The log cabin Democrat., 1909-11-20

tith UNIV hAih.
Rails" exclaimed another in re-
Spouse, God help us when we lose
him. There is no man in Jerusalem
who has done so much for his city.
He is a veritable father of the Jews
and a worthy son of Abraham.
Thus talking they passed on into
the temple
None can save the temple and Ra-
zis and Judas, but God. We must
pray" they said. and in response to
, the appeal the high priest lifted up
his hands toward heaven and prayed,
saying:
Thou. O Lord of all things, who
hast need of nothing. was pleased
that the temple of thine habitation
should be among us. Therefore. now,
O Holy Lord of All Holiness, keep
this house ever undefled, which late
ly was cleansed, and stop every IN
righteous mouth"
And when the prayer had ended
and the ceremonies had all been per
formed the priests withdrew to one
of the upper rooms to take counsel
how they might deliver Rails from
the hands of Nicanor.
HE will never suffer himself to be
taken alive" one of them exclaimed.
NO, but how will he ever make
his escape from the city? Every gate
is guarded and every road filled with
soldiers
Yea, and even now there are sol
ders securing the city seeking his hi
ding place
Cannot we hide him in the tenn
pie" exclaimed one, with sudden in
spiration.
Yea. we might" responded anoth-
er of the group, but Rails viii not
come. | plead with him that he make
the temple his refuge, but he would
not, saying that it would only invite
disaster upon Gods house. He would
rather suffer ten thousand deaths than
bring deflement or misfortune upon
the holy temple"
"Ah he is d good and holy man.
fervidly rejoined the high priest 81
have known the manner OF his life
from his youth up, and always he has
been a succorer of his people"
Yea, that | we'll know" spoke up
one OF the younger of the group.
Did he not minister to the widow and
the fatherless when my mother was
] left alone years ago, and was it not
owing to his encouragement and help
that | was able and willing to follow
/ the priestly Office even as my father
desired and as was befitting one of
the tribe of Aaron"
"A noble life indeed he has lived
exclaimed another. His name is
worthy place among the heroes of
a nation Nicanor may be able to
take his life. but he can never destroy
the influence of that life He may
kill the body but the spirit and devo
ton of Rails will continue to go on
to lead the Jews toward God"
Well spoken" heartily responded
the members of the group, in unison.
''Nicanor can rob us of Rails, but not
the memory of his life. May God de
liver him. but if not, his will be done"
The tread of soldier feet sounded
through the streets of Jerusalem that
evening as 500 picked men of Mean
or's army entered the city and
marched toward the tower where it
was reported that Rails had taken
shelter.
Deliver Rails into our hands or we
will raze the tower and burn it with
fire" demanded the captain of the
soldiers.
But only an ominous silence fol
lowed the request.
Men, you know your duty. Charge
the tower"
The great battering ram Numbered
against the heavy door, and fairly
shook the strong tower Again and
again il crashed into the shattered,
shivering wood and the door crushed
and broken from its fastenings, fell in.
Now. men take him alive, Gold
and plenty of it, to the man who de-
livers Rails into the hands of Mean
or, alive shouted the captain.
The doorway was instantly choked
with the burly forms of the soldiers,
with swords uplifted ready to strike
if need be, but eager to get the man
alive.
There he is" cried one of the sol
diers, pointing upward toward the
stairway whence Rails stood on the
| landing. and instantly a dozen men
sprang forward.
Rails with sword uplifted, held the
men at bay just an instant then quick
as flash he lowered his weapon and
placing the hilt on the stair before
him, he fell forward An angry howl
rose in hoarse chorus from the disap-
pointed men.
He has killed himself" they shout
ed, crowding up the stairway.
But Rails. who had chosen rather
TO die manfully, than to come into the
hands of the wicked Nicanor and suf-
fer abuse illbefitting his noble birth,
in his haste missed his stroke and
the sword passed harmlessly through
his cloak He had no time to recover
his sword now, so leaping up he
sprang boldly up to the top of the out
er wall and cast himself down upon
the thrOng of soldiers below and thew