Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1912-12-19

said, and amt feelin good, so | told
her I'd come and stay a little spell
Your Uncle Eben's mighty feeble and
peaked lately. He amt long for this
world, Pm afraid You ought to be
awful good to him. Oracle"
81 know It," was the hurried reply.
Where's Nat?"
81 don't know. Can't keep track Of
him. Nights well try to put your fin
ger on flea. He's here to-day and
gone yesterday, as the Scrlptur' says.
He ate little mite of supper, but not
much, and then off he puts
She reached the gate by this time.
and Grace shut off the flow of CONVEX
sation by closing the door. Then she
took candle from the row on the din
ing-room mantle, lighted 1t and went
up to her own room. Standing before
the oldfashioned bureau with its little
oval mirror, she hastily arranged her
hair. She did not wish to go to
prayer meeting at the chapel, but she
felt that she must. The Come-Outer
gatherings, with their noisy singing
and shouting. had grown more and
more repugnant to her.
She blew out the candle and came
out into the hall at the head of the
stairs, She was about to descend when
she heard voices. The der Of the din
ing room opened and closed. She felt
certain that Nat had returned and
wondered who was with him Then
she heard her uncle's voice, speaking
sharply and with unwonted sternness.
Il don't know what It's you want to
see about" said Captain Eben. you
say It's important; well, it's got to be
70 keep me from my meetin'. / ought
to be on the Lords business this
minute and nothin worldly's goin' to
keep me from servin' Him. So speak
quick What is it?"
The voice that answered was one
that Grace recognized, though she had
never before heard in 1t the note OF
agitation and undignified excitement
There were no ponderous pauses and
"Hum-ha's" now.
Don't be a fool, Hammond" It said
"And don't stand there preaching,
Lock that door! Get a lamp Are
you su-e there's nobody but us in the
house?"
Captain Elkanah Daniels! Captain
Elkanah visiting a Come-Outer! and
the leader of the Come Cutters! !
Grace caught her breath. What in
the world She started to descend
and then n thought flashed to her
mind. She stopped short.
II amt the fool Elkanah," she
heard her uncle retort sternly. "The
fools are them who are def to the
call from on high. My foot was on the
threshold Of His house when you led
me astray. It's never halted there
afore warn you"
Stop! Shut up! Ebeu Hammond
| tell you that your precious church
yes and mine, the Regular church of
Trumet-will go to rack and ruin II
you and me don't pull together this
night"
And | tell you, Elkanah Daniels
III have no blasphemy here. That lit
tie sanctuary up the road is founded
on rock and neither you nor any
of your Pharlseein' priest-worshipin
crew can shake it. The Almightyl
protect His own. AS for the Regular
church, that's no concern of mine"
But l tell you it's your concern
Or If the church isn't, your own fam
lily is"
There was an instant Of silence
Grace, crouching on the stairs, noticed
the change in her uncles voice as ht
answered.
my own family?" he repeated slow
ly. my own And the Reg'la,
church What do you mean? Hal
| Nat"
mo, he amt, But that cussed cir
of yours"
stop" shouted Captain Hammond
"Elkanah Daniels, for your own SAX,
now, be careful. If you dast to say
worn, dUOlHSI WOIu like lHdl, 1 II
III dast! The hussy! But there
no use talkin to you. You're rs Graz,
as Bedlamite. Either that, or your
in the game with her. If you are,
warn YOU"
stop! What game? What gam
do you mean? Oracle! My Oracle
What Is It? For mercy sakes, e
kanah-"
"Humph! wondered If couldn
get some sense into you, finally. Loo
that door!"
81 will! will! But Elkanah-'
Lock It! Give me the key!"
The click of the lock sounde
sharply.
where's the lamp" demanded Dal
lels And the matches? Don't stan
there shaking"
A smell Of sulphur floated out int
the hail. Then the sickly glow Of tn
, fluid" lamp shone through the doc
way.
What ails your" asked ElkanaI
I Are you struck dumb? Now go an
' see II there's anybody else in II
house"
; "But-but thee amt. l know thei
4 amt. Hannah's gone and Gracie's
. meetin' by this time"
"She? Humnhi Well mayhe she