Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-04-18
! eoPxeIonr l9,, ~ A.r.rrr CO

= The porter thought he wanted ~the
dog back, and quickened his pace till
he reached the corridor, where NAL
lory overlook him and asked, in an
effort at casual Indifference, II he had
seen anything of clergyman on
board.
"Ain't seen nothin' that even looks
like one." said the porter. Then he
hastened ahead to the baggage car
with the sQuirming Snoozleums, while
Mallory followed slowly, going from
seat to seat and car to car, subjecting
all the males to an inspection that
rendered some Of them indignant.
others of them uneasy.
II dear old Doctor Temple could
only have known what Mallory was
hunting, he would have snatched or
the mask, and thrown aside the secu-
lar scarlet tie at all costs. But poor
Mallory. unable to recognize clergy
man so dyed-in-the- as Doctor
Temple. sitting in the very next seat
how could he be expected to pick
out another in the long and crowded
train?
All clergymen look alike when they
are In convention assembled, but
sprinkled through 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, ascetlc
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 If he were stabbed, and
turned a pale, frightened face on NAL
lory, who murmured:
Excuse me. do you happen to be a
clergyman"
A look Of relief stole over the mans
features. followed closely by scowl
Of wounded vanity:
mo, damn you, l don't happen to
be parson. have chosen to be
we'll, If you had watched the bill
boards In Chicago during our run, you
would not need to ask who ami"
Mallory mumbled an apology and
hurried on. just overhearing his VIC
TINS sigh:
Such Is fame!"
He saw two or three other clerical
persons in 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 eayesdropping some clue.
This man was bent and scholastic OF
appearance. and wore heavy spec
tacles and a heavy beard, which Nal
lory 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: IL
there ever was person named Moses,
1t 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 a fu-
ture existence was undoubtedly ac-
quired from the Assyrians. during the
captivity"
He doubtless read much more, but
Mallory fed to the next car. There
he found a man in frock coat talk
ing solemnly to another of equal
solemnity The seat next them was
unoccupied. and Mallory dropped into
It, 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. l was givin' hypnotic
demonstrations, and l had run-in
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
faker, gents. and owes me two weeks
pay Thank Gawd, there was a back
door openin' on dark alley leadin'
to the switch yard. caught ca
boose just as freight train was pull
in out"
Mallory could hardly get strength
to rise and continue his search. On
his way forward he met the conductor.
crossing a vestibule between cars. A
happy thought occurred to Mallory.
He said:
Excuse me. but have you any
preachers on board?"
None 80 far"
Are you sure?"
Positive"
"How can you tell?"
"Well, II grown man offers me q
half-fare ticket, | guess that's pref
ty good sign, amt it?"
Mallory guessed that 1t was, and
turned back. hopeless and helpless.