The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1911-03-31
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Two Reverend
Gentlemen
They Played Their Parts Well.
bur There Was an
Anticlimax
By j. BERRY CROPE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1871.
By j. BERRY CROPE

When was sheriff of Arapahot
county there was the slipperiest rasca
working the region you ever saw. He
was not only slick, but a desperado
No one dared resist him, Smelling out
whenever he ordered one to do so.
He was fond of DISCUSSES. At one
time he would go about AZ a peddler,
at another as a horse trader, and
so on. He was known among us by
the name under which he made his
first haul. John Wagstaff. He chang
ed his name every time he worked one
of his schemes. but Wagstaff was
what we called him.
had done some neat work under
DISCUSSES myself and determined that
! IL could locate the villain | would
match him at his own game. So
when news came that he was stop
ping with widow about five miles up
the creek / determined to go for him.
went as travelling evangelist,
mounted and with pair of saddle
bags filed with tracts Two revolv
ers hung to my waist under my trou-
sers. / hadn't any clerical garb, so l
got one of the women to make me a
white cravat
When ! reached the widows house
told her that l was going to work in
the vineyard of the Lord in that re-
gion for a few days and would like to
put up at her house. She didn't OBJ
ject, saying that she had another cler'
gyman boarding with her and she
thought we two would take an inter-
est in each others work. / assured
her that we would. and truthfully, for
didn't doubt that the other clergy
man was the man / was after.
had a description of Wagstaff
given me by man he had robbed.
The rascal was n short, thick man,
with especially large ears that stood
out like donkeys l didn't see my
fellow clergyman till the next morn
ing at breakfast. when l recognized
him at once by the description, espe-
cialy his ears. He had probably rob
bed a clergyman of q suit of clothes,
for he was in full Episcopal canon
icals. | saw him cast quick glance
at me, after which he attended to his
breakfast When our landlady came
In she introduced us-Wagstaff as Mr..
Warbury, me as Mr. Tidball. l had
fortified myself to play the parson by
a smattering of Bible lore and was Gu
rious to discover If Wagstaff could
match me on that ground, so l opened
conversation with him with that in
view. Besides. had been brought up
an Episcopalian.
II hope, Brother Warbury," | said,
that you will not decline to do any
Of the Lords work that may lie in our
path with one not ordained in the An
glican church
saw that he didn't know what
church that was, but he said he would
be very glad to assist me in any work
! had laid out for myself.
Are you engaged In missionary
work." I asked, "or are you on your
! way from one held to anotherT'
"Oh, I'm just making convert here
and there wherever l can"
at would be well. brother, II you
could make convert of n ranchman
/ visited yesterday, William Bittinger,
who lives not far from here. He has
been favored by the Lord with world
" goods, and he should aid the cause
with gifts of money. l found him
very hard of heart-indeed. n scoffer.
When asked him for means with
which to repenish my tracts he took
me into little room in the rear OF
the ranch house and showed me pile
of gold and silver dollars, saying at
the same time: You see, have plenty
to give, but not cent for you lazy
parsons. You should all be set to real
work."
wagstaff pricked up his ears at the
mention Of the pile of gold and silver
dollars, but otherwise he did not seem
especially interested in Mr.. Bittinger's
conversion.
do you preach near here, Brother
Warbury?" | asked.
preach? No; | haven't got any ser
mons with me"
Then | take 1t yor do not speak ex-
temporaneousy."
"What?"'
lou uon SPEAK uHdlu, Nlluout
having your sermon all written out be-
fore YOU"
"Oh. no; don't speak that way"
Are you high or low church,"
I'm high church" 1t was evident
that his answer was Mt random
do you intoue the service?"
This was too much for his religious
education lie hesitated, then admitted
that he did refraincd from press
ing him further. fearing that he would
suspect me. Having finished my
breakfast. arose, saying: Il wish
you would try your persuasive powers
) on Friend Bittinger | would like to
zee some of that pile go TO good
works"
Maybe IN try"
I'm told that he sometimes pleads
poverty. If he does so with you ask
him to show you what he has in the
northeast corner room on the GROUND
floor"
Il don't reckon my route will b.
that way, out If | go there I'll remem
Der what you say"
"Goodby. Brother Warbury,' | said
Il am very glad TO have met a fellow
laborer in the Lords vineyard"
noted 10 cold cunning in his ey