Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-06-21

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
When was sheriff Of Arapahos
,ounty there was the slipperiest rascal
vorking the region you ever saw. He
vas not only slick. but . Desperate.
No one dared resist him. shelling out
vbenever be ordered one to do 20.
pe was fond Of disguises. At one
fine be would 60 about ~ . peddler.
A. another as a horse trader. and
~ on. He was known among Us by
the name under which he made his
srst haul, John wagstaff. He chang
ID his name every time he worked one
N his schemes, but WagstaR was
what we called him.
I had done some neat work under
DISCUSSES myself and determined that
Il could locate the villain I would
match him at his own game. So
when news came that he was stop
ming with a widow about I'VE miles up
The creek I determined to 60 for him.
went as travelling evangelist,
mounted and with q pair Of saddle
hars flled with tracts. Two revolv-
ers hung to my waist under my trou-
pers / hadn't any clerical garb. 30
got one of the women to make me q
white cravat.
When | reached the widows house
told her that was going to work In
the vineyard Of the Lord In that re-
eion for 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 Wagstan
The rascal was a short. thick man.
with especially large ears that stood
out like a donkey's. I didn't see my
fellow clergyman till the next morn
Ing at breakfast. when I recognized
him at once by the description, espe-
cialy his ears He had probably rob-
bed clergyman Of q suit of clothes.
for be was in full Episcopal canon
icals. l saw him cast quick glance
1t me. after which he attended to his
breakfast. When our landlady came
In she introduced us-wagstan as Mr..
Warbury. me as Mr.. Tidball. ! had
fortified myself to play the parson by
10 Las ~
hous TO discover II Wagstaff could
match me on that ground. so I opened
conversation with him with that In
view. Besides, 1 had been brought up
m Episcopalian.
~ 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." asked. "or are you on your
way from one field to anotherT
"Oh. I'm Just making a convert here
md there wherever I can"
ut would be well. brother, II You
could make q convert Of ranchman
visited yesterday, William Bitttnger.
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. found him
very bard Of heart-indeed. a scoffer.
When asked him for means with
which to replenish my tracts be took
ne into q little room In the rear OF
the ranch house and showed mo a pile
q gold and silver dollars. saying at
The same time: You zee. ! have plenty
to give. but not q cent for you lazy
parsons. You should Ill b set to real
work."
wagstaR pricked up his ears at the
mention Of the PILE Of gold and silver
collars. but otherwise be did not seem
specially interested In Mr.. Bittngsr's
conversion.
DO you preach near here, Brother
warburyr' I asked
aPreachi No: haven't got any ssr-
mons with me-"
Then I take It you do mot speak *
tsmporaneously."
"whatr'
You don't speak ofKhand, without
having your sermon al written out b.
fore your
oh, NO; I don't speak that way"
Are You high or low churchr
I'm high church" It was evident
mat bis answer was at random
DO you tntone the servicer
Tnis was too much for his religious
soucation- He hesitated, then admitted
mat he did. ! refrainsd from press-
ing him further. fearing that he would
inspect me. Having finished my
oteakfast arose, saying: II wish
you would try your persuasivs powers
= Friend Bittimgsr. I would Like to
- some Of that pile 60 to good
works."
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