Evening star., 1925-06-03
Wild Bill McCOrkle
BY SAMUEL A. DERIEUX.
by Cow
BY SAMUEL A. DERIEUX.
Copyright. 1925. by Crowel Publishing Co.

~ n certain Monday morning
in January, in the darkness
that precedes the dawn, the
Rev. Charles Edward Hop
kins rose from his bed,
stealthily so as not to rouse his wire;
tiptoed about for his clothes eau
tiously so as not to wake his children;
ate a secret snack In the kitchen. en-
deavoring, like thief or a husband,
TO obliterate all traces of having done
so; and, long before the town was
awake, set out in a buggy, shotgun
between his knees, for the Businesses
of the mountains that rose like dark
clouds beyond the town.
1t was a mysterious performance.
1t was not the kind of thing well-regu-
lated preachers are expected TO 90.
Yet as the day dawned you mgnt
have seen in the buggy rather pale
and gentle-looxing man, the KIND OF
man who. you would think, would
love wife and children, and who had
become a little careworn in the EFFORT
to provide for them out OF a small
salary, to give his children an educa-
tion, to keep up a decent appearance
for them.
The sun was just rising in the
mountain valley when the preacher
drew rein before a house substantially
buiIt of logs. Before he had time to
a1ight there emerged from the house
a giant whose beard was like copper
wires. whose nose was like an eagle
beak, and whose eyes, barring a
twinkle. were as bold and fierce as
vikings.
The hearty voice of giant started
the echoes in the wooded hills:
Come in, preacher, Glad to see
YOU. sir. Come in and warm. Fine
to- 70 I0nT
down, Frank he commanded one dog.
Cit down, Joe"' another.
'GIad to see you, sir, powerful glad.
The giants mighty paw closed fra
ternally over the preachers slender
hand. The preacher looked keenly,
whimsically, into the big mans eyes.
How're things, Bill?"
Couldn't be better, sir. Been be-
havin' myself. Ask the OF woman.
Puts a powerful strain on me, but the
ropes hold Go on in to the fire.
Must be froZe. Molly's got breakfast
ready Fine mornin' for 'em. Fine"
A red-headed boy with a tooth con-
spicuously missing when he grinned
took the preachers horse; and into
the house where fire roared up the
chimney went the man of might and
the man of God. These men were
hunting companion of long standing
Monday mornings during hunting sea
son. an enormous breakfast in the
kitchen They fed the dogs on the
back porch. They rammed their
pockets with shells and lunch and set
out.
On these weekly jaunts they always
went to the river valleys if 1t was
birds or ducks, to the big woods II IT
was turkeys. Sometimes they called
by Jeff Bennet's house and JEFF Joined
them, sometimes at Cal French's and
Cal went along. Sometimes they came
back with pockets heavy with quail,
sometimes with a wild turkey or two,
sometimes with a string of ducks.
Molly would have supper ready; there
would be a pipe afterward by the fire.
Then the Rev. Charles Edward Hop
kins would start back to town. And
30 would end a perfect day.
1t was signiS cant that nearly every
Monday mornIng about 3 o'clock, par
ticularly of late, old Deacon Withers,
on his way to business, stopped, as
if by accident, and rang the bell at
the parsonage where the Rev. Mr..
Hopkins lived. On this particular
Monday Mrs. Hopkins herself an
swered, and her face grew pale when
she saw him.
Good morning, Mrs. Hopkins" the
deacon said, and smiled. rs Brother
Hopkins in? l want to see him just
a few minutes. Church business.
Hes not. in, Mr.. Withers."
Il suppose he'll be in later?"
''No-he's out hunting today"
''Ah, l see. He's very fond of hunt
ing, isn't he? May l ask where he's
gone? 1 may be able to find him."
Hes out at McCorkle'S" the wom-
an answered desperately.
''Ah, 1 see Thank you, Mrs. Hop
kins. I'm sorry he's not in"
So he said. But as he continued
down the street he looked far from
sorry-he looked shrewdly happy and
triumphant, as old men of his type
can look on occasions.
And when, as he walked along the
street, he met Joe Dodd, another mem
ber of the congregation, he stopped
and told him casually that he had
just called by the preachers and
found he was out.
Hunting" he explained. Hes
very fond of hunting, very fond"
Then, when Joe Dodd showed an in
terest gossip is not confined to wom-
EN-. the deacon continued, Hunting
with Bill McCorkle. He's very fond
OF Bill McCorkle, very fond" Joe
Dodd continued to show interest.
tinged with the infection of his own
disapprobation. Are you busy?
Will you come to my off1ce? asked
Withers, encouraged by the attitude
of his friend.
Then, in the railed-off sanctum of
his private Office. the older man leaned
forward and said, There's a great
deal of dissatisfaction with Brother
Hopkins. I'm sorry it's true, but l
find it talked of everywhere; and I'm
afraid the work of the Lord is suffer
ing. People say he cares more for
hunting than for the Lords work.
He shows a preference for men who
are not an honor to the Lords cause.
| am only repeating what heard. 1t
pains me more than ] can express
And, these seeds sown, he went
about his days work, a smile on his
thin, hard face. $500
Most churches have several pillars.
But the First Church of Mountain
View had only one--and that pillar
was Deacon Withers. 1t was he who
practically chose the pastors; it was