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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/6384.txt b/6384.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fbeee8d --- /dev/null +++ b/6384.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10134 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of That Printer of Udell's, by Harold Bell Wright + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: That Printer of Udell's + +Author: Harold Bell Wright + +Posting Date: August 7, 2012 [EBook #6384] +Release Date: August, 2004 +First Posted: December 5, 2002 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THAT PRINTER OF UDELL'S *** + + + + +Produced by Vital Debroey, Charles Aldarondo and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + + + + +[Frontispice illustration: "Come on, Smoke, we've gotter go now."] + + + + + THAT PRINTER OF UDELL'S + + + A STORY OF THE MIDDLE WEST + + + BY HAROLD BELL WRIGHT + + + + + + DEDICATION + + TO THAT FRIEND WHOSE LIFE HAS TAUGHT ME + MANY BEAUTIFUL TRUTHS; WHOSE WORDS + HAVE STRENGTHENED AND ENCOURAGED ME + TO LIVE MORE TRUE TO MY GOD, MY FELLOWS + AND MYSELF; WHO HOPED FOR ME WHEN + OTHERS LOST HOPE; WHO BELIEVED IN ME + WHEN OTHERS COULD NOT; WHO SAW GOOD + WHEN OTHERS LOOKED FOR EVIL; TO THAT + FRIEND, WHOEVER HE IS, WHEREVER HE MAY + BE, I AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATE THIS STORY. + + H. B. W. + + + + "And the King shall answer and say unto + them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch + as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, + even these least, ye did it unto me." + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +"O God, take ker' o' Dick!--He'll sure have a tough time when I'm +gone,--an' I'm er' goin'--mighty fast I reckon.--I know I aint done +much ter brag on,--Lord,--but I aint had nary show.--I allus 'low'd +ter do ye better,--but hit's jes' kept me scratchin'--ter do fer me +an' Dick,--an' somehow I aint had time--ter sarve--ye like I ought.--An' +my man he's most ways--no 'count an' triflin',--Lord,--'cepten when +he likers up,--an' then,--you know how he uses me an' Dick.--But Dick, +he aint no ways ter blame--fer what his dad an' mammy is,--an' I ax +ye--fair,--o Lord,--take ker o' him--fer--Jesus' sake--Amen." + +"Dick!--O Dick,--whar are ye honey?" + +A hollow-cheeked wisp of a boy arose from the dark corner where he had +been crouching like a frightened animal, and with cautious steps drew +near the bed. Timidly he touched the wasted hand that lay upon the +dirty coverlid. + +"What ye want, maw?" + +The woman hushed her moaning and turned her face, upon which the shadow +was already fallen, toward the boy. "I'm er goin'--mighty fast,--Dicky," +she said, in a voice that was scarcely audible. "Whar's yer paw?" + +Bending closer to the face upon the pillow, the lad pointed with +trembling finger toward the other end of the cabin and whispered, while +his eyes grew big with fear, "Sh--, he's full ergin. Bin down ter th' +stillhouse all evenin'--Don't stir him, maw, er we'll git licked some +more. Tell me what ye want." + +But his only answer was that broken prayer as the sufferer turned to +the wail again. "O Lord, take ker o'--" + +A stick of wood in the fire-place burned in two and fell with a soft +thud on the ashes; a lean hound crept stealthily to the boy's side and +thrust a cold muzzle against his ragged jacket; in the cupboard a mouse +rustled over the rude dishes and among the scanty handful of provisions. + +Then, cursing foully in his sleep, the drunkard stirred uneasily and +the dog slunk beneath the bed, while the boy stood shaking with fear +until all was still again. Reaching out, he touched once more that +clammy hand upon the dirty coverlid. No movement answered to his touch. +Reaching farther, he cautiously laid his fingers upon the ashy-colored +temple, awkwardly brushing back a thin lock of the tangled hair. The +face, like the hand, was cold. With a look of awe and horror in his +eyes, the child caught his parent by the shoulder and shook the lifeless +form while he tried again and again to make her hear his whispered +words. + +"Maw! Maw! Wake up; hit'l be day purty soon an' we can go and git some +greens; an' I'll take the gig an' kill some fish fer you; the's a big +channel cat in the hole jes' above the riffles; I seed 'im ter day +when I crost in the john boat. Say Maw, I done set a dead fall +yester'd', d' reckon I'll ketch anythin'? Wish't it 'ud be a coon, +don't you?--Maw! O Maw, the meal's most gone. I only made a little +pone las' night; thar's some left fer you. Shant I fix ye some 'fore +dad wakes up?" + +But there was no answer to his pleading, and, ceasing his efforts, the +lad sank on his knees by the rude bed, not daring even to give open +expression to his grief lest he arouse the drunken sleeper by the +fireplace. For a long time he knelt there, clasping the cold hand of +his lifeless mother, until the lean hound crept again to his side, and +thrusting that cold muzzle against his cheek, licked the salt tears, +that fell so hot. + +At last, just as the first flush of day stained the eastern sky, and +the light tipped the old pine tree on the hill with glory, the boy +rose to his feet. Placing his hand on the head of his only comforter, +he whispered, "Come on, Smoke, we've gotter go now." And together boy +and dog crept softly across the room and stole out of the cabin +door--out of the cabin door, into the beautiful light of the new day. +And the drunken brute still slept on the floor by the open fire-place, +but the fire was dead upon the hearth. + +"He can't hurt maw any more, Smoke," said the lad, when the two were +at a safe distance. "No, he sure can't lick her agin, an' me an' you +kin rustle fer ourselves, I reckon." + + * * * * * + +Sixteen years later, in the early gray of another morning, a young man +crawled from beneath a stack of straw on the outskirts of Boyd City, +a busy, bustling mining town of some fifteen thousand people, in one +of the middle western states, many miles from the rude cabin that stood +beneath the hill. + +The night before, he had approached the town from the east, along the +road that leads past Mount Olive, and hungry, cold and weary, had +sought shelter of the friendly stack, much preferring a bed of straw +and the companionship of cattle to any lodging place he might find in +the city, less clean and among a ruder company. + +It was early March and the smoke from a nearby block of smelters was +lost in a chilling mist, while a raw wind made the young man shiver +as he stood picking the bits of straw from his clothing. When he had +brushed his garments as best he could and had stretched his numb and +stiffened limbs, he looked long and thoughtfully at the city lying +half hidden in its shroud of gray. + +"I wonder"--he began, talking to himself and thinking grimly of the +fifteen cents in his right-hand pants pocket--"I wonder if--" + +"Mornin' pard," said a voice at his elbow. "Ruther late when ye got +in las' night, warn't it?" + +The young man jumped, and turning faced a genuine specimen of the genus +hobo. "Did you sleep in this straw-stack last night?" he ejaculated, +after carefully taking the ragged fellow's measure with a practiced +eye. + +"Sure; this here's the hotel whar I put up--slept in the room jes' +acrost the hall from your'n.--Whar ye goin' ter eat?"--with a hungry +look. + +"Don't know. Did you have any supper last night?" + +"Nope, supper was done et when I got in." + +"Same here." + +"I didn't have nothin' fer dinner neither," continued the tramp, "an' +I'm er gettin' powerful weak." + +The other thought of his fifteen cents. "Where are you going?" he said +shortly. + +The ragged one jerked his thumb toward the city. "Hear'd as how thar's +a right smart o' work yonder and I'm on the hunt fer a job." + +"What do you do?" + +"Tendin' mason's my strong-holt. I've done most ever'thing though; +used ter work on a farm, and puttered round a saw-mill some in the +Arkansaw pineries. Aim ter strike a job at somethin' and go back thar +where I know folks. Nobody won't give a feller nuthin' in this yer +God-fer-saken country; haint asked me ter set down fer a month. Back +home they're allus glad ter have a man eat with 'em. I'll sure be all +right thar." + +The fellow's voice dropped to the pitiful, pleading, insinuating whine +of the professional tramp. + +The young man stood looking at him. Good-for-nothing was written in +every line of the shiftless, shambling figure, and pictured in every +rag of the fluttering raiment, and yet--the fellow really was +hungry,--and again came the thought of that fifteen cents. The young +man was hungry himself; had been hungry many a time in the past, and +downright, gnawing, helpless hunger is a great leveler of mankind; in +fact, it is just about the only real bond of fellowship between men. +"Come on," he said at last, "I've got fifteen cents; I reckon we can +find something to eat." And the two set out toward the city together. + +Passing a deserted mining shaft and crossing the railroad, they entered +the southern portion of the town, and continued west until they reached +the main street, where they stopped at a little grocery store on the +corner. The one with the fifteen cents invested two-thirds of his +capital in crackers and cheese, his companion reminding the grocer +meanwhile that he might throw in a little extra, "seein' as how they +were the first customers that mornin'." The merchant, good-naturedly +did so, and then turned to answer the other's question about work. + +"What can you do?" + +"I'm a printer by trade, but will do anything." + +"How does it happen you are out of work?" + +"I was thrown out by the Kansas City strike and have been unable to +find a place since." + +"Is he looking for work too?" with a glance that made his customer's +face flush, and a nod toward the fellow from Arkansas, who sat on a +box near the stove rapidly making away with more than his half of the +breakfast. + +The other shrugged his shoulders, "We woke up in the same straw-stack +this morning and he was hungry, that's all." + +"Well," returned the store-keeper, as he dropped the lid of the cracker +box with a bang, "You'll not be bothered with him long if you are +really hunting a job." + +"You put me on the track of a job and I'll show you whether I mean +business or not," was the quick reply. To which the grocer made answer +as he turned to his task of dusting the shelves: "There's lots of work +in Boyd City and lots of men to do it." + +The stranger had walked but a little way down the street when a voice +close behind him said, "I'm erbliged ter ye for the feed, pard; reckon +I'll shove erlong now." + +He stopped and the other continued: "Don't much like the looks of this +yer' place no how, an' a feller w'at jes' come by, he said as how thar +war heaps o' work in Jonesville, forty miles below. Reckon I'll shove +erlong. Aint got the price of er drink hev' ye? Can't ye set 'em up +jest fer old times' sake ye know?" and a cunning gleam crept into the +bloodshot eyes of the vagabond. + +The other started as he looked keenly at the bloated features of the +creature before him, and there was a note of mingled fear and defiance +in his voice as he said, "What do you mean? What do you know about old +times?" + +The tramp shuffled uneasily, but replied with a knowing leer, +"Aint ye Dicky Falkner what used ter live cross the river from +Jimpson's still-house?" + +"Well, what of it?" The note of defiance was stronger. + +"Oh nuthin, only I'm Jake Tompkins, that used ter work fer Jimpson at +the still. Me 'n yer daddy war pards; I used ter set 'em up ter him +heap o' times." + +"Yes," replied Dick bitterly, "I know you now. You gave my father +whiskey and then laughed when he went home drunk and drove my mother +from the cabin to spend the night in the brush. You know it killed +her." + +"Yer maw allus was weakly-like," faltered the other; "she'd no call +ter hitch up with Bill Falkner no how; she ort ter took a man with +book larnin' like her daddy, ole Jedge White. It allus made yer paw +mad 'cause she knowed more'n him. But Bill lowed he'd tame her an' he +shor' tried hit on. Too bad she went an' died, but she ort ter knowed +a man o' Bill's spirit would a took his licker when he wanted hit. I +recollect ye used ter take a right smart lot yerself fer a kid." + +The defiance in the young man's voice gave way to a note of hopeless +despair. "Yes," he said, "you and dad made me drink the stuff before +I was old enough to know what it would do for me." Then, with a bitter +oath, he continued, half to himself, "What difference does it make +anyway. Every time I try to break loose something reaches out and pulls +me down again. I thought I was free this time sure and here comes this +thing. I might as well go to the devil and done with it. Why shouldn't +I drink if I want to; whose business is it but my own?" He looked +around for the familiar sign of a saloon. + +"That's the talk," exclaimed the other with a swagger. "That's how yer +paw used ter put it. Your maw warn't much good no how, with her finicky +notions 'bout eddicati'n an' sech. A little pone and baken with plenty +good ol' red eye's good 'nough fer us. Yer maw she--" + +But he never finished, for Dick caught him by the throat with his left +hand, the other clenched ready to strike. The tramp shrank back in a +frightened, cowering heap. + +"You beast," cried the young man with another oath. "If you dare to +take my mother's name in your foul mouth again I'll kill you with my +bare hands." + +"I didn't go fer to do hit. 'Fore God I didn't go ter. Lemme go Dicky; +me'n yer daddy war pards. Lemme go. Yer paw an' me won't bother ye no +more Dicky; he can't; he's dead." + +"Dead!" Dick released his grasp and the other sprang to a safe +distance.--"Dead!" He gazed at the quaking wretch before him in +amazement. + +The tramp nodded sullenly, feeling at his throat. "Yep, dead," he said +hoarsely. "Me an' him war bummin' a freight out o' St. Louie, an' he +slipped. I know he war killed 'cause I saw 'em pick him up; six cars +went over him an' they kept me in hock fer two months." + +Dick sat down on the curbing and buried his face in his hands. +"Dead--Dead"--he softly repeated to himself. "Dad is dead--killed by +the cars in St. Louis.--Dead--Dead--" + +Then all the past life came back to him with a rush: the cabin home +across the river from the distillery; the still-house itself, with the +rough men who gathered there; the neighboring shanties with their +sickly, sad-faced women, and dirty, quarreling children; the store and +blacksmith shop at the crossroads in the pinery seven miles away. He +saw the river flowing sluggishly at times between banks of drooping +willows and tall marsh grass, as though smitten with the fatal spirit +of the place, then breaking into hurried movement over pebbly shoals +as though trying to escape to some healthier climate; the hill where +stood the old pine tree; the cave beneath the great rock by the spring; +and the persimmon grove in the bottoms. Then once more he suffered +with his mother, from his drunken father's rage and every detail of +that awful night in the brush, with the long days and nights of sickness +that followed before her death, came back so vividly that he wept again +with his face in his hands as he had cried by the rude bedside in the +cabin sixteen years ago. Then came the years when he had wandered from +his early home and had learned to know life in the great cities. What +a life he had found it. He shuddered as it all came back to him now. +The many times when inspired by the memory of his mother, he had tried +to break away from the evil, degrading things that were in and about +him, and the many times he had been dragged back by the training and +memory of his father; the gambling, the fighting, the drinking, the +periods of hard work, the struggle to master his trade, and the reckless +wasting of wages in times of wild despair again. And now his father +was dead--dead--he shuddered. There was nothing to bind him to the +past now; he was free. + +"Can't ye give me that drink, Dicky? Jest one little horn. It'll do +us both good, an' then I'll shove erlong; jes fer old times' sake, ye +know." + +The voice of the tramp broke in upon his thoughts. For a moment longer +he sat there; then started to his feet, a new light in his eye; a new +ring in his voice. + +"No, Jake," he said slowly; "I wouldn't if I could now. I'm done with +the old times forever." He threw up his head and stood proudly erect +while the tramp gazed in awe at something in his face he had never +seen before. + +"I have only five cents in the world," continued Dick. "Here, take it. +You'll be hungry again soon and--and--Good bye, Jake--Good bye--" He +turned and walked swiftly away while the other stood staring in +astonishment and wonder, first at the coin in his hand, then at the +retreating figure. Then with an exclamation, the ragged fellow wheeled +and started in the opposite direction toward the railroad yards, to +catch a south-bound freight. + +Dick had walked scarcely a block when a lean hound came trotting across +the street. "Dear old Smoke," he said to himself, his mind going back +to the companion of his early struggle--"Dear old Smoke." Then as the +half-starved creature came timidly to his side and looked up at him +with pleading eyes, he remembered his share of the breakfast, still +untouched, in his pocket. "You look like an old friend of mine," he +continued, as he stooped to pat the bony head, "a friend who is never +hungry now--, but you're hungry aren't you?" A low whine answered him. +"Yes, you're hungry all right." And the next moment a wagging tail was +eloquently giving thanks for the rest of the crackers and cheese. + +The factories and mills of the city gave forth their early greeting, +while the sun tried in vain to drive away the chilly mist. Men with +dinner buckets on their arms went hurrying along at call of the +whistles, shop-keepers were sweeping, dusting and arranging their +goods, a street-car full of miners passed, with clanging gong; and the +fire department horses, out for their morning exercise, clattered down +the street. Amid the busy scene walked Dick, without work, without +money, without friends, but with a new purpose in his heart that was +more than meat or drink. A new feeling of freedom and power made him +lift his head and move with a firm and steady step. + +All that morning he sought for employment, inquiring at the stores and +shops, but receiving little or no encouragement. Toward noon, while +waiting for an opportunity to interview the proprietor of a store, he +picked up a daily paper that was lying on the counter, and turning to +the "want" column, read an advertisement for a man to do general work +about the barn and yard. When he had received the usual answer to his +request for work, he went at once to the address given in the paper. + +"Is Mr. Goodrich in?" he asked of the young man who came forward with +a look of inquiry on his face. + +"What do you want?" was the curt reply. + +"I want to see Mr. Goodrich," came the answer in tones even sharper, +and the young man conducted him to the door of the office. + +"Well," said a portly middle-aged gentleman, when he had finished +dictating a letter to the young lady seated at the typewriter, "What +do you want?" + +"I came in answer to your ad in this morning's Whistler," answered +Dick. + +"Umph--Where did you work last?" + +"At Kansas City. I'm a printer by trade, but willing to do anything +until I get a start." + +"Why aren't you working at your trade?" + +"I was thrown out by the strike and have been unable to find anything +since." + +A look of anger and scorn swept over the merchant's face. "So you're +one of that lot, are you? Why don't you fellows learn to take what you +can get? Look there." He pointed to a pile of pamphlets lying on the +table. "Just came in to-day; they cost me fifty per cent more than I +ever paid before, just because you cattle can't be satisfied; and now +you want me to give you a place. If I had my way, I'd give you, and +such as you, work on the rock pile." And he wheeled his chair toward +his desk again. + +"But," said Dick, "I'm hungry--I must do something--I'm not a +beggar--I'll earn every cent you pay me." + +"I tell you no," shouted the other. "I won't have men about me who +look above their position," and he picked up his pen. + +"But, Sir," said Dick again, "what am I to do?" + +"I don't care what you do," returned the other. "There is a stone-yard +here for such as you." + +"Sir," answered Dick, standing very straight, his face as pale as +death. "Sir, you will yet learn that it does matter very much what +such fellows as I do, and some day you will be glad to apologize for +your words this morning. I am no more worthy to work on the rock pile +than yourself. As a man, I am every bit your equal, and will live to +prove it. Good morning, Sir." And he marched out of the office like +a soldier on parade, leaving the young lady at the typewriter motionless +with amazement, and her employer dumb with rage. + +What induced him to utter such words Dick could not say; he only knew +that they were true, and they seemed somehow to be forced from him; +though in spite of his just anger he laughed at the ridiculousness of +the situation before he was fairly away from the building. + +The factory whistles blew for dinner, but there was no dinner for Dick; +they blew again for work at one o'clock, but still there was nothing +for Dick to do. All that afternoon he continued his search with the +same result--We don't need you. Some, it is true, were kind in their +answers. One old gentleman, a real estate man, Dick felt sure was about +to help him, but he was called away on business, and the poor fellow +went on his weary search again. + +Then the whistles blew for six o'clock, and the workmen, their faces +stained with the marks of toil, hurried along the streets toward home; +clerks and business men crowded the restaurants and lunch counters, +the street cars were filled with shoppers going to their evening meal. +Through hungry eyes, Dick watched the throng, wondering what each +worked at during the day and what they would have for supper. + +The sun went behind a bank of dull, lead-colored clouds and the wind +sprang up again, so sharp and cold that the citizens turned up the +collars of their coats and drew their wraps about them, while Dick +sought shelter from the chilly blast in an open hallway. Suddenly a +policeman appeared before him. + +"What are you doing here?" + +"Nothing," answered Dick. + +"Wal, ye'd better be doing something. I've had my eye on you all the +afternoon. I'll run ye in if I ketch ye hanging round any more. Get +a move on now." And Dick stepped out on the sidewalk once more to face +the bitter wind. + +Walking as rapidly as possible, he made his way north on Broadway, +past the big hotel, all aglow with light and warmth, past the vacant +lots and the bicycle factory, until he reached the ruins of an old +smelter just beyond the Missouri Pacific tracks. He had noticed the +place earlier in the day as he passed it on his way to the brickyard. +Groping about over the fallen walls of the furnace, stumbling over +scraps of iron and broken timbers in the dusk, he searched for a corner +that would in some measure protect him from the wind. It grew dark +very fast, and soon he tripped and fell against an old boiler lying +upturned in the ruin. Throwing out his hand to save himself, by chance, +he caught the door of the firebox, and in a moment more was inside, +crouching in the accumulated dirt, iron rust and ashes. At least the +wind could not get at him here; and leaning his back against the iron +wall of his strange bed-room, tired and hungry, he fell asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +The next morning Dick crawled from his rude lodging place stiff and +sore, and after making his toilet as best he could, started again on +his search for employment. It was nearly noon when he met a man who +in answer to his inquiry said: "I'm out of a job myself, stranger, but +I've got a little money left; you look hungry." + +Dick admitted that he had had no breakfast. + +"Tell you what I'll do," said the other. "I ain't got much, but we can +go to a joint I know of where they set up a big free lunch. I'll pay +for the beer and you can wade into the lunch." + +Poor Dick, weak from hunger, chilled with the March winds, tired and +discouraged, he forgot his resolve of the day before and followed his +would-be benefactor. It was not far and they soon stood in a well-warmed +saloon. The grateful heat, the polished furniture, the rows of bottles +and glasses, the clean-looking, white-jacketed and aproned bar-tender, +and the merry air of those whom he served, were all wonderfully +attractive to the poor shivering wanderer from out in the cold. And +then there was the long table well loaded with strong, hot food. The +starving fellow started toward it eagerly, with outstretched hand. +"Two beers here," cried his companion. + +Then Dick remembered his purpose. The hand reaching out to grasp the +food was withdrawn; his pale face grew more haggard. "My God!" he +thought, "what can I do. I must have food." + +He saw the bartender take two large glasses from the shelf. His whole +physical being plead with him, demanding food and drink, and shaking +like a leaf he gazed about him with the air of a hunted thing. + +He saw one of the glasses in the hand of the man in the white jacket +and apron filling with the amber liquid. A moment more and--"Stop!" +he cried, rushing toward the one who held the glasses. "Stop! it's a +mistake. I don't drink." + +The man paused and looked around with an evil leer, one glass still +unfilled in his hand. Then with a brutal oath, "What are ye in here +for then?" + +Dick trembled. "I--I--was cold and hungry--" his eyes sought the food +on the table--"and--and--this gentleman asked me to come. He's not to +blame; he thought I wanted a drink." + +His new-found friend looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Oh take +a glass, stranger. You need it; and then help yourself to the lunch." + +Dick shook his head; he could not speak. + +"Look here!" broke in the bartender, with another string of vile +language, as he quickly filled the empty glass and set it on the counter +before Dick. "You drink this er git out. That there lunch is fer our +customers and we aint got no room fer temperance cranks er bums. +Which'll it be? Talk quick." + +Dick's eyes went from the food to the liquor; then to the saloon man's +hard face, while a strange hush fell over those who witnessed the +scene. Slowly the stranger swept the room with a pleading glance, but +met only curious indifference on every side. Again he turned to the +food and liquor, and put out his hand. A light of triumph flashed in +the eyes of the man behind the bar, but the hand was withdrawn and +Dick backed slowly toward the door. "I won't," he said, between his +clenched teeth, then to his would-be friend, "Thank you for your good +intention." + +The silence in the room was broken by a shout of harsh laughter as the +bartender raised the glass of beer he had drawn for Dick and mockingly +drank him good luck as the poor fellow stepped through the doorway +leaving warmth and food behind. + +All that day Dick continued his search for work. Night came on again +and he found himself wandering, half dazed, in the more aristocratic +portion of the city. He was too tired to go to the old smelter again. +He could not think clearly and muttered and mumbled to himself as he +stumbled aimlessly along. + +The door of a cottage opened, letting out a flood of light, and a +woman's voice called, "Dick, Oh Dick, come home now; supper is waiting." +And a lad of ten, playing in the neighboring yard with his young +companion, answered with a shout as he bounded across the lawn. Through +the windows our Dick caught a glimpse of the cosy home: father, mother, +two sisters, bright pictures, books, and a table set with snowy linen, +shining silver and sparkling glass. + +Later, strange voices seemed to call him, and several times he paused +to listen. Then someone in the distance seemed to say, "Move on; Move +on." The words echoed and re-echoed through his tired brain. "Move on; +Move on," the weary, monotonous strain continued as he dragged his +heavy feet along the pavement. "Move on; Move on;" the words seemed +repeated just ahead. Who was it? What did they want, and why couldn't +they let him rest? He drew near a large building with beautiful stained +glass windows, through which the light streamed brilliantly. In the +center was a picture of the Christ, holding in his arms a lamb, and +beneath, the inscription, "I came to seek and to save that which was +lost." + +"Move on; Move on;" the words seemed shrieked in his ears now, and +looking up he saw a steeple in the form of a giant hand, pointing +toward the stormy sky. "Why of course,"--he laughed with mirthless +lips,--"of course,--it's a church. What a fool--I ought to have come +here long ago.--This is Thursday night and that voice is the bell +calling people to Prayer Meeting." + +"I'll be all right now," he continued to himself as he leaned against +a tree near the building. "I ought to have remembered the church +before.--I've set up their notices many a time; they always say +'Everybody welcome.' Christians won't let me starve--they'll help me +earn something to eat.--I'm not a beggar--not me," and he tried to +straighten his tired figure. "All I want is a chance." + +By this time, well-dressed people were passing where Dick stood +muttering to himself, and entering the open door of the church. Then +the organ began to play, and arousing himself by a supreme effort of +his will, Dick followed them into the building. + +The organ now filled the air with its sweetly solemn tones. The bell +with its harsh command to move on was forgotten; and as Dick sank on +a cushioned seat near the door, his heart was filled with restful +thoughts. He saw visions of a Gracious Being who cared for all mankind, +and who had been all this time waiting to help him. Had he not heard +his mother pray, years ago in the cabin, "O Lord take care o' Dick!--" +How foolish he had been to forget--he ought to have remembered,--but +he would never forget again,--never. + +The music and the singing stopped. The pastor arose and read the lesson, +calling particular attention to the words recorded in the twenty-fifth +chapter of Matthew: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least +of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Then after a long +prayer and another song, the man of God spoke a few words about the +Christian's joy and duty in helping the needy; that the least of these, +meant those who needed help, no matter what their positions in life; +and that whosoever gave aid to one in the name of Christ, glorified +the Master's name and helped to enthrone him in the hearts of men. + +"The least of these," whispered Dick to himself, then unconsciously +uttering his thoughts in the dialect of his childhood--"that's me +shor'; I don't reckon I kin be much less'n I am right now." And as one +after another of the Christians arose and testified to the joy they +found in doing Christ's work, and told of experiences where they had +been blessed by being permitted to help some poor one, his heart warmed +within him, and, in his own way, he thanked God that he had been led +to such a place and to such people. + +With another song, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow," the +congregation was dismissed and began slowly passing from the building, +exchanging greetings, with more or less warmth, and remarking what a +helpful meeting they had had, and how much it had been enjoyed. + +Dick stood near the door, hat in hand, patiently waiting. One by one +the members passed him; two or three said "Good Evening;" one shook +him by the hand; but something in their faces as they looked at his +clothing checked the words that rose to his lips, and the poor fellow +waited, his story untold. At last the minister came down the aisle, +and greeting Dick, was about to pass out with the others; this was too +much, and in a choked voice the young man said, "Sir, may I speak to +you a moment?" + +"If you'll be brief," replied the preacher, glancing at his watch. "I +have an engagement soon." + +Dick told his story in a few words. "I'm not begging, Sir," he added. +"I thought some of the church members might have work that I could do, +or might know where I could find employment." + +The minister seemed a little embarrassed; then beckoning to a few who +still remained, "Brother Godfrey, here's a man who wants work; do you +know of anything?" + +"Um, I'm sorry, but I do not," promptly replied the good deacon. "What +can you do?" turning to Dick. He made the usual answer and the officer +of the church said again, "Find it rather hard to strike anything in +Boyd City I fear; so many tramps, you know. Been out of work long?" + +"Yes sir, and out of food too." + +"Too bad; too bad," said the deacon. And "Too bad; too bad," echoed +the preacher, and the other followers of the meek and lowly Jesus. "If +we hear of anything we'll let you know. Where are you stopping?" + +"On the street," replied Dick, "when I am not moved on by the police." + +"Um--Well--we'll leave word here at the church with the janitor if we +learn of anything." + +"Are you a Christian?" asked one good old mother in Israel. + +"No," stammered poor confused Dick; "I guess not." + +"Do you drink?" + +"No mam." + +"Well, don't get discouraged; look to God; he can help you; and we'll +all pray for you. Come and hear our Brother French preach; I am sure +you will find the light. He is the best preacher in the city. Everybody +says so. Good-night." + +The others had already gone. The sexton was turning out the lights, +and a moment later Dick found himself once more on the street, looking +with a grim smile on his hunger-pinched features, at the figure of the +Christ, wrought in the costly stained glass window. "One of the least +of these," he muttered hoarsely to himself. Then the figure and the +inscription slowly faded, as one by one the lights went out, until at +last it vanished and he seemed to hear his mother's voice: "I ax ye +fair--O Lord--take ker o' Dick--fer Jesus sake--Amen." + +The door shut with a bang. A key grated in the heavy lock that guarded +the treasures of the church; and the footsteps of the church's humblest +servant died away in the distance, as Dick turned to move on again. + +The city rumbled on with its business and its pleasure, its merriment +and crime. Guardians of the law protected the citizens by seeing to +it that no ill-dressed persons sat too long upon the depot benches, +sheltered themselves from the bitter wind in the open hall-way, or +looked too hungrily in at the bakery windows. + +On the avenue the homes grew hushed and still, with now and then a +gleam of light from some library or sitting-room window, accompanied +by the tones of a piano or guitar,--or sound of laughing voices. And +the house of God stood silent, dark and cold, with the figure of the +Christ upon the window and the spire, like a giant hand, pointing +upward. