Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-09-17
Daily Short Story
COMPLETE ~ THIS ISSUE.
The CnnOn'S Confession.
by FRANCIS J. SCOLI,Y.
.NNON CNSSNVOY WIS realty NJ

Ia
amen IN The townshp OF 81, Armand
could indulge in the Questionable pas
S,eepiechasng and hunting but the
hde KeyGrend I.ssnyoy would have
~ any such degradina induigences OF
the ncSh. II WAS his Job to be 'pious
and pleasure 1,.i.,s Bnt the iudg-
mcntS OF Christian folk are hard
We're il not for the spell he held
over Jason Buticr. twenty years man
Of wealth and nine years IA Rheumatic
sidercd .pious and poor But he con
vInced Butler that ne could cure him
OF has lonSStanding malady-a miracle
winch proved his undoing.
Come up to the spring house" he
To show you something"
Now undress yourself willie pump
some wafE into this tank and attach
to give YOU Father Kaep's cure
Now turn your back to me. III help
repeat the our Fathcr.''
Butler mumblcd the prayer fervcutlv
spray Of icy water, drowned him. he
"i Iifie tor ar ana , aa,Sr time go,
his bencfactor and TO scramble out Of
l2n Inns h G9nTG WGd b. the canons
his feet "
sboT m ;ri ,:o he shouted as he
,er's calm smile had it's desired effect.
Butler tried to control himself clenched
MS hStS ana continued his TRADE.
by all the saints in heaven" he
cried; IF you weren't priest, I'd
knock YOU down"
wh rWnyIm aTes tb the Canon. some
DO YOU realize this is the frst time
~ min" Years that, you've jumped up?
years that you've run at a man feeling
able to knock him DOWN.
Emtler stood with mouth agape The
thril! OF il unbalanced him.
Get down on your knees with me"
contInucd Father CaSsavoy calmly and
we will thank the good Lord for your
| recovery"
Devoutly they prayed and long. In
time they got up and walked toward
the road Jason Butler forget his
clutches.
lie, them stay there" said the
They reached Buffers carriage.
Father" the ex-cripple began. "is
there Il thing I do for you?
: You must need many thngs-a new
| church. parish school. an automo-
bic? You ought TO give up farming.
T." to f iiv"5 ' q. you as you ought
I'd rather he farmer" replied
tho canon dolcfully
Well, IN give the bishop 100000
school. new house for you and do
what he wants with his rest. But
Come, what do YOU waat?"
lie looked. appealing, at the canon.
TnG'r eyes met net as man to man.
faltcrcd. II want-Could YOU sell inc
Danny? Sine" he was colt I've en-
yied your ownership; I've watched
were made to be stable mates. that's
.
yours. My price is one dollar--to be
paid in sixty days. I'm going to walk
home"
oh no, no. I couldn't do that. You
must keep him. No one must know
he's mine" And the canon's mind be-
gan to plot deeply in the art of de-
II shall come down." he began again.
at night and drive him on the old
,rotting track No one goes there here
can drive him there and ] can walk
down; But keen it secret rromise?'
Butler promised. To tell the truth,
Ne relished being a party to the con-
spiracy Night after night he drove
Danny peever down to the deserted
track and chucklcd while Father Cas-
savoy trottcd the handsome bay geld
ing around the track.
Jason he said To Butler one night
Il want To enter Danny in the race for
local rioters at the county fair next
''Eu must sell him 70 you" he con,
my parishioners don't allow priest
to own race horses. I've timed Danny
some. Ell. Danny"
Nightly he trained the animal. To
hear him talk to the horse one would
Danny" he would say the horses
sleek coated hide tiickered in the moon
light. Now. Danny. I'm going to give
You the chance OF your lifetime. I'm
goins I" let YOU race t the best h sa,se
| |
against you myself was good one
WHEN boy Danny ba H,5 your ar. old as BOSS
wouldn't understand. but you under
stand. Danny. Jason will drive you.
cossip was RAMPANT when the trot-
ting enthusiasts saw Danny neever
entered, The Canon was not only be
mark where the name or the owner
belonged on the program. "JaSSon's
playing = trick on me. But nobody
mark is better than fiat lie. any
way.
Rn, gossip has more ears than a
field OF corn It was rumored all over
the grand stand that the question mark
was Canon cassavoy; The whole story iI,
were ticklrd to deatN. ~ snortng
fr'iv in more than one group.
The Cannon deported himself In his
most Solemn manner lie had given
0pnnv hnal instructions in the stable.
dressed ~ his form clothes. hat over his
ewes "rve almost a criminal con-
science" he said to himself.
/ Tive race WIS forced :" SIX heats
so close was the "OmDatition. In that
Grand stand the CAn"n's wild cheering
nrI wider instructions stood out like
g" lone ~ to" Oh snow covered hill
Ho uttc~," forgot himself in his excite
r,s-ut EV"rvhod" emitted md felt more
- homo evidently the Canon approv-
v'hon N The final hcat. Danny
Dc"v"" "em tow ~" hnm"stretch
Il head in front oi Black Briar the
''NrW favoritc. the CHron was beside
''imsrlf with hlppiness. Alta boy.
I'"nN'' N" "houtcd And before no
rrrii2"d what II" was doing. he had
rnon"f"d ov"r tho fnnce and was
~unuiWc madlv down thn track shout
irr enc"rr2rema-t - Danny Danny