The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-09-07


~ ~ eye was not in need Of a
spiritual guide. One might
I'D comb the territory and con-
6Nnous parts without bring
ing to light community so
EfINBI1em aoreIy. beset Of sin. Yet
2Hs7 Deadeye did not desire to be
purged. Lt laughed and drank and swore
and rAmbled, voting not of a hereafter and
needless Of the Creator whose wondrous
works lay stretched before them league on
league. What did Dsadeye reck Of the high
hills brooding above their wells Of cloud?
What cared they that the angels of Jehovah
rode the winds shEiekin9 through the pines
and curbed the fiery bolts that broke with
roll Of thunder athwart the vaIley1
They opined Il was bad storm but would
probably confne Itself to the mountains,
sweeping around their city In a huge circle.
Yes, thar was the way Of storms. But would
the river rise and carry out the bridge9 That
was the question. When the very air rocked
with the tumult of the elements, this was
what they debated, loIlins nesIigently at Mr.
Ziegler's bar or rifHing the cards in Mr.. Zieg-
ler's VAIN back room. II viii be perceived
that speculation troubled the men of Deadeye
but little, except when 1t had to do with the
exact spot in which the ivory pea would fall or
allied matters pertaining to everyday exist
ence. Death was ever near them. Day by day
they saw Il strike, claiming their hardest;
but this was as much factor in their exist
ence as among creatures Of the wild, and they
could look on Il cleaFAeyed and unafraid. So
they laughed and drank and swore and gam
bled, and knew no strings Of conscience,
we're tossed by no restless loGsings for better
things. Deadsye was eaIlous. The only oc-
casions on which It's feelings were touched
were those days when its head throbbed and.
when a sad deficit in the treasury threatened,
the same being not unconnscted with visit
Of certain skilled gentlemen Of Dcghole
And now priest was come among them.
Deadeye threw back It's head and howled In
glee; and blinked when the healer Of souls
smiled placidly, even In kindly approval Of
their merriment. What ridiculoas figure
he made! He ambled into town on loose
cared burro at the moment Mr. Bull Carter
wasaengaged in saddling an outlaw mule,
BulEhavins laid sundry wagers that he could
tickle Its fetlocks every jump, 50 stimulative
- pride was Mr.. Ziegler's hospitality; and his
arrival postponed the test momentarily,
whilst Deadeye stood on the porch1of the sa-
loon, c0nvuIsed, bereft of speech
Il was d boys face they saw, though the
priest must have been forty years Of age-a
chubby, smooth expanse of red and white,
from which twfnkled two deep-set gray eyes
The mouth was wide, with upturned corners
and there was more than the hint Of double
chin above the stiff linen neckband he wore
With bis round little hat, his long dust-coat
and legs swinging within an inch of the
ground, be was the most grotesque figure
Deadeye had seen in many day Being I'M
hampsred by priggish restraints, the popula-
ton said 30, slapping thighs in emphasis, and
emitted long, Joyous yell.
Coed day to you, said the newcomer in a
pause, and he gTinned. Years Of training
had done much, but the brogue still chung to
his speech.
Deadeye wiped its eyes, in a fair way
towards apoplexy, returning the salutation
out OF breath. It watched him step off the
burro and enter the store. Then it turned its
attention to Mr.. Carter, who was engaged in
"a effort % blindfold the dun demon he had
spoken OF 50 slightingly. Vanity Of prowess
made Bull careless. When the mule had
srampled him into insensibility, the door Of
the grocery ilew back with crash, and there
stood the priest in his shirt-sleeves, one hand
j holding Jar Of milk, biscuit in the other.
Both be threw from him, and needless of the
bru@ plunging at the end Of the rope Carter
had snubbed around post, he raised the sag
ging form and bore it to the porch. Prompi
as had been their rush to the rescue, the priest
had torestalled them all, and they crowded
about him and his wounded in silence
Where did the little man get the strength
Riordan himself could not have raised the
body With more ease.
Get some whisky" be commanded.
Lewis, the gambler, carried the fiery liquor
to him and helped pour it between the Blue
lips. III bust that doaggone mules haid fol
him, murmured Mr.. Carter presently, and
they began to suspect that he would survive
Such was the manner of Father Walsh:
entry into the life Of Deadeye. Beyond the
first ripple Of excitement, there was no per
ceptible variation in the established order d
things. Miners came and went; COW outfi
passed through with only an hour to spare anc
stayed three days; and Deadeye laughed anC
drank and swore and gambled. Zealou.
eastern workers in the vineyard, fed on whole
sale conversions, would have lost all patienc,
with Father Walsh. He was so wanting il
aggreasiveness; be was so ready to laugh Will
these reckless men, to wave g deprecatorl
hand whilst be advanced excuses for thei
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