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +"I declare to goodness, if that ain't the third tramp I've chased away +from this house to-day! I'll have father get a dog if this keeps up. +They do pester a body pretty nigh to death." Mrs. Wilson slammed the +kitchen door and returned to her dish-washing. "The ide' of givin' +good victuals to them that's able to work--not much I won't--Let 'em +do like I do." And the good lady plied her dish-cloth with such energy +that her daughter hastily removed the clean plates and saucers from +the table to avoid the necessity of drying them again. + +"But this man wanted work, didn't he mother?" asked Clara, "And I heard +you tell father at dinner that you wanted someone to fix the cowshed +and clean up the back yard." + +"There you go again," angrily snapped the older woman, resting her wet +hands upon her hips and pausing in her labor, the better to emphasize +her words; "Allus a criticisin' and a findin' fault--Since you took +up with that plagy church there aint been nothin' right." + +"Forgive me mother, I didn't think," said the daughter, looking into +the wrathful black eyes of her parent. + +"Didn't think," whined the woman, "You never think of nothin' but your +blamed Young Folks' Society or Sunday School. Your mother an' father +and home aint good enough fer your saintship now-a-days. I wish to +goodness you'd never heard tell of that preacher; the whole set's a +batch of stingy hypocrites." She turned to her dish-washing again with +a splash. "An' there's George Udell, he aint going to keep hanging +around forever, I can tell you; there's too many that'ud jump at his +offer, fer him to allus be a dancin' after you; an' when you git through +with your foolishness, you'll find him married and settled down with +some other girl, an' what me and your father'll do when we git too old +to work, the Lord only knows. If you had half sense you'd take him too +quick." + +Clara made no reply, but finishing her work in silence, hung up her +apron and left the kitchen. + +Later, when Mrs. Wilson went into the pleasant little sitting-room, +where the flowers in the window _would_ bloom, and the pet canary +_would_ sing in spite of the habitual crossness of the mistress of the +house, she found her daughter attired for the street. + +"Where are you going now?" she asked; "Some more foolishness, I'll be +bound; you just take them things off and stay to home; this here weather +aint fit fer you to be trapsin round in. You'll catch your death of +cold; then I'll have to take care of you. I do believe, Clara Wilson, +you are the most ungratefulest girl I ever see." + +"But mother, I just must go to the printing office this afternoon. Our +society meets to-morrow night and I must look after the printing of +the constitution and by-laws." + +"What office you goin' to?" asked the mother sharply. + +"Why, George's, of course," said Clara; "You know I wouldn't go anywhere +else." + +"Oh well, get along then; I guess the weather won't hurt you; its +clearin' off a little anyway. I'll fix up a bit and you can bring +George home to supper." And the old lady grew quite cheerful as she +watched the sturdy figure of her daughter making her way down the board +walk and through the front gate. + +George Udell was a thriving job printer in Boyd City, and stood high +in favor of the public generally, and of the Wilson family in +particular, as might be gathered from the conversation of Clara's +mother. "I tell you," she said, in her high-pitched tones, "George +Udell is good enough fer any gal. He don't put on as much style as +some, an' aint much of a church man; but when it comes to makin' money +he's all there, an' that's the main thing now-a-days." + +As for Clara, she was not insensible to the good points in Mr. Udell's +character, of which money-making was by no means the most important, +for she had known him ever since the time, when as a long, lank, awkward +boy, he had brought her picture cards and bits of bright-colored +printing. She was a wee bit of a girl then, but somehow, her heart +told her that her friend was more honest than most boys, and, as she +grew older, in spite of her religious convictions, she had never been +forced to change her mind. + +But George Udell was not a Christian. Some said he was an infidel; at +least he was not a member of any church; and when approached on the +subject, always insisted that he did not know what he believed; and +that he doubted very much if many church members knew more of their +beliefs. Furthermore; he had been heard upon several occasions to make +slighting remarks about the church, contrasting its present standing +and work with the law of love and helpfulness as laid down by the +Master they professed to follow. + +True, no one had ever heard him say that he did not believe in Christ +or God. But what of that? Had he not said that he did not believe in +the church? And was not that enough to mark him as an infidel? + +Clara, in spite of her home training, was, as has been shown, a strong +church member, a zealous Christian, and an earnest worker for the cause +of Christ. Being a practical girl, she admitted that there were many +faults in the church of today; and that Christians did not always live +up to their professions. But, bless you, you could not expect people +to be perfect; and the faults that existed in the church were there +because all churches were not the same, which really means, you of +course understand-"all churches are not of _my_ denomination." And so, +in spite of her regard for the printer, she could not bring herself +to link her destiny with one whose eternal future was so insecure, and +whose life did not chord with that which was to her, the one great +keynote of the universe, the church. And then, too, does not the good +book say: "Be ye not unequally yoked with unbelievers." What could +that mean if not, "Do not marry an infidel?" + +While Clara was thinking of all these things and making her way through +the mud of Boyd City streets, Udell, at the printing office, was having +a particularly trying time. To begin with, his one printer had gone +off on a spree the Saturday before and failed to return. Then several +rush jobs had come in; he had tried in vain to get help; the boy had +come late to the office, and, altogether it seemed as though everything +had happened that could happen to make things uncomfortable. + +Clara arrived on the scene just when the confusion was at its height; +the room was littered with scraps of paper and inky cloths; the famous +printer's towel was lying on the desk; the stove, with its hearth piled +full of ashes, emitted smoke and coal gas freely; and the printer was +emptying the vials of his wrath upon the public in general, because +all wanted their printing done at the same instant; while the boy, +with a comical look of fear upon his ink-stained face, was dodging +here and there, striving as best he could to avoid the threatening +disaster. + +The young girl's coming was like a burst of sunlight. In an instant +the storm was past. The boy's face resumed at once its usual expression +of lofty indifference; the fire burned freely in the stove; the towel +was whisked into its proper corner; and she was greeted with the first +smile that had shown on the printer's face that day. "You're just in +time," he cried gaily, as he seated her in the cleanest corner of the +office. + +"I should think so," she answered, smiling, and glancing curiously +about the room; "looks as though you wanted a woman here." + +"I do," declared George. "I've always wanted _a_ woman; haven't I told +you that often enough?" + +"For shame, George Udell. I came here on business," Clara answered +with glowing cheeks. + +"Well, that's mighty important business for me," Udell answered. +"You see--" but Clara interrupted him. + +"What's the matter here anyway?" she asked. + +"Oh--nothing; only my man is off on a drunken spree, and everybody +wants their stuff at the same time. I worked until two o'clock last +night; that's why I wasn't at your house; and I must work tonight too. +I'm--Yes, there's another;" as the telephone rang. "Hello!--Yes, this +is Udell's job office--We have the matter set up and will send you +proof as soon as possible--I'm sorry, but we are doing the best we +can--Yes--all right--I'll get at it right away--three o'clock--can't +possibly get it out before"--bang! He hung up the receiver. + +"I tell you this is making me thin. If you had half the influence at +headquarters that you profess to have, I wish you'd pray them to send +me a printer." + +"Why don't you get help?" + +"Get help?--Get nothing! I tell you I've prayed, and threatened, and +bribed, and promised, as well as the best prayer-meeting church member +you've got, and I can't get the sign of an answer. Reckon the wire +must be down," he added, a queer shadow of a smile twitching up the +corners of his mouth; "Y-e-s," as the phone rang again. "I wish that +wire was down." + +The girl noted the worn look on his rugged face, and when he had hung +up the receiver again, said: "I wish I could help you, George." + +"You can, Clara,--you know you can," he answered quickly. "You can +give me more help than the ghost of Franklin himself. I don't mind the +hard work, and the worry wouldn't amount to anything if only--if only--" +he stopped, as Clara shook her head. + +"George, you know I have told you again and again--" + +"But Clara," he broke in,--"I wouldn't in any way interfere with your +church work. I'd even go with you every Sunday, and you could pay the +preacher as much as you liked. Don't you see, dear, it couldn't possibly +make any difference?" + +"You don't understand, George," she answered, "and I can't make you +see it; there's no use talking, I _can't_, until you change your ideas +about--" + +The door opened and a weary, hungry, unshaven face looked in.--The +door opened wider and a figure came shuffling timidly toward the man +and girl. + +"What do you want?" said Udell, gruffly, a little put out at such an +interruption. + +"Are you the foreman of this office?" said the newcomer. + +"Yes, I'm the boss." + +"Do you need any help? I'm a printer." + +"You a printer?" exclaimed Udell. "What's the matter?--No,"--he +interrupted himself.-"Never mind what the matter is. I don't care if +you're wanted for horse stealing. Can you go to work now?" The man +nodded. Udell showed him to a case and placed copy before him. "There +you are, and the faster you work the better I'll pay you." + +Again the other nodded, and without a word caught up a stick and reached +for the type. + +George turned back to Clara who had risen. "Don't go yet," he said. + +"Oh, yes, I must; I have been here too long now; you have so much to +do; I only wanted to get that society printing." George handed her the +package. "Who is he?" she whispered, with a look toward the newcomer. + +"Don't know; some bum I suppose; looks like he had been on a big spree. +I only hope I can keep him sober long enough to help me over this +rush." + +"You're wrong there," said the girl, moving toward the door, "He asked +for work at our house early this morning; that man is no drunkard, +neither is he a common tramp." + +"How do you know?" + +"Same as I know you, by the looks," laughed Clara. "Go talk to him and +find out. You see your prayer was answered, even if you did pray like +a church member. Who knows, perhaps the wire is not down after all," +and she was gone. + +The printer turned to his work again with a lighter heart for this bit +of brightness. Somehow he felt that things would come out all right +some day, and he would do the best he could to be patient; and, for +Clara's sake, while he could not be all she wished, he would make of +himself all that he could. + +For a while, he was very busy with some work in the rear of the office; +then remembering Clara's strange words about the tramp, he went over +to the case where the new man sat perched upon his high stool. The +stranger was working rapidly and doing good work. George noticed though, +that the hand which held the stick trembled; and that sometimes a +letter dropped from the nervous fingers. "What's the matter?" he asked, +eyeing him keenly. + +The man, without lifting his head, muttered, "Nothing." + +"Are you sick?" + +A shake of the head was the only answer. + +"Been drinking?" + +"_No_." This time the head was lifted and two keen gray eyes, filled +with mingled suffering and anger, looked full in the boss's face. "I've +been without work for some time and am hungry, that's all." The head +bent again over the case and the trembling fingers reached for the +type. + +"Hungry!--Good God, man!" exclaimed Udell. "Why didn't you say so?"--and +turning quickly to the boy he said, "Here, skip down to that restaurant +and bring a big hot lunch. Tell 'em to get a hustle on too." + +[Illustration: "Here you are; come and fill up."] + +The boy fled and George continued talking to himself; "Hungry--and I +thought he had been on a spree. I ought to have known better than that. +I've been hungry myself--Clara's right; he is no bum printer. Great +shade of the immortal Benjamin F! but he's plucky though--and proud--you +could see that by the look in his eye when I asked him if he'd been +drunk--poor fellow--knows his business too--just the man I've been +looking for, I'll bet--Huh--wonder if the wire is down." And then as +the boy returned with the basket of hot eatables, he called cheerily, +"Here you are; come and fill up; no hungry man in this establishment, +rush or no rush." He was answered by a clatter as half a stick full +of type dropped from the trembling hand of the stranger. "Thank you," +the poor fellow tried to say, as he staggered toward the kind-hearted +infidel, and then, as he fell, Dick's outstretched fingers just touched +Udell's feet. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +It was a strange coincidence that the Rev. James Cameron should have +preached his sermon on "The Church of the Future," the Sunday following +the incidents which have been related in the preceding chapters. If +he had only known, Rev. Cameron might have found a splendid +illustration, very much to the point, in the story of Dick Falkner's +coming to Boyd City and his search for employment. But the minister +knew nothing of Dick or his trouble. He had no particular incident in +mind; but simply desired to see a more practical working of +Christianity. In other words, he wished to see Christians doing the +things that Christ did, and using, in matters of the church, the same +business sense which they brought to bear upon their own affairs. He +thought of the poverty, squalor and wretchedness of some for whom +Christ died, and of the costly luxuries of the church into whose hands +the Master had given the care of these. He thought of the doors to +places of sin, swinging wide before the young, while the doors of the +church were often closed against them. He thought of the secret +societies and orders, doing the work that the church was meant to do, +and of the honest, moral men, who refused to identify themselves with +the church, though professing belief in Jesus Christ; and, thinking +of these things and more like them, he was forced to say that the +church must change her methods; that she must talk less and do more; +that she must rest her claims to the love of mankind where Christ +rested his; upon the works that He did. + +He saw that the church was proving false to the Christ; that her service +was a service of the lips only; that her worship was form and +ceremony--not of the heart--a hollow mockery. He saw that she was not +touching the great problems of life; and that, while men were dying +for want of spiritual bread, she was offering them only the stones of +ecclesiastical pride and denominational egotism. He saw all this, and +yet,--because he was a strong man--remained full of love for Christ +and taught that those things were not Christianity but the lack of it; +and placed the blame where it justly belonged, upon the teaching and +doctrines of men, and not upon the principles of Christ; but upon the +shepherds, who fattened themselves, while the starving sheep grew thin +and lean; and not upon Him who came to seek and save that which was +lost. + +Adam Goodrich walked out of the church with his aristocratic nose +elevated even beyond its usual angle. He was so offended by the plebeian +tastes of his pastor that he almost failed to notice Banker Lindsley +who passed him in the vestibule. + +"Fine discourse--fine discourse, Mr. Goodrich." + +"Uh--" grunted Adam, tossing his head. + +"Just the kind of sermon we need;" went on Mr. Lindsley, who was not +a church member. "Practical and fearless; I'm glad to have heard him. +I shall come again;" and he hurried out of the house. + +It was not often that a sermon was honored by being discussed at the +Goodrich table; nor indeed, that any topic of religion was mentioned; +but Adam could not contain himself after the unheard of things which +his pastor had preached that morning. "It's a pity that Cameron hasn't +better judgment," he declared, in a voice that showed very plainly the +state of his mind. "He could easily make his church the first church +in the city if he would only let well enough alone and not be all the +time stirring things up. He is a good speaker, carries himself like +an aristocrat, and comes from a good family; but he is forever saying +things that jar the best people. He might be drawing half as much again +salary if only he would work to get those people who are worth something +into the church, instead of spending all his time with the common +herd." + +"Perhaps he thinks the common herd worth saving too," suggested Miss +Amy, a beautiful girl of nineteen, with dark hair and eyes. + +"What do you know about it?" replied the father. "You're getting your +head full of those silly Young People's Society notions, and your +friends will drop you if you don't pay more attention to your social +duties. The common classes are all right of course, but they can't +expect to associate with us. Cameron has his mission schools; why isn't +that enough? And he makes three times as many calls on South Broadway +and over by the Shops, as he does on our street." + +"Perhaps he thinks, 'they that are whole have no need of a physician,'" +again suggested the young lady. + +"Amy," said Mrs. Goodrich, "how often have I told you that it's not +the thing to be always repeating the Bible. No one does it now. Why +will you make yourself so common?" + +"You agree with Cameron perfectly, mother," put in Frank, the only +son; "he said this morning that no one used their Bibles now-a-days." + +"It's not necessary to be always throwing your religion at people's +heads," answered the father, "and as for Cameron's new-fangled notion +about the church being more helpful to those who need help, he'll find +out that it won't work. We are the ones who pay his salary, and if he +can't preach the things we want to hear, he'll find himself going +hungry, or forced to dig along with those he is so worried about. I +don't find anything in the Bible that tells me to associate with every +low-down person in the city, and I guess I'm as good a Christian as +anyone in the church." + +"Brother Cameron said that helping people and associating with them +were two different things," said Amy. + +"Well, it means the same, anyway, in the eyes of the world," retorted +the father. + +"Fancy," said Frank, "my going down the street with that tramp who +called at the office last week. According to Cameron, you ought to +have invited him home and asked him to stay with us until he found a +job, I suppose. Amy would have liked to meet him, and to make his visit +with us pleasant. He was not bad-looking, barring his clothes and a +few whiskers." + +"Who was that, Mr. Goodrich?" inquired the wife. + +"Oh, an impudent fellow that Frank let into the office the other day; +he claimed that he was a printer and wanted work; said that he was +thrown out of employment by the Kansas City strike; anyone could see +that he was a fraud through and through, just Cameron's kind. If I had +my way I would give him work that he wouldn't want. Such people are +getting altogether too numerous, and there will be no room for a +respectable man if this thing keeps up. I don't know what we'll come +to if we have many such sermons as that this morning; they want the +earth now." + +"They'd get Heaven too if Cameron had his way," put in Frank again. +"Won't it be fine when the church becomes a home for every wandering +Willie who happens along?" + +"Did not Christ intend His church to be a home for the homeless?" asked +the sister. + +"Amy," interrupted Mrs. Goodrich, "you are getting too many of those +fanciful notions; you will learn in time that the church is meant to +go to on Sundays, and that people who know what is demanded of them +by the best society, leave socials, aids, missions, and such things +to the lower classes." + +"Yes," answered Frank, as he arose to leave the table--"and don't go +looking up that bum printer to teach him the way of the Lord." + +The reader must not think that the Goodrichs were unworthy members of +the church; their names were all on the roll of membership, and Frank +and Amy were also active members of the Young People's Societies. +Beside this, Adam contributed liberally (in his own eyes at least) to +the support of the gospel; and gave, now and then, goodly sums set +opposite his name on subscription lists, for various charitable +purposes; although he was very careful, withal, that his gifts to God +never crippled his business interests, and managed, in religious +matters, to make a little go a long way. + +The pastor of the Jerusalem Church, having been called to attend a +funeral, was not present at the meeting of the Boyd City Ministerial +Association, following his sermon, and the field was left open for his +brethren, who assembled in the lecture room of the Zion Church on +Monday morning. After the Association had been called to order by the +president, the reports of the work given by the various pastors had +been heard, and some unfinished business transacted, good old Father +Beason arose, and, in his calm, impassioned manner, addressed the +Chair. + +"Brethren," he said, "I don't know how you all feel about it, but I +would like to know what the Association thinks about Brother Cameron's +sermon yesterday. Now, I don't want to be misunderstood, Brethren; I +haven't a particle of fault to find with Brother Cameron. I love him +as a man; I admire him as a preacher; and I believe that whatever he +has said he meant for the best. But, Brother Cameron is a young man +yet, and I have heard a good deal of talk about the things he said +Sabbath morning; and I would just like to know what you Brethren think +about it. Have any of you heard anything?" Six reverend heads nodded +that they had, and the speaker continued: + +"Well, I thought probably you would hear something, and with no harm +meant toward our Brother, I would like to have you express yourselves. +I have been in the ministry nearly forty years now, and I have never +heard such things as people say he said. And, Brethren, I'm awfully +afraid that there is a good deal of truth in it all--a good deal of +truth in it all;" and slowly shaking his head the old man took his +seat. + +The Rev. Jeremiah Wilks was on his feet instantly, and, speaking in +a somewhat loud and nervous manner, said: "Mr. Chairman, I was coming +down town early this morning, after some thread and ribbons and things +for my wife, and Sister Thurston, who runs that little store on Third +Street--you know she's a member of my church, you know--and always +gives me things lots cheaper than I can get them anywhere else, because +she's a member of my church, you know--she says to me that Brother +Cameron said that the average church of to-day was the biggest fraud +on earth. Now she was there and heard him. I don't know of course, +whether he really said that or not; that is, I mean, you know,--I don't +know whether he meant it that way or not. But I've heard him say myself, +that he didn't think the church was doing all she might along some +lines. I don't know whether he means all the churches or only his own. +_My_ people gave fifteen dollars for foreign missions last year, and +the Ladies' Aid paid fifty dollars on my salary. Besides that, they +bought me a new overcoat last winter, and it will last me through next +winter too. They paid eighteen dollars for that, I'm told; and of +course they got it cheap because it was for me, you know. And we gave +a pound social to Sister Grady, whose husband died some time ago, you +know. It took almost all her money to pay funeral expenses--She's a +member of my church you know; so was he, poor man; he's gone now. I'm +sure I don't know about Brother Cameron's church; we're doing all _we_ +can; and I don't think it's right for him to talk against the work of +the Lord." The reverend gentleman resumed his seat with the satisfied +air of a school boy who has just succeeded in hitting a hornet's nest, +and devoutly wishes that someone would come along to share the fun. + +Little Hugh Cockrell arose, and, crossing his hands, meekly spoke: +"Now, Brethren, I don't think we ought to be hasty in regard to this +matter. I would advise caution. We must give the subject due and careful +consideration. We all respect and love Brother Cameron. Let us not be +hasty in condemning him. You know the Scriptures say, Judge not, and +I believe we ought to be careful. We don't know what Cameron meant +exactly. Brethren, let us try to find out. I know I have heard a great +many things, and some of my members say that he spoke rather slightingly +of the ministry as a whole, and seemed to think that the church was +not practical enough, and my wife is a good deal hurt about some things +that he said about the clergy. But, let's be careful. I don't want to +believe that our Brother would cast a slur in any way upon us or the +church. Let's be cautious and work in a Christianlike manner; find out +by talking with people on the street and in their homes, what he said, +and above all, don't let Cameron know how we feel. We ought not to be +hasty, Brethren, about judging our Brother." + +There were nods of approval as the minister took his seat, for he was +much admired in the Association because of his piety, and much respected +for his judgment. All knew that nothing could possibly harm them if +they followed Rev. Cockrell's advice. + +Then the Rev. Dr. Frederick Hartzell reared his stoop-shouldered, +narrow-chested, but commanding figure, and, in a most impressive and +scholarly manner addressed the Association. + +"Of course I don't know anything about this matter, Brethren; it's all +news to me. I am so confined by my studies that I go on the street +very little, and, when I do go out, my mind is so full of the deep +things of the Scriptures, that I find it hard to retain anything that +has to do with the commonplace in life; and in-as-much as the reverend +gentleman failed to consult me as to his sermon, which I understand +he calls The Church of the Future, I am unable to say at present whether +his position is orthodox or not. But Brethren, of one thing I am sure, +and I don't care what Cameron or any other man thinks; the orthodox +church of to-day is the power of God unto salvation. God intended that +we ministers should be His representatives on earth, and as such, we +ought to have a keen appreciation of the grandeur and nobility of our +calling. After years of study on the part of myself, and after much +consultation with other eminent men, I give it as my opinion that the +church of the future will be the same as the church of the past. All +denominations--that is, all evangelical denominations, are built upon +a rock. Upon this rock I will build my church, Matthew 16-18. Brethren, +we are secure; even the gates of Hades cannot prevail against us; and +it is proven by the scholarship of the world, that we shall be the +same in the future as we have been in the past. Rev. Cameron, whatever +may be his opinions, cannot harm so glorious an institution. Why, +Brethren, we represent the brains and culture of the world. Look at +our schools and seminaries; we must be right. No change can possibly +come; no change is needed. As to the gentleman's remarks about the +ministry; if he made any, I don't think his opinion matters much anyhow, +I understand that he is not a graduate of any regular theological +institution; and I'm sure that he cannot harm _my_ reputation in the +least." + +Secure in the impregnable position of his own learning and in the +scholarship of his church; amid a hush of profound awe and admiration, +the learned gentleman took his seat. + +Rev. Hartzell's speech practically finished the discussion of the +sermon by the Association. Indeed, the Rev. Frederick nearly always +finished whatever discussion he took part in. One or two of the +remaining preachers tried to speak, but subsided as soon as they caught +the eye of the scholar fixed upon them, and the Association was +adjourned, with a prayer by the president that they might always be +able to conduct the Master's business in a manner well pleasing in his +sight; and that they might have strength to always grapple boldly with +questions concerning the church, ever proving true to the principles +of the Christ, and following in His footsteps. + +While the members of the Ministerial Association were engaged in +discussing Rev. Cameron's much-abused sermon, the printer, George +Udell, dropped in at the office of Mr. Wicks, to make the final payment +on a piece of property which he had purchased some months before. Mr. +Wicks, or as he was more often called, Uncle Bobbie, was an old resident +of the county, an elder in the Jerusalem Church, and Rev. Cameron's +right-hand man. + +"Well," he said, as he handed George the proper papers, "that place +is your'n, young man, what are ye goin' to do with it?" + +"Oh I don't know," replied Udell, "it's handy to have round; good +building spot, isn't it?" + +"You bet it is," returned the other. "There aint no better in Boyd +City, an' I reckon I know. Ye must be goin' to get a wife, talking +about buildin'?" + +Udell shook his head. "Well, ye ought to. Let's see--this is the third +piece of property I've sold ye, aint it?