Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-21

On reaching a croSSroad a few miles
out of O. he forced me TO alight with
him. The coach went on. and we walk
ed a short distance to deserted cabin.
There We remained all night, my cap
tor sitting in the doorway most OF the
night, asleep. He held his revolver
gripped in his hand. and I had no op-
portunity for escape. When morning
came he marched me into O., took me
to the sheriff and told him that he was
the Rev. Edward Morrison. had come
to preach that morning in o.. had met
me on the way and l had tried to rob
him.
I'm one o. those fighting parsons"
he said. land before he knew what
he was about had got his gun and
had the drop on him"
The sheriff looked from one to the
other of MS as If trying to grasp the
situation. but since made no defense
he locked me up. My captor had pur-
posely reached the town shortly before
the time for morning service in the
churches in order to get IN his work
before would have time to convince
the sheriff that he was the robber and
I the clergyman. Indeed, having turn
ed me over. the rascal went directly to
the church. carrying my bag, with my
belongings in it. and my sermon. Ny
eanonicals would vouch for him, and
II he needed more evidence of his iden-
tity my prayer book with my name in
it was in my bag.
The sheriff didn't give me a chance
to speak to him alone till it was about
time for the sermon to begin in the
church. Then I told him what had
happened. He regarded 1t as a very
ordinary ruse to get my liberty and
was going away when l said:
Sheriff all ask you to do is to take
me into the church where this man is
going to preach and 1 will convince
you that it's my sermon he's preach
ing and not his"
How
''Theren be certain points he will
read that only can explain"
finally persuaded him, and he took
me to the church. / skunk in SO that
the rascal couldn't see me. The regular
clergyman was finishing the service
and in few minutes announced the
Rev. Edward Morrison and his pur-
pose, stating at the same time that the
collection would be deferred till after
the sermon. Then while the congrega-
ton sang a hymn the false clergyman
took the pulpit. He wore vestments he
had taken from my bag.
He must have had infinite assurance
for, though an uneducated man, he read
my sermon quite well. l did not have
to wait long before he made a break
that gave him away. l have men
toned that the sermon had originally
been used in behalf Of G. and was
now to be used for 3. In my manu-
script / had not erased the town of G..
and entered B. The first time he came
to the name of G. in the text he used 1t
instead of substituting B. The blum
: der was probably not noticed by many
of his hearers, but when he entered
upon the frightful condition of place
that had been regenerated and was
now a Christian community many OF
| the congregation who knew better be-
gan to prick up their ears. l nudged
! the sheriff and whispered an explana-
ton. He was not only disposed to be
convinced but was much amused at
the condition of things existing at G.
However, most of the congregation
supposed the parson had got the names
of two places mixed, and, though some
looked at each other and smiled, no
one dreamed of the real reason for the
! blunder. | felt at ease, for il was
| quite enough to cause the sheriff to
make an investigation. and an investi-
| CATION would reveal the plot.
| While the collection was being taken
/ up the sheriff led me round through a
| back door into the vestry. After pro-
! nouncing the benediction the rector OF
| the church came in with the choir
| singing the occasional hymn, the
! spurious myself marching beside
him. The sheriff had his eye on the
! latter when he first saw me and. see
ing him start, did not want any better
evidence of the truth Of my story.
| When the amen had been chanted
the Rev. Mr. Morrison made a dive
for the door leading into the church,
but his way was stopped by the con
gregation leaving their seats, and he
was easily caught.
Such is the story of my seeing
rogue in the pulpit personating me and
| preaching my sermon. Had he not in
stead Of attempting to escape. con
fronted me with his previous assur-
anne he might have caused me tenn
porary trouble in proving my case, but
he knew well that his success depend.
ed on getting the collection before I
! could obtain a hearing. and when he
| saw me facing him with the sheriff
he knew the game was up and he had
but one chance-flight
| remained till the evening service,
when I told the story TO the congre-
CATION and thanked them for their lib
eral offering to the cause, reminding
them facetiously that at the time they
were listening to the words 7 had
written and were contributing 10 the
object 7 advocated / was but just out
of Jail.