child looked up at him with a smile that made the service seem worth while.
 Polly mistook the pastors reverie fot envy and her tender heart was quick to find consolation for him.
 You aint got all the worst of it. she said If we tried to play a dumT like this for six months. we'd starve te death You certainly must give 'em 8 great show" she added. surveying him with growing interest
 ''It doesn't make much difference about the show Douglas began but he was quickly interrupted.
 That's right; it's jes' the same with a circus. One year you give 'em the rottenest kind of a thing. an they eat 1t up; the next year you hand 'em q knockout, an it's a frost. Is that the way 1t is with church show"
 Much the same.' Douglas admitted half amusedly. half respectfully "Very often when I work the hardest seem to do the least good"
 "I guess our troubles is pretty much alike Polly nodded, with motherly
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