--all of 'em good investments +too--You're gettin' a mighty good start fer a young man. Don't it make +ye think of the Being what's back of all these blessin's? Strikes me +ye'r too blame good a man to be livin' without any religion. George, +why don't you go to church anyway? Don't ye know you ought to?" + +"Why don't I go to church," said Udell thoughtfully; "Well, Mr. Wicks, +I'll tell you why I don't go to church. Just because I've got too much +to do. I make my own way in the world and it takes all the business +sense I have to do it. The dreamy, visionary, speculative sort of +things I hear at meeting may be all right for a fellow's soul, but +they don't help him much in taking care of his body, and I can't afford +to fill my mind with such stuff. I am living this side of the grave. +Of course I like to hear a good talker, and I enjoy the music, but +their everlasting pretending to be what they are not, is what gets me. +You take this town right here now," he continued, pushing his hat back +from his forehead; "we've got ten or twelve churches and as many +preachers; they all say that they are following Christ, and profess +to exist for the good of men and the glory of God. And what are they +actually doing to make this place better? There's not a spot in this +city, outside a saloon, where a man can spend an hour when he's not +at work; and not a sign of a place where a fellow down on his luck can +stay all night. Only last week, a clean honest young printer, who was +out of money through no fault of his own, struck me for a job, and +before night fainted from hunger; and yet, the preachers say that +Christ told us to feed the hungry, and that if we didn't it counted +against us as though we had let him starve. According to their own +teaching, what show have these churches in Boyd City when they spend +every cent they can rake and scrape to keep their old machines running +and can't feed even one hungry man? Your church members are all right +on the believe, trust, hope, pray and preach, but they're not so much +on the do. And I've noticed it's the _do_ that counts in this life. +Why, their very idea of Heaven is that it's a loafing place, where you +get more than you ask for or have any right to expect." + +"Gettin' a little excited, ain't ye?" smiled Uncle Bobbie, though there +was a tear twinkling in his sharp old eyes. + +"Yes I am," retorted the other. "It's enough to excite anyone who has +a heart to feel and eyes to see the misery in this old world, and then +to be asked eternally, 'Why don't you go to church?' Why look at 'em; +they even let their own preachers starve when they get too old to work. +Societies and lodges don't do that. I don't mean to step on your toes +though," he added hastily. "You know that, Uncle Bobbie. You've proven +yourself a Christian to me in ways I'll never forget. My old mother +was a member of the church and they let her go hungry, when I was too +little to take care of her; and if it hadn't been for you she would +have died then. But you fed her, and if there's a Heaven, she's there, +and you'll be there too. But what makes me mad is, that these fellows +who _never_ do anything, are just as sure of it as you who do so much." + +"Ah, George," said Wicks; "that help I give your maw warn't nothin'. +Do you think I'd see her suffer? Why, I knowed her when she was a +girl." + +"I know, Uncle Bobbie, but that isn't the question. Why, don't the +church _do_ some of the things they are always talking about?" + +"Do infidels do any more?" asked Mr. Wicks. + +"No, they don't," answered George, "but they don't thank God that Jesus +Christ was crucified, so that they might get to Heaven, either." + +"Thar's one fellow that I didn't feed," said the old man, after a long +pause. "That same printer called here and I didn't give him nothin' +to do. I've thought of it many a time since though, and asked the Lord +to forgive me for sech carelessness. And so he's got a job with you, +has he? Well, I'm mighty glad. But say, George, were you at our church +yesterday?" + +"No," answered Udell, "Why?" + +"Oh, nothin'; only I thought from the way you've been preachin' +Cameron's sermon, that you'd heard him give it, that's all." + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +"There's only one girl in this world for me," whistled Dick, as he +made a form ready for the press. Only in his own mind he rendered it, +"There's not one girl in this world for me;" and from Dick's point of +view his version was the better one. Thus far in his life there had +come no woman's influence; no loving touch of a girlish hand to help +in moulding his character; no sweet voice bidding him do right; no +soft eyes to look praise or blame. He had only the memory of his mother. + +It was less than a week ago that the poor outcast had fainted from +lack of food, but he had already become a fixture in the office. George +Udell confided to Miss Wilson that he did not know how he could get +along without him, and that he was, by long odds, the best hand he had +ever had. He was quick and sure in his work, and as George put it, +"You don't have to furnish him a map when you tell him to do anything." +With three good meals a day and a comfortable cot in the office for +the night, with the privilege of spending his evenings by the fire, +and the assurance that there was work for him for many weeks ahead, +it was no wonder that Dick whistled as he bent over the stone. Locking +up the form, he carried it to the press and was fixing the guide pins, +when the door opened and a young lady came in. + +Dick's whistle stopped instantly and his face flushed like a school +girl as he gave her a chair and went to call Udell, who was in the +other room trying to convince the boy that the stove needed a bucket +of coal. + +"Faith," said Dick to himself, as he went back to the press, "If there +is one girl in this world for me I hope she looks like that one. What +a lovely voice," he added, as he carefully examined the first +impression; "and a heavenly smile;" as he finished his work and went +back to the composing case; "and what eyes,"--he turned sideways to +empty his stick--"And what hair;" trying to read his copy--"a perfect +form;" reaching for the type again. "I wonder who--" + +"Dick!" shouted Udell. Crash went the overturned stool, and, "Yes Sir," +answered the young man, with a very red face, struggling to his feet. + +A merry light danced in the brown eyes, though the girlish countenance +was serious enough. + +Udell looked at his assistant in mingled wonder and amusement. "What's +the matter, Dick?" he asked, as the latter came toward him. + +"Nothing, Sir--I only--I was--" he looked around in confusion at the +overturned stool, and the type on the floor. + +"Yes, I see you were," said his employer with a chuckle. "Miss Goodrich, +this is Mr. Falkner; perhaps he can help us out of our difficulty. Mr. +Falkner is just from Kansas City," he added, "and is up in all the +latest things in printing." + +"Oh yes," and Amy's eyes showed their interest. "You see, Mr. Falkner, +we are trying to select a cover design for this little book. Mr. Udell +has suggested several, but we cannot come to any decision as to just +the proper one. Which would you choose?" + +Dick's embarrassment left him at once when a matter of work was to be +considered. "This would be my choice," he said, selecting a design. + +"I like that too," said the young lady; "but you see it is not _just_ +what I want;" and she looked not a little worried, for above all things, +Miss Goodrich liked things _just_ as she liked them; and besides, this +was _such_ an important matter. + +"I'll tell you what," said Dick. "If you'll let me, and Mr. Udell does +not object, I'll set up a cover for you to-night after supper." + +"O, indeed, you must not think of it," said Amy. + +"But I would enjoy it," he answered. + +"You need to rest after your day's work," she replied; "and besides, +it would be so much trouble for you to come way down here in the night. +No, you need not mind; this will do very well." + +"But we often work after hours, and I--I--do not live far from here," +said Dick. + +"What do you think, Mr. Udell?" + +"I am sure, Miss Goodrich, that Mr. Falkner would enjoy the work, for +we printers have a good bit of pride in that kind of thing you know, +and, as he says, we often work after supper. I think you might let him +do it, without too great a feeling of obligation." + +After some further talk, the matter was finally settled as he had +suggested, and Dick went back to his work; as he picked up his +overturned stool, he heard the door close and then Udell stood beside +him, with a broad grin on his face. + +"Well, I'll be shot," ejaculated the printer, "I've seen fellows take +a tumble before, but hang me if I ever saw a man so completely +kerflummuxed. Great shade of the immortal Benjamin F--! But you were +a sight--must be you're not used to the ladies. Seemed all right though +when you got your legs under you and your mouth agoing. What in time +ailed you anyway?" + +"Who is she?" asked Dick, ignoring the other's laughter, and dodging +his question. + +"Who is she? Why I introduced you to her, man; her name is Amy Goodrich. +Her daddy is that old duffer who keeps the hardware store, and is so +eminently respectable that you can't get near him unless you have a +pedigree and a bank account. Amy is the only daughter, but she has a +brother though who takes after the old man. The girl takes after herself +I reckon." Dick made no reply and Udell continued: "The whole family +are members of the swellest church in the city, but the girl is the +only one who works at it much. She teaches in the Mission Sunday School; +leads in the Young People's Society and all that. I don't imagine the +old folks like it though; too common you know." And he went off to +look after the boy again, who was slowly but painfully running off the +bill-heads that Dick had fixed on the press. + +"What's the matter with him, George?" asked that individual, leaning +wearily against the machine; "Did he faint agin, or was he havin' a +fit?" + +"You shut up and get that job off sometime this week," answered Udell, +as he jerked the lever of the electric motor four notches to the right. + +Just before the whistles blew for dinner, he again went back to Dick +and stood looking over his shoulder at a bad bit of copy the latter +was trying to decipher. "Well, what do you think about it?" he asked. + +"She's divine," answered Dick absently, as he carefully placed a capital +A upside down. + +George threw back his head and roared; "Well, you've got it sure," he +said, when he could speak. + +"Got what?" asked Dick in wonder. + +"Oh, nothing," replied the other, going off with another shout. "But +look here;" he said, after a moment; very serious this time; "Let me +give you a piece of good advice, my friend; don't you go to thinking +about _that_ girl too much." + +"What girl? Whose thinking about her? You need have no fears on that +score," said Dick, a little sharply. + +"Oh, you needn't get mad about it, a fellow can't help but think a +chap is hit when he falls down, can he?" And with another laugh, George +removed his apron and left for dinner. + +"Yes, it did look bad;" said Dick to himself, as he dried his hands +on the office towel; "but I never saw such eyes; and she's as good as +she looks too; but Adam Goodrich's daughter, Whew--" And he whistled +softly to himself as he thought of his first meeting with the wealthy +hardware merchant. + +That evening while Miss Goodrich was entertaining a few of her friends +at her beautiful home on the avenue, and while Udell, with Clara Wilson, +was calling on old Mother Gray, whose husband had been injured in the +mines, Dick worked alone in the printing office. The little book, as +Amy called it, was a pamphlet issued by the literary club of which she +was the secretary, and never since the time when he set his first line +of type, had Dick been so bothered over a bit of printing. The sweet +brown eyes and smiling lips of the young woman were constantly coming +between him and his work, and he paused often to carry on an imaginary +conversation with her. Sometimes he told her funny incidents from his +adventurous past and heard her laugh in keen appreciation. Then they +talked of more earnest things and her face grew grave and thoughtful. +Again he told her all his plans and ambitions, and saw her eyes light +with sympathy as she gladly promised her helpful friendship. Then, +inspired by her interest, he grew bolder, and forgetting the task +before him altogether, fought life's battles in the light of her smiles, +conquering every difficulty, and winning for himself a place and name +among men. And then, as he laid his trophies at her feet, her father, +the wealthy merchant, appeared, and Dick walked the floor in a blind +rage. + +But he managed to finish his work at last, and about three o'clock, +tumbled on to his cot in the stock room, where he spent the rest of +the night trying to rescue Amy from her father, who assumed the shape +of a hardware dragon, with gold eyes, and had imprisoned the young +lady in a log cabin near the river, beneath a hill upon which grew a +pine tree tipped with fire, while a lean hound sat at the water's edge +and howled. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +Uncle Bobbie Wicks pulled down the top of his desk and heard the lock +click with a long sigh of satisfaction, for a glance at his large, +old-fashioned hunting-case watch told him that it was nearly eleven +o'clock. It was a dismal, dreary, rainy night; just the sort of a night +to make a man thank God that he had a home; and those who had homes +to go to were already there, except a few business men, who like Mr. +Wicks, were obliged to be out on work of especial importance. + +Locking the rear door of the office and getting hastily into his rain +coat, the old gentleman took his hat and umbrella from the rack and +stepped out into the storm. As he was trudging along through the wet, +his mind still on business, a gleam of light from the window of Udell's +printing office caught his eye. "Hello!" he said to himself; "George +is working late tonight; guess I'll run in and see if he's got that +last batch of bill-heads fixed yet; we'll need 'em tomorrow morning. +Howdy, George," he said, a few seconds later; and then stopped, for +it was not Udell, but Dick, who was bending over the stone; and in +place of working with the type, he was playing a game of solitaire, +while he pulled away at an old corn-cob pipe. + +"Good evening," said the young man, pausing in his amusement, +"What can I do for you?" + +"I see ye got a job," said Uncle Bobbie. + +"Yes," Dick replied, as he shuffled the cards; "and a very good one +too." + +"Huh! looks like ye weren't overworked just now." + +"Oh, this is out of hours; we quit at six, you know." + +"Strikes me ye might find somethin' better to do than foolin' with +them dirty pasteboards, if 'tis out of hours;" said Mr. Wicks, +pointedly. + +"They are rather soiled," remarked Dick, critically examining the queen +of hearts; and then he continued, in a matter-of-fact tone, "you see +I found them back of the coal box; some fellow had thrown them away, +I guess. Lucky for me that he did." + +"Lucky for you? Is that the best you can do with your time?" + +"Perhaps you would suggest some more elevating amusement," smiled Dick. + +"Well, why don't you read somethin'?" + +The young man waved his pipe toward a lot of month-old papers and +printers journals--"My dear sir, I have gone through that pile three +times and have exhausted every almanac in this establishment." + +"Visit some of your friends." + +"Not one in the city except Udell," answered the other, "and if I +had--" he glanced down at his worn clothing. + +Mr. Wicks tried again; "Well, go somewhere." + +"Where?" asked Dick. "There is only one place open to _me_--the +saloon--I haven't money enough for that, and if I had, I wouldn't spend +it there now. I might go to some respectable gambling den, I suppose, +but there's the money question again, and my foolish pride, so I play +solitaire. I know I am in good company at least, if the sport isn't +quite so exciting." + +Uncle Bobbie was silent. The rain swished against the windows and +roared on the tin roof of the building; the last car of the evening, +with one lone passenger, scurried along Broadway, its lights brightly +reflected on the wet pavement; a cab rumbled toward the hotel, the +sound of the horses' feet dull and muffled in the mist; and a solitary +policeman, wrapped in his rubber coat, made his way along the almost +deserted street. As Uncle Bobbie stood listening to the lonely sounds +and looking at the young man, with his corn-cob pipe and pack of dirty +cards, he thought of his own cheery fireside and of his waiting wife. +"To-be-sure," he said at last, carefully placing his umbrella in a +corner near the door, and as carefully removing his coat and hat; +"To-be-sure, I quit smokin' sometime ago--'bout a month, I reckon--used +to smoke pretty nigh all the time, but wife she wanted me to quit--I +don't know as there is any use in it." A long pause followed, as he +drew a chair to the stove and seated himself. "To-be-sure, I don't +know as there's any great harm in it either." There was another pause, +while Dick also placed his chair near the stove--"and I git so plaguey +fat every time I quit." + +Dick tilted back and lazily blew a soft cloud into the air. Uncle +Bobbie arose and placed the coal bucket between them. "Told mother +last night I was gettin' too fat again--but it made me sick last time +I tried it--I wonder if it would make me sick now."--A longer pause +than usual followed--then: "It's really dangerous for me to get so +fat, and smokin' 's the only thing that keeps it down. D'ye reckon it +would make me sick again?" He drew a cigar from his pocket, almost as +big as a cannon fire-cracker and fully as dangerous. "I got this t'day. +Looks like a pretty good one. It didn't use to make me sick 'fore I +quit the last time." Dick handed him a match and two minutes later the +big cigar was burning as freely as its nature would permit. + +"What an awful wasteful habit it is to-be-sure, ain't it?" went on the +old gentleman between vigorous puffs. "Just think, there's school +books, and Bibles and baby clothes and medicine for the sick, and food +for the hungry, and houses and stores, and farms, and cattle, all a' +goin' up in that smoke;" he pointed with his cigar to the blue cloud +that hung between them. "If I had half the money church members burn, +I could take care of every old worn-out preacher in the world, and +have a good bit left over for the poor children. I wisht I was as young +as you be; I'd quit it fer good; but it sure does take a hold on an +old feller like me." + +Dick's face grew thoughtful. "I never looked at it in that way before," +he said, as he took his pipe from his mouth; "It's a big comfort to +a chap who is all alone, though I suppose it does get a strong hold +on a man who has used it most of his life; and a fellow could do a lot +of good with the money it costs him." He arose to his feet and went +to the window, where he stood for a moment looking out into the rain. +Presently he came back to his chair again; "Look out," cried Uncle +Bobbie, as Dick took his seat, "You've dropped your pipe into the coal +bucket." + +"Oh, that's all right; its worn-out anyway, and I have another." +But he smoked no more that evening. + +"Where are you from?" asked Wicks abruptly. + +"Everywhere," answered Dick, shortly, for he did not relish the thought +of being questioned about his past. + +"Where you goin'?" came next from his companion. + +"Nowhere," just as short. + +"Folks livin'?" + +"No." + +"How long been dead?" + +"Since I was a little fellow." + +"Ain't you got no relations?" + +"Don't want any if they're like an aunt of mine." + +Uncle Bobbie nodded in sympathy. + +"How'd you happen to strike this place?" + +Dick told him in three words, "Lookin' for work." + +"Udell's a mighty fine fellow." + +"You're right he is." + +"Not much of a Christian though." And the old man watched Dick keenly +through the cloud of smoke. + +"No, good thing for me he isn't," the young man answered bitterly, his +face and voice betraying his feelings. + +"I know; yes, I know," nodded Uncle Bobbie. "To-be-sure, I used to +look at things just like you, and then I got more sense and learned +a heap better, and I tell you right now that you'll do the same way. +I know there is church members that are meaner'n a mule with shoulder +galls. They won't pull nothin' and would kick a man's head off quicker'n +greased lightnin'. But they ain't goin' to Heaven, be they? Not much +they ain't; no more'n my dog's goin' to the Legislature. And there's +them outside the church that's a whole lot worse. Taint Christianity +that makes folks mean, but they're mean in spite of it, though you +can't get such fellers as you to see it that way, no more'n you can +foller a mosquito through a mile o' fog. To-be-sure, I aint blamin' +you much though." + +Dick's face changed. This was not just what he expected. "I'll tell +you," he said, when he saw that the old gentleman expected him to +reply. "Ever since I can remember, I've been kicked and cuffed and +cursed by saint and sinner alike, until I can't see much difference +between the church members and those whom they say are in the world." + +"Except that the members of the church do the kickin' and cuffin' and +let the sinners do the cussin'," broke in Uncle Bobbie. "To-be-sure, +ye can't tell me nothin' about that either." + +"I'm not saying anything about the teaching of Christ," continued Dick; +"that's all right so far as it goes, but it don't seem to go very far. +I have not made much of a success of life, but I've worked mighty hard +to earn a living and learn my trade, and I don't know but that I am +willing to take my chances with some of the church members I have +seen." + +"To-be-sure," said Uncle Bobbie; "and I reckon your chance is just as +good as their'n. But it strikes me that I want to stand a little better +show than them fellers. How about the folks that be Christians? You +know there is them that do follow the Master's teachin'; what about +their chances, heh?" + +"You see it's just this way," continued Uncle Bobbie, settling himself +more comfortably in his chair; "I had a whole lot of brothers and +sisters at home, back in Ohio; an' they was all members of the church +but me. To-be-sure, I went to Sunday School and meetin' with the rest--I +jing! I had to!--Huh!--My old dad would just naturally a took th' hide +off me if I hadn't. Yes sir-ee, you bet I went to church. But all the +same I didn't want to. An' they sorter foundered me on religi'n, I +reckon, Jim and Bill and Tom and Dave. They'd all take their girls and +go home with them after meetin', an' I'd have to put out the team and +feed the stock all alone; an' Sunday evenin' every one of 'em would +be off to singin' and I'd have to milk and feed again. An' then after +meetin' of course the boys had to take their girls home, and other +fellows would come home with our girls, and I'd have to put up the +team and take care of the boys' horses that come sparkin'. An' somehow +I didn't take to Christianity. To-be-sure, 'twas a good thing fer the +stock I didn't." + +He carefully knocked the ashes from his cigar and continued: +"To-be-sure, I know now that wasn't no excuse, but it looked that way +then. After a while the boys married off and I staid to home and took +care of the old folks; and purty soon the girls they got married too; +and then pa and ma got too old to go out, and I couldn't leave 'em +much, and so I didn't get to meetin' very often. Things went on that +way a spell 'til Bill got to thinkin' he'd better come and live on the +home farm and look after things, as I didn't have no woman; to-be-sure, +it did need a good bit of tendin'. Six hundred acres all in fine shape +and well stocked--so I told pa that I'd come west an let 'em run things +at home. I got a job punchin' steers out here in James County, and +they're all back there yet. The old folks died a little bit after I +came west, and Bill--well--Bill, he keeps the home place 'cause he +took care of 'em ye know--well, I homesteaded a hundred and sixty, and +after a spell, the Santa Fe road come through and I got to buyin' grain +and hogs, and tradin' in castor-oil beans and managed to get hold of +some land here when the town was small. To-be-sure, I aint rich yet, +though I've got enough to keep me I reckon. I handle a little real +estate, get some rent from my buildin's, and loan a little money now +and then. But you bet I've worked for every cent I've got, and I didn't +fool none of it away either, 'cept what went up in smoke." + +The old gentleman's voice sank lower and lower as he recalled the years +that had flown. And as Dick looked at the kindly face, seamed and +furrowed by the cares of life, and the hair just whitened by the frost +of time, now half hidden in a halo of smoke, he felt his heart warm +with sympathy, which he knew was returned full measure by the boy who +had left his Ohio home to battle with life alone in that strange western +country. + +"But what I wanted to tell ye," said Uncle Bobbie, coming suddenly +back to the present and speaking in his usual abrupt manner, "you'll +find out, same as I have, that it don't much matter how the other +feller dabbles in the dirt, you've got to keep your hands clean anyhow. +An' taint the question whether the other feller's mean or not, but am +I livin' square? I know that Christ is the Saviour of men, but he can't +save 'em 'less they want him to, no more'n I can catch a jack-rabbit +a-foot. Christianity's all right, but it aint a goin' to do no good +'less people live it, and there's a heap more living it too than we +think. What such fellers as you want to do is to listen to what Christ +says and not look at what some little two by four church member does. +They aint worth that;" and he tossed his cigar stub to keep company +with Dick's pipe. + +Dick said nothing, because he could find no words to express himself, +and the older man, seeing how it was, rose to his feet. + +"Well, I must be goin'. Wife'll think I've clean gone back on her. +Come up to the house and see me sometime. I reckon you know you're +welcome after what I've been sayin'." And then as the young man gave +him a lift with his coat; "keep a stiff upper lip; you'll strike pay +dirt after a while; just keep a hangin' on, like a puppy to a root. +Good-night," and Dick was alone again. + +"Wife," said Mr. Wicks next morning, just before getting up to build +the fire; "wife, I made a discovery last night." + +"You were out late enough to discover something," returned Mrs. Wicks, +with a laugh; "what is it?" + +And Uncle Bobbie replied slowly as he arose and began dressing, "There's +some fellers go to the devil just because they aint got nowheres else +to go." + +Later, the old gentleman sat at his desk in his office, tilted back +in his revolving chair, his feet among the papers where his hands +should have been. No one came in to disturb his revery for it was still +early in the morning, and the only sound was the clicking of a +typewriter in the next room. Suddenly the feet came down to their +proper place with a bang, and leaning forward, he wrote rapidly for +a few moments, then called, "Charlie." The noise of the typewriter +stopped and a young man entered the room. "Charlie, I've been gettin' +out a little advertisin' stuff here, and I wish you'd take it over to +George Udell's an' wait until they fix it up, so you can bring me back +the proof. You can let them letters rest a spell." + +The young man took his hat and umbrella, for it was still raining, and +started on his errand, but his employer stopped him. "Wait a bit, +Charlie. Do you remember that young feller what called here for a job +week before last, the time I sold that Johnson property, you know?" + +"Said he was a printer from Kansas City?" asked Charlie. + +The other nodded. + +"Yes, sir, I remember him." + +"Well, he's got a job with Udell. I was there last night and had a +talk with him. He aint got no friends and stays in the office nights +alone. I just thought I'd tell you. He's shy of Christians though, and +proud as an old turkey gobbler in the spring. But he needs somebody +to talk to more'n anything else, that's all." And the old man turned +back to his papers. + +This was the beginning. The end is easily foreseen; for, given a young +man of Dick's temperament, longing for companionship, and another young +man of Charlie's make-up, with a legitimate business to bring the two +together, and only a friendship of the David and Jonathan order could +result. + +Dick was distant at first, but Charlie was too wise to force himself +upon him, and as Mr. Wicks found many excuses for sending his young +assistant to the printing office, the two slowly grew better acquainted. +Then came a time when Charlie dared to ask Dick what he did evenings, +and Dick answered in his proud way, "Smoke and play solitaire. Couldn't +Charlie come up and chat with him sometimes? He couldn't play cards +and didn't care to smoke, but he did like to talk. Yes, Charlie could +if he chose, but he would find it a dull place to spend an evening." + +Dick was pulling away at his corn-cob pipe the first time Charlie came, +but moved to hide it from sight as the latter entered the room. Then +thinking better of it, with a proud lifting of his chin, he stuck the +pipe in his mouth again. However, Charlie noticed that the smoke soon +ceased to come from his companion's lips, and guessed that the tobacco +was not burning well. This was the last time that he ever saw Dick +smoking. Indeed, it was the last time that Dick ever used tobacco in +any form. "For," said he to himself, "I can't afford to do anything +that robs babies and mothers, and makes me disagreeable to my friends." + +The ice once broken, Charlie's calls grew more and more frequent, until +the two met and talked like old friends, and often left the office to +walk about the city, arm in arm, after dark. + +"Mr. Udell," said Dick, one Saturday night, as the latter handed him +his wages for the week, "Where's the best place to go for clothing?" + +And George, with a pleased look on his face, which Dick could not help +but notice, directed him to a clothing store on the corner of Fourth +and Broadway. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +The quiet of a Sunday morning in early May was over the city. Stores +and business houses were closed, save here and there a meat market, +which opened for careless citizens who had neglected to lay in their +supply the night before. A group of negro loafers sat on the stone +steps of the National Bank, and lounged about the entrance of the Opera +House. A little farther up the street a company of idle whites sat in +front of a restaurant; and farther on, in the doorway of a saloon, a +drunkard was sleeping in the sun. Old Dr. Watkins, in his buggy, came +clattering down the street and stopped in front of the Boyd City Drug +Store, and a man with his arm in a sling followed him into the building. +Then the church bells rang out their cheery invitation, and the +children, neat and clean in their Sunday clothes, trooped along the +street to the Sunday Schools. An hour later the voices of the bells +again floated over the silent city, and men and women were seen making +their way to the various places of worship. + +In the throng which passed through the door of the Jerusalem Church +was a gentleman dressed in gray. It was not difficult to guess from +his manner, as he stood in the vestibule as though waiting for someone, +that he was a stranger in the place. His figure was tall, nearly if +not quite six feet, well formed, but lithe rather than heavy, giving +one the impression not only of strength, but of grace as well; the +well-set head and clear-cut features; the dark hair and brows, +overshadowing, deep-set, keen gray eyes; the mouth and chin, +clean-shaven and finely turned; all combined to carry still farther +the impression of power. Even the most careless observer would know +that he would be both swift and sure in action, while a closer student +would say, "Here is one who rules himself, as he leads others; who is +strong in spirit as well as body; who is as kind as he is powerful; +as loving as he is ambitious; this is indeed a man whom one would love +as a friend and be forced to respect as an enemy." + +Charlie Bowen, one of the ushers, came hurrying up and caught the +stranger by the hand. "Good," he whispered, looking him over admiringly; +"Glad to see you, old man. Whew, but you do look swell. Folks will +think you're a Congressman sure, in that outfit." + +"Do I take my hat off when I go in?" whispered Dick, who already had +his hat in his hand, "Or do I wait till after prayers?" + +"You come along and do as the Romans do, of course," replied +Charlie. + +"Didn't know I was getting into a Catholic church," retorted the other. +"Say, don't rush me way up in front, will you?" + +"Never you mind that. Come on." And before Dick could say more the +usher was half way up the aisle. + +"Who is that stranger Charlie Bowen is seating?" said old Mrs. Gadsby +in a low voice, to her neighbor. The neighbor shook her head. "Isn't +he handsome?" whispered a young school teacher to her chum. "Some +distinguished strangers here to-day," thought the pastor as he glanced +over his congregation. And Adam Goodrich turned his head just in time +to look into the face of the tramp printer, who was being seated in +the pew behind him. Miss Goodrich was with her father and Dick heard +nothing of the opening part of the service, only coming to himself +when Cameron was well started in his discourse. The preacher's theme +was, "The Sermon on the Mount," and the first words that caught the +young man's ear were, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is +the kingdom of Heaven." He glanced around at the congregation. Mrs. +Gadsby was inspecting the diamonds in the ears of the lady by her side, +who was resting her powdered and painted face on the back of the pew +in front, as though in devotion. + +"Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted," read the +minister. Dick thought of the widows and orphans in the city, and of +the luxurious homes of the people he saw about him. "Blessed are the +meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Dick looked straight at Adam +Goodrich, the very back of whose head showed haughty arrogance and +pride. "Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness, +for they shall be filled." Dick lifted up his eyes and looked at four +members of the choir who were whispering and giggling behind their +books, and noted the beautiful frescoed ceiling, the costly +stained-glass windows, the soft carpets and carved furniture on the +rostrum, and the comfortable, well-cushioned pews. "Is all this +righteousness?" he asked himself. And he thought of the boys and girls +on the street, of the hungry, shivering, starving, sin-stained creatures +he had seen and known, who would not dare present themselves at the +outer door of this temple, consecrated to the service of Him who said, +"Come unto me and I will give you rest." And then, lest men might be +mistaken, added, "Whosoever will may come." + +"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Dick's eyes +rested on the girl in the next seat. Yes, Amy was pure in heart. There +was no shadow of evil on that beautiful brow. Innocence, purity and +truth were written in every line of the girlish features, and Dick's +heart ached as he thought of his own life and the awful barrier between +them; not the barrier of social position or wealth; _that_, he knew, +could be overcome; but the barrier he had builded himself, in the +reckless, wasted years. And then and there the strong young man fought +a battle in the secret chamber of his own soul; fought a battle and +won; putting from himself forever, as he believed, the dreams he had +dared to dream in the lonely evening hours in the printing office. + +His struggle with himself seemed to make Dick feel more keenly the +awful mockery of the worshippers; and to him, who all his life had +been used to looking at things as they really were, without the glasses +of conventionalism or early training, the very atmosphere of the place +was stifling. + +When the services were over, he rushed from the building without even +returning Charlie's salutation, only drawing a long breath when he was +safe on the street again; and rejoiced in his heart when at dinner, +the restaurant keeper cursed his wife in the kitchen, and a drunken +boarder fell from his chair. "This, at least, is real," he said to +himself; "but what a world this would be if only the Sermon on the +Mount were lived, not simply talked about." + +The Monday night following Dick's visit to the church, Charlie Bowen +had gone back to the office after supper, as he often did when business +was brisk, forgetting that it was the first Monday in the month, and +that the official board of the Jerusalem Church would hold their regular +business meeting there. + +The matter was only brought to his mind when Elder Wicks, with Rev. +Cameron, entered, followed soon after by two or three others. Charlie's +first impulse was to leave the office, but it was necessary that his +work be done. His employer knew that he was there and could easily +give him a hint if it would be better for him to retire. Shrewd old +Uncle Bobbie, however, had his own plans in regard to this