The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1915-08-26

al sin. He remembered wildly some
of the burning words of Mr.. Sunday,
who knows so well the actual life Of
the average American. 1t was during
the evangelist's we'll known sermon on
"Amusements," in which he denOunc-
ed the modern dance as the mother OF
wantons and the fashionable card party
as the starting point for the gambler.
II am more afraid Of your fashionable
card party" the evangelist had shout
ed. than l am Of the bunch in the
gamblers hades. If my boy is not
tempted to gamble at a fashionable
card party he will never learn from
the degenerate, blackleg gamblers In
the joint. You have no right to find
fault with the city officials" Billy
Sunday declared, "if they fail to sup
press gambling when a thing SO near
akin to It is carried on in your own
homes. Society as 1t is constituted to-
day in America is doing more to damn
the spiritual life Of the churches than
all the grogshops and dives In the
land"
The doortender was becoming very
uncomfortable. He saw Reginald Nell
son making notes, and his fears were
finally confirmed when one of the play
ers, happening to look toward the four
men, exclaimed, what are those -
preachers doing here?"
"Squealers, squealersV yelled the
fellow, arousing the players and point
ing to the investigators.
A number of guns flashed in the
hands of the startled men. and Allan
Rutledge feared that there was dam
ger. He was about to speak to the
excited gamblers when the policeman
carelessly threw the lapel of his coat
back and cried: shut up, sir, or will
have your Joint pulled! Don't you
know this star tells you that we are
all right2 If you treat officers like this
we will raise the rent on you'll!
The policeman arose and the others
with him, and they made for the door,
Allan Rutledge was the last to pass
out. As he was shutting the door the
crack of gun was heard, and bullet
splintered the top of the door. The lit
tie party proceeded hastily to the
street, the policeman hurrying In front.
"a lot of cutthroats in that gang" he
declared. This is one of the joints
that ought to be closed In the interests
of public safety"
In silence the little company made
their way to the Courier office The
policeman slipped away, and the three
friends sat in silence for a few mo-
ments. 1--WE now have the information
we desired We are witnesses of the
actual conditions fostered by Bud Nc
Crea's policy" 1t was Reginald Mel
son who spoke. Allan Rutledge arous-
ed himself Bronson shall be clean!'
he exclaimed almost fiercely. Let us
think over what we have seen and
heard for few days. and then we
can formulate plan Of campaign"
The report of the strange tour Of the
self appointed investigators spread
among the gang" who
were in charge of the city administra-
ton of Bronson. Both the resort keep
ers and the habitues Of the dives
brought the news the next day to Bud
NIcCrea. He hurriedly called on the
mayor for an explanation.
81 hear you detailed policeman last
night to accompany those preachers
and that fool reporter on summing
trip" said McCrea angrily.
The mayor looked surprised and re-
torted quickly, whats that2"
did you not detail an officer to ac-
company a party last night who were
sneaking around town." McCrea was
plainly excited as he asked this ques-
lion.
II know nothing about it," said the
mayor. Tell me what has happened"
Bud McCrea then told of the mid
hight tour of DR.. Rutle4ge, Mr.. Town
ey and Reginald Nelson, and of the
presence Of a policeman with them.
THE man surely had a star on his
'oat. He must have been fake POI
iceman. If that Is so we will get even
With that crowd of Billy Sunday
Ireamers If they try to make any
rouble."
The chief of police also denied any
of an officer acting as guide
n Bronson's underworld, and the at
air was good deal Of mystery,