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

But l can't 40 that, said ne.
never beat man In my life. an I'm
too old to commence now
We'll, about two weeks later | saw
Hornbeck again, an he drew me aside
an said.
I've bin thinkin' the matter over.
Seth, an I've about come TO the con.
clusion that have been denyin' myself
the consolation of religion in my old
age
We'll, laughed, an laughed, an
laughed, an then commenced an
laughed all over again, for Hornbeck
had a reputation for free thinkin that
had followed him and extended over
three counties.
What's the joker said |, thinkin'
that the real laugh was yet to come.
There amt no joke said he, as
solemn as an owl. I've seen the error
of my ways, an henceforth | walk the
straight and narrow way
Well, said /, II you hold on to
that ranch you will need all the relig-
ion you can git!'
We'll. sir, in spite of what he said
to prepare me for what he knew
would be an awful shock, you could
have knocked me down with feather
when | heard that he had been to
church. You never saw such a change
come over man in your life as came
over Hornbeck when he got religion.
Before that he would laugh an joke
an tell funny story with the best of
us. But now he went around with his
mouth droopin' down like a rainy
moon, an he had way of loolSin at
you an shakin' his head an groanin',
an then walkin' on, that made you
feel like askin who was dead. Next
to Newby he was the biggest walkin'
tombstone around here, an saw that
Newby was gittin' a little nervous for
fear that Hornbeck was after his
job.
well, one Sunday was comm
along the road, havin' bin huntin',
when l met Hornbeck an Newby on
their way home from church.
Seth said Hornbeck, we are
about to feed the inner man after a
feast of the soul down at the church
under the beautiful guidance of Broth
er Newby viii you jine us, an while
we eat chicken listen to the beautiful
thoughts that flow so gently from the
lips of our dear friend an brother?' F
Well that word chicken caught me,
an went along. Mrs. Hornbeck has
a reputation for cookin', an / knew l
would be taken care of; besides I saw
that Newby didn't want me along so
went just to spite him Well, sir,
Hornbeck was very quiet during the
meal, and looked as if he had some
thing on his mind that was worryin'
him. When the meal was over he
turned to Newby, and said:
Brother, l have had a terrible
weight upon my soul ever since I
jined the church an saw the blessed
light, an l fear for the welfare
Of dear friend of mine. l know
he means all right now, no matter
what his intentions may have been
in the past; but he is in doubt
how to make the proper retribution.
Some time ago this man discovered
gold on the land of another. Now, in
stead of maxim mis- discovery known
to the owner, he concealed the fact
an bought the land for what it was
worth for farmin' purposes
81 saw Newby set up with a sudden
start an turn kinder green an white
around hfc oil D,1F
at that time that Hornbeck had
dropped a gold nugget on the plate
hat mornin' at church.
Was it wrong for him to secure
his land, with the secret knowledge
hat he possessed? asked Hornbeck,
eanin' forward an lookin' at Newby
lnxiously.
Wrong? gasped Newby, holdin'
Up his hands in horror, why he will
De lost forever unless he allows the
Door man he robbed at least portion
If his ill-gotten gains!'
I'm in doubt, in Doubt! said Horn
leck, with groan.
He's lost If he Doesn't exclaimed
Jewby.
He's a dern fool if he does said l.
We'll, sir, for more'n four weeks
very time that Newby would send the
)late around Hornbeck would groan
IN drop a gold nugget on it. An
very time that he done it Newly
would twist and squirm an try to look
pleasant, but he made a mighty poor
Ol, of ~ Tn, borood 10 1idnJ+ ,rit IN
he habit of goin' to church every
Sunday just to see Newby squirm.
well, l saw the whole thing then,
ust as plain as day Hornbeck had
discovered gold on the Newby ranch
efore he bought 1t. 1t didn't surprise
ne much, for it lays up agin the
an I've always said that
hey would find gold around there
But what tiekled me was
he fact that Hornbeck was cute
nough to keep it still an git Newly
o let the place go under the impress
ion that he was sellin it to a sucker
Veil, sir, when l really grasped the
ituation l laughed till l thought /
yould bust! An every time | saw
ewby would hold my sides an laugh
gin. An then Newly would shake
is head an groan, an then pass on
Ike a man goin' to his own funeral.
tut what worried me was Hornbeck
ittin' religion, for when a man gifts
eligion as bad as Hornbeck did there
J no tellin' where he is goin' to
reak out at. / saw that Newby's
lme was to work upon Hornbeck un-
he made him think that it was his
lty to give the ranch back, an |
,,IId,1't see no way of headin' him off