particular +meeting, and it was not a part of them to have his young assistant +leave the office. So nothing was said, and the meeting opened in the +regulation way, with a prayer by Elder Gardner, the Chairman of the +Board. The pastor and the different standing committees, with the +treasurer, made their reports; some general matters were passed upon, +and then the much-talked-of, long-deferred subject of building an +addition to their place of worship was introduced. + +"You know, Brethren," said the pastor, "our house does not begin to +hold the people at the regular services, and we must have more Sunday +School room. It seems to me that there will be no better time than the +present. The church is in a prosperous condition; we are out of debt; +and if we ever expect to enlarge our work we must begin." + +"I know, Brother Cameron," said Deacon Godfrey, stating the standard +objection, as it had been stated for the past two years, "but where's +the money to come from? The members are paying all they can now to +keep out of debt, and I don't believe they will do any more." + +"We do need more room," said Elder Chambers; "that's a fact. The Sunday +School is too crowded, and lots of people can't get to hear the +preaching. But I'm like Brother Godfrey, I don't see how it's to be +done. I'm giving every cent I can now, and I know lots of the Brethren +who are doing the same." + +"The Lord will provide," said Deacon Wickham, with a pious uplifting +of his eyes, and a sanctimonious whine in his voice. "The Lord will +provide. Brethren, I'm ashamed for you to talk in this doubting manner. +What would the congregation think if they should hear you? Can't you +trust the Lord? Don't, oh, don't doubt His precious promises. He will +provide. If we need an addition to the church let us ask Him. He will +provide." + +"Yes, the Lord will provide, but we've got to do the hustlin'," said +Uncle Bobbie. "He'll provide common sense and expect us to use it." + +"Couldn't the women folks do something?" timidly suggested another. + +"Of course they could," said Deacon Sharpe. "They could get up a social, +or fair, or an entertainment of some kind. They used to do a lot that +way before Brother Cameron came." + +"Yes, and spent twenty-seven cents to make seventeen, while their boys +run the streets and their husbands darn their own britches," broke in +Uncle Bobbie again. "I tell you, I don't believe that so much of this +Ladies' Aid business is business. Christ wouldn't run a peanut stand +to support the church, ner pave a sinner's way to Heaven with pop-corn +balls and molasses candy--" A half smothered cough came from the next +room and everybody started. "Oh, it's only Charlie. He's got some work +to do to-night," said the old man, reassuringly. + +"Everybody does it though," said Deacon Sharpe, encouraged by the nods +of Chambers and Godfrey. "All the churches depend upon the women, with +their fairs and such, to pay their way. I don't see what's the harm. +It gives the women something to do, and keeps us from paying out so +much cash." + +"Yes, an' that's what ails the churches," retorted Elder Wicks again. +"There's too many of 'em run on the lemonade and ice cream basis; and +as fer givin' the women somethin' to do, my wife's got her hands full +takin' care o' me and her home. That's what I got her for, ain't it? +She didn't marry the church--to-be-sure, though, it does look like it +sometimes." + +"We must all work in the Master's vineyard. None shall lose his reward," +said Deacon Wickham again. "We all have our talents and God will hold +us responsible for the use we make of them. We all have our work to +do." To which sentiment Uncle Bobbie's reply was, "Yes; that means all +the women have our work to do, and that we'll get our reward by makin' +'em do it. I ain't got no use fer a man who lets a woman do his work, +even in church. There's enough for 'em to do that we can't, without +their spoilin' their eyes and breakin' their backs makin' sofa pillows, +carpet rags, and mince meat, to pay the runnin' expenses of the church, +and the debt besides." + +"I know of only one way," said the pastor, anxious to prevent these +too frequent clashes between the pious deacon and the sharp old elder. + +"What's that?" asked Chairman Gardner. + +"The Young People's Society." + +There was a slight rustle and the sound as of a book falling to the +floor in the other room. + +"Umph," said Godfrey; "what can _they_ do?" + +"Have you ever attended their meetings?" asked Cameron. "They have +done more practical, Christian work this past year than all the rest +of the church put together. And if the truth must be told, are more +to be depended upon at regular services, and prayer meeting, than some +members of the official board." + +"Better turn the church into a Young Folks' Society then," said Wickham, +angrily; "and throw away the Bible altogether. Christ didn't say, 'Upon +this rock I'll build my Young People's Society.' For my part, I won't +have nothing to do with it. There is not a single passage of Scripture +that says we shall have such things; and until you can show me, book, +chapter and verse, I'll fight it." + +"I'll give ye book, chapter and verse," said Uncle Bobbie; +"Phillippians, iv: 8." + +There was a painful silence and then one of the deacons asked, "But +would the young folks help?" + +"I think so," said the pastor. + +"We might ask Charlie Bowen 'bout that," suggested Mr. Wicks. +"Charlie," he called, "are you most through with them books?" + +"Yes, sir," answered the young man. + +"Well, lock 'em up and come in here." + +When they had laid the matter before him Charlie said, "Yes, I am sure +the Society would take the matter up but for one thing; ever since +Brother Cameron's sermon, on the Church of the Future, we have been +planning to furnish a reading room somewhere, and it may be that they +wouldn't want to give up the idea. If it was arranged so that we could +have a room in the church when the addition was built, I am sure the +Society would be glad to take hold." + +Uncle Bobbie's eyes twinkled as he watched his young helper. He had +not misjudged his man. This was just what he had expected. But Deacon +Wickham was on his feet almost before Charlie finished speaking. + +"Brethren, this is entirely out of order. We have no right to listen +to the counsel of this boy. He has not a single qualification, for +either a deacon or an elder. I believe we ought to go according to the +Scriptures or not at all; and as for this new-fangled idea of a reading +room in the church, it's all wrong. The Bible don't say a thing about +reading rooms and there is no authority for it whatever. If the inspired +apostles had wanted reading rooms in the church they would have said +so. Paul didn't have them. Let us stand for the religion of our fathers +and let the young people read at home if they want to. Brethren, I am +opposed to the whole thing. This boy has no right to speak here." + +Wicks whispered to Charlie, "Never you mind him. He's got just so much +sputtering to do anyway. I'll fix him in a minute, and then he'll wash +his hands of the whole matter." "I think it's a fine plan," he said +aloud. + +"So do I," agreed Deacon Sharpe. "Why not let the young folks have the +room? We could charge ten cents admission and make a good thing for +the church. I believe we ought to watch these corners and make a little +now and then. Paul worked to support himself." + +"Make not my Father's house an house of merchandise," said Cameron, +but faintly concealing his disgust. "I tell you, Brethren, this thing +must be free. I am sure that is the plan of the young folks. The Young +People's Society is not in the business to make money. Am I right, +Charlie?" + +"Yes, sir," answered the young Christian eagerly. "We wanted to fix +some place where the young men of the town could spend their evenings, +without going to the bad. There are lots of them who don't have homes, +but live in boarding houses and have no place to go." + +"And a pretty crowd you'll have too," said Wickham. + +"Yes, and if you had to pay the preacher you'd want to rent the room," +said Sharpe. + +Cameron's face flushed at the hard words. + +"Come, come, Brethren, what shall we do about this?" said the +Chairman. + +"I move," said Elder Wicks, "that we ask the Young People's Society +to assist us in building the addition to the church, and that we give +them one of the rooms." + +"I second the motion," said Cameron; and it was carried. Then the +meeting adjourned with the usual prayer. + +"Well," said Wickham, "I wash my hands of the whole matter." + +Uncle Bobbie nudged Charlie in the side as he started for his hat; and +later, as he walked down the street, arm in arm with his pastor and +his bookkeeper, he said: "Poor old Wickham; his heart's all right, but +he's got so much Scripture in his head that his think machine won't +work." + +"Friends," said Cameron, as they paused in front of the parsonage; +"this is the day I have looked forward to for a long time. This step +will revolutionize our methods. It's hard to get out of old ruts, but +the world needs applied Christianity. Thank God for the young people." +And Uncle Bobbie said, "Amen." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +Charlie Bowen ran into the printing office one day on his way home to +dinner. "Dick," he said, "it's time you got out of this. I want you +to put on your best bib and tucker to-night and go with me to meet +some young people." + +Dick carefully spread a pile of letterheads on the drying rack; then +shutting off the power, stood watching the machine as its movements +grew slower and slower. "Young people," he thought; "the Young People's +Society of the Jerusalem Church. I saw the announcement in to-day's +Independent. Church members--_she'll_ be there, and I'll have the joy +of seeing how near I can come to the candle without getting my wings +singed. Well, I suppose a fellow can't stay in the dark all the time," +he said aloud, as he turned from the now motionless press. + +"Of course not," cried Charlie. "You've hidden yourself long enough. +It will do you a world of good to get out; and, beside, I always do +feel like a sneak when I'm having a good time and you're moping up +here in this dirty old place." + +Dick looked around. "I've moped in worse places," he said. "But I'll +go with you to-night and be as giddy as you please. I'll whisper pretty +nothings to the female lambkins and exchange commonplace lies with the +young gentlemen, and then--why then--we'll come away again and +straightway forget what manner of things we said and did, and they +won't count when we meet on the street before folks." + +"That's all right," returned the other. "You just come anyway and see +how badly you're mistaken. I'll call for you at seven-thirty sharp." +And he left him cleaning up for his mid-day lunch. + +When Charlie returned to the office that evening he found Dick dressed +ready to go, and a strange contrast the latter presented to the +poorly-clad, half-starved tramp who had walked into Boyd City only a +few weeks before. Some thought of this flashed through Dick's mind as +he read the admiration in his friend's face, and his own eyes glowed +with pleasure. Then a shadow swiftly came, but only for a moment. He +was determined to forget, for one evening at least. "Come on," he cried +gaily, squaring his shoulders as though looking forward to a battle, +"my soul seemeth anxious for the fray." + +Charlie laughed as he answered, "I only hope that you'll come off +whole. There will be some mighty nice girls there to-night. Look out +you don't get your everlasting." + +When the two young men reached the home of Helen Mayfield, where the +social was to be held, they were met at the door by Miss Clara Wilson, +who was Chairman of the reception committee. + +"Glory," whispered that young lady to herself. "Here comes Charlie +Bowen with that tramp printer of George's. Wish George could see him +now." But not a hint of her thought found expression in her face, and +the cordial, whole-hearted way in which she offered her hand in +greeting, carried the conviction that no matter what might be his +reception from others, this, at least, was genuine. + +The guests gathered quickly, and soon there was a house full of +laughing, chattering, joking young people; and Dick, true to his +promise, laughed and chattered with the rest. + +"Who is that tall, handsome man with the dark hair, talking to those +girls with Nellie Graham and Will Clifton?" whispered Amy Goodrich to +Miss Wilson, who had been asking her why Frank was not at the gathering. + +"Haven't you met him yet?" answered Clara, secretly amused, for George +had told her of the incident at the office. "That's Mr. Falkner, from +Kansas City. Come, you must meet him. Mr. Falkner," she said, skillfully +breaking up the group, "I wish to present you to a very dear friend. +Miss Goodrich, Mr. Falkner." Poor Dick felt the room spin round and +everybody looking at him, as he mumbled over some nonsense about the +great honor and happiness of having met Miss Goodrich before. + +Amy looked at him in astonishment. "I think you are mistaken, Mr. +Falkner," she said. "I do not remember having met you. Where was it; +here in town?" + +With a mighty effort, Dick caught hold of himself, as it were, and +gazed around with an air of defiance. To his amazement, no one was +paying the least attention to him. Only his fair partner was looking +up into his face with mingled amusement, wonder and admiration written +on her features. + +"In California; I think it was year before last," he said glibly. + +Amy laughed--"But I never was in California in my life, so you must +be mistaken." Then, as Dick swept the room with another anxious glance: +"What is the matter, Mr. Falkner; are you looking for someone?" + +"I was wondering where Charlie Bowen went to," he answered desperately. +"I didn't know but what he would want me to turn the ice-cream freezer +or something." + +[Illustration: "Mr. Falkner, I wish to present you to a very dear +friend."] + +Miss Goodrich laughed again. "You're the funniest man," she said, and +something in her voice or manner brought Dick to his senses with a jar. + +"Well," he said, with a smile, "if I am mistaken I am very sorry, I +assure you." + +"About the ice cream?" + +"No, about having met you before." + +"Oh, sorry that you thought you had met me?" + +Dick protested to some length with much unnecessary earnestness, and +at last suggested that they find seats. Miss Goodrich agreed, and +leading the way to an adjoining room, discovered a cushioned corner +near the window. "Do you know," she said, when they were seated, "I, +too, feel as you do?" + +"About the ice-cream?" retorted Dick. + +"No," she laughed, "about having met you before." + +"Indeed, I am glad." + +"Glad?" + +"Yes, that you feel as I do." + +"Truly," she said, ignoring his reply, "you _do_ remind me of someone +I have seen somewhere. Oh, I know; it's that tramp printer of Mr. +Udell's, I--Why, what is the matter, Mr. Falkner? Are you sick? Let +me call someone." + +"No, no," gasped Dick. "I'll be all right in a moment. It's my heart. +Please don't worry." He caught up a basket of pictures. "Here, let's +look at these. I find nothing that has a more quieting effect than the +things one finds on the center tables of our American homes." + +Amy looked uneasy but began turning over the pictures in the basket. +There were some commonplace photos of commonplace people, a number of +homemade kodaks, one or two stray views of Yellowstone Park, the big +trees of California, Niagara Falls, and several groups that were +supposed to be amusing. "Oh, here's a picture of that printer," she +cried, picking up one which showed the interior of an old-fashioned +printing office, with a Washington hand-press and a shock-headed +printer's devil sitting on a high stool, his face and shirt-front +bespattered with ink. "That looks just like him. Why,--why, Mr. Falkner, +you've torn that picture! What _will_ Helen Mayfield say?" + +"Awfully sorry," said Dick, "I'll find her another. It was very awkward +of me, I am sure." Then in desperation, "But tell me more about this +printer of whom I remind you; what was his name?" + +"Oh, I don't know that," replied Amy, "but he was very kind to me and +sat up at night to design a cover for a little booklet I was having +printed. I never saw him to thank him though, for he was out when I +called the next day. I heard that Mr. Udell had a tramp working for +him and I suppose it was he, for he acted very strangely--he may have +been drinking. It is too bad for he must have been a splendid workman. +There ought to be one of those books here," and she began turning over +the things on the table. "Yes, here it is." And she handed Dick the +pamphlet that had caused him so much trouble that night in the office. + +It is hard to say where the matter would have ended had not Miss +Jameson, another member of the social committee, appeared just then, +and ordered them to the parlor, where Amy was wanted to play. + +After the company had listened to several instrumental pieces and one +or two solos by different girls, one of the young men asked, "Don't +you sing, Mr. Falkner?" + +"Of course he does," and all began calling for a song. + +A sudden thought struck Dick, and stepping quickly to the piano, he +played his own accompaniment and sang, in a rich baritone voice, a +street song: + + "They tell me go work for a living, + And not round the country to stamp; + And then when I ask for employment, + They say there's no work for a tramp." + +The song was by no means a classic one, but the manner in which Dick +rendered it made it seem so, and as he sang: + + "There's many a true heart beating, + Beneath the old coat of a tramp." + +A strange hush fell over the little audience, and when the song was +finished a subdued murmur of applause filled the room, while eager +voices called for more. Dick responded with another selection and then +declaring that he had done his share, left the instrument and seated +himself by Charlie's side. + +"Good, old man," said that young gentleman, in a whisper, "but where +in the world did you learn all that?" + +"Dance hall and variety," whispered Dick. "Never thought I'd air that +accomplishment at a church social." + +Charlie's reply was lost in a call to the dining room, where light +refreshments were served to the hungry young people by waiters from +among their number; then turn about, and the waiters were waited upon; +and through it all ran the laugh and jest of happy young folks, who +thoroughly enjoyed each other's company, and who for one evening met +on common ground. After supper, came games and more music, while a few +of the more earnest ones, in an out-of-the-way corner, discussed the +reading room and planned for its future. Then came a call for everyone +to sing, and with Amy at the piano, they sang song after song until +it was time to go. Then the bustle of leave-taking--good nights--lovely +time--my house next month--and Dick found himself walking downtown, +arm in arm with his friend. "Well," said the latter, "how about it?" + +"Thank you for a pleasant evening," replied Dick. "But say, those folks +don't know me, do they?" + +"Some of them do; some don't. What does it matter?" + +"Well, tell me, did those who know how I came to town, know that I +would be there tonight?" + +"_No, sir,_" said Charlie, emphatically. "What do you take me for, +Dick?" + +"Forgive me," said Dick. "I ought to have known better, only you see +my experience with church people, and--well--I'm a bit sore I guess. +I couldn't believe there were any like those. I didn't know, that's +all," and with a "good-night," he turned down the street toward his +humble lodging place, while Charlie went on toward home. + +"Yes, that's all," said the latter to himself. "Dick didn't know; and +that's what's the matter with hundreds of fellows just like him; they +don't know what real Christianity is like; they see so much of the +sham; but he'll find out though, or I'm mistaken. My, what a worker +he would make, with his experience and talents, if only once he got +started right. He just made that old street song burn its way into the +heart, and I felt like I wanted to be a brother to every poor, homeless +chap in the world." + +Meanwhile, Dick had reached the office, and throwing off his coat, +laid aside his collar, tie and cuffs. Then seating himself in the +rickety old chair, he tilted back as far as possible and fixed his +feet as high as he could get them, against the big Prouty press. +Five--ten--fifteen-minutes went by, Dick sat without moving a muscle. +The clanging bell of the eleven-thirty train on the "Memphis" pulling +into the depot, sounded plainly in his ear, but still he sat immovable. +A night-hawk cab rattled over the brick pavement, and a drunkard yelled +beneath the window; still Dick held his place. So still that a little +mouse that lived in one corner of the office, crept stealthily out, +and glancing curiously with his bead-like eyes, at the motionless +figure, ran, with many a pause, to the very legs of Dick's chair. +Crash--as Dick's feet struck the floor. The shaky old piece of furniture +almost fell in ruins and the poor frightened mouse fled to cover. +Kicking the chair to one side, the young fellow walked to the window +and stood with his hands in his pockets, looking into the night. Then, +in sullen tones, he addressed the lamp that twinkled in the bakery +across the way: "I'm a fool. I know I'm a fool; a great big fool. I +ought to have told her who I was. I ought to get out a poster and label +myself _dangerous_, so people would know they were talking to a tramp. +Oh, but when she finds out, as she must--and her father--." Here Dick's +imagination failed him, and he laughed again and again in spite of +himself, as he thought of the tramp who had applied to Adam Goodrich +for work, chatting with his beautiful daughter as an equal. "Whew--but +there'll be a hot time in the camp of the enemy when they learn the +truth," and he took himself off to bed. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +The opinions on the part of Rev. Cameron's flock regarding the proposed +reading room, were numerous and varied. Adam Goodrich, in his usual +pompous manner, gave it as his judgment that Cameron would be running +a free lodging house next, as though that were the greatest depth of +infamy to which a poor preacher could sink, and Mrs. Goodrich declared +that it would ruin the social influence of the church forever. Amy was +heart and soul with the movement, but prudently refrained from +discussing the matter in the presence of her parents; while Frank, +though he attended all the meetings of the society and would not openly +oppose their efforts for fear of being unpopular, lost no opportunity +to secretly throw a stumbling block in their way, and made all manner +of sneering allusions to the work when he thought it would not come +to the ears of the young people. + +When at last the room was finished and ready to be occupied, the +committee appointed met to select a manager. The church, with the usual +good judgment shown by churches in such matters, had named Elder Wicks +and Deacon Wickham, and the young people had selected Charlie Bowen +and two young ladies, to represent the Society. They met in the new +rooms one evening and Deacon Wickham took the floor at once. + +"I hope our young friends won't take offense at what I am about to +say, but you know I am one of the kind who always say just what I +think, for I believe that if a man has anything on his mind, it had +better come out. This business ought to be in the hands of the church +board; you young folks have no Scriptural rights to speak on the subject +at all." The three young Christians looked at Uncle Bobbie, whose left +eye remained closed for just the fraction of a second, and the speaker +wondered at the confident smile with which his words were received. +"There's not one of you that has the proper qualifications for an elder +or a deacon," he continued. "You girls have no right to have the +oversight of a congregation, anyway, and Charlie Bowen here is not +even the husband of one wife." + +"Give him time, Brother Wickham; give the boy time," broke in Uncle +Bobbie, with a chuckle, much to the delight of the girls, and the +confusion of Charlie. "You just wait; he may surprise you some day in +his qualifications." + +But the deacon continued with a frown at the interruption, "As far as +that goes, the whole thing is unscriptural and I was opposed to it at +the first, as Brother Wicks here can tell you." Uncle Bobbie nodded. +"But you've gone ahead in spite of what I and the Scriptures teach, +and you've got your reading rooms; and now I mean to see to it that +you have a good Brother, who is eminently qualified to teach, at the +head of the concern; a good man who is thoroughly grounded in the +faith, and who has arrived at years of discretion; a workman that +needeth not to be ashamed of his handiwork, rightly dividing the word +of truth. Such a man could get the young Christians together evenings +and lay out their Bible reading for them, spending an hour or two +perhaps, each week, in explaining the more difficult passages. If I +had time I would be glad to do the work myself, for there's nothing +I like better than teaching. I don't know, I might possibly find time +if the Brethren thought best for me to take the work. I am always ready +to do what the Lord wants me to, and I promise you that I'd teach those +young people the Scriptures, and make them interested, too. Why, when +I was in Bear City, down in Oklahoma, I had a--" + +"But, Brother Wickham," interrupted Uncle Bobbie, who knew from +experience that if the good deacon ever got started on his work in +Oklahoma they never would get to the business of the evening, "it +strikes me you ain't got jist the right ide' of this. Tain't to be a +Sunday School, ner a place to teach the Bible, as I understand it, +though I reckon it's in line with the teachin' of Christ. It is--" + +"Not to teach the Bible?" ejaculated the astonished deacon. "What on +earth can you teach in the church except the Bible, and what kind of +a reading room can you have in the Lord's house I'd like to know?" + +"The ide', Brother Wickham," said the old elder, as gently as he could, +"is to furnish some place where young men of the town can go and spend +their time when they aint working. This room will be stocked with the +latest books, magazines and papers; there will be tables with writin' +material and sich stuff, if a feller wants to write to his girl, you +know, and the room in there will be fixed with easy chairs and sofas +for them that wants to talk er play games, er have a good time +generally. Seems to me what we want fer a manager is some young man +who's got good boss sense, and who could make things pleasant, even +if he don't know so much Scripture." + +"And it's to be free to every loafer who wants to come in and use the +place?" + +"Yes, just as free as Christ's invitation to come and be saved." + +"But you'll fill the church with a lot of trash who don't know anything +about the Bible, or the plan of salvation. How can you, when the +Scriptures say, have no fellowship with such?" + +"We'll save a few young men who are startin' fer Hell by way of the +saloons and bawdy houses." + +"No you won't. The Gospel and the Gospel alone, is the power of God +unto salvation. God never ordained that men should be saved by reading +rooms and such." + +"I believe I know just the man we want," said Uncle Bobbie, turning +to the young people, when the deacon had at last subsided into an +attitude of sullen protest. + +"Who?" asked one of the young ladies, with the hint of a laugh in her +eyes, as she looked at their stand-by. + +"That printer of Udell's. He's a clean, strong young feller, and +I believe would be glad of some sech place to spend his evenin's. +Of course he aint a Christian, but--" + +"Not a Christian," cried Wickham, starting to his feet again; "not a +Christian? And you propose to let an alien take charge of the Lord's +work? I wash my hands of the whole matter." + +"Are you sure he will be all right?" asked the other girl on the +committee. + +"Sure," replied Wicks, "if he will take it, and I think we can get +Charlie here to see to that." + +Charlie nodded. "It will be a splendid thing for him," he said; and +then he told them how Dick spent his evenings alone in the office, +rather than go to the only places open to him. + +"Well," said Uncle Bobbie, "let's fix it that way. Brother Wickham, +we have decided to ask Richard Falkner to take charge of the rooms." + +"I've got nothing to say about it, sir," answered the good deacon. "I +don't know anything about it. I wash my hands of the whole matter." + +And so the work at the Jerusalem Church was established. It took no +little power of persuasion on the part of Charlie Bowen, to bring his +friend to the point of accepting the committee's offer, even when it +was endorsed by the entire Young People's Society, and a large part +of the congregation. But his arguments finally prevailed and Dick +consented to be at the rooms between the hours of seven and eleven +every evening, the time when a strong, tactful man in authority would +be most needed. + +The rooms were furnished by friends of the cause and were cheery, +comfortable, homelike apartments, where everyone was made welcome. +Many a poor fellow, wandering on the streets, tired of his lonely +boarding house, and sorely tempted by the air of cheerfulness and +comfort of the saloons, was led there, where he found good books and +good company; and at last, for what was more natural, became a regular +attendant at the only church in the city which did not close its doors +to him during the week. + +Dick enjoyed the work, and in a short time had many friends among the +young men. He treated everybody in the same kindly, courteous manner, +and was always ready to recommend a book, to introduce an acquaintance, +or to enter into conversation with a stranger. Indeed he soon grew so +popular among the young folks that George Udell told Miss Wilson it +seemed as though he had always lived in Boyd City, he knew so many +people, and so many knew him. And of course Clara answered, "I told +you so." What woman could resist such an opportunity? "Didn't I say +that he was no common tramp? You needn't tell me I don't know a man +when I see him." + +The two were driving in the evening, on the road that leads south from +town, down a hill, across a bridge, and along the bank of a good-sized +creek, where the trees bend far over to dip the tips of their branches +in the water, and the flowers growing rank and wild along the edges, +nod lazily at their own faces reflected in the quiet pools and eddies. + +"You may know a man when you see him," replied George, letting the +horse take his own time beneath the overhanging boughs, "but you take +precious good care that you don't see too much of one that I could +name." + +"Who do you mean; Mr. Falkner?" replied Clara, with a provoking smile, +as she tried in vain to catch one of the tall weeds that grew close +to the side of the road. + +"Hang Mr. Falkner," returned Udell impatiently. "You know what I mean, +Clara. What's the use of you and me pretending? Haven't I told you +ever since I was ten years old that I loved you, and would have no one +else to be my wife? And haven't you always understood it that way, and +by your manners toward me given assent?" + +The girl looked straight ahead at the horse's ears as she answered +slowly, "If my manner has led you to have false hopes it is very easy +to change it, and if accepting your company gives assent to all the +foolish things you may have said when you were ten years old, you'd +better seek less dangerous society." + +"Forgive me dear, I spoke hastily," said George, in a much softer tone. +"But it's mighty hard to have you always just within reach and yet +always just beyond." + +The sun had gone down behind the ridge. The timbers of an old mining +shaft, and the limbs and twigs of a leafless tree showed black against +the tinted sky. A faint breath of air rustled the dry leaves of the +big sycamores and paw-paw bushes, and the birds called sleepily to +each other as they settled themselves for the coming night. A +sparrow-hawk darted past on silent wings, a rabbit hopped across the +road, while far away, the evening train on the "Frisco" whistled for +a crossing; and nearer, a farm boy called to his cattle. After a long +silence, George spoke again, with a note of manly dignity in his voice, +which made his fair companion's heart beat quicker. "Clara, look at +me; I want to see your eyes," he insisted. She turned her face toward +him. "Clara, if you can say, I do not love you as a woman ought to +love her husband, I will promise you, on my honor, never to mention +the subject to you again. Can you say it?" + +She tried to turn her head and to hide the tell-tale color in her +cheeks, but he would not permit it. "Answer me," he insisted. "Say you +do not love me and I will never bother you again." + +At last the eyes were lifted, and in their light George read his answer. +"All right," he said, picking up the whip, "I knew you could not lie; +you do love me, and I'll never stop asking you to be my wife." He +turned the horse's head toward the city. + +That same evening, Adam Goodrich, with his family and two or three +neighbors, sat on the veranda of the Goodrich home, enjoying the +beauties of the hour, and passing the evening in social chat. In the +course of the conversation, someone mentioned the rooms at the Jerusalem +Church. Adam grunted. "What a splendid thing it is for the young men," +said one of the lady callers. "I don't see why more of the churches +don't adopt the plan. I wish ours would." + +"Yes," chimed in another, "and isn't that Mr. Falkner, who has charge +of the rooms in the evening, a splendid fellow? My brother speaks of +him so highly, and all the young men seem to think so much of him." + +"Where is he from; St. Louis, is it?" asked the first lady. + +"Kansas City," said Frank. "At least that's what _he_ says. He bummed +his way into town last spring and got a job in that infidel Udell's +printing office. That's all anybody knows of him." + +"Except that he has never shown himself to be anything but a perfect +gentleman," added his sister. + +"Amy," said Mrs. Goodrich, a note of warning in her voice. + +"I don't care, mamma, it's the truth. What if he _was_ out of money +and hungry and ragged when he came to town? He was willing to work, +and Mr. Udell says that he is a splendid workman, and--" But her father +interrupted her. "Well, what of it? No one knows anything about his +family or how he lived before he came here. He's only a tramp, and you +can't make anything else out of him. Some folks are never satisfied +unless they are trying to make gentlemen out of gutter snipes. If we +let such fellows get a foothold, there won't be any respectable society +after a while; it will be all stable boys and boot-blacks." + +Later, when the visitors had said good-night and Amy and her mother +had entered the house, Frank said, "Father, I'll tell you one thing +about that man Falkner, you've got to watch him." + +"What do you mean?" asked Adam. + +"I mean Amy," replied the other, moving his chair nearer the old +gentleman and speaking in a guarded tone. "He takes every chance he +can to talk with her, and she is altogether too willing to listen." + +"Pshaw," grunted the older man, "she never sees him." + +"That's where you are mistaken, father. They met first last spring in +the printing office; and afterwards, when he had gotten in with that +soft fool, Charlie Bowen, they met again at the Young People's social. +He was all dressed up in a new suit of clothes and of course Amy didn't +know him. They were together all that evening, and since then, though +she has found out who he is, she talks with him at every opportunity. +They meet at the Society, at church, at picnics and parties, and +sometimes in the printing office. I tell you you'd better watch him. +He's doing his level best to get in with her, and just look how he's +working everybody else. Half the town is crazy over him." + +Low spoken as were Frank's words, Amy heard every one, for she had not +retired as her brother supposed, but was lying on a couch just inside +the doorway of the darkened parlor. With burning cheeks, she rose +cautiously and tiptoed out of the silent room. Making her way upstairs +and entering her own chamber, she closed and bolted the door, and then, +throwing herself on the floor by the low seat of an open window, rested +her head on her arm while she looked up at the stars now shining clear +and bright. Once she started impatiently and her eyes filled with angry +tears. Then she grew calm again, and soon the girlish face was worthy +of a master's brush as she gazed reverently into the beautiful heavens, +her lips moving in a whispered prayer; a softly whispered prayer for +Dick. And as she prayed, in the shadow of the Catalpa trees, unseen +by her, a man walked slowly down the street. Reaching the corner, he +turned and slowly passed the house again; crossing the street, he +passed once more on the opposite side, paused a moment at the corner, +and then started hurriedly away toward the business portion of the +city. