The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-11-30

ming himself.
If he was the devil, I had ncoun
tered him at a very un-Satanic mo-
ment of his existence, for he blinked
lazily at me with his yellow eyes as I
entered, purred softly, and went to
sleep again.
The place was called:
BETH-RAPA,
The Home for Divine Life,
Rest. and Teaching,
Where you a have quiet waiting
upon God.
l knocked at the door. 1t was opened
by a huge, stout old man, whose face,
nesting in a comfortable fold Of double
chins. reminded me very much Of Mr..
Sturgeon. He gazed at me with mild
plump hand, and drew me inside.
Enter, dear friend" he said. "and
have no fear! Your case shall be dealt
with Immediately"
Are you the-the gentleman who
casts out devils?" 1 hazarded, hardly
believing, that this extremely mild
hammered old person could be the in
dividual / had travelled so far to see.
II am he" was the reply.
And together we entered the sur
gerry, or whatever you may choose to
| call it.
There was nothing frightening about
1t. 1t was a typical suburban "best
room" brightly furnished, laden with
knickknacks, photographs on the walls,
antimacassars on the chairs, and an
illuminated text over the mantelpiece.
A slight aroma Of sulphur in The air
completed the ensemble.
"Pray be seated" said the plump old
gentleman.
1 obeyed, and he came and knelt
down before me, his plump knee crack
ing slightly as he subsidized. He again
took me by the hand, n searched my
face with his calm blue eyes.
Have o brought your demon with
you?" he asked, in a matter Of fact
manner. 1t really might have been my
umbrella he was inquiring about.
don't think / have" I re-
| piled. feeling a trifle uncomfortable
but yet moved with an irresistible de-
sire to laugh.
But the pastor, as he is called, was
so serious and SO solemn that 1 re-
strained my temptation to merriment
Il suppose you imagine, lear friend
he went on, that you don't possess
such a thing as a devil?"
said.
But you do, friend-you dol! You
have your devil, even as I, at certain
times and in certain circumstances
have mine. Indeed, all Of us nave our
shall say-pet demons? There is the
demon Of avarice, Of hate. of lust, O:
despair, Of desperation, of drink, Of dis.
quietude. of chicanery, of-of-. oh
dear friend, flocks and flocks of EN-
as m~ultitudinous as the sands on tn,
seashore, as devastating as locus
6Warms, as, AS"
He waved his fat, white hand des.
pairingly. Then he changed his prayer.
ful attitude to the other knee-whicl
also cracked ominously-and fixed m,
again with his pair of cerulean search
lights.
For some seconds we both rouche,
and glared at each other like a coupl,
of mongrels before opening hostilities
Then the pastor sighed very profoundly
shook his leonine name, and made,
noise like a kettle ardently on the boil
Presently he became suddenly excit
ed, muttering and murmuring strang
words, n Of which was undoubtedl.
"Abracadabra," and another which
sounded remarkably like "Sausages"-
though I can't swear to it.
The Demon of Curiosity.
II can classify your demon, sir" h
said. It's a plump, unmistakable devil
and the name of him is"
He paused.
tell me the worst" I urged. 'I cal
bear it! Your expert evidence of identi
fication will be more satisfying thai
frightening"
Ills name. sir" the pastor declared
"is Curiosity. But he's not quite ripe TO
extraction yet. If you can call again
Tuesdays and Fridays are my at hom
days-Tll do my best to get a grip Of
h gentleman and yank him out.
my fee?" The demon. dentist smile
q very pleasant smile. why, sir, moth
ing, except it be the lucre Of your goo,
will, your gratitude, and a trifle, II 20
can spare 1t, for the poor. / eharg
nothing for cases like yours. I onl