The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-02-02

AlbNih vi AAAn nNANH ~ hRNNA bhNN
did he miss droppin' a gold nugget on
the plate, an once when the sermon
was extra powerful l saw him droI
two.
Wen, yesterday Hornbeck looked
me up an asked me to come up an
take dinner with him. Newly would
be there, he said.
"'All right said /, I'll come to
oblige you; besides, It would be a
shame If you had TO throw away any
of that chickenp
well, sir, what / saw an heard
there nearly took away my appetite
for chicken, We hadn't got more'n
fairly started before Newby com
menced to worry Hornbeck by insinu-
attn that his mansion in the skies had
a mortgage on it, an that II would be
Just as well to lift II before he moved
in. | set right across from Newly,
an | managed to git in one good kick
on his shins, but he kept them out Of
the way after that, an / had TO set
there an eat chicken, powerless to
help myself Well, finally Hornbeck
broke down an commenced sobbin'
/ like a child, while | felt like wringin'
that miserable Newby's neck. / made
/ up my mind that l would do It too,
just as soon as the chicken was all
gone
oh, brother, brother, sobbed Horn
beck, If ! hadn't found it, If hadn't
found It! If | could only git down to
the Downey country an spend the rest
OF my life workin' among them poor
lost souls down there, / might be al
most happy an forget the dark, dark
page of my life! Oh, If hadn't found
1t! If l hadn't found it,
Well, now that you have found
it, said l, in disgust, you had better
hang on to it,
Why don't you 90 down to the
Downey country an carry the light to
the poor lost souls?' asked Newly,
watchin' Hornbeck as a dog does
rat.
I can't he groaned. This ranch
hangs like a milestone around my
neck! If was only free l would glad
ly 60
Brother said Newly, as if struck
by a sudden thought, why not sell the
ranch? l would buy it myself If
thought it would further the blessed
cause of religion
Brother sobbed Hornbeck, seizin'
hold of Newby's hand an wringin' 1t,
If you would it would make me the
happiest man on the face of the earth!
l feel 1t in my heart that 1t should
belong to you of all persons!'
About the price, brother? asked
Newly, with a purr of satisfaction.
Well, said Hornbeck, with a deep
sigh, I gave you $4,000 for it, you
know, an have made some improve
ments. Say $500, an will be free
to move to the Downey country an
save souls.
See here, Hornbeck,' began,
when Newly cut me short.
You're a man of sin!' said he,
piously.
"Tn give you $4,000, Hornbeokl' I
shouted.
Seth said he, earnestly, I would
prefer to have this ranch pass into the
hands of godly man. If you would
jine the church, an
"Tll give you
Draw up the papers, brother said
he, turnin' sadly to Newby, the tempt
er is abroad an l may fall
s"Well, sir I'm derned if that miser-
able Newly didn't have a deed all
ready drawn with the exception of the
price! | grabbed my hat an was leav-
in in disgust when Hornbeck asked
me to remain an take his acknowledge
ment I'm a justice of the peace, you
know. | refused at first, but he said
he would give me dollar if l would,
an as knew that it would be my only
chance to git any of the derned FOOLS |
money | consented.
" For the last time, Hornbeck,' said |
|, as l took up the pen, I'll give you
You're a man of SIM gToaned |
Newby.
Turn from thy evil ways an see
he blessed light groaned Hornbeck, |
n turn
THAT settled it! 1 took the dern
Lddle-pated idiots acknowledgement, |
IN fed.
We'll, this moTnin' l went up to bid |
lin good-by an collect the dollar that |
lie owed me. l wasn't any too soon,
or Hornbeck, with all his household |
'oods loaded on lumber wagon, was
ust turnin' on the main road on his
way for Downey.
Seth, said he, as we shook hands, |
line the church! There's more in it
han you have any idea of. Giddap!
No, thankee,' said / I've seen too
lany horrible examples to do like
yise"
Just then Newly come runuin' up,
Il out of breath.
Brother Hornbeck! Brother
-ornbeck! he cried in his thin, squaky
oice.
Whoa!' said Hornbeck, plIIlin' in
Is horses; and then seein' who it was,
e said:
Good-by. brother, put thy tai tn in
le Lord an be happy! GiddapT
But, Brother Hornbeck! Broith
cried Newly, rum in
ongside of the wagon, what was 1t
that is-you know-what was it yo
und?'
Found that l had been beat, you
iserable sooundrel!' roared Horn.
eek Giddap!
We'll, sir, when it dawned upon me
at Hornbeck had been simply work
Newly to unload the ranch upon