The Rice belt journal., 1920-07-03
He'd. I'll write to the bishop about

quired Father Lucien.
"No." muttered Simeon, covering his
head with his hands.
Crash Simeon's hands few apart
as if they were attached to springs.
Are you going to write to the biSh-
OPP asked the cure.
mo. For Gods sake let me 90,
you d bully"
Simeon snatched at the knob on the
end of the singlestick nearest him. but
movement 4 provides for that, and the
crack Of broken finger was distinctly
audible to the intensely interested
spectators.
"When are you going to close down,
Simeon% demanded Father Lucien,
standing over the PROSTATE liquor
seller.
"At once" yelled Simeon, bursting
into tears. "FOr Gods sake don't hit
me again!"
Simeon looked so abject that the
cure had not the heart to continue his
punishment. He looked about him. A
singlestick describes a circle having a
radius of several feet. Exercise 2
cleared the counter in a jiffy, leaving
a wreck Of reeking, spirits and broken
glass;,
When the cure turned upon the en-
thuSiastic, shouting thrOng the grins
died off their faces.
Get out of here, my children - he
shouted, And, twirling his singlestick
with indescribable velocity, he brought
1t down on one head after another
much as one might strike a row of
fence posts. The terrible implement
seemed to fly in all directions at the
same time. Father Lucien cracked the
last man across the shoulders and sent
him flying into the street.
For Gods sake don't leave me
alone in here with hint" moaned Sim.
con from the floor.
Father Lucien came back and stood
over him, twirling his singlestick
medltatively. At last he laid it down
upon the counter
"It's oil right, Simeon, my son." he
said gently. II think I've cured you
now, Pm going to hear your confes-
sion. A man never knows when he's
going to be sick, Simeon. Let me hear
you say your Act of COntrition, if you
haven't forgotten it."
"Wait minute" pleaded Simeon.
Are you going to see my brother
Louis afterwardY
"Pve seen him." answered the cure.
"And Jean Pouliot, and Albert
Drouin, and George Moisan, and"
"Tm going to-" replied the cure
grimly. So Simeon, with new ex.
preston of qualification. came back
into the church.
When, fifteen minutes later, Father
Lucien emerged from the. shanty, Ste.
Marie was an extraordinary sight.
Every drink-shOp had locked up, their
owners had fed, and the streets were
packed with crowds which, at the sight
of the priest, set up a yell of delight
The women pressed about him, sob
bing their gratitude. 1t was with diff
fculty that he could make his way
through the feminine bodyguard that
accompanied him along his way. and
after he had persuaded them to go
home the distant cheering still rang in
his ears.
II snail come back every week." was
Father Lucien's last promise to Ste
Marie. Il shall break the head of
every man who has brandy in his
house."
God bless you, father" came back
from a hundred throats.
And. being at last satisfied that Ste.
Marie was closed us tightly as it was
ever likely to be, Father Luclen took
the hOmeward road to st. Boniface
again.
He went through the limits instead
Of along the shore, and was nearing
the village when he encountered Lafe.
"HelIo. Father Lucy! Where do
you come fromT asked the latter.
"Tve just been paying a pastoral
visit TO Ste. Marie" said the cure de-
murely.
Lafe stared at him. what d'you
call that?" he demanded
"That is a singlestick," said Fa-
ther Lucien. ut is a good exerciser
for old men like you and me. Lafe."
"Sort of light double club" said
Lafe. whats that hair on the end.
father? Say, that looks like blood,
don't it?"
THAT is Simeon Duval's," the cure
answered. "You see. Mr. Lafe-"
Lafp stopped short. Father Lucy.
d'you mean to tell me you've knocked
out SimeonT
Pm afraid 50. Mr.. Lafe. couldn't
get into his soul In any other way.
But I'm getting there. Next time |
shall have learned some more exer-
ciseS, and then
'"You closed m Ste. Mnrie?"
"WeIl, for the present, yes" ad-
mitted the cure. "But next time"
"Shake, father" sSid Lafe, stretch
ing out his hand. "By George, you do
get results after all when you start
in. But why didn't you do that he
fore?'
"It was your friend, Monsieur AS
kew, who put the thought into my !
head" said Father Lucien. by the |
way, Mr. Lafe, | have letter from
friend in ST. Joseph"