The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-07-11

suddenly began to mingle with organ
notes coming through the open door
of the little wooden church few
yards above them. Yielding to curios-
ity, they threw away their half
smoked havanas, walked up the hill
entered the church, and quietly seated
themselves in the very last pew.
Mrs. Harvey's improVised choir has
just finished chanting the post-com-
munion, and Father Barker, quite I'M
conscious of the presence of the three
strangers, started to make the an
nouncements.
"The prayers l asked you to say
to relieve us of our debt have been
said, | have no doubt" he remarked,
with emphasis; 'still there is little
sign so far that we shall redeem the
note. After all, four hundred dollars
is not such a very large sum-
A jerk at the presidents coat-tail
by his nearest neighbor reminded him
that hints had taken to wing rather
suddenly and were lowering danger
ously near; but twinkle in the eye
and a side nod of the head showed
that the big railway magnate was
taking in the humor of the situation
However," continued the old priest,
looking up from the notice-book, "the
Lord knows our needs. We are work
ing for Him, and He will not fail us.
1t is not the first time / have been
in tight corner and got out of it.
A few minutes later the people dis
persed, no one apparently noticing the
three portly, well-groomed strangers
who were in the rear pew. Half an
hour later, Jake the porter climbed
the hill; he handed the old pastor a
note:
Will the Rev. Father Barker favor
us with his presence at lunch at one
o'clock, on the Yahoo, track five?
VANDUSEN.
what! The president of the com
pany?" exclaimed the priest. Us he
in town."
Eyes, Father" replied the negro;
I'VE reached dis burg las night at
midnight"
Father Barker looked at his watch.
Certainly I'll go, porter Tell
President Vandusen that l will be on
the-what do you call it?"
'Yahoo, his own cah,' answered the
porter.
TELL your president that I'll be on
the Yahoo at once">
A kindly welcome was given to the
gray-haired old man in tattered cas-
sock. During the meal Vandusen, who
was one of the chief officials of the
road even during construction, re
called incidents well-known to the old
timers, incidents that the missionary
would rather he had forgotten. But
they were all to his credit; for ex
ample, how when the scurvy was al
its worst among the navvies he spen
whole nights at their bedsides; how
on another occasion he walked forty
miles over the rough tote-roads tt
fetch the raw vegetables to a camp O
poor Danes, all Lutherans, who were
down with the disease. Thes,
souvenirs, and dozen of others of con
struction years, made the Afternoon
pass pleasantly, even though it was a
the. expense of. the old mans humil
Ity; and after hearty handshakes thu
pastor returned to his little churcI
on the hill.
The Yahoo was already severa
hundred miles on it's way west whel
he went over to the post Office mex
morning. There was a letter for hin
there it had been posted at Bluff Cree
and read as follows:
My dear old friend.
The enclosed check will help yo
to redeem that note. Accept it wit
the compliments of our company. an
as slight token of my regard 70
yourself and for what you did for gu
Workmen during the heroic days.
VANDUSEN.
The old priest held his breath
there were his four hundred dollars
his church was free from debt.
God bless him!" he exclaimed: oh
has answered our prayers. Who vii
ever dare tell me again that railway
have no souls.
e. y. DEFINE. S. j. in
messenger ofAfe Sacred Heart