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +November, with its whispered promises of winter fun, was past, and the +Christmas month, with snow and ice, had been ushered in. Usually in +the latitude of Boyd City, the weather remains clear and not very cold +until the first of the new year; but this winter was one of those +exceptions which are met with in every climate, and the first of +December brought zero weather. Indeed, it had been unusually cold for +several weeks. Then, to make matters worse, a genuine western blizzard +came howling across the prairie, and whistled and screamed about the +streets, from which it had driven everything that could find a place +of shelter. The stores on Broadway were vacant, save a few shivering +clerks. In the offices, men sat with their feet on the stove and called +to mind the biggest storms they had ever known; while street cars stood +motionless and railway trains, covered with ice and snow, came puffing +into the stations three or four hours behind time. In spite of the +awful weather, George Udell spent the evening at the Wilson home on +the east side. He had not seen Clara for nearly two weeks and the hour +was rather late when he arose to prepare for the long, cold walk to +his boarding house. "And I must wait, Clara?" he asked again, as they +stood in the hallway, and the girl answered rather sharply, "Yes, you +must wait. I do wish you would be sensible, George." The printer made +no reply, but paused for some time with his hand on the door-knob, as +though reluctant to leave her in such a mood. Then with an "Alright, +goodnight," he stepped out into the storm, his mind filled with bitter +thoughts that had best be left unspoken. The man did not know how heavy +was the heart of the girl who stood at the window watching long after +his form had vanished into the night. + +The wind was terrific and the snow cut the printer's face like tiny +needles, while he was forced again and again to turn his back to the +blast in order to breathe, and in spite of his heavy clothing was +chilled to the bone before he had gone three blocks. On Broadway, he +passed saloon after saloon, brilliant with glittering chandeliers and +attractive with merry music, inviting all the world to share the +good-fellowship and cheer within. He thought of his rooms, how cold +and lonely they would be, and had half a mind to stop at the hotel for +the night. For an instant he hesitated, then with a shake, "What folly," +pushed on again. As he struggled along, fighting every inch of the +way, with head down and body braced to the task, warm lights from the +windows of many cozy homes fell across his path, and he seemed to feel +the cold more keenly for the contrast. Then through the storm, he saw +a church, dark, grim and forbidding, half-hidden in the swirling snow, +the steps and entrance barricaded with heavy drifts. A smile of bitter +sarcasm curled his lip as he muttered to himself: "How appropriate; +what a fine monument to the religious activity of the followers of +Christ," and he almost laughed aloud when he remembered that the sermon +delivered there the Sunday before was from the text, "I was a stranger +and ye took me not in." Suddenly he stopped and stood peering through +the storm. In the light of an electric arc, which sizzled and sputtered +on the corner, he saw a dark form half hidden in the snow piled about +the doorway of the building. Stepping closer, he reached out and touched +it with his foot, then bending down, he discovered to his horror that +it was the body of a man. + +George tried to arouse the fallen one and lift him to his feet, but +his efforts only met with failure, and the other sank back again on +his bed of snow. The printer studied a moment. What should he do? Then +his eyes caught a gleam of light from a house near by. "Of course," +he thought, "Uncle Bobbie Wicks lives there." Stooping again, he +gathered the man in his arms, and with no little effort, slowly and +painfully made his way across the street and along the sidewalk to Mr. +Wicks's home. + +Uncle Bobbie was sitting before the fire, dozing over his Sunday School +quarterly, when he was aroused by the sound of heavy feet on the porch +and a strange knock, as though someone was kicking at the door. Quickly +he threw it open, and Udell, with his heavy burden, staggered into the +room. + +"Found him on the church steps," gasped the printer, out of breath, +as he laid the stranger on a couch. "I'll go for a doctor," and he +rushed out into the storm again, returning some thirty minutes later +with Dr. James at his heels. They found Uncle Bobbie, who had done all +that was possible, sitting beside the still form on the couch. "You're +too late, Doc," he said. "The poor chap was dead before George left +the house." + +The physician made his examination. "You're right, Mr. Wicks," he +answered, "we can do nothing here. Frozen to death. Must have died +early in the evening." + +The doctor returned to his home to get what sleep he could before +another call should break his rest, and all that night the Christian +and the infidel sat together, keeping watch over the dead body of the +unknown man. + +The next morning the coroner was summoned; the verdict was soon handed +in, "Death by exposure." Or the body was found a church statement that +there had been paid to the current expense fund, in the quarter ending +August first, the sum of three dollars, but the name written with lead +pencil was illegible. Besides this, was a prayer-meeting topic-card, +soiled and worn, and a small testament, dog-eared, with much fingering, +but no money. A cheap Christian Endeavor pin was fastened to the ragged +vest. There was nothing to identify him, or furnish a clew as to where +he was from. The face and form was that of a young man, and though +thin and careworn, showed no mark of dissipation. The right hand was +marked by a long scar across the back and the loss of the little finger. +The clothing was very poor. + +Among those who viewed the body in the undertaking rooms where it lay +for identification, was Dick, and Udell, who was with him, thought +that he seemed strangely moved as he bent over the casket. George +called his attention to the disfigured hand, but Dick only nodded. +Then, as they drew back to make room for others, he asked in a whisper, +"Did they search thoroughly for letters or papers? Sometimes people +hide important documents in their clothing, you know." + +"No, there was nothing," answered George. "We even ripped out the +linings." + +When they reached the open air Dick drew a long breath. "I must hurry +back to the office," he said. "I suppose you'll not be down to-day." + +"No, I must arrange for the funeral; you can get along I guess." + +"Oh yes, don't worry about that," was the reply, and the young man +started off down the street, but at the corner he turned, and walking +rapidly, in a few moments reached the church where the body of the +stranger was found. + +The steps and walks had been carefully cleaned and the snow about the +place was packed hard by the feet of the curious crowd who had visited +the scene earlier in the morning. + +Dick looked up and down the street. There was no one in sight. Stepping +swiftly to the pile of snow which the janitor had made with his shovel +and broom, he began kicking it about with his feet. Suddenly, with an +exclamation, he stopped and again glanced quickly around. Then stooping, +he picked up a long, leather pocketbook, and turning, walked hurriedly +away to the office. + +The body was held as long as possible, but when no word could be had +as to the poor fellow's identity, he was laid away in a lot purchased +by the printer, who also bore the funeral expenses. When Uncle Bobbie +would have helped him in this, George answered: "No, this is my work. +I found him. Let me do this for his mother's sake." + +The funeral was held in the undertaking rooms. Dick Falkner, Uncle +Bobbie and his wife, and Clara Wilson, with George, followed the hearse +to the cemetery. + +To-day, the visitor to Mt. Olive, will read with wonder, the inscription +on a simple stone, bearing no name, but telling the story of the young +man's death, and followed by these words, "I was a stranger and ye +took me not in." + +The church people protested loudly when it was known how the grave was +to be marked, but George Udell answered that he wanted something from +the Bible because the young man was evidently a Christian, and that +the text he had selected was the only appropriate one he could find. + +The evening after the funeral, Charlie Bowen and Dick sat alone in the +reading room, for the hour was late and the others had all gone to +their homes. Charlie was speaking of the burial. "I tell you," he said, +"it looks mighty hard to see a man laid away by strangers who do not +even know his name, and that too, after dying all alone in the snow +like a poor dog. And to think that perhaps a mother is watching for +him to come home; and the hardest part is that he is only one of many. +In a cold snap like this, the amount of suffering among the poor and +outcast is something terrible. If only the bad suffered, one might not +feel so." + +Dick made no reply, but sat staring moodily into the fire. + +"I've studied on the matter a good bit lately," continued Charlie. +"Why is it that people are so indifferent to the suffering about them? +Is Udell right when he says that church members, by their own teaching, +prove themselves to be the biggest frauds in the world?" + +"He is, so far as the church goes," replied Dick; "but not as regards +Christianity. This awful neglect and indifference comes from a _lack_ +of Christ's teaching, or rather from a lack of the application of +Christ's teaching, and too much teaching of the church. The trouble +is that people follow the church and not Christ; they become church +members, but not Christians." + +"Do you mean to say that the church ought to furnish a lodging place +for every stranger who comes to town?" asked Charlie. + +"I mean just this," answered Dick, rising to his feet and walking +slowly back and forth across the room, "there is plenty of food in +this world to give every man, woman and child enough to eat, and it +is contrary to God's law that the _helpless_ should go hungry. There +is enough material to clothe every man, woman and child, and God never +intended that the needy should go naked. There is enough wealth to +house and warm every creature tonight, for God never meant that men +should freeze in such weather as this; and Christ surely teaches, both +by words and example, that the hungry should be fed, the naked clothed, +and the homeless housed. Is it not the Christian's duty to carry out +Christ's teaching? It is an awful comment on the policy of the church +when a young man, bearing on his person the evidence of his Christianity +and proof that he supported the institution, dies of cold and hunger +at the locked door of the house of God. That, too, in a city where +there are ten or twelve denominations, paying at least as many thousand +dollars for preachers' salaries alone each year." + +"But we couldn't do it." + +"The lodges do. There is more than enough wealth spent in the churches +in this city, for useless, gaudy display, and in trying to get ahead +of some other denomination, than would be needed to clothe every naked +child in warmth to-night. You claim to be God's stewards, but spend +his goods on yourselves, while Christ, in the person of that boy in +the cemetery, is crying for food and clothing. And then you wonder why +George Udell and myself, who have suffered these things, don't unite +with the church. The wonder to me is that such honest men as you and +Mr. Wicks can remain connected with such an organization." + +"But," said Charlie, with a troubled look on his face, "would not such +work encourage crime and idleness?" + +"Not if it were done according to God's law," answered Dick. "The +present spasmodic, haphazard sentimental way of giving does. It takes +away a man's self-respect; it encourages him to be shiftless and idle; +or it fails to reach the worthy sufferers. Whichever way you fix it, +it kills the man." + +"But what is God's law?" asked the other. + +"That those who do not work should not eat," replied Dick; "and that +applies on the avenue as well as in the mines." + +"How would you do all this, though? That has been the great problem +of the church for years." + +"I beg your pardon, but it has _not_ been the problem of the church. +If the ministry had spent one-half the time in studying this question +and trying to _fulfill_ the teaching of Christ, that they have wasted +in quarreling over each other's opinions, or in tickling the ears of +their wealthy members, this problem would have been solved long ago. +Different localities would require different plans, but the purpose +must always be the same. To make it possible for those in want to +receive aid without compromising their self-respect, or making beggars +of them, and to make it just as impossible for any unworthy person to +get along without work." + +For some minutes the silence in the room was only broken by the steady +tramp, tramp, as the speaker marched up and down. + +"Dick," said Charlie, "do you believe that anything could be done +here?" + +Dick started and looked sharply at his companion. "Of course it could, +if only the church would go about it in a businesslike way." + +Charlie shook his head. "That's hopeless. The church will never move +in the matter. Brother Cameron has preached again and again on those +subjects and they do nothing." + +"But has your pastor presented any definite plan for work?" asked Dick. +"It's one thing to preach about it, and another thing to present a +plan that will meet the need. That's the great trouble. They're all +the time preaching about Christianity and trying to live as they talk, +in a sickly, sentimental fashion; when of all things in the world +Christianity is the most practical, or it is nothing." + +"The young folks would take it up, I am sure," said Charlie. +"Say, will you suggest a plan to the Society?" + +"I'm like the rest," said Dick, with a slight smile. "I'm preaching +when I have no remedy," and he began locking up for the night. "But," +as they stepped out into the street, he added, "I'll not go back on +my statement though. I believe it can be done." + +Nothing more was said on the subject so much in the hearts of the young +men, until the Saturday before the regular monthly business meeting +of the Young People's Society. Then Charlie broached the matter to +Dick as together they walked down the street at the close of their +day's work. + +"No," said Dick, "I have not forgotten, and I believe I have a plan +that would meet the needs of the case as it is in this city." + +"Will you go before the Young People's Society at their meeting next +Tuesday night, and explain your scheme?" + +Dick hesitated. "I fear they would not listen to me, Charlie," he said +at last. And then added, as he rested his hand affectionately on the +other's shoulder, "You see, old man, people here don't look at me as +you do. They can't, or won't forget the way I came to town, and I fear +they would not attach much weight to my opinion, even should they +consent to hear me." + +"That's where you're wrong, Dick, all wrong. I know there are some who +look at things in that light, but they wouldn't do anything if Paul +himself were to teach them. But there are many who want only someone +to lead the way. Take myself for instance. I realize what's needed, +and I honestly want to do something, but I don't know how to go at it; +and Dick, if this problem is ever solved, it will be through someone +like you, who knows from actual experience; not from occasional slumming +expeditions; whose heart is filled with love for men; who is absolutely +free from ecclesiastical chains, and who is a follower of no creed but +Christ, a believer in no particular denomination." + +Dick smiled at his friend's manner. "You too, have been doing a little +thinking," he said quietly. "But had this come to you, that the man +must also be a Christian?" + +"Yes, a Christian so far as he is a believer in the truths that Christ +teaches; but not in the generally accepted use of that word; which is, +that a man can't be a Christian without hitching himself up in some +denominational harness." + +"If you believe that, why do you wear the badge?" asked Dick, drily. + +"Because I believe that while the man who takes the initiative must +owe allegiance to no particular congregation, the work must be carried +on by the church; there are many Christians who are thinking on these +lines, and I hope that you will some day see that the church with all +its shortcomings and mistakes, is of divine origin; and that she needs +just such men as yourself to lead her back to the simplicity of Christ's +life and teaching. But that's not the question," he continued, as he +saw a slight shadow cross the face of his companion. "The question is: +Will you go before the Young People's Society next Tuesday night and +submit your plan as a suggested way to do Christ's work here in the +city? You see, you'll not be going before the church, and I will give +you such an introduction that there will be no danger of a mistaken +notion as to your presence." + +The two walked on in silence until they reached the door of Dick's +restaurant. "Won't you come in and eat with me?" he said. + +"Not unless you need more urging," answered Charlie, with a laugh, +"for I have other fish to fry just now." + +"Well," said Dick, "I'll go." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +Needless to say that Charlie Bowen, who was the president of the Young +People's Society at this time, took particular pains to notify each +member that there would be a matter of unusual importance to discuss +at the next meeting. And so, when he called the Society to order at +eight o'clock Tuesday evening, in the lecture room of the church, +almost the entire membership, including Rev. Cameron, was present. +Dick remained in the reading room, but it was understood between the +two that he was to be called in at the proper time. + +After the regular routine business had been disposed of, the president +stated that he wished to introduce a matter of great importance, which +he felt sure would interest every Christian present. He then called +to their minds some of the teaching they had heard from their pastor, +along lines of practical Christianity; noticed briefly the condition +of things in Boyd City; and asked if they would not be glad to remedy +such evils. The nodding heads and earnest faces told Charlie of their +interest. After recalling the death of the young man found by George +Udell, he told of his conversation with Dick. "I am aware that Mr. +Falkner makes no profession of Christianity," he said, "but you know +him and need no word from me to tell you of the strength of his +character." He then explained how he had asked Dick to speak to them, +and after delicately stating the latter's objections, asked if they +would receive him and listen to his ideas of Christian work. + +At the close of Charlie's talk, the Society gladly voted to invite +Dick in, and three of the boys started to find him, when Rev. Cameron +rose to his feet, and in a voice full of emotion, said: "My dear young +people. Wait just a moment. My heart is moved more than I can say, by +the Christian spirit you are showing. And now, before your invitation +is carried to Mr. Falkner, let us bow our heads in prayer, that we may +be guided by the Holy Spirit in listening to the things he may have +to put before us, and in any discussion of this subject that may +follow." + +A deep hush fell on the little band of young people as they followed +their pastor's example, and it seemed as if a wonderful presence filled +all the room. The thought flashed through Cameron's mind, "This must +be another step in the new era of Christian work in this city." And +then, in a few beautiful words, he voiced the prayer in the hearts of +the young people, and the committee appointed went to call Dick. They +found him nervously pacing up and down the passageway between the +reading room and the parlor. Making known the wish of the Society, +they escorted him to the meeting in the other part of the building. +He was greeted by smiling faces, nods of encouragement, and just a +faint ripple of applause, that sprung from a desire on the part of the +young people to let him know that they were glad to bid him welcome, +and ready to give him their attention. + +The president stated simply that he had explained to the Society the +purpose of Mr. Falkner's visit, and that he could assure the latter +he was most heartily welcome. At Charlie's words, the ripple of applause +became a wave, which in its strength, left no doubt on Dick's mind as +to their earnestness and interest. Bowing his thanks he began, while +both Charlie and Cameron wondered at his ease of manner, and the strange +power of his simple, but well-chosen words. + +"I have no means of knowing what your president may have said by way +of introduction of myself, or as a preface to my remarks, but judging +from your faces, the manner in which you receive me, and my knowledge +of him, I feel that I am safe in assuming that he has said all that +is necessary, and that I may proceed at once with my plan. But let me +add simply this: What I have to say to you is in no way new or +startling. I claim no originality, for I have simply gathered from the +works of better men that which seems to me best fitted for the needs +of this particular city. And understand, farther, that I speak in no +sense as a Christian, but from the standpoint of one to whom has been +given opportunities for study along these lines, I hope may ever be +denied you. + +"As I understand it, the problem that we have to consider is, briefly, +how to apply Christ's teaching in our own town. Let me suggest first: +That there are in this city, as in every city, two classes who present +their claims for assistance; the deserving and undeserving. Any plan +which does not distinguish between these two classes must prove a +failure, because it would encourage the idle in their idleness, and +so prove a curse instead of a blessing. It would make fraud profitable +by placing a premium rather than a penalty on crime; and it would make +the sufferings of the truly unfortunate much keener by compelling them +to yield their self-respect as the price of their succor. The only +test that can possibly succeed in distinguishing between these two +classes is the test of work. + +"The first thing necessary would be a suitable building. This building +should have sleeping rooms, dining room, sitting room, kitchen, +store-room and a bath room. There should also be a large yard with an +open shed in the rear. I would have the sleeping rooms small, and a +single cot in each, for you know it is sometimes good for a man to be +alone. It ought not to be hard to find twenty-five people in the church +who would furnish a room each, at a cost of say three dollars. The +reading room supplies could be donated by friends who would be glad +to give their papers and magazines when they were through with them, +just as your present room is supplied. Now if you stop to think, in +this mining city everyone burns coal, and kindling wood ought to find +a ready sale. I believe the merchants would be glad to give away their +old packing cases, boxes and barrels. These could be collected, hauled +to the yard, there worked up into kindling and delivered to the +customer. The whole establishment to be under the supervision of some +man who, with his family, could occupy rooms in the building. All the +work of the house, kitchen, dining room, care of the sleeping rooms, +and all, must be done by the inmates. When a man applied for help he +would be received on these conditions: that his time belonged wholly +to the institution, and that he receive for his work only food and +bed, with the privilege of bath and reading room of course. If he +refused to comply with these conditions, or to conform to the rules +of the institution, no food would be issued, nor would he be admitted. + +"This briefly is my plan. I would be glad to have you ask questions +and make objections or suggestions, for I believe that would be the +best way to thoroughly understand the matter." Dick paused and one of +the young people asked: "What would be the cost of the building and +its furnishings?" + +"That I cannot say," replied Dick. "It would depend of course upon how +large an establishment you wished to conduct. I should think a house +might be found in some convenient locality, which could be converted +into the right thing, for I would not think of a large institution at +the start. It would grow as fast as the people came to believe in it." + +"You spoke of a store-room--what for?" + +"Let the people contribute clothing, which could be kept and issued +by the superintendent in charge. I said store-room, that the material +might always be on hand when needed." + +"Would you receive women?" + +"No; they would require a separate institution with a different kind +of employment." + +"Would we not need women to do the housework?" + +"No, everything could be done by the men under the direction of the +superintendent's wife." + +"Would the merchants contribute boxes enough?" + +"That," with a bow and a smile, "is a matter for the Society to look +after. The workers at the institution would gather them up and haul +them to the yard. Old side-walks, fences, tumbled-down buildings, could +also be used, so the supply need not run short, and the city would be +much improved if these things were gathered up and utilized." + +"Would the people buy the kindling-wood?" + +"That again, is the business of the Society. Every member should be +a salesman. The kindling would be put up in bundles of uniform size, +warranted to be dry and to give satisfaction and delivered at the door +by the workers of course. It ought not to be difficult for you to +secure a sufficient number of regular customers to insure the success +of the business. You see, it is not a church-begging scheme, for it +benefits every person connected with it, and every person pays for +what he gets. The citizens would have the pleasure of feeling that +they were assisting only the worthy sufferers, and the satisfaction +of knowing that they were receiving their money's worth." + +"Would the income be sufficient to pay all bills?" asked Cameron. + +"The food, of course, could be of the plainest, and could be bought +in quantities. Twenty cents will feed a man a day. It is possible, of +course, to live on less," Dick added, with a whimsical smile, which +was met with answering smiles from the company of interested young +people. "Now suppose you had for the start, one hundred regular +customers, who would pay, each, ten cents per week for their kindling! +that would bring you ten dollars per week, which would feed seven +people. Not a large thing I grant you, but a start in the right +direction, and much more than the church is doing now. The other +expenses would not be large, and I am confident that the institution +would be self-supporting. But bear in mind that the Society must own +the grounds and building, so that there would be no rent. _That_ must +be the gift of the people to the poor." + +"How would the superintendent and his wife be paid?" + +"They would receive their house rent, provisions, and a small weekly +salary, paid either by the Society, the church, or the institution. +There are many men and women who would be glad to do such work." + +"Would kindling-wood be the only industry?" + +"I believe other things would suggest themselves. I am only planning +a start you know. I said kindling-wood because that seems to be the +most practical thing for this particular city." + +"Would not men impose on the institution by working just enough to get +their food and remain idle the rest of the time?" + +"That," said Dick, "is the greatest danger, but I believe it would be +met in this way: You remember I said that the time of the inmates must +be given wholly to the institution. The men could be kept busy at the +housework, scrubbing and cleaning when not in the yard. Then too, they +could be hired out to do odd jobs of rough work for the citizens; the +wages all to go to the institution. Thus, if every man was kept busy +eight hours each day, and received only his food and a place to sleep, +there would be no temptation to remain longer than necessary. The +institution would also act as an employment agency, and when a man was +offered work of any kind he would no longer be permitted to remain in +the home. Much of this would necessarily be left to the discretion of +the managers and directors." + +This question seemed to bring the matter to a close as far as Dick was +concerned, and after asking if there was anything more, and again +calling attention to the fact that the greatest obstacle in the way +was a suitable building, he thanked them for their attention and took +his seat. + +Then followed a warm discussion. Several spoke enthusiastically in +favor of the scheme. One or two thought it very good, but feared it +would be impossible because of the building needed. A few offered +amendments to the plan. Finally a committee was appointed to see if +a suitable building could be secured, and the meeting was adjourned. + +At once the young people crowded about Dick, shaking his hand, thanking +him, asking questions, making suggestions, with now and then a happy +laugh or jest. Much to Charlie's delight, Dick, for the time being, +forgot himself and talked and laughed and prophesied with the rest +about _our_ institution and the things we would do. But in the midst +of it all, his manner suddenly changed, and making his way quickly to +Charlie's side he whispered, "Good-night, old man, I must go." + +"So soon?" asked his friend in a tone of surprise. + +"Yes," replied Dick hurriedly, "I must." And Charlie was left wondering +at the pain in his face, which a moment before had been so bright, for +he did not know that Dick had heard Frank Goodrich saying to his sister, +"Come, we must go home. We can't afford to associate with that tramp," +and that he had seen Amy leaving the room on her brother's arm, without +even acknowledging his presence by so much as a glance. + +The next morning bright and early, Deacon Wickham might have been seen +knocking at the door of the parsonage. "Why, good morning, Brother," +cried Cameron, throwing wide the door and extending his hand. "What +good fortune brought you out so early? Come in. Come in." + +"No good fortune, sir," replied the deacon, and seating himself very +stiffly on the edge of the straightest-backed chair in the room, he +glared with stern eyes at the pastor, who threw himself carelessly +into an easy rocker. "No good fortune, sir; I came to inquire if it +is true that you are encouraging that unscriptural organization in +their foolish and world-wise plans." + +Cameron put on a puzzled look. "What organization, and what plans?" +he asked. + +"There," said the good deacon, with a sigh of great relief. "I told +Sister Jones that there must be some mistake, for though you and I +don't always agree, and lock horns sometimes on certain passages of +the Scriptures, I did not believe that you were so far from the teaching +of the Word as that." + +"As what?" asked Cameron