The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-09-03

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questions Father Walsh put squarcly to him
self again and again; none realized better
than he that crisis impended In the bear
ing Of the men he could read the struggle.
Ziegler and his henchmen were sullenly
mutinous, but they were in the minority,
strange to relate. And stranger still, Lewis,
the gambler, led the cohorts which ranged
themselves on the priests side. He found an
able assistant in Pink Perry. On the Tues
day preceding the opening, the split became
so wide that actual conflict between the forces
for righteousness and the followers Of Nam
mon was imminent. As for Doghole, any in
habitant Of that blot on earth's surface who
dared to show himself within 6ye miles Of the
town, took his life in his hands.
% Father Walsh came and went, and none
could have guessed from his demeanor that
he sensed the strain, so boyish was bis en-
thusiasm. He supervised the placing Of the
cross on the tower, trembling as the men
made it fast, and then he Strengthened, his
chubby face grave with high resolve. At that
moment he grew in stature before the eyes Of
the onlookers; glimpsing the unquenchable
spirit that burned in bis eyes, they forgot that
he was FIVE feet FIVE and plump, that he was
too tolerant of backslders, and consequently
Of nature soft. A radiance trans6gured him,
the same indomitable zeal that drove the
Jesuits through wilderness and torture in
quest for souls.
Wednesday broke with soft sunshine and
velvet breeze The old-timers stood with
feet wide apart in the middle Of the road, and,
cooking an eye, recalled just such day in
1880, and augured fair weather for the Sab
bath, with touch OF heat AT five o'clock, a
brigade Of clouds massed on the hills, and at
six deluge drove down on Deadeye, sending
the inhabitants scurrying to sealed protection.
Long forks Of lightning licked nungrily from
the black press and the valley quaked to the
thunder A huge cottonwood, the town S
sole natural shade, was rent al .roke and fell
with shrek across the yard Of Zegler's
place. At his omen the knowing shook their
heads.
Came a rider from Doghole, drenchcd
heavy with mud and exhausted, his horse
steaming in front Of the porch with dropping
head and believing nostrils and one forceg
crippled. Where was the priest2 They led
him across, through the binding sheels Of
rain, to the Eating House. Black Hans was
dying, smashed to pieces in cage at the
mines, and he feared to face the beyond un-
shrven He adjured Father Walsh, by all
the vows OF his priesthood, TO come to him
This message the Doghole man delivered
standing awkwardly on the threshold, the
water seeping from his clothes to the floor
" Get me horse, said Walsh TO Riordan
and he moved to don a. slicker
Sure, father, you can't be gon the night
It's your death it would be, an not hoss is
there in town. The burro huh
"Ziegler has one Hurry" Tie was al
ready half enveloped in the oilskin. Riordar
threw out his hands.
II is nineteen miles You could not ge
there, father An besides BLACK
Hans he will 60 to hell anyway
Riordan pleaded, made bold by gsn',in,
concern.
Riordanl" exclaimed the priest sharply
and the giant ceased, abashed
"That hoss Of Ziegler's is bronc, Father
Walsh He'll pitch hard, interiected one o
the group which ohoked the doorway.
II cannot help it. Hurry"
What can't YOU help3 What will pitch
hard Where are you goin59" II wa
Lewis, who shouldered his way into the room
IL ride tonight for a soul" said Fathe
Walsh
The gambler peered into the priests fac'