The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-06-19

Isaiah, listen hard. This is something
important. Everybody in towns at
the church meeting. Jesse Rickey's
drunk. The house and the newspaper
Office are left alone. There are peo-
pie In town who'd sooner set fire to
the newspaper plant and the house
than see the paper come out on Thurs
day. want you to go back to the
house and into the kitchen, where you
can see the back yard and the side
entrance, too. Patrol duty, that's what
I'm putting you on"
( Eyes, sub, Mr.. Yanceyw agreed
Isaiah. "Patrol." His detected frame
now underwent transformation as it
stiffehed to fit the new martial role.
"Now listen close. If anybody
comes up to the house-they won't
come the front way, but at the back,
probably, or the side-you take this
and shoot" He took from beneath.
the Prince Albert a gun which, well
on the left, under the coat, was not
visible as were the two six-shooters
that he always carried at his belt. 1t
was six-shooter Of the kind known
as the single action. The trigger was
dead. 1t was the deadliest of South
western weapons, six-shooter whose
hammer, when pulled back by the
thumb, would fall again as soon as
released. No need for Isaiah's small
forefnger to wrestle with the trigger.
"Oh, Yancey!" breathed Sabra, in
horror. "Yancey! He's a child"
Now it was she who was protecting
the black boy from Yancey. Yancey
ignored her.
you remember what told you last
week." he went on, equally. "When
we were shooting at the tin can on
the fence post in the yard. Do it just
as you did it then-draw, aim, and
shoot with the one motion"
Eyes, sub, Mr.. Yancey! kill 'em
daid."
you'll have brand-new suit Of
Sunday clothes next week, remember,
and boots to go with it. Now, scoot!"
Isaiah flashed brilliant, glori-
fed smile at Sabra over his shoulder
and was off, ludicrous black Don
Quixote.
All Sabra's pleasurable anticipation
in the church meeting had fled. -"How
could you give gun to a, child like
that! You'll be giving one to Gin,
here, next. Alone in the house, with
a gum"
sit isn't loaded. Come on, honey.
We're late"
For the first time in their married
life she doubted his word absolutely.
He strobe along towards the tent. She
hurried at his side. CHM trotted to
keep up with her, his hand in hers.
"What did you mean when you said
there were people who would set fire
to the house? never heard of such
Did you really mean that some
one or was it an excuse to
send Isaiah back because of the way
he looked?"
"That was it."
For the second time she doubted
him. Il don't believe you. There's
something going on--something you
haven't told me. Yancey, tell me-"
81 haven't time now. Don't be fool
ish. I just don't like the complexion
of just thought that maybe this
meeting was the idea of somebody
who isn't altogether inspired by de-
sire for closer communion with God.
Just occurred to me. I don't know
why Good joke on me, If it's true"
I'm not going to the meeting. I'm
going back to the house." She was
desperate. Her house was burning
up, Isaiah was being murdered.
you're coming with me-" He rare
ly used this tone toward her.
"Yancey! Yancey. I'm afraid to
have you stand up there, before all
those people. I'm afraid. Let's go
hack. Tell them you're sick. Tell
them"
They had reached the tent. The
flap was open. A roar of talk came
to them from within. The entrance
was packed with lean figures smoking
and splitting. Hi, Yancey! How's
the preacher? Where's your Bible,
Yancey?"
"Right here, boys" And Yancey
reached into the capacious skirt of his
Prince Albert to produce in triumph
the Word of God. "Come in or stay
out, boys. No loafing in the doorway"
With Sabra on his arm he marched