The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-04-19

| train? ~ 4ts 81
All clergymen look alike when they
are In convention assembled, but
sprinkled through a crowd they are
not so easily distinguished.
In the sleeping car bound for Port
land, Mallory picked one man as a
clergyman. He had a lean. ascetic
face, solemn eyes, and he was talking
to his seat-mate in an oratorical man.
ner. Mallory bent down and tapped
the mans shoulder.
The effect was surprising. The man
jumped as II he were stabbed, and
turned a pale, frightened face on NAL
lory. who murmured:
Excuse me, do you happen to be q
clergyman?"''. q >"@
A look Of relief stole over the mans
features. followed closely by a scowi
OF wounded vanity:
mo. damn you. don't happen to
be a parson. l have chosen to be-
well, If you had watched the bill
boards in Chicago during our run. you
would not need gask who ami"
Mallory mumbled an apology and
hurried on. just overhearing his vic.
TINS sigh: Ss@
"Such Is fame!"
He saw two or three other clerical
persons Ia that car. but feared to
touch their shoulders. One man in
the last seat held him specially, and
he hid In the turn of the corridor, in
the hope Of eavesdropping some clue.
This man was bent and scholastic OF
appearance. and wore heavy spec
taoles and heavy beard, which NAL
Tory took for guaranty that he was
not another actor. And he was read
ing what appeared to be printers
proofs. Mallory felt certain that they
were a volume of sermons. He lin
gered timorously In the environs for
some time before the man spoke at
all to the dreary-looking woman at
his side. Then the stranger spoke.
And this is what he said and read
Il fancy this will make the bigots
sit up and take notice, mother: III
there ever was person named Moses,
it is certain, from the writings as
cribed to him, that he disbelieved the
Egyptian theory of a life after death,
and combated 1t as heathenish SUI
perstition. The Judaic idea of fu-
ture existence was undoubtedly ac-
CURED from the Assyrians, during the
captivity"
He doubtless read much more, but
Mallory fed to the next car. There
he found man in frock coat talk
ing solemnly to another of equal
solemnity. The seat next them was
and Mallory dropped into
1t. perking his ears backward for
news.
Was you ever In Moline?" one
voice asked.
WAS II" the other muttered.
Wasn't run out Of there by one OF
my audiences. | was givin' hypnotic
demonstrations, and / had runin
with one OF my horses and he done
me dirt. Right In the midst OF one
Of his cataleptic frances, he got down
from the chairs where had stretched
him out and hollered: He's a bum
'aker, gents, and owes me two weeks
pay Thank Gawd, there was a back
ioor openin' on dark alley leadin
o the switch yard. I caught ca
,oose just as freight train was pull
n out"
Mallory could hardly get strength
o rise and continue his search. On
lis way forward he met the conductor,
.rossing a vestibule between cars. A
lappy thought occurred to Mallory.
lie said:
Excuse me. but have you any
PREACHERS on board!"
None so far.
Are you sure!"
Positive" -,
How can you tell?"
We'll, If grown man offers me a
alf-fare ticket. guess that's pref
y good sign, Amt it?"
Mallory guessed that 1t was, and
lrned back, hopeless and helpless.