Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1913-02-01

=
Your Uncle Eben's mighty feeble and
peaked lately He amt long for this
world, I'm afraid. You ought to be
awful good to him, Gracie.''
Il know it, was the hurried reply.
where's Nat?"
81 don't know. Can't keep track of
him. Nights we'll try to put your fin
ger on a flea. He's here to-day and
gone yesterday, as the Scriptur' 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 it and went
up to her own room. Standing before
the old-fashioned 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 door 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'. 1 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 it 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 sure there's nobody but us in the
house?"
Captain Elkanah Danielsi Captain
Elkanah visiting a Come-Outeri- and
| the leader of the Come-Outersii
Grace caught her breath What in
and then a 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. Eben Hammond,
tell you that your precious church
yes and mine, the Regular church of
| Trumet-will go to rack and ruin if
you and me don't pull together this
| night"
"And l tell you, Elkanah Daniels,
I'll have no blasphemy here. That lit
tie sanctuary up the road is founded
| on rock and neither you nor any
| of your Phariseein' priest-worshipin
crew can shake it. The Almighty'll
protect His own. AS for the Regular
church. that's no concern of mine"
But 1 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 uncle's voice as he
| answered.
My own family?" he repeated slow
| ly. My own And the RegIar
church What do you mean? Has
| Nat"
mo, he amt. But that cussed CIR
of yours"
"Stopn' shouted Captain Hammond
"Elkanah Daniels, for your own sake
now, be careful. II you dast to say g
word, another word like that, I'LL
eff I dasti The hussy! But there's
no use talkin' to you. You're as crazy
as a Bedlamite. Either that, or you're
in the game with her. II you are,
| warn you
"Stopi What game? What gam.
do you mean? Oracle! My Oracle
What is it? For mercy sakes, FL
| kanah-
'Humph, 1 wondered If I couldn'
get some sense into you, finally. Loci
that doorI"
81 will 1 Wilt But E1kanah-"
Lock it! Give me the key,"
The click of the lock SOUNDED
sharply.
where's the lamp" demanded Dan
fels And the matches? Don't stant
there shaking"
A smell of sulphur fioated out int
the hall Then the sickly glow of tn
fluid" lamp shone through the door
way.
What ails your" asked Eikanah
Are you struck dumb2 Now go an
see IL there's anybody else in tn
house"
.<D. - .,-sx r~,- 49,