again, but this time with a faint glimmer of +understanding in his voice. "Please explain, Brother Wickham." + +"Why, Sister Jones came over to my house early this morning and told +me that at the meeting of the Young People's Society last night, that +young upstart Falkner, laid down plans for doing church work, and that +you were there and approved of them. That rattle-headed boy of hers +is all carried away." + +The preacher nodded, "Well?" + +"I could not believe it of course, but she said, as near as I could +gather, that you were going to have the church buy a house and keep +all the tramps who came to Boyd City. A more unscriptural thing I never +heard of. Were you at the meeting last night?" + +"Yes, I was there," said Cameron slowly. + +The official frowned again as he said sharply: "You'll do more good +for the cause, Brother Cameron, if you spend your time calling on the +members. There is Deacon Godfrey's wife hasn't been out to services +for three months because you haven't been to see her; and you're ruining +the church now by your teaching. You've got to build on a Scriptural +foundation if you want your work to last. All these people you've been +getting in the last two years don't know a thing about first +principles." + +The minister tried to explain: "The plan suggested last night by Mr. +Falkner, who was there at the invitation of the Society, was simply +for an institution that would permit a man who was homeless, cold and +hungry, to pay for food and lodging until he could do better. In short, +to prevent deaths like that of the young man found frozen a few weeks +ago." + +"You don't know anything about that fellow," said the deacon. "If he +had followed the teaching of the Scriptures he wouldn't have been in +that fix. The Word says plainly: 'He that provideth not for his own +is worse than an infidel.' You don't know whether he was a Christian +or not. He may have never been baptized. Indeed, I am ready to prove +that he never was, for the Scripture says that the righteous are never +forsaken, nor their seed begging for bread. I've lived nearly fifty +years now and I never went hungry and never slept out-doors either." + +Cameron sat silently biting his lip; then looking his parishioner +straight in the eye, said: "Brother Wickham, I cannot harmonize your +teaching with Christ's life and character." + +"My teaching is the Scripture, sir; I'll give you book, chapter and +verse," snapped the deacon. + +"Christ taught and lived a doctrine of love and helpfulness toward all +men, even enemies," continued Cameron. "When I remember how he pointed +out the hungry and naked and homeless, and then said: 'Inasmuch as ye +did it not unto one of the least of these, ye did it not unto me,' I +cannot help but feel sure in my heart that we are right, and I must +tell you that Mr. Falkner's plan for doing just that work is the most +practical and common-sense one I have ever heard. The only thing I +find to wonder at is the stupidity of the church and myself, that we +did not adopt it long ago." + +"Then I am to understand that you support and encourage this +unscriptural way of doing things?" + +"I most certainly have given my support to the young people in this +effort; and as far as possible, will encourage and help them in their +labor of love." + +"Labor of love, fiddlesticks," said the deacon; "Labor of foolishness. +You'll find, sir, that it will be better to take my advice and the +advice of the sacred writers, instead of going off after the strange +teaching of an outcast and begging infidel." + +"Stop!" said Cameron, springing to his feet, and speaking in a tone +that few people ever heard him use. "I beg of you be careful that you +do not go too far. Whatever his religious convictions may be, Mr. +Falkner is neither an outcast nor a beggar; and although I am only +your pastor, it might be well for you to remember that I am also a +gentleman, and will allow no man to speak of my friends in any such +language." + +"Well, well," whined Wickham hastily, holding out his hand, "The +Scriptures say that there must be love between brethren, and I want +you to know that I bear you no ill will whatever, no ill will whatever; +but I warn you, I wash my hands of the whole matter. I don't want to +know anything about it." + +Cameron took the proffered hand and replied, "That's the best thing +you can do, Brother Wickham. You have discharged your duty faithfully +as an officer in the church and are released from all responsibility +whatever." + +"Yes, yes," said the other, as he stood on the porch; "And don't let +them call on me for any money. Remember I wash my hands of the whole +thing. How much did you say it would cost?" + +"I don't know yet, exactly." + +"Well, you know I can't give anyway. I'm already doing more than my +share in a scriptural way, and I must wash my hands of this." + +"Yes," said Cameron to himself, as he shut the door; "A certain Roman +governor washed his hands once upon a time." And then the pastor took +himself to task for his uncharitable spirit. + +Later in the day, Rev. Cameron had another visitor. Old father Beason, +whose hair had grown white in the Master's service. He had been with +his congregation over twenty years and they would not give him up; for +while his sermons may have lost some of their youthful fire, they were +riper for the preacher's long experience, and sweeter for his nearness +to the source of love. + +The old man met Cameron's outstretched hand of welcome with a smile +that, in itself, was a benediction. Though identified with a different +denomination, he was a close friend to the pastor of the Jerusalem +Church, and always stood ready to draw from his wealth of experience +for the benefit of his younger brother. When they were seated in +Cameron's cozy den with a basket of fruit between them, Rev. Beason +began: + +"Brother Jim, what's this about the proposed work of your young people? +Suppose you tell me about it, if you don't mind. I've heard a good +many things to-day, and I just thought I'd run over and get the straight +of it." + +Cameron laughed as he carefully selected a rosy-cheeked apple. "You're +the second caller I've had to-day who needed straightening out. I've +been wishing you would run in, and if you had not, I would have been +over to see you this evening. This work is right along lines that you +and I have talked over many times." And then he told the whole story. + +When Cameron had finished, the older man asked a few questions, and +then slowly nodding his head, repeated softly: "Thy kingdom come, thy +will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven." + +"Brother Cameron, you know that I belong to a church that is noted for +its conservative spirit, but I have been preaching more years than you +have lived, and have been at it too long to be bound altogether by the +particular belief of any particular people, and I want to say to you +that if I were a younger man, I would take just your course exactly. +There is no use, Brother Jim, of our flinching or dodging the question. +The church is not meeting the problems of the day, and it's my candid +opinion that ninety-nine out of every hundred preachers know it. But +I'm too old to make the fight. I haven't the strength to do it. But +my boy, do you go in to win, and may God's richest blessing rest upon +you. And you'll stir this city as it never was stirred before. I only +wish I were twenty years younger; I'd stand by you. But this needs +young blood and I am an old, worn-out man. It is almost time that I +was going home, and I dare not take up any work like this that will +need years of patient labor to complete." He arose to his feet, and +grasping Cameron's hand, said, "Good night, Brother Jim; we older men +must turn our work, all unfinished, over to younger, stronger hands +to complete. My boy, see that you keep that which is committed unto +you, and don't, Oh don't, be sidetracked by the opinions of men. The +victory will be yours, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Good-night Jim, +I thank God for this day." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +The sun sank into the prairie and tinted the sky all red and green and +gold where it shone through the rents in the ragged clouds of purple +black. The glowing colors touching dull, weather-beaten steeples and +factory stacks, changed them to objects of interest and beauty. The +poisonous smoke from smelter and engine, that hung always over the +town like a heavy veil, shot through with the brilliant rays, became +a sea of color that drifted here and there, tumbled and tossed by the +wind, while above, the ball of the newly painted flag-staff on the +courthouse tower gleamed like a signal lamp from another world. And +through it all, the light reflected from a hundred windows flashed and +blazed in wondrous glory, until the city seemed a dream of unearthly +splendor and fairy loveliness, in which the people moved in wonder and +in awe. Only for a moment it lasted. A heavy cloud curtain was drawn +hurriedly across the west as though the scene in its marvelous beauty +was too sacred for the gaze of men whose souls were dwarfed by baser +visions. For an instant a single star gleamed above the curtain in the +soft green of the upper sky; then it too vanished, blotted out by the +flying forerunners of the coming storm. + +About nine o'clock, when the first wild fury of the gale had passed, +a man, muffled in a heavy coat and with a soft hat pulled low over his +face, made his way along the deserted streets. In front of the Goodrich +hardware and implement store, he stopped and looked carefully about +as though in fear of some observer. Then taking a key from his pocket, +he unlocked the door and entered. Walking quickly through the room to +the office, as though familiar with the place, he knelt before the big +safe, his hand upon the knob that worked the combination. A moment +later the heavy door yielded to his hand. Taking a bunch of keys from +his pocket, he selected one without hesitation, and upon applying it, +the cash box opened, revealing a large sum of money. Catching up a +package of bills, he placed it in his side coat pocket, and locking +the cash box again, was closing the safe, when he paused as though +struck with a sudden thought. The storm without seemed to be renewing +its strength. The dashing of sleet and snow against the windows, the +howling of the wind, the weird singing of the wires, and the sharp +banging of swinging signs and shutters, carried terror to the heart +of the man kneeling in the dimly lighted office. Sinking on the floor, +he buried his face in his hands and moaned aloud, "My God--What am I +doing? What if I should fail?" + +Again there came a lull in the storm; everything grew hushed and still, +almost as if the very spirit of the night waited breathlessly the +result of the battle fought in the breast of the tempted man. Rising +slowly to his knees, he swung back the heavy doors and once more +unlocking the cash box reached out to replace the package of bills; +but with the money before his eyes he paused again. Then with a sudden +exclamation, "I won't fail this time; I can't lose always," he quickly +closed the safe, and with the money in his pocket, sprang to his feet +and hurried out of the building, where the storm met him in all its +fury, as though striving to wrest from him that which he had taken +from another. But with set face and clenched fists, he pushed into the +gale, and a few minutes later knocked at the door of a room on the top +floor of a big hotel. He was admitted and greeted cordially by two men +who were drinking and smoking. + +"Hello Frank," they exclaimed; "We thought you had crawfished this +time sure. What makes you so late; it is nearly ten?" + +"Oh, the old man had some work for me, of course. What a beastly night. +Where's Whitley?" He tried to speak carelessly, but his eyes wavered +and his hands trembled as he unbuttoned his heavy coat. + +"You're right; this storm's a ripper. Jim will be back in a minute; +he just stepped down to the corner drug-store to see a man. Here he +is now;" as another low knock sounded on the door, and the fourth man +entered, shaking the snow from his fur-trimmed coat. + +"Pile out of your duds, boys, and have a drink. Good liquor hits the +spot a night like this." + +Whitley grasped the proffered glass eagerly and emptied it without a +word, but Frank refused. + +"You know I don't drink," he said, shortly; "take it yourself if you +need it, and let's get to work." He drew a chair to the table in the +center of the room. + +The others laughed as they took their places, and one said, as he +shuffled a deck of cards: "We forgot you were a church member." And +the other added, with a sneer, "Maybe you'd like to open the services +with a song and prayer." + +"You drop that and mind your own business," retorted young Goodrich, +angrily. "I'll show you tonight that you can't always have your own +way. Did you bring my papers with you?" The others nodded and one said, +"Whitley here told us you wanted a chance to win them back before we +were obliged to collect. It's to be cash tonight though," added the +other; "good cold cash, against the notes we hold." + +"For God's sake, shut up and play," growled Frank in reply. "I guess +there's cash enough," and he laid the package of bills on the table. +Four eyes gleamed in triumph. Whitley looked at the young man keenly +and paused with the cards in his hands. Then he dealt and the game +began. + +Meanwhile Adam Goodrich and his wife were entertaining the whist club, +of which they were enthusiastic members, for it was the regular weekly +meeting; and though the weather was so rough not a few of the devoted +lovers of the game were present. + +In the conversation that preceded the play, the Young People's Society, +with Dick Falkner's plan of work, was mentioned. Nearly all of the +guests being members of different churches, expressed themselves quite +freely, with a variety of opinions, until the host, with annoyance +plainly expressed on his proud face and in his hard cold voice, said: +"You must not think, ladies and gentlemen, that because I and my family +are members of the Jerusalem Church, that we agree with Rev. Cameron +in his outlandish ideas. We have never been accustomed to associating +with such low characters as he delights in forcing us to meet in the +congregation; and if he don't change his line of work some, he will +drive all the best people to other churches." + +The guests all nodded emphatic approval and each silently resolved to +send his pastor to interview the Goodrich's without delay. + +Adam continued: "As for that tramp printer and his fool plan, I say +that it's just such stuff that causes all the discontent among the +lower classes and makes them unfit to serve their betters, and that +_my_ children shall have nothing to do with it. I have not brought +them up to follow the lead of a vagabond and a nobody." + +Amy's face flushed painfully and she lifted her head as though to +speak, when Mrs. Goodrich silenced her with a look, and skilfully +changed the subject by saying: "It's too bad Frank won't be here +to-night. He enjoys these evenings so much and plays so well. But he +and Mr. Whitley are spending the evening with a sick friend. The dear +boy is so thoughtful of others and is always ready to give up his own +pleasures. And Mr. Whitley too; he will miss the game so much, and Amy +loses a strong partner." The company took the hint and talked of other +things until the all-absorbing game began. + +And so, while the son played with his friend Whitley, and the two +professional gamblers at the hotel, played with fear in his face and +a curse in his heart, to save himself from sure disgrace, his fond +parents and beautiful sister at home, forgot his absence in their eager +efforts to win with the cards the petty prize of the evening, a +silver-mounted loving cup. + +One, two, three hours passed. The storm had spent its strength; Mr. +Goodrich had won the coveted prize, and the guests of the evening had +returned to their homes. The last of the pile of ills before Frank was +placed in the center of the table. The silence was unbroken save for +the sound of the shuffling cards and the click of a whiskey glass as +one of the men helped himself to a drink. + +Suddenly young Goodrich leaped to his feet with a wild exclamation: +"Tom Wharton, you're a liar and a cheat!" As he spoke, a heavy chair +whirled above his head and fell with a crashing blow upon the man who +sat at his right. Instantly all was confusion; the table was overturned; +the cards, money and glasses scattered over the room. Whitley and the +other man stood in blank astonishment at the sudden outburst. Frank +leaped at his prostrate victim, with a chair again raised to strike, +and had the second blow fallen, he would have been a murderer, for the +intent to kill shone from his glittering eyes. But Whitley, just in +time, caught his arm, while the other drew a knife and stepped between +the crazed man and his victim. + +"Stop, you fool!" said Whitley. "And you, Jack, put up that knife and +look after Tom. This is a nice mess for us to be caught in." The gambler +did as he was bid, but Frank struggled in his friend's grasp. "Let me +go, Jim. Let me at him. I'm ruined anyway and I'll finish the man that +did it before I go myself." But Whitley was the stronger and forced +him backward, while the other man was busy with his fallen partner. + +"Ruined nothing," said Jim in Frank's ear. "I'll stand by you. You get +out of this quick and go to my room. I'll come when I've settled with +them." He unlocked the door and pushed Frank into the hall, just as +the man on the floor struggled to his feet. + +The two gamblers turned on Whitley in a rage when they saw Frank had +escaped. Standing with his back to the door, he let them curse a few +minutes and then said calmly: "Now if you feel better let's take a +drink and talk it over." + +When he had them quiet again he continued, in a matter-of-fact tone: +"Suppose you fellows raise a row about this, what will you gain?" + +"We'll teach that young fool a lesson he won't forget soon," snarled +the one who had fallen. + +"Yes, and you'll pay big for the lesson," replied Whitley quietly. + +"What do yon mean?" + +"I mean that if this gets out young Goodrich is ruined and you won't +get a cent on the paper you hold." + +Wharton's friend nodded, "That's straight, Tom," he said. + +"Well," growled the other; "What of it, the old man won't pay it +anywray." + +"Yes he would," returned Jim quickly, "if you didn't make it public; +but I don't happen to want him to know about this little deal." + +"What's it to you?" + +"Never mind what it is to me. I know what I'm doing, and I don't want +this to get out." + +"How'll you help it?" + +"This way." He took a check-book from his pocket. "Make the notes over +to me and I'll add two hundred to the amount. Go after Frank and you +get nothing. Go to the old man and you get what the paper calls for. +Keep your mouth shut and sell me the notes and you get an extra hundred +apiece. What do you say?" + +"I say yes," exclaimed Jack, with an oath; "I'm no fool." And the other +grumbled a surly "All right. But I'd like to get one crack at that +kid's head." + +"You'll have to pass that little pleasure this time." said the other +with a laugh. "Write your check, Whitley and let's get out of this. +I'm sleepy." + +When Whitley reached his room after settling with the two gamblers, +he found Frank pacing the floor, his face white and haggard. + +"Sit down. Sit down, old man; and take things easy. You're all right. +Look here." And he drew the notes from his pocket. + +Frank sank into a chair. "What have you done?" he gasped. "How did you +get those?" + +Whitley laughed. "Just invested a little of my spare cash, that's all," +he said. + +"But I tell you I'm ruined. I can't pay a third of that in six years." + +"Well, perhaps you won't have to." Frank stared. "What do you mean?" + +"I mean Amy," the other replied coolly. "You poor idiot, can't you +see. I can't afford to have you disgraced before the world under the +circumstances. If I wasn't in it, I'd let you go to thunder and serve +you right. But a fine chance I'd have to marry your sister if she knew +about this business tonight. If it wasn't for her I'd let you hang +your fool self too quick, before I'd spend a dollar on your worthless +carcass; but I've said that I would marry that girl and I will, if it +costs every cent I've got, and you'll help me too." + +Frank was silent for a time, completely cowed by the contempt in the +other's voice, too frightened to protest. But at last he managed to +say: "There's more than those notes." + +"I know that too," quickly returned Whitley, with an oath. "How much +did you steal from the old man's safe tonight?" + +"What--How--How do you know?" stammered the other. + +"Saw you," returned Whitley, shortly; and then added, as Frank rose +to his feet and began walking the floor again. "Oh, for Heaven's sake +quit your tragedy and sit down. You make me tired. You're not cut out +for either a gambler or a robber. You haven't the nerve." + +Frank was silent, while the other went to a small cupboard and leisurely +helped himself to a glass of whiskey; then lit a fresh cigar. + +"What can I do?" ventured Frank at last, in a voice but little above +a whisper. + +Jim crossed the room, and unlocking a drawer in his desk, returned +with a handful of bills. "You can put that money back in the safe +before morning and keep your mouth shut." And then when Frank attempted +to grasp his hand, while stammering words of gratitude, he said, "No +thanks," and put his own hands behind his back in a gesture that there +was no mistaking. "Be a good boy, Frankie. Listen with more care to +your pastor's sermons; keep your Young People's Society pledge; read +your Bible and pray every day, and take part in all the meetings, and +when I marry your sister I'll make you a present of these papers. But +Oh Lord," he added, with a groan, "you'll make a healthy brother-in-law, +you will." + +"How much did you say?" + +Frank muttered the amount he had stolen. + +Jim quickly counted it out and threw the bills on the table. "There +you are. And now you better go quickly before you slop over again and +I kick you." And turning his back he poured himself another glass of +liquor while Frank, with the money in his hand, sneaked from the room +like a well-whipped cur. And over his head, as he crept stealthily +down the street toward his father's store, the stars shone clear and +cold in their pure, calm beauty, while the last of the storm-cloud on +the far horizon covered the face of the bright new moon. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +The committee appointed by the Society called on Mr. Wicks at his +office, and found him deep in a letter to an old lady, whose small +business affairs he was trying to straighten out. He dropped the matter +at once when they entered, and, after shaking hands, as though he had +not seen them for years, said: "Now tell me all about it. To-be-sure, +Charlie here has had some talk with me, but I want to get your ide's." + +"Our brightest idea, I think," said the leader, with a smile, "is to +get your help." + +Uncle Bobbie laughed heartily. "I reckoned you'd be around," he said. +"I'm generally kept posted by the young folks when there's anything +to do. To-be-sure, I aint got much education, 'cept in money matters +an' real estate, but I don't know--I reckon education is only the +trimmings anyhow. It's the hoss sense what counts. I've seen some +college fellers that was just like the pies a stingy old landlady of +mine used t' make; they was all outside--To-be-sure, they looked +mighty nice though. Now tell me what ye want." + +When the young people had detailed to him Dick's plan, and he had +questioned them on some points, the old gentleman leaned back in his +chair and thoughtfully stroked his face. Then--"Now I tell ye what ye +do. Mebbe I can handle the property end of this a little the best. +To-be-sure, folks would talk with me when they might not listen to +you; 'cause they'd be watchin' fer a chance to get me into a deal, you +see; fer business is a sort of ketch-as-ketch-can anyhow you fix it. +So jes' let me work that end an' ye get Charlie here and some more to +help, and drum up the store-keepers to find out if they'll let ye have +their barrels and boxes. An' then go fer the citizens and see how many +will buy kindlin'-wood. Tell 'em about what it will cost--say ten cents +a week fer one stove. To-be-sure, some will use more'n others, but +give 'em an ide'. Then we'll all come together again and swap reports, +an' see what we've got." + +For the next few days, the young people went from store to store, and +house to house, telling their plan, and asking the citizens to support +it by their patronage. Some turned them away with rudeness; some +listened and smiled at their childish folly; some said they couldn't +afford it; and some gave them encouragement by entering heartily into +the scheme. With but few exceptions, the merchants promised the greater +part of their boxes and barrels, and one man even gave them the ruins +of an old cow shed, which he said he would be glad to have cleared +away. + +Meanwhile, Uncle Bobbie interviewed the business men, members of the +church, and those who were not Christians. He argued, threatened and +plead, studied plans, consulted architects and contractors, figured +and schemed, and, when besieged by the young people for results, only +shook his head. "Jes' hold your hosses and wait till the meetin'. It +don't pay to fire a gun before ye load it." And none but Charlie Bowen +noticed that the old gentleman's face grew grim whenever the subject +was introduced, and the young man guessed that the outlook was not so +promising as Uncle Bobbie would like. Then one Wednesday night, the +Society met again in the church. The weather was cold and stormy, but, +as at the previous meeting, nearly every member was present. When the +committee had made their report and it was known that the merchants +and citizens would support the movement by their patronage and +contributions, a wave of enthusiasm swept over the room while the call +for Mr. Wicks was enforced by loud applause. + +Uncle Bobbie, who had been sitting by Rev. Cameron's side, arose and +came slowly forward. Turning, he faced the little company and his +honest old eyes were wet as he said in a trembling voice: "I didn't +want to come here tonight, young folks; I jes' tell ye I was ashamed +to come; but I knew I ought to; and now I am ashamed that I didn't +want to. I might have known better. Fer I can see right now as I look +into your faces, that Brother Cameron is right, and that what I have +to tell won't make no difference." An ominous hush fell upon the +company. "To-be-sure, we may have to wait a bit, but God will show a +way, and we'll conquer this old devil of indifference yet." He paused +and drew a long breath. "Well, I found a big house that is for sale; +jes' the thing we need; and it could be bought and fixed up in +first-class shape fer about nine hundred dollars. I sold the property +myself to Mr. Udell, fer fifteen hundred, 'bout a year ago; an' I want +to tell you young folks, right now, that whether he's a Christian er +not, George Udell is the whitest man in this city, and the fellow what +says anythin' again him's got me to whip." The old gentleman paused +and glared about him, without a thought of how his words sounded; but +the young people, who knew him well, only answered with a clapping of +hands, which was a tribute to Uncle Bobbie's heart and character, +rather than to his unconscious recklessness of speech or love for the +man whom he championed. But when he went on to say that of all the men +he had interviewed, church members and all, only Udell had met him +half way, and had agreed to give the lot if they would raise the money +to pay for the house, they applauded with a vim, the generosity of the +printer. + +"Just think," said Uncle Bobbie, "that among all the church members +in this city, I couldn't raise two hundred dollars fer such a cause. +One of 'em said no, because he'd jes' bought a new span of carriage +hosses. Huh! I told him he might ride to Hell behind fine bosses but +he'd not feel any better when he got there. 'Nother said he'd jes' put +five hundred dollars into the new lodge temple, and that he couldn't +spend any more. I asked him if Jesus was a member of his lodge, and +he said he reckoned not. I said, Well, we want to build a home for +Christ, and you say you can't. Seems to me if I was you I wouldn't +call Christ my redeemer in prayer meeting so much. 'Nother had just +fixed his home. 'Nother had just put in a new stock of goods; and so +with 'em all. They all had some excuse handy, and I don't know what +to do. I'm up a stump this time fer sure. We've got the material to +work up; we've got the people to buy the goods; we've got the lot; and +there we're stuck, fer we can't get the house. _I_ can't anyway. We're +jes' like the feller that went fishin'; had a big basket to carry home +his fish; a nice new jointed pole with a reel and fixin's, a good +strong linen line, an' a nice bait box full of big fat worms, an' when +he got to the river he didn't have no hook, and the fish just swum +'round under his nose an' laughed at him 'cause he couldn't touch +'em--and still I believe that God will show us the way yet, 'though +mebbe not. Perhaps taint fer the best fer us to do this; to-be-sure +though I thought it was, and so did Brother Cameron; and so did you. +But I don't know--" And the old man took his seat. + +After a long silence, one or two offered suggestions but could not +help matters. Rev. Cameron was called for and tried to speak +encouragingly, but it was hard work, and it seemed that the plans were +coming to an inglorious end, when Clara Wilson sprang to her feet. + +"I'm not a bit surprised at this," she said, while the young people, +forgetting the praise they had just bestowed upon George Udell, thought +that her rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes were caused by her excitement. +"I don't wonder that the business men won't go into such a scheme. +They haven't any faith in it. It isn't so much that they've not got +the money or don't want to help, but it's because they don't trust the +church. They have seen so many things started, and have supported so +many, and still no real good comes of it, that they're all afraid. +They put money into their lodges because they see the results there. +I believe there has been more wealth put into the churches than has +ever been put into lodges; but all we've got to show for it is fine +organs, fine windows, and fine talk, while the lodges do practical +work. We can't expect folks to take hold of our plan until we show +what we are going to do. We are starting at the wrong end. We haven't +done anything ourselves yet. I wish I was a man, I'd show you," with +a snap of her black eyes. + +"Yo're a pretty good feller if you ain't a man," chuckled Uncle Bobbie. +This raised a laugh and made them all feel better. + +"That's all right; you can laugh if you want to," said Clara, "but I +tell you we can do it if we have a mind to. Why, there is enough jewelry +here tonight to raise more than half the amount. Let's not give up now +that we've gone so far. Let's have a big meeting of the Society, and +have speeches, and tell what has been done, and see what we can raise. +Just make the people believe we are going to have this thing anyway. +Mr. President, I move you that we have an open meeting of the Society +one week from next Sunday, and that a special committee be appointed +to work up a good program." + +Cameron jumped to his feet. "With all my heart, I second that motion." +And before the president could speak, a storm of Ayes was followed by +prolonged applause. Clara was promptly named chairman of the committee, +and in a few minutes they were trooping from the building, out into +the storm, but with warm hearts and merry voices. + +George Udell had not been to call on Miss Wilson since the night he +found the man frozen in the streets. Indeed, he had not even spoken +to her since the funeral. He had seen her though, once when she had +met him on the street with several friends, and several times when he +had glanced up from his work by the window as she had passed the office. +All this was strange to Clara. What could be the matter? George had +never acted so before. She wanted to talk to him about the incident +of that stormy night when they had parted so abruptly. She wanted him +to know how proud she was that he had proven so kind in the matter of +the funeral. "What a warm heart he has beneath all his harsh speeches," +she thought; and could not help but contrast him, much to his credit, +with many professed Christians she knew. And then, Mr. Wicks had spoken, +in the business meeting, of his generosity, and had talked so strongly +of his goodness; no wonder her cheeks burned with pride, while her +heart whispered strange things. + +When the young woman had said Good-night to her companions, after the +meeting, and had shut herself in her room, she asked again and again, +was she right in always saying No? Was she not unnecessarily cruel to +the friend who had shown, and was showing himself, so worthy of her +love? Oh why was he not a Christian? And when Mrs. Wilson crept into +her daughter's room that night, to get an extra comfort from the closet, +to put over the little boy's crib, she was much surprised to see a big +tear, that glistened in the light of the lamp, roll from beneath the +dark lashes, as her eldest child lay sobbing in her sleep. + +The next morning the girl was strangely silent and went about her work +without the usual cheery whistle--for Clara would whistle; it was her +only musical accomplishment. But toward noon, after arousing from a +prolonged spell of silent staring into the fire, during which her +mother tried in vain to draw her into conversation, she suddenly became +her own bright self again, and went about getting dinner in her usual +manner. Then when the dishes were washed, she appeared in her street +dress and hat. + +"Land sakes alive, child, you aint going out to-day, be you?" said +Mrs. Wilson, her hands on her hips, in her usual attitude of amazement +or wrath. + +"Yes mother, I've got a little business down-town that I can't put +off. I won't be gone long. Is there anything that I can do for you?" + +"But look how it's snowing; you'll be wet through and catch your death +sure. I wish to goodness you'd have more sense and try to take some +care of yourself." + +"Not the first time I've been wet. The walk will do me good." And soon +the determined young lady was pushing her way through the snow and +wind toward the business part of the city. + +The boy in the printing office had gone out on an errand and George +and Dick were both at the composing case, setting up a local +politician's speech, which was to be issued in the form of a circular, +when Clara walked in, stamping her feet and shaking the snow from her +umbrella and skirt. Udell started forward. + +"Great shade of the immortal Benjamin F!" he shouted. "What in the +name of all that's decent are you doing here?" And he placed a chair +near the stove with one hand as he captured the umbrella with the +other. + +"I'm going to get warm just now," Clara replied, with an odd little +laugh, and Dick noticed that the wind, or cold, or something, had made +her face very red. "Come here and sit down," she commanded. "I want +to talk business to you. Don't stand there as though you had never +seen me before." + +"Well, it has been ages since I saw you," he declared, seating himself +on the edge of the waste-box. + +"Yes, all of twenty-four hours. I passed you yesterday and you looked +me right in the face, and never even said 'Howdy.' If you were anyone +else, George Udell, I'd make you wait awhile before you got another +chance to do me that way." + +George drummed on the edge of the box and whistled softly. Then looking +anxiously toward Dick, said: "How are you getting along with that +stuff, old man?" + +"Almost through," answered Dick, with a never-to-be-forgotten wink. +"But I believe I'll run off those dodgers on the big press, and let +you finish the politics." + +"All right, I reckon that'll be better," answered Udell; and soon the +whir of the motor, and the stamp of the press filled the room. + +"We are awfully busy now," said Udell, turning to Clara again. +"I ought to be at work this minute." + +"Why haven't you been to see me, George?" persisted the girl, a strange +light coming into her eyes. "There are so many things I want to talk +to you about." + +"Thought I'd let you come and see me awhile; turn about is fair play. +Besides, I don't think it would be safe in this cold weather. It's +chilly enough business even in the summer time." + +Clara held out manfully--or--womanly--"George Udell; you knew very +well that I would come here if you staid away from my home; and it's +real mean of you, when you knew how bad I wanted to see you, to make +me come out in all this snow." + +George looked troubled. "I'll take my death of cold, and then how'll +you feel?