The Crittenden press., 1920-03-19
He'd. "l'll write to the bishop about

| S'I'eo' u write 10 tne DlsnOp ABOUT
you"
Crash went the singlestlck. "Are
You going 10 have me arrested?" In.
qulrcd Father Luclen.
NO" muttered Simeon. covering his
head with his hands.
Crash SimeOn's hands flew apart
ns II they were attached to springs.
Are you going TO write to the b.sh-
| OPT asked the cure.
mo. For Gods sake let me 60.
you d bully"
Simeon snntched nj the knob on the
end OF the singlestlck nearest him. but
movement provides for that. and the
crack OF n broken finger was distinctly
audible TO the Intensely Interested
spectators.
when are you going TO close down.
SInHon" demanded Father Lucien.
standing over the PROSTATE liquor
seller.
AT once" yelled Simeon. bursting
Into tenrs. "For Gods sake don't hit
me again" !"
Simeon looked 80 nbject Tint the
cure Ind not the heart 10 continue his
punishment. He looked about him. A
singlestick describes n circle having n
radius Of several feet. Exercise
cleared the counter In jiffy. leaving
wreck OF recking spirits and broken
glass.
When the cure turned upon the en-
thusiastIc. shouting throng. the grins
died on their faces.
Get out Of here. my children 2! he
shouted. And 'wirllng his singlestick
with Understandable 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 hy In all directions nj 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
"'"' w H'l' WIN Ilius muultu SIM
con from the floor.
Father Lucien came hack and stood
over him. iwirllng his singlesiick
mcdltntlvely. At last he laid IL down
upon the counter.
It's nll right, Simeon, my son" he
said gently. ~ think I've cured you
now. I'm going To hear your confes.
sion. A man never knows when he's
going 10 be sick. Simeon. Let me hear
you say your Act Of Contrition. II you
haven't forgotten H."
"Wnit n mllute." pleaded Simeon.
Are you going TO see my brother
Louis nfterwnrd?"
"Tve seen him." answered the cure.
"And Jean Pouliot. and Albert
Drouin. and George Moisan, and"
I'm going TO-" replied the cure
grimly. So Simeon. with new ex.
preston Of qualification. came back
Into the church.
When. fifteen minutes later. Fnther
Lucien emerged from the shnnty. Ste.
Marie was mn extraordinary sight.
Every drlnk-shop had locked up. their
owners had fled, and the streets were
packed with crowds which. at the sight
of the priest, set up n yell of delight.
The women pressed about him. sob.
bling their gratitude. II was with dif.
ilculty that he could make his way
through the feminine bodyguhrd that
accompanied him along his way. and
nfter he had persuaded them 10 go
home the distant cheering still rnng 10
his ears.
II snail come back every week." was
Father luclcn's Inst promise to Ste
Marie. II shall break the head Of
every man who has brandy In his
house"
God bless you. father" came back
from n hundred throats.
And. being nj last satisfied TINT Ste.
Marie was closed MS tightly ms II was
ever likely 10 be. Father Luclen took
the homcwnrd road TO 81. Bonlface
again.
lie went through the limits instead
Of along the shore. and was nearing
the village when he encountered I.nfe.
"llcllo, Father Lucyl Where do
you come fromf" asked the latter
"rve Just been paying u pastoral
visit to Ste. Marie" said the cure de.
murcly
I.afc stared nj him. what d'you
call thatf" he demanded.
"Thnt is sInglestlck." saId Fn.
thcr IucIcn. at Is good cxprclser
for old men like You and mo. Lafe."
"Sort of llrlt, double club" said
l,nrc. "Whnt's that hair on the end
fnthcr, Sny. thnt looks like blood
don't ~"
"rh,, is Simeon puynl's" the cure