The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-06-26
CHAPTER V-Continued

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"God Almighty ~ he said. His tone
was as irreverent as the words were
sacred. A dull flush suffused his face,
q thing SC rare in him as to startle
Sabra more than the words he had ut
tered or the tone in which he had said
them.
what is it? Yanceyl What's
wrong?"
That's the girl"
"What girl?"
"That one-Dixie Lee-she's the girl
in the black tights and the skull
cap in the Run on
the thoroughbred :. :" he was
whispering.
"Oh, nor cried Sabra, aloud. It
was wrung from her. Those near by
stared.
So this was the church meeting
toward which she had looked with
such hope, such happy assurance.
Harlots, Indians, heat, glare, her house
probably blazing at this moment,
Isaiah weltering in his own gore, Lon
Yountis' sinister face sneering in the
tent entrance. And now this woman,
inscriptions, evil, who had stolen
Yancey's quarter section from him by
q trick.
Yancey made his way through the
close-packed crowd, leaped to the top
of the roulette table which was to be
his platform and, lifting the great
lolling head, swept the expectant con-
gregation with his mysterious, his
magnetic eyes,
Probably never in the history Of the
Christian religion had the Word Of
God been preached by SO romantic and
dashing figure. His long black locks
curied on his shoulders; the fine eyes
glowed; the Prince Albert swayed
with his graceful movements; his six
shooters, one on each side. bulged re-
assuringly in their holsters.
His thrilling voice sounded through
the tent, shilling its buzz and move
ment.
Friends and fellow citizens, have
been called on to conduct this open
ing meeting of the Usage First Meth
Odist. Episcopal, Lutheran, Presby-
terrain, Congregational, Baptist, Cath
Ollie, Unitarian church. In the course
Of my career as a lawyer and an edi-
tor have been required to speak on
varied occasions and on many sub
jects. have spoken in defense of my
country and in criticism Of it; have
been called on to defend and to con-
vict horse thieves, harlots, murderers,
samples of which professions could
doubtless be found In any large gath
ering in the Indian territory today. l
name no names. I point no finger.
Whether for good or for evil, the fact
remains that any man or woman. for
whatever purpose, found in this great
Oklahoma country today is here be-
cause In his or her veins, actuated by
motives lofty or base, there is the
spirit Of adventure. Though I know
the Bible from cover to cover, and
while many Of its passages and pre-
cepts are craven on my heart and in
my memory. this, fellow citizens Of
Usage, Is the first time that have
been required to speak the Word of
God in his temple" He glanced
around the gaudy, glazing tent. "For
any shelter, however sordid, however
humble-no offense, Grat-becomes,
while his word is spoken within it,
his temple. Suppose, then, that we
unite in spirit by uniting in song. We
have, you will notice, no hymn books.
We will therefore open this suspicious
occasion in the brief but inevitably
glorious history of the city Of Usage
by singing-uh-what do you all know
boys. anyway"
There was moments slightly en-
barrassing pause. Yancey raised an
arm in encouragement. Come on,
boys! Name It'll Any suggestions,
ladies and gentlemen"
How about Who Were You at
Homer just for a starter" called out
voice belonging to man with a
shining dome-shaped bald head and a
flowing silky beard, reddish in color.
1t was Shanghai Wiley. up from
Texas; owner of more than one hun
dred thousand longhorn cattle and of
the Rancho Palacios, on Tres Palacios
creek. He was the most famous cattle
singer in the whole Southwest, besides
being one Of its richest cattle and land
owners Possessed Of q remarkably