--" George looked still more worried--"I've not felt very +well lately anyway--" George looked frightened; "and I--came all the +way--down here--just to see what was the matter." The printer looked +happy. "And now you don't want me to stay, and I'll go home again." +She moved toward her umbrella, Udell got it first. Whir--Whir--went +the motor, and clank--clank--clank--sounded the press. Dick was feeding +the machine and must necessarily keep his eyes on his work, while the +noise prevented any stray bits of the conversation from reaching his +ears. Besides this, Dick was just now full of sympathy. Clara let go +her end of the umbrella, and George, with an exaggerated expression +of rapture on his face, kissed the place where her hand had held it. +The young lady tried to frown and look disgusted. Then for several +moments neither spoke. At last Clara said, "I wanted to tell you how +proud and glad I am of the things you have been doing. You are a good +man, George, to take care of that poor dead boy the way you did." + +"Why, you see I had a sort of fellow-feeling for him," muttered the +printer. "I had just been frosted myself." + +"And that Young People's Society business, it is just grand," went on +Clara. "Only think, you have given more than all the church members +even." + +Udell grunted, "No danger of me losing on that offer. They'll never +raise the rest." + +"Oh yes we will. I'm chairman of the committee." And then she told him +of the meeting, and how Uncle Bobbie had praised him. + +Udell felt his heart thaw rapidly, and the two chatted away as though +no chilly blast had ever come between them. + +"And yet, Clara, with all your professed love for me, you won't allow +me a single privilege of a lover, and I can have no hope of the future. +It had better stop now." + +"Very well, George; it can stop now if you like; but I never could +have lived without talking it out with you and telling you how glad +I am for your gift to the Society." + +"Look here, don't you go and make any mistakes on that line. I'm giving +nothing to the Society or the church. That bit of land goes to the +poor, cold, hungry fellows, who are down on their luck, like Dick here +was. I tell you what though, Clara, if you'll say yes, I'll add the +house and enough to furnish it besides." + +The girl hesitated for just a moment. Here was temptation added to +temptation. Then she pulled on her rubbers and rose to go. "No, George, +No, I cannot. You know you would not need to buy me if I felt it right +to say yes." + +"But I'm going to keep on asking you just the same," said George. +"You won't get angry if I keep it up, will you?" + +"I--guess--not. I feel rather badly when you don't. I don't like to +say no; but I would feel awful if you didn't give me a chance to say +it. Good-bye George." + +"Good-bye dearest. You can't forbid me loving you anyway, and some day +you'll take me for what I am." + +Clara shook her head. "You know," she said. + +As the door closed, Dick wheeled around from the press, holding out +his ink-stained hand to George. + +"What's the matter?" said the other wonderingly, but grasping the +outstretched hand of his helper. + +"I want to shake hands with a man, that's all," said Dick. "Why don't +you join the church and win her?" + +"Because if I did that I wouldn't be worthy of her," said George. + +"You have strange ideas for this day and age." + +"Yes, I know; but I can't help it; wish I could." + +"You're a better man than half the church members." + +George shook his head. "It won't do, Dickie, and you know it as well +as I. That's too big a thing to go into for anything but itself. What +is it mother used to say? No other Gods before me, or something like +that." + +And Dick said to himself as he turned back to the press, "I have indeed, +shaken hands with a man." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +The night was at hand when the young people were to hold their special +meeting in the interest of the new movement. Clara Wilson had worked +incessantly, and when at last the evening arrived, was calm and well +satisfied. Whether the effort proved a success or not, she would be +content, for she had done her best. + +The incident of the man found frozen to death on the steps of the +church, still so fresh in the minds of the citizens, the flying rumors +about Dick's visit to the Society, and the plans of the young people, +all served to arouse public curiosity to such a pitch that the place +of meeting was crowded, many even standing in the rear of the room. +After the opening services, which were very impressive but short, and +the purpose of the Society and the proposed plan of work had been fully +explained, Uncle Bobbie told, in his simple way, of the work that had +been done; how the young people had called on him; how they had gone +from house to house, through the cold and snow; and how he had +interviewed the business men, many of whom he saw in the audience. +"To-be-sure," he said, "I don't suppose you understood the matter fully +or you would have been glad to help; but we'll give ye another chance +in a minute." Then he told of the last business meeting; how they were +encouraged when the reports came in that the citizens had responded +so liberally; and how he had been forced to tell them that he had met +with nothing but failure in his attempt to secure a house. "I just +tell you, it made my old heart ache to see them young folks tryin' to +do some practical work for Christ, come up agin a stump like that. I +wish you church members could have seen 'em and heard 'em pray. I tell +you it was like Heaven; that's what it was; with the angels weepin' +over us poor sinners 'cause we won't do our duty." + +The old gentleman finished, amid a silence that was almost painful, +while many were leaning eagerly forward in their seats. The great +audience was impressed by the scheme and work so practical and +Christ-like. This was no theory, no doctrine of men, no dogma of a +denomination. + +The pastor of the Jerusalem Church stepped to the front of the rostrum +and raised his hand. Without a word the people reverently bowed their +heads. After a moment of silent prayer, the minister voiced the +unuttered words of all, in a few short sentences: "God help us to help +others," and then in clear, earnest tones began to speak. He recalled +to their minds the Saviour of men, as he walked and talked in Galilee. +He pictured the Christ feeding the hungry and healing the sick. He +made them hear again the voice that spake as never man spake before, +giving forth that wonderful sermon on the mount, and pronouncing his +blessing on the poor and merciful. Again the audience stood with the +Master when he wept at the grave of Lazarus, and with him sat at the +last supper, when he introduced the simple memorial of his death and +love. Then walking with him across the brook Kedron, they entered the +shadows of the Olive trees and heard the Saviour pray while his +disciples slept. "If it be possible, let this cup pass from me. +Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done." And then they stood +with the Jewish mob, clamoring for his blood; and later with the Roman +soldiery, grouped at the foot of the cross, where hung the brother of +men, and heard that wonderful testimony of his undying love. "Father +forgive them, they know not what they do." Then under the spell of +Cameron's speech, they looked into the empty tomb and felt their hearts +throb in ecstasy, as the full meaning of that silent vault burst upon +them. Looking up they saw their risen Lord seated at the right hand +of the Father, glorified with the glory that was his in the beginning; +and then, then, they looked where the Master pointed, to the starving, +shivering, naked ones of earth, and heard with new understanding, those +oft repeated words, "Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of +these, ye did it unto me." "Men and brethren," cried the pastor, +stretching out his arms in the earnestness of his appeal, "what shall +we do? Shall there be no place in all this city where the least of +these may find help in the name of our common Master? Must our brothers +perish with cold and hunger because we close the doors of the Saviour's +church against them? These young people, led by a deep desire to do +God's will, have gone as far as they can alone. Their plan has been +carefully studied by good business men and pronounced practical in +every way. They have the promised support of the merchants in supplying +material. They have the promised patronage of the citizens; and a man, +not a professed Christian, but with a heart that feels for suffering +humanity has given the land. In the name of Jesus, to help the least +of these, won't you buy the house?" + +The deacons, with the baskets and paper and pencils, started through +the congregation. In a moment Mr. Godfrey went back to Cameron and +placed something in his hand. The pastor, after listening a moment to +the whispered words of his officer, turned to the audience and said: +"At our last meeting, one of the young people made the remark that +there were jewels enough on the persons of those present to pay half +the amount needed. Brother Godfrey has just handed me this diamond +ring, worth I should say, between forty and fifty dollars. It was +dropped into the basket by a member of the Young People's Society. +Friends, do you need any more proof that these young folks are in +earnest?" + +At last the offering was taken, and the deacons reported one thousand +dollars in cash, and pledges, payable at once. "And perhaps," said the +leader, "I ought to say, in jewelry also." And he held up to the gaze +of the audience a handful of finger rings, scarf-pins, ear-rings and +ornaments, and a gold watch, in the ease of which was set a tiny +diamond. + +Again for a moment a deep hush fell over the vast congregation as they +sat awed by this evidence of earnestness. Then the minister raised his +voice in prayer that God would bless the offering and use it in his +service, and the audience was dismissed. + +Dick did not sleep well that night. Something Cameron had said in his +talk, together with the remarkable gifts of the young people, had +impressed him. He had gone to the church more from curiosity than +anything, and had come away with a feeling of respect for Christians, +that was new to him. As he thought of the jewelry, given without the +display of name or show of hands, he said to himself, "Surely these +people are in earnest." Then, too, under the spell of Cameron's talk, +he saw always before him the figure of the Christ as he lived his life +of sacrifice and love, and heard him command, "Follow thou me." In the +meantime at the church he had seen people doing just that, following +Him; doing as He did; and the whole thing impressed him as nothing had +ever done before. So, when he went to the office next morning and found +Udell strangely silent and apparently in a brown study, he was not at +all surprised, and asked, "What's the matter, George? Didn't you sleep +well last night either? Or did the thoughts of having been so generous +with your property keep you awake?" + +"The property hasn't anything to do with it," answered Udell. "It's +what that preacher said; and not so much that either, I guess, as what +those young folks did. I've been thinking about that handful of jewelry; +if I hadn't seen it I wouldn't have believed it. Say, do you know that +a few sermons like those gold trinkets would do more to convert the +world than all the theological seminaries that ever bewildered the +brains of poor preachers?" + +"Right you are, George, but is it true?" + +"Is what true?" asked the other. + +"Why, what Cameron said about Christ being the Saviour of men, and all +that." + +The printer paused in his work. "What do _you_ say?" he asked as last, +without answering Dick's question. + +"Well," answered Dick slowly, "I've tried hard for several years, to +make an infidel of myself, because I couldn't stand the professions +of the church, and their way of doing things. But that meeting last +night was different, and I was forced to the conclusion, in spite of +myself, that Cameron spoke the truth, and that Christ is what he claimed +to be, the Saviour of mankind, in the truest, fullest sense of the +word. I'm sure of this. I have always wished that it were true, and +have always believed that the Christian life, as Christ taught it, +would be the happiest life on earth. But there's the rub. Where can +a fellow go to live the life, and why are you and I not living it as +well as the people who have their names on the church books? Must I +join a company of canting hypocrites in order to get to Heaven?" + +"Seems to me that word is a little strong for those who put up their +rings and stuff last night," said Udell; "and anyway, I know one in +the crowd who was in earnest." + +"You are right, George," returned Dick. "I spoke harshly. I know there +are earnest ones in the church, but I don't see how they stand it. But +you're dodging my question. Do you believe in Christ as the Saviour +of men?" + +"Folks say that I'm an infidel," answered George. + +"I don't care what folks say, I want to know what you think about it." + +"I don't know," said George. "Sometimes, when I listen to the preachers, +I get so befuddled and mixed up that there's nothing but a big pile +of chaff, with now and then a few stray grains of truth, and the parson +keeps the air so full of the dust and dirt that you'd rather he wouldn't +hunt for the grain of truth at all. Then I'm an infidel. And again I +see something like that last night, and I believe it must be true. And +then I think of Clara, and am afraid to believe because I fear it's +the girl and not the truth I'm after. You see, I want to believe so +bad that I'm afraid I'll make myself believe what I don't believe. +There, now you can untangle that while you run off that batch of cards. +It's half-past eight now and we have not done a blessed thing this +morning." He turned resolutely to his task of setting up another speech +for the local politician. + +"George, what in the world does this mean?" asked Dick, about two hours +later, holding up a proof sheet that he had just taken from the form +George had placed on the stone, and reading: "When Patrick Henry said, +Give me liberty or give me Clara, he voiced a sentiment of every +American church member." + +George flushed. "Guess you'd better set up the rest of this matter," +he said gruffly. "I'll run the press awhile." He laid down his stick +and put the composing case between himself and Dick as soon as possible. + +"That bloomin' politician must be crazy," said the boy, as he scrubbed +wearily at an inky roller, with a dirty rag. "Old Pat. Henry never +said no such stuff as that, did he George?" + +"You dry up," was all the answer he received. + +All that week and the week following, Dick's mind fastened itself upon +the proposition: Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and the Saviour of +men. At intervals during working hours at the office, he argued the +question with Udell, who after his strange rendering of the great +statesman's famous speech, had relapsed into infidelity, and with all +the strength of his mind, opposed Dick in his growing belief. The +evenings were spent with Charlie Bowen, in discussing the same question. +And here it was Charlie who assumed the affirmative and Dick as stoutly +championed Udell's position. At last, one day when Dick had driven his +employer into a corner, the latter ended the debate forever, by saying +rather sharply, "Well, if I believed as you do, I'd stand before men +and say so. No matter what other folks believed, did or said, if a man +was so good as to give me all the things that you say Christ has given +to the world, I would stand by him, dead or alive. And I don't see why +you can't be as honest with Him as you are with men." And Charlie +clinched the matter that evening by saying, "Dick, if I thought you +really believed your own arguments, I wouldn't talk with you five +minutes, for the doctrine you are teaching is the most hopeless thing +on earth. But I can't help feeling that if you would be as honest with +yourself as you are with others, you wouldn't take that side of the +question. Suppose you preach awhile from your favorite, Shakespeare, +taking for your text, 'This above all, To thine own self be true, and +it must follow as the night the day. Thou canst not then be false to +any man.'" + +There were no more arguments after that, but Dick went over in his +mind the experience of the past; how he had seen, again and again, +professed Christians proving untrue to their Christ. He looked at the +church, proud, haughty, cold, standing in the very midst of sin and +suffering, and saying only, "I am holier than thou." He remembered his +first evening in Boyd City, and his reception after prayer-meeting, +at the church on the avenue, and his whole nature revolted at the +thought of becoming one of them. Then he remembered that meeting of +the Young People and the unmistakable evidence of their love, and the +words of Uncle Bobbie Wicks in the printing office that rainy night: +"You'll find out, same as I have, that it don't matter how much the +other fellow dabbles in the dirt, you've got to keep your hands clean +anyway. And it aint the question whether the other fellow is mean or +not, but am I living square?" + +And so it was, that when he went to church Sunday evening, his heart +was torn with conflicting emotions, and he slipped into a seat in the +rear of the building, when the ushers were all busy, so that even +Charlie did not know he was there. Cameron's sermon was from the text, +"What is that to thee? Follow thou me." And as he went on with his +sermon, pointing out the evils of the church, saying the very things +that Dick had said to himself again and again, but always calling the +mind of his hearers back to the words of Jesus, "What is that to thee? +Follow thou me," Dick felt his objections vanish, one by one, and the +great truth alone remain. The minister brought his talk to a close, +with an earnest appeal for those who recognized the evils that existed +in the church, because it was not following Christ as closely as it +ought, to come and help right the wrongs, Dick arose, went forward, +and in a firm voice, answered the question put by the minister, thus +declaring before men his belief in Christ as the Son of God, and +accepting Him as his personal Saviour. + +As he stood there, the audience was forgotten. The past, with all its +mistakes and suffering, its doubt and sin, came before him for an +instant, then vanished, and his heart leaped for joy, because he knew +that it was gone forever. And the future, made beautiful by the presence +of Christ and the conviction that he was right with God, stretched +away as a path leading ever upward, until it was lost in the glories +of the life to come, while he heard, as in a dream, the words of his +confessed Master, "Follow: thou me." + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +George was busy in the stock room getting out some paper for a lot of +circulars that Dick had just finished setting up, when the door opened +and Amy Goodrich entered. "Good Morning, Mr. Falkner," as Dick left +his work and went forward to greet her. "I must have some new calling +cards. Can you get them ready for me by two o'clock this afternoon? +Mamma and I had planned to make some calls and I only discovered last +night that I was out of cards. You have the plate here in the office, +I believe." + +"Yes," said Dick, "the plate is here. I guess we can have them ready +for you by that time." + +"And Mr. Falkner," said the girl, "I want to tell you how glad I was +when you took the stand you did Sunday night." + +Dick's face flushed and he looked at her keenly. "I have thought for +a long time, that you would become a Christian, and have often wondered +why you waited. The church needs young men and you can do so much +good." + +"You are very kind." said Dick, politely. "I am sure that your interest +will be a great inspiration to me, and I shall need all the help I can +get. In fact, we all do, I guess." + +A shadow crossed the lovely face, and a mist dimmed the brightness of +the brown eyes for a moment before she replied. "Yes, we do need help; +all of us; and I am sure you will aid many. Will you enter the +ministry?" + +"Enter the ministry," replied Dick, forgetting his studied coolness +of manner. "What in the world suggested that? Do I look like a +preacher?" + +They both laughed heartily. + +"Well no, I can't say that you do. At least I wouldn't advise you to +go into the pulpit with that apron and that cap on; and the spot of +ink on the end of your nose is not very dignified." + +Dick hastily applied his handkerchief to the spot, while Amy, like a +true woman, stood laughing at his confusion. "But seriously," she +added, after a moment, "I was not joking. I do think you could do grand +work if you were to enter the field. Somehow, I have always felt that +you exerted a powerful influence over all with whom you came in touch. +Let me make a prophecy; you will yet be a preacher of the Gospel." + +"I'm sure," said Dick, "that if I truly came to believe it to be my +work, I would not refuse. But that is a question which time alone can +answer. Do you remember the first time we met?" + +"Indeed I do," the girl replied, laughing again. "It was right here, +and you met with an accident at the same time." + +Dick's face grew red again. "I should say I did," he muttered. +"I acted like a frightened fool." + +"Oh, but you redeemed yourself beautifully though. I have one of those +little books yet. I shall always keep it; and when you get to be a +famous preacher, I'll exhibit my treasure, and tell how the Rev. Mr. +Richard Falkner sat up late one night to design the cover for me, when +he was only a poor printer." + +"Yes," retorted Dick, "and I'll tell the world how I went to my first +church social, and what a charming young lady I met, who told me how +much I reminded her of someone she knew." + +It was Amy's time to blush now, and she did so very prettily as she +hurriedly said, "Let's change the subject. I ought not to be keeping +you from your work. Mr. Udell will be asking me to stay away from the +office." + +"Oh, we're not rushed today," said Dick, hastily, "and I'll make up +all lost time." + +"So you consider this lost time, do you?" with a quick little bow. +"Thank you, then it's surely time for me to go;" and she turned to +leave the room, but Dick checked her. + +"Oh, Miss Goodrich, you know I did not mean that." Something in his +voice made her eyes drop as he added, "You don't know how much I enjoy +talking with you; not that I have had many such pleasures though, but +just a word helps me more than I can say." He stopped, because he dare +not go farther, and wondered at himself that he had said even so much. + +"Do you really mean, Mr. Falkner, that you care at all for my +friendship?" + +"More than the friendship of any one in the world," he replied, +earnestly. + +"Why?" + +Dick was startled and turned away his head lest his eyes reveal too +much. "Because," he said slowly, "your friendship is good for me and +makes me want to do great things." + +"And yet, if I were not a member of the church you would not think +that way." + +"I would think that way, no matter what you were," said Dick. + +"You would still value my friendship if I should do some awful wicked +thing?" she asked. "Suppose I should leave the church, or run away, +or steal, or kill somebody, or do something real terrible?" + +Dick smiled and shook his head. "Nothing you could ever do would make +me change. But tell me," he added; "you're not thinking of giving up +your church work, are you?" + +"Why do you ask?" said she quickly. + +"You'll pardon me won't you, if I tell you. I can't help noticing that +you are not so much at the meetings of the Society as you were; and +that--well--you don't seem--somehow--to take the interest you did. And +you have given up your class at the South Broadway Mission." + +"How do you know that?" + +"I asked Brother Cameron if there was any place for me out there, and +he said, yes, that your class was without a teacher now." + +"So you are to have my boys at the Mission. Oh, I am so glad." And her +eyes filled. "Don't let them forget me altogether, Mr. Falkner." + +"But won't you come back and teach them yourself?" + +"No, no; you do not understand; I must give it up. But you'll do better +than I anyway, because you can get closer to them. You understand that +life so well." + +"Yes," he said, very soberly. "I do understand that life very well +indeed." + +"Oh, forgive me, I didn't mean to pain you." She laid her hand timidly +on his arm. "I admire you so much for what you have overcome, and +that's what makes me say that you can do a great deal, now that you +are through with it. You must forget those things that are behind, you +know." + +"Yes," murmured Dick, "those things _are_ behind, and I can do all +things through Him; but may I also have the help of thinking of you +as my friend?" + +Amy blushed again. "Please notice," said Dick, quietly, "I said of +_thinking_ of you as my friend." + +The girl put out her hand. "Mr. Falkner, just as long as you wish, you +may think of me as your friend. But I want you to pray for me, that +I may be worthy your friendship, for I too, have my battles to fight." +And she smiled. "Good-bye. You were so funny when you fell off the +stool that day, but I like you better as you are now." Then suddenly +the room grew dark and close, and as Dick turned again to his work, +he heard a voice within whispering, "Only in your thoughts can she be +your friend." + +Adam Goodrich was just coming out of the express office, which was in +the same block as the printing establishment, when he saw his daughter +leave the building and cross the street. All that day the incident +persisted in forcing itself upon his mind, and that night, after the +younger members of the family had retired, and he and Mrs Goodrich +were alone, he laid aside his evening paper and asked, "What was Amy +doing at Udell's place today?" + +"She went to have some calling cards printed. Why, what made you ask?" + +"Oh nothing. I saw her coming from the building, and I wondered what +she was doing there, that's all." He picked up his paper again, but +in a moment laid it down once more. "That fellow Falkner joined the +church last Sunday night." + +"So Frank told me," answered Mrs. Goodrich. "I do wish Rev. Cameron +would be more careful. He gets so many such characters into the church. +Why can't he keep them out at the Mission where they belong, and not +force us to associate with them?" + +Mr. Goodrich spoke again. "I suppose he will be active in the Young +People's Society now. Does Amy still take as much interest there as +she did?" + +"Oh no, not nearly as much as she used to. I have tried to show her +that it was not her place to mix in that kind of work, and she's +beginning to understand her position, and to see that she can't afford +to lower herself and us, by running after such people. I don't +understand where she gets such low tastes." + +"She don't get them from the Goodrich's, I'm sure," answered Adam. +"You know _our_ family was never guilty of anything that could +compromise their standing in society." + +"Well, she will outgrow it all in time, I am sure. I have been as +careful in her training as I could, Mr. Goodrich. It is a hard task +to raise girls, and make them understand their position when they're +Amy's age; but she's taking up her social duties again now. We are to +make some calls tomorrow, and Thursday night, she has accepted an +invitation to the card party at Mrs. Lansdown's; and Mr. Whitley has +called frequently of late. I have great hopes, for she seems to be +quite interested in him." + +"Yes," agreed Adam. "Whitley is worth while; he is of a good family, +and without doubt, the richest man in Boyd City. It would be a great +thing for us. It's time he was thinking about a wife too. He must be +well on toward forty." + +"Oh dear no; he can't be more than thirty-five; he was quite young +when he went abroad, and you remember that was only five years ago." + +"Well, well, it's no matter; he's young enough. But does she see much +of that printer of Udell's?" + +"Why, of course not; what a question. She would have nothing to do +with him." + +"But she has met him at the socials and in the Society. He would +naturally pose as a sort of hero, for he was the one who suggested +that fool plan that Cameron is working on; and now that he has joined +the church, she must see more or less of him. I tell you, he's a sharp +fellow. Look how he has been quietly worming himself into decent society +since he got hold of that reading room. There is no knowing what such +a man will do, and Amy naturally would be a good mark for him." + +"I'm sure I am doing the best I can," faltered Mrs. Goodrich; "but +you'd better talk to her yourself; with Mr. Whitley so interested, we +must be careful. I do wish she would be more like Frank. He has never +given us a moment's trouble." + +"Yes," said the father, with no little pride manifest in his voice and +manner. "Frank is a Goodrich through and through. Amy seems to take +more after your people." + +Mrs. Goodrich sighed. "I'm sorry, but I don't see how I can help it." + +The next day, after dinner, Mr. Goodrich found his daughter alone in +the library, where she had gone with a bit of fancy work, which girls +manage to have always about them. "Frank tells me that Mr. Falkner has +united with the church," he remarked, carelessly. + +"Yes," said Amy, "I am so glad. The church needs such young men, I +think." + +"He is quite a shrewd fellow, isn't he?" continued her father. + +"He's very intelligent, I'm sure. You know it was he who proposed the +plan for our new institution, and Mr. Wicks and Brother Cameron think +it is very fine." + +"Does he use good language in his conversation?" + +"Oh yes sir, indeed. He is a very interesting talker. He has traveled +so much, and read almost everything. I tell him I think he ought to +preach." + +"Hum. And will he, do you think?" + +"He said he would if he were convinced it was his work." + +"Where did he live before he came here?" + +"Oh, he has lived in nearly all the big cities. He was in Kansas City +last." + +"And what did his father do?" + +"His mother died when he was a little boy, and his father drank himself +to death, or something. He won't talk about his family much. He did +say though, that his father was a mechanic. I believe that he tells +Mr. Udell more about his past than anyone." + +"And did Udell tell you all this?" + +"No," answered Amy, who suddenly saw what was coming. + +"How do you know so much about him then?" + +"He told me." + +"Indeed. You seem to be on very good terms with this hero. How long +were you at the printing office yesterday? I saw you leaving the +building." + +Amy was silent, but her burning cheeks convinced her father that he +had cause to be alarmed. + +"Did you talk with him when you were there?" + +"Yes sir; he waited on me." + +"And do you think it is a credit to your family to be so intimate with +a tramp who was kicked out of my place of business?" + +"Oh father, that is not true--I mean, sir, that you do not +understand--Mr. Falkner is not a tramp. He was out of work and applied +to you for a place. Surely that is not dishonest. And that he wanted +to work for you ought not to be used against him. He has never in any +way shown himself anything but a gentleman, and is much more modest +and intelligent than many of the young men in Boyd City who have fine +homes. I am sure we ought not to blame him because he has to fight his +own way in the world, instead of always having things brought to him. +If you knew him better, you wouldn't talk so." She spoke rapidly in +her excitement. + +"You seem to know him very well when you champion him so strongly that +you call your own father a liar," replied Adam, harshly. + +"Oh papa," said Amy, now in tears. "I did not mean to say that. I only +meant that you were mistaken because you did not know. I cannot help +talking to Mr. Falkner when I meet him in the Young People's Society. +I have not been anywhere in his company, and only just speak a few +words when we do meet. You wouldn't have me refuse to recognize him +in the church, would you? Surely, father, Christ wants us to be helpful, +doesn't he?" + +"Christ has nothing to do with this case," said Adam. "I simply will +not have my daughter associating with such characters; and another +thing, you must give up that Mission business. I believe that's where +you get these strange ideas." + +"I have already given up my work there," said Amy, sadly. "Mr. +Falkner has taken my class." + +"Which is just the place for him. But don't you go there again. And +if you have any printing that must be done at Udell's, send it by +Frank, or someone. You understand, I forbid you to have any conversation +whatever with that man. I'll see if such fellows are going to work +themselves into my family." + +Amy's face grew crimson again. "You must learn," went on the angry +parent, "that the church is a place for you to listen to a sermon, and +that it's the preacher's business to look after all these other details; +that's what we hire him for. Let him get people from the lower classes +to do his dirty work; he shan't have my daughter. Christianity is all +right, and I trust I'm as good a Christian as anyone; but a man need +not make a fool of himself to get to Heaven, and I'm only looking out +for my own family's interest. If you wish to please me you will drop +this Young People's foolishness altogether, and go more into society. +I wish you would follow Frank's example. He is a good church member +but he don't let it interfere with his best interests. He has plenty +of friends and chooses his associates among the first families in the +city. _He_ don't think it necessary to take up with every vagabond +Cameron chooses to drag into the church. Remember, it must stop." And +the careful father took his hat and left for the place on Broadway, +where on the shelves and behind the counters of his hardware store he +kept the God he really worshipped. