Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-09

And If the trees bent more graciously over
the muddy road, If the very frogs in the
bitches seemed to croak melodiouSly it was
DSt strange. For this very soil had nourished
me- This land knew. I had bent over my
hoe in fields such as these, had drunk from
earthen jug beneath such emS at incoming time
the same clear cold water.
My step heightened till scuffed Smooth
faces heel
But Smoothface minded this least of ALL At
noon we came to little village tucked away
between hills and here we lunched grandly in
a neat hotel
Got to come respectable to Holy Joe"
Smoothface explained, and paid the reckoning
gayly. Though will say paid grub chokes a
guy"
He whistled as we took the road again
For he was near his goal. Rigs came past
us and mud from many hoofs splashed us
Democrats and buggieS, almost procession Of
them going our way kept US scuttling for the
ditch
-Single-minded folk, going for their kind q
Jag" sneered Smoothface.
Then he had the grace to smile placatinelv
at me, since. but for thirty miles, these were
my people who now crowded this country road.
ma ing for a great white tent somewhere far
ahead.
"An folks breaks out somewheres," my father
put in. IF it amt drink it's gamblin'; If it
amt gamblin, it's mebbe religion"
And as II to prove his statement came a
hard-faced man in . wagon driven by a small
boy, who refined in obediently as they came
opposite us and the man bawled-
"Stop!"
hard-faced man. red-skinned, rusty haired,
with blue eyes that had the topers look
though probably he had never taken a drink.
man breaking out" as my father had said,
shaking free of civilized restraint crashing
down artificial barriers in some spscies of de-
Dauch. So much guessed who had read q
hundred faces this past year. So much 1
&e1Sed dimly. Then stopped all speculation as
fear gripped me. For the man leaned over
and said:
We'll, well. It's you Now amt that luckyf
Though tough on me-"
1t was at Smoothface that he elared But
I had some knowledge of the law by now and
TO him we were three birds of a feather
We'll, WE'LL" The man tipped aside the
lapel Of his coat and something glittered. He
patted pocket that clanked and said Never
travel without EN- Now, question is, what's
to be done? Slide over, Sonny. Big Teller
you climb IN the back seat with me. Smooth
face, you get up front with t'other one. And
set tight. Anything you hoboes says will be
used again you. An"
we was doin' nothing" whined Smooth
face. I'VE was just maxim for that revival"
The man laughed skeptically.
THAT amt your sort o. play" said he
"Amos Casset cut his teeth years back Amos
CaSSet amt never lost his man. You three
get up. Revival? Revivals for decent folks
not for your sort. Revival" and his face
Saddened strangely. like the face of a child
denied some treat ME, was goin', me an
Sonny here-but now" and was silent as the
wheels creaked and the horses swung into a
trot; was silent, but turning to look at my
father sitting there beside Amos Casset saw
that expression Of doubt and longing on the
officers hard face.
SMOOTHFACE nu6ged me. From the corner
Of his mouth he whispered:
Can you beat it? Ever see a guy that's
swore of smellin' red-eye? That birds red-eye
Is religion-Served hot. Wouldn't wonder"
After all" said Amos CasSet, Its on our
way. It'd be beyant his powers, tn Evan
gelst'S, though even hoboeS has been moved
to grace. No tricks-no tricks. 1 amt never
lost a prisoner"
The boy who drove grinne6, frightened up,
cracked his whip over the horses.
That's right, Sonny. We want for TO he
there in good time. Want real prominent
seats up front in the public eye" said Amos
CaSset.
Turning. glanced at him again. His tongue
tip was brushing his lips, as If he already
tasted something long desired
So came brief respite So it was we saw, at
last, the green meadow with It's gracious trees
and the great ugly tent, behind fences where
tethered horses uampled grass to mire. Jail
Express, making brief stop at Revival Siding.
But after that
whispered words to an usher vino stared at
me as If half recognizing me. Words of Amos