The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-06-29

ET III eve was not in need of a
&s EE spiritual guide. One might
lIXI comb the territory and con
asTyzlSW tiguous parts without bring.
SEsssNSSJfsSs1@ ing to light community SC
Ey~NMaysA sorely beset Of sin N.
Efs1f8s.a Deadeye did moi desire % be
plrged. Ii laughed and drank and swore
and gambled, voting not Of hereafter and
Needless Of the Creator whose wontirous
works lay stretched before them league on
league. What did Deadeye reck Of the high
hills brooding above their wells Of cloud
What cared they that the angels Of Jehovah
rode the winds sh;ieliing through the pines
and curbed t9e lefy bolts that broke with
roll OF thunder athwert the valley?
They opined il was bad storm, but would
probably conhne Itself to the mountains,
sweeping around their city in q huge circle.
Yes, that was theway Of storms But would
the river rise and'earry out the bridge That
was the question When the very air rocked
with the tumlilt Of the elements, this was
what they debated, lolling negigently at ~,
/ ziegler's bar cr ritfling the calis in Mr. Zieg-
!; lerss warm back room 1t will be perceived
that speculation troubled the men of Deadeye
but little, except when it had to do with the
\ exact spot in which the ivory pea would fall or
allied matters pertaining to everyday exist
ence. Death was ever near them. Day by day
they saw 1t strike, claiming their hardest;
but this was as much factor in their exist
cnce as among creatures Of the Wild and they
could look on it clear-eyed and unafraid. So
they laughed and drank and swore and gam
blcd, and knew no STRINGS Of conscience
were tossed by no restless longings for better
things. Deadeye was callous The only oc-
casions on which its feelings were touched
we're those days when its head throbbed and
when sad deficit in the treasury threatened,
! the same being not unconnected with visit
of certain skilled gentlemen Of Doghole.
And now priest was come among them.
Deadeye threw back its head and howled in
glee; and blinked when the healer Of souls
smiled placidly, even in kindly approval Of
their merriment What ridiculous figure
he made He ambled into town on loose
cared burro at the moment Mr. Bull Carter
was engaged in saddling an outlaw mule,
Bull having laid sundry wagers that he could
tickle its fetlocks every jump, so stimulatiye
topride was Mr.. Zegler's hospitality; ami his
arrival postponed the test momentarily
whilst Deadeye stood on the porch Of the ga
.oon, convulsed, bereft Of speech.
II was a boys face they saw, though the
priest must have been forty years Of age--a
chubby, smooth expanse Of red and white,
from which twinslled two deep-set gray eyes.
The mouth was wide, with upturned corners,
and there was more than the hint Of double
chin above the stiff linen ncckband he wore.
With his round little hat, his long dustpoat,
and legs swinging within an inch of the
ground, he was the most gratesquc figure
Deadeye had seen in many day. Being un-
hampered by priggish restraints the popula-
ton said so, slapping thighs in emphasis, and
emitted long, Joyous yell.
( Good day to you, }" said the newcomer in
pause, and he grinned Years Of training
had done much, but the brogue still dung 10
bis speech. =
Deadeye wiped its eyes, in fair way
towards apoplexy, returning the salltation
out OF breath. 1t watched him step off the
buro and enter the store. Then il turned its
attention to Mr.. Carter who was engaged In
an effort to blindfold the dun lemon he had
spoken Of so slightingly. Vanity Of prowess
made Bull careless. When the mule had
trampled him into insensibility, the door Of
the grocery flew back with crash, and there
stood the priest in bis shirt-sleevcs, one hand
holding a jar Of milk, a biscuit In the other.
Both be threw from him, and needless Of the
brlfe plunging at the end OF the rope Carter
hadsnubbed around post, be raised the sag
ging form and bore il to the porch. Prompt
g had been their rush to the rescue, the Priest
had forestalled them all, and they crov led
about him and his wounded in slencs.
Where did the little man get the strength?
Iiordan himself .ould not have raised the
body with more ease.
Get some whisky" be commanded.
Lewis, the gambler, carried the fiery liquor
b him and helped pour i between the blre
bps "i'll bust that doaggone nudes haid for
aim" murmured Mr.. Carter presently, and
mey began to suspect that he would survive.
Such was the manner Of Father Walsh's
entry into the life of Deadeye Beyond the
FIRST ripple Of excitement, there was no per
ceptible variation in the established order Of
things. Miners came and went; cow outfit
passed through with only an hour to spare and
stayed three days; and Deadeye laughed and
Ndrank and swore and gambled Jealous
eastern workers in the vineyard, fed on whole
sale conversions, would have lost all patience
with Father Walsh. He was SO wanting in
aggressvcnessi he was so ready to laugh with
these reckless men, to wave deprecatory
hand whilst he advanced exeescs for their
waywardness and unbridled license Why
bad he come, il not to convert "The boys
are all right, be explained to shocked Mis-