The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-04-20
.AParson' sStory
BY 7. DE WITT BOWEN.
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.


was at its height in the west-that is,
before mining communities were or
ganized on the respectable basis many
of them are run on today did deal
of work among them. l would settle
myself at n central point In a mining
district. from which would make trips
to different camps. speaking TO the peo-
pie. trying TO lead them to walk In the
straight and narrow path. was young
and muscular In those days. Indeed,
had been a member of the university
football team OF my college.
One Sunday morning / started on
ten mile walk TO a mining camp at
which | had spoken before and had
made enough converts TO warrant the
starting of church. | was going TO
address them on the subject. after
which a collection would be taken up
to start fund for building. The day
was fine. the sky a deep blue, and as
strobe on. occasionally pausing to en-
Joy some expansive view, ] thought
how thankful | should be at having
such work to do instead OF being shut
up In a counting room or an office try
ing 10 make money out of people rath-
er than improving their condition.
On the way | met man carrying
lariat in his hand. who seeing my cler-
ical garb. took off his hat to me and
wished me good morning. stopped
to speak with him. but he politely
turned about and walked with me that
the time used In conversing should be
at his expense instead of mine. He
asked me where was going. my pur-
pose and other questions pertaining to
my work. | noticed that he was par
ticuar 10 know II this were to be my
| first visit to the camp. Then he asked
me where ! would preach the next
Sunday, and | told him at the Palmer
Gulch camp, some five miles from the
Acme camp. to which ! was then go
ing. I gave him much other informa-
ton, including my name, before II &C.
Cured to me that he might have some
object in getting all these facts.
Suddenly he whipped out a revolv-
er and. holding 1t cooked upon my
nose. told me to take off my clothes.
1t flashed upon me that he would put
/ them on himself. so to the Acme
camp. personate me, take up a col.
/ lection and IL possible get away with
! II. Probably | might have given my
life to defeat his purpose, but my life
would avail nothing. l obeyed his or
der and exchanged clothes with him.
after which he bound my ankles and
my hands with the lariat and left me.
On thinking his design over | made
up my mind that he would not go to
the Acme camp. for had told him
/ was known there. but to Palmer
Gulch camp, where he knew / had
never been. ] must get rid OF those
cords. follow him and head him Off
from what | believed was his SWIM
ding purpose. Though very strong. l
could not burst the bonds. nor could l
unite them. was smoking a pipe when
the man Joined me and had continued
10 give an occasional puff. The to-
bacco was still lighted. 1t occurred to
me that | might possibly light a fire
and burn them. The only inflammable
thing near me was dry grass. man
aged to collect some with my fingers
dumped the lighted tobacco on it and
10y vigorous blowing produced a flame
over this | held the cord that bound
my wrists. smuggling 1t so that with my
natural strength was able to break
it. though | singed my wrists as much
as the cord. My wrists being free.
had little difficulty in untying my an
kles.
The man had a good start Of me
and. though | must hasten, must no
overtake him, unarmed as was.
kept sharp lookout before me and a
one point of the road saw him aheat
of me making straight line for tn,
Acme camp. could not for awhil,
understand his going where wa,
known till 1t occurred to me that b,
would say that ! was Ill or otherwis,
engaged and he was to take my place.
Swallowed him. keeping him mos
of the time in view. though he was fa
ahead of me. | wished that | nigh
meet some one from whom could oh
tain weapon. but my wish was no
fulfilled. Once or twice ! saw hin
stop and turn around. l knew he wa
looking to assure himself that | ha,
been securely bound and was not fol
lowing him. Whenever he turned
\ was invisible TO him. having fallen OF
4 my face before he could see me.
l expected he would arrive at Acme
& as | had expected TO arrive. to find TIN
\ people gathering in an open space use,
\ for meetings. Doubtless he did SC
for when | entered the place ! saw
him there just mounting the boar
4 platform pulpit circled around an,
\ approached the meeting from benin,
him. True. faced his audience. bu
| stole along under bushes till reach
cd the trunk of tree directly benin,
him. ] was still without weapon
but I preferred not to use one. Sud
denly just MS he was exhorting hi
flock to give literally to the ne,
church building made dash an
pinioned his arms TO his SIDE
shall always remember the es
pressions of astonishment In the face
Of his listeners. I called for assist
ance. he was disarmed. aud told m