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +The year following Dick's stand for Christianity, an open air theater +was established in the park on West Fourth Street, near the outskirts +of the city, which was advertised by its enterprising manager as a +very respectable place, well looked after by the police. It is true +that the shows were but cheap variety and vulgar burlesque, and of +course liquor, as well as more harmless drinks, was sold freely; and +equally of course, the lowest of the criminal classes were regular +attendants. But, with all that, there was something terribly fascinating +in the freedom of the place. And all too often, on a Sunday evening, +while the pure, fragrant air of summer was polluted by the fumes of +tobacco and beer, while low plays were enacted on the stage, and the +sound of drunken laugh or shout went out, young men and women mingled, +half frightened, in the careless throng. + +Among a certain set of Boyd City's gay young society people, to spend +an evening at the park was just the thing to do; and often they might +be seen grouped about the tables, sipping their refreshments, while +laughing at the actors on the stage, or chatting and joking among +themselves. + +On an evening in August, when our chapter opens, one such party was +even gayer than usual, and attracted no little attention from the +frequenters of the place, as well as the employes. Waiters winked at +each other and made remarks, as they hurried to and fro attending to +the wants of their guests, while people with less wealth looked on in +envy at the glittering show. The gentlemen were in evening dress, the +ladies gowned in the latest fashion, jewels and trinkets flashed, eyes +sparkled, cheeks glowed, as story and jest went round, while the ladies +sipped their refreshing sodas and the men drank their wine. + +One of the younger girls seemed a little frightened for a moment as +she caught the eye of a waiter fastened upon her in anything but a +respectful glance, and gave the fellow such a look in return that he +dropped a napkin in his confusion. "I tell you, Bill," he said to his +companion at the bar, where he had gone to get more drinks for the +company, "that's a fast lot all right, but there's one in the bunch +that can't go the pace." + +But the waiter was evidently mistaken, for that same girl, after a +glance around which revealed to her that she and her companions were +the center of all eyes, tossed her head as though getting rid of some +unpleasant thoughts, and turning to her escort, with a reckless laugh, +asked him why he kept the best for himself. "I don't think it fair, +girls," she declared in a loud voice. "We have as good a right to that +nice wine as the boys have. I move that we make them treat us as well +as they treat themselves." + +"Done," cried one of the men before the others could object, even had +they so desired; and in a moment another bottle, with more glasses, +was set before them. The girl who had proposed the thing only drank +a little. Something seemed to choke her when she lifted the glass to +her lips, and she set it down again almost untasted. "Ugh," she said, +"I don't like it," and a laugh went around at her expense. + +"Take it. Take it. You must. You started it you know." + +"I can't," she protested. "Here Jim," to her companion, who had already +taken more than was good for him. "You must help me out." And she +handed him the glass. + +"Glad to help a lady always," he declared. "Notisch please, gen'lemen, +I set y' good example. Alwaysh come to the rescue of fair ones in +trouble--" He drained the glass. "Anybody else in trouble?" he said, +looking around the table with a half tipsy grin. But the other girls +had no scruples and drank their wine without a protest. + +At last the party discovered that it was time to go home, and indeed +the garden was almost deserted. One of the girls proposed that they +walk, it was such a beautiful night; and accordingly they set out, two +and two; the men reckless with wine; the ladies flushed and excited; +all singing and laughing. Not far from the park entrance, the girl who +had proposed the wine, and her companion, who was by this time more +than half intoxicated, dropped a little behind the others and soon +turned down a side street. + +"This is not the way, Jim," she said, in a tone of laughing protest. + +"Oh yesh 'tis. I know where'm goin'. Come 'long." And he caught her +by the arm. "Nicesh place down here where we can stop and resht," and +he staggered against her. + +"But I want to go home, Jim," her tone of laughing protest changed to +one of earnestness. "Father will be looking for me." + +"Hang father," said the other. "Old man don't know. Come on I tell +you." And he tried to put his arm about her waist. + +The girl was frightened now in earnest. "Stop sir," she said. + +"Why? Whash ze matter m' dear?" stammered the other. "Whash ze +harm--zash all--I'll take care you all right--Ol' man never know." And +again he clutched her arm. + +This was too much, and giving the drunken wretch a push, which sent +him tumbling into the gutter, where cursing fiercely he struggled to +regain his feet, the frightened girl, without pausing to see his +condition, or listening to his calls and threats, fled down the street. +When her companion had at last managed to stagger to the sidewalk and +could look around by clinging to the fence, she was out of sight. He +called two or three times, and then swearing vilely, started in pursuit, +reeling from side to side. The frightened girl ran on and on, paying +no heed to her course, as she turned corner after corner her only +thought being to escape from her drunken and enraged companion. + +Meanwhile, Dick Falkner was making his way home after a delightful +evening at the parsonage, where he had talked with Cameron on the +veranda until a late hour. As he was walking leisurely along through +the quiet streets, past the dark houses, enjoying the coolness of the +evening and thinking of the things that he and Cameron had been +discussing, his ear caught a strange sound, that seemed to come from +within a half finished house on North Catalpa Street, near the railroad. +He paused a moment and listened. Surely he was not mistaken. There it +was again. The sound of someone sobbing. Stepping closer and peering +into the shadow, he saw a figure crouching behind a pile of lumber. +It was a woman. + +"I beg your pardon, madam, but can I be of any help to you?" + +She started to her feet with a little cry. "Don't be frightened," said +Dick, in a calm voice. "I am a gentleman. Come, let me help you." And +stepping into the shadow, he gently led her to the light, where she +stood trembling before him. "Tell me what--My God! Amy--I beg your +pardon--Miss Goodrich." + +"Oh Mr. Falkner," sobbed the poor girl, almost beside herself with +fear. "Don't let that man come near me. I want to go home. Oh, please +take me home?" + +"There, there," said Dick, controlling himself and speaking in a steady, +matter-of-fact tone. "Of course I'll see you home. Take my arm, please. +You need have no fear. You know I'll protect you." + +Calmed by his voice and manner, the girl ceased her sobbing and walked +quietly down the street by his side. + +Dick's mind was in a whirl. "Was he dreaming? How came she here at +such an hour. Who was she afraid of? By her dress, she had been to a +social party of some kind; what did it all mean? But he spoke no word +as they walked on together. + +"Oh look," exclaimed Amy, a few moments later, as they turned east on +Sixth Street; "there he is again. Oh Mr. Falkner, what shall I do? Let +me go." And she turned to run once more. + +Dick laid his hand on her arm. "Miss Goodrich, don't you know that you +are safe with me? Be calm and tell me what you fear." Something in his +touch brought Amy to herself again and she whispered: "Don't you see +that man standing there by the light?" She pointed to a figure leaning +against a telephone pole. + +"Well, what of it?" said Dick. "He won't hurt you." + +"Oh, but you don't understand. I ran away from him. He is drunk and +threatened me." + +Dick's form straightened and his face grew hard and cold. "Ran away +from him. Do you mean that that fellow insulted you, Miss Goodrich?" + +"I--I--was with him--and--he frightened me--" gasped Amy. "Let's go +the other way." + +But they were too late. Amy's former escort had seen them, and with +uncertain steps approached. "Oh, here you are," he said. "Thought I'd +find you, my beauty." + +Dick whispered to Amy in a tone she dared not disobey. "Stand right +where you are. Don't move. And you might watch that star over there. +Isn't it a beautiful one?" He deftly turned her so that she faced away +from the drunkard. Then with three long steps, he placed himself in +the way of the half-crazed man. + +"Who are you?" asked the fellow, with an oath. + +"None of your business," replied Dick, curtly. "I'm that girl's friend. +Go to the other side of the street." + +"Ho, I know you now," cried the other. "You're that bum printer of +Udell's. Get out of my way. That girl's a lady and I'm a gentleman. +She don't go with tramps. I'll see her home myself." + +Dick spoke again. "You may be a gentleman, but you are in no condition +to see anybody home. I'll tell you just once more; cross to the other +side of the street." + +The fellow's only answer was another string of vile oaths, which however +was never finished. + +In spite of herself, Amy turned just in time to see a revolver glisten +in the light of the electric lamp; then the owner of the revolver +rolled senseless in the gutter. + +"Miss Goodrich, I told you to watch that star. Don't you find it +beautiful?" Dick's voice was calm, with just a suggestion of mild +reproach. + +"Oh Mr. Falkner, have you killed him?" + +"Killed nothing. Come." And he led her quickly past the place where +the self-styled gentleman lay. "Just a moment," he said; and turning +back, he examined the fallen man. "Only stunned," he reported +cheerfully. "He'll have a sore head for a few days; that's all. I'll +send a cab to pick him up when we get down town." + +"Mr. Falkner," said Amy, when they had walked some distance in silence. +"I don't know what you think of finding me here at this hour, but I +don't want you to think me worse than I am." And then she told him the +whole story; how she had gone to the park with her friends to spend +the evening; and how they had a few refreshments. Dick ground his +teeth; he knew what those refreshments were. Then she told how her +companion had frightened her and she had run until she was exhausted +and had stopped to hide in the unfinished house. "Oh, what must you +think of me?" she said, at the point of breaking down again. + +"I think just as I always have," said Dick simply. "Please calm +yourself, you're safe now." Then to occupy her mind, he told her of +the work the Young People's Society was doing, and how they missed her +there and at the Mission. + +"But don't you find such things rather tiresome, you know?" she asked. +"There's not much life in those meetings seems to me; I wonder now how +I ever stood them." + +"You are very busy then?" asked Dick, hiding the pain her words caused +him. + +"Oh yes; with our whist club, box parties, dances and dinners, I'm so +tired out when Sunday comes I just want to sleep all day. But one must +look after one's social duties, you know, or be a nobody; and our set +is such a jolly crowd that there's always something going." + +"And you have forgotten your class at the Mission altogether?" Dick +asked. + +"Oh no, I saw one of the little beggars on the street this summer. It +was down near the Mission building, and don't you know, we were out +driving, a whole party of us, and the little rascal shouted: 'Howdy, +Miss Goodrich.' I thought I would faint. Just fancy. And the folks did +guy me good. The gentlemen wanted to know if he was one of my flames, +and the girls all begged to be introduced; and don't you know, I got +out of it by telling them that it was the child of a woman who scrubs +for us." + +Dick said nothing. "Could it be possible?" he asked himself, "that +this was the girl who had been such a worker in the church." And then +he thought of the change in his own life in the same period of time; +a change fully as great, though in another direction. "It don't take +long to go either way if one only has help enough," he said, half +aloud. + +"What are you saying, Mr. Falkner?" asked Amy. + +"It's not far home now," answered Dick, and they fell into silence +again. + +As they neared the Goodrich mansion, Amy clasped Dick's arm with both +her little hands: "Mr. Falkner, promise me that you will never speak +to a living soul about this evening." + +Dick looked her straight in the eyes. "I am a gentleman, Miss +Goodrich," was all he said. + +Then as they reached the steps of the house, she held out her hand. +"I thank you for your kindness--and please don't think of me too +harshly. I know I am not just the girl I was a year ago, but I--do you +remember our talk at the printing office?" + +"Every word," said Dick. + +"Well, has my prophecy come true?" + +"About my preaching? No; not yet." + +"Oh, I don't mean that," with a shrug of her shoulders. "I mean about +the other. Do you still value my friendship?" + +Dick hesitated. "The truth, please," she said. "I want to know." + +"Miss Goodrich, I cannot make you understand; you know my whole life +has changed the last year." + +"Yes." + +"But my feelings toward you can never change. I do value your +friendship, for I know that your present life does not satisfy you, +and that you are untrue to your best self in living it." + +The girl drew herself up haughtily. "Indeed, you are fast becoming a +very proficient preacher," she said, coldly. + +"Wait a moment, please," interrupted Dick. "You urged me to tell the +truth. I desire your friendship, because I know the beautiful life you +could live, and because you--you--could help me to live it," his voice +broke. + +Amy held out her hand again. "Forgive me please," she said. "You are +a true friend, and I shall never, never, forget you. Oh, Mr. Falkner, +if you are a Christian pray for me before it is too late. Good-night." +And she was gone; just as her brother Frank came up the walk. + +Young Goodrich stopped short when he saw Dick, and then sprang up the +steps and into the house, just in time to see his sister going up the +stairway to her room. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +The day following Amy's adventure with her drunken escort, and her +rescue by Dick Falkner, Frank Goodrich had a long interview with his +father, which resulted in Adam's calling his daughter into his library +that evening. Without any preface whatever, he began, in an angry tone: +"I understand, Miss, that you have disobeyed my express commands in +regard to that tramp printer, and that you have been with him again; +and that too, late at night. Now I have simply to tell you that you +must choose between him and your home. I will _not_ have a child of +mine keeping such company. You must either give him up or go." + +"But father, you do not know the circumstances or you would not talk +so." + +"No circumstances can excuse your conduct; I know you were with him +and that is enough." + +"Indeed I have not disobeyed you; father, you do not understand; I was +in Mr. Falkner's company only by accident, and--" + +"Stop. Don't add a falsehood to your conduct. I understand quite enough. +Your own brother saw you bidding him an affectionate good-night at one +o'clock, on my doorstep. Such things do not happen by accident. I +wonder that you dare look me in the face after roaming the streets at +that time of night with such a disreputable character." + +"Father, I tell you you are mistaken. Won't you please let me explain?" +said Amy, almost in tears. + +But the angry man only replied, "No explanation can be made. Frank saw +you himself and that's enough; no excuse can justify such conduct. I +have only to repeat that I will not own you as my daughter if you +persist in keeping such company." + +Amy tried again to speak, but he interrupted her. "Silence, I don't +want to hear a word from you. Go to your room." + +Then the woman asserted herself and there were no tears this time, as +she said respectfully, but firmly, "Father, you _shall_ hear me. I am +not guilty of that of which you accuse me. I was in other company, +company of your own choosing, and to save myself from insult I was +forced to appeal to Mr. Falkner, who brought me safely home. He is far +more a gentleman than the men I was with, even though they are welcome +at this home; and he is not. I--" + +Adam turned fairly green with rage. "You ungrateful, disobedient girl. +How dare you say that this miserable vagabond is a fit associate for +you, and more worthy than the guests of my house? You must not think +you can deceive me and clear yourself by any trumped-up lie of his +teaching. You may have your tramp, but don't call me father. You are +no daughter of mine." And he left the room. + +It is astonishing how little the proud man knew of the real nature of +his child; a nature which rightfully understood and influenced, was +capable of any sacrifice, any hardship, for the one she loved; but +misunderstood or falsely condemned, was just as capable of reckless +folly or despair. A nature that would never prove false to a trust, +but if unjustly suspected, would turn to the very thing of which it +stood accused. + +The next morning Amy did not appear at breakfast and the mother went +to her room; while Mr. Goodrich, impatient at the delay, stood with +angry eyes awaiting their appearance. + +Frank came in. "Good morning, father," he said, glancing about with +an assumed expression of surprise. "Where is Amy and mother? I thought +I heard the bell." + +Adam grunted some reply and the son picked up a week-old daily and +pretended to be deeply interested. Suddenly a piercing scream reached +their ears, and a sound as of someone falling. With an exclamation of +alarm, Mr. Goodrich, followed by his son, hurried from the dining-room +and ran upstairs. The door of Amy's apartment was open, and just inside +prone upon the floor, lay Mrs. Goodrich, holding in her hand a piece +of paper. Adam, with the help of his son, lifted his wife and laid her +upon the bed, which they noticed had not been occupied. For an instant +the two stood looking into each other's face without a word, and then +the older man said, "We must take care of mother first. Call Dr. +Gleason." + +Under the advice of the physician, who soon came in answer to Frank's +telephone call, Mrs. Goodrich was removed to her own room, and in a +short time regained consciousness, but fell to moaning and sobbing, +"Oh, Amy--Amy--my poor child--my baby girl--what have you done? I never +thought that you would do a thing like this. Oh, my beautiful girl--come +back--come back--" And then when she became calmer, told them what +they already knew; that she had found her daughter's room undisturbed, +with a note addressed to herself on the toilet table, containing only +a simple farewell message. + +"There, there, wife, she's gone," said Adam, clumsily trying to soothe +the mother's anguish, but finding that a tongue long accustomed to +expressions of haughty pride and bigotry, could but poorly lend itself +to softer words of comfort. "There, there, don't cry, let her go. That +scoundrel printer is at the bottom of it all. Somehow the girl does +not seem to take after the Goodrich's. Madam, please try to control +your feelings. You must not make yourself ill over this matter." + +Mrs. Goodrich, accustomed to obey, with a great effort, ceased the +open expression of her grief. + +"There can be no doubt but that she has gone with that tramp," continued +Adam. "I shall do what I can to find her and give her one more chance. +If she acknowledges her fault and promises to do better she may come +home. If not, she shall never darken these doors again." + +"Oh, Mr. Goodrich, don't say that," cried the mother. "Think of that +poor child on the streets all alone. Perhaps you are mistaken." + +"_What_? Am I to understand that you take her part against me?" + +"No, no," murmured the frightened woman. + +"I tell you, there can be no mistake. You saw them did you not, Frank?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"You hear that, Mrs. Goodrich? You will oblige me by not mentioning +this matter again." And hurriedly leaving the room, Adam went to his +own private apartment, where, after he had turned the key in the door, +he paced to and fro, the tears streaming down his cheeks. But in a few +moments, while he made his preparations for going down the street, +thoughts of the curious faces he must meet aroused the old pride and +hardened his heart again. So that when he left the building, not a +trace of his worthier feelings showed on his cold, proper countenance, +except that to the keen observer, he looked a little older perhaps, +and a trifle less self-satisfied. + +His first visit was to the store, where he spent an hour or two going +over his correspondence, interviewing the head clerk and issuing his +orders for the day. Then taking his hat and cane, he left for the +printing office. + +The boy was away on an errand, and George had stepped out for a few +moments, so that Dick was alone when Mr. Goodrich entered. Thinking +that it was the printer who had returned, he did not look up from his +work until he was startled by the angry voice of his visitor. + +"Well, sir, I suppose you are satisfied at last. Where is my daughter?" + +"Your daughter," said Dick, who had not heard the news, "I'm sure, +sir, that I do not know." + +"Don't lie to me, you scoundrel," shouted Adam, losing all control of +himself. "You were with her last. You have been trying ever since you +came here to worm yourself into the society of your betters. Tell me +what you have done with her." + +"Mr. Goodrich," said Dick, forcing himself to be calm, "you must +explain. It is true that I was with your daughter night before last, +but--" he hesitated; should he explain how he had found Amy?--"I left +her safely at your door and have not seen her since." He finished. "Is +she not home?" + +Adam only glared at him. "She did not sleep at home last night," he +growled. + +Dick's voice failed him for a moment. "Then she must be stopping with +some friend; surely there is no need for alarm." + +"I tell you she's gone," said the other furiously. "She left a letter. +You are to blame for this. You I say; and you shall suffer for it." +He shook his clenched fist at the young man. "If you have hidden her +anywhere I'll have your life; you miserable, low-down vagabond. You +have schemed and schemed until you have succeeded in stealing her heart +from her home, and disgracing me." + +"Adam Goodrich, you lie," said Dick, pale with mingled anxiety for the +girl, and angry that her father should thus accuse him. "Do you +understand me? I say that you lie. That you are the most contemptible +liar that I have ever known. Your whole life is a lie." He spoke in +a low tone, but there was something underlying the quiet of his voice +and manner that contrasted strangely with the loud bluster of the older +man, and made the latter tremble. This was a new experience for him, +and something in the manly face of the one who uttered these hard words +startled and frightened him. + +"You have forced your daughter to drop her church work, and have goaded +her into the society of people whose only claim to respectability is +their wealth. You value your position in the world more than your +daughter's character, and you yourself are to blame for this. I tell +you again, sir, that you are a liar. I do not know where your daughter +is, but if she is on earth I will find her and bring her back to your +home; not for your sake, but for hers. Now go. Get out. The very +atmosphere is foul with your rotten hypocrisy." + +"Whew!" whistled George a moment later, as he Stepped into the room, +having passed Adam on the stairway. "What's the matter with his Royal +Highness, Dickie? He looks like he had been in a boiler explosion." +But his expression changed when Dick told him of the interview and +apologized for driving a good customer from the office. "Good customer!" +he shouted; "good customer! A mighty bad customer. I say you'd better +apologize for not throwing him into the street. I'll never set up +another line for him unless it's an invitation to his funeral." + +For many days Dick searched for the missing girl, bringing to bear all +his painfully acquired knowledge of life, and the crooked ways of the +world. Though unknown to Mr. Goodrich, the detective from Chicago, +whom he employed, was an old companion of Dick's, and to the officer +only, he confided the full story of Amy's visit to the park. But they, +only learned that she had boarded the twelve-forty Kansas City Southern, +for Jonesville, and that a woman answering to her description had +stopped there until nearly noon the next day, when she was seen in +conversation with a man whose face was badly bruised on the under left +side of the chin. The two had taken the same train east on the "Frisco." +They found also that her companion of that night at the park, James +Whitley, had hurriedly left Boyd City on the morning train, over the +"Frisco," to Jonesville, and had not returned, nor could his whereabouts +be discovered. It was given out in public, among the society items of +the Whistler, that he had been called suddenly to the bedside of a +sick friend; but Dick and the detective knew better. + +Gradually the interest on the part of the citizens subsided, and the +detective returned to Chicago to other mysteries, demanding his +attention. Adam Goodrich refused to talk of the matter, and gave no +sign of his sorrow, save an added sternness in his manner. But the +mother's health was broken; while Frank, declaring that he could not +stand the disgrace, went for a long visit to a friend in a neighboring +city. Finally Dick himself was forced to give up the search; but though +baffled for a time, he declared to Udell and his pastor, that he would +yet bring Amy home as he had promised her father. And while he went +about his work as usual, it was with a heavy heart, and a look on his +face that caused his friends who knew him best to pity. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +The summer passed and again the catalpa trees shed their broad leaves, +while the prairie grass took on the reddish brown of early fall. Jim +Whitley suddenly returned to Boyd City and Dick met him in the +post-office. "Not a word passed between them, but an hour later a note +was put into Jim's hand by a ragged boot-black. + +"George," said Dick, that afternoon as they were locking up, "if you +don't mind I believe I'll sleep in my old bed in the office to-night." + +Udell looked at his helper in astonishment. "What in the world?" he +began; then stopped. + +"I can't explain now, but please let me have my way and say nothing +about it to anyone; not even Clara." + +"Why sure, old man," said the other heartily; "only I don't know why." +He paused again; then in an anxious tone, "Dickie, I know it's hard, +and you've been putting up a great fight, but you're not going to let +go now?" + +"No, no, it's not that, old man: I'll explain some day." And something +in his face assured his friend that whatever it was that prompted his +strange request, Dick was still master of himself. + +Late that night as Udell passed the office on his way home, after +spending the evening with Miss Wilson, he was astonished to see Jim +Whitley entering the building. He stood watching for a moment; then +fearing possible danger for Dick, he ran lightly up the stairs. But +as he reached out to lay his hand on the door latch, he heard a key +turn in the lock and his friend's voice saying, "I thought you would +come." George paused, and then with a shrug of his shoulder, and a +queer smile on his rugged face, turned and went softly down to the +street again. + +Dick and his visitor faced each other in the dimly lighted office. + +"Well," said Whitley, with an oath, "what do you want?" + +"I want you to take your hand out of your pocket first," flashed Dick; +"that gun won't help you any tonight," and a heavy revolver in his own +hand covered Whitley's heart. + +His request was granted instantly. + +"Now walk into the other room." + +They passed into the stock room, which was well lighted. The windows +were covered with heavy paper; the long table was cleared and moved +out from its place near the wall. + +Dick closed the door and pointed to the table. "Lay your gun there. +Be careful," as Whitley drew his revolver. Jim glanced once at the +determined eyes and steady hand of his master and sullenly obeyed. + +"Now sit down." + +Crossing the room, he seated himself in the chair indicated, which +placed him in the full glare of the light. Dick took the other chair +facing him, with the long table between them. Placing his weapon beside +the other, within easy reach of his hand, he rested his elbows on the +table and looked long and steadily at the man before him. + +Whitley was uneasy. "Well," he said at last, when he could bear the +silence no longer. "I hope you like my looks." + +"Your figure is somewhat heavier, but shaving off your beard has made +you look some years younger," replied Dick, dryly. + +The other started to his feet. + +"Don't be uneasy," said Dick, softly resting his hand on one of the +revolvers; "keep your seat please." + +"I never wore a beard," said the other, as he dropped back on his +chair. "You are mistaken." + +"Then how did you know the meaning of my note, and why did you answer +it in person. You should have sent the right man." + +Whitley saw that he had betrayed himself but made one more effort. + +"I came out of curiosity," he muttered. + +Dick laughed--a laugh that was not good to hear. "I can easily satisfy +you," he said; "permit me to tell you a little story." + +"The story begins in a little manufacturing town a few miles from +Liverpool, England, just three years ago today." Beneath the unwavering +eyes of the man leaning on the table Whitley's face grew ghastly and +he writhed in his chair. + +"An old man and his wife, with their two orphaned grand-sons, lived +in a little cottage on the outskirts of the town. The older of the +boys was a strong man of twenty; the other a sickly lad of eight. The +old people earned a slender income by cultivating small fruits. This +was helped out by the wages of the older brother, who was a machinist +in one of the big factories. They were a quiet and unpretentious little +family, devout Christians, and very much attached to each other. + +"One afternoon a wealthy American, who was stopping at a large resort +a few miles from the village, went for a drive along the road leading +past their home. As his carriage was passing, the little boy, who was +playing just outside the yard, unintentionally frightened the horses +and they shied quickly. At the same moment, the American's silk hat +fell in the dust. The driver stopped the team and the lad, frightened, +picked up the hat and ran with it toward the carriage, stammering an +apology for what he had done. + +"Instead of accepting the boy's excuse, the man, beside himself with +anger, and slightly under the influence of wine, sprang from the +carriage, and seizing the lad, kicked him brutally. + +"The grandfather, who was working in his garden, saw the incident, and +hurried as fast as he could to the rescue. At the same time, the driver +jumped from his seat to protect the child, but before they could reach +the spot, the boy was lying bruised and senseless in the dust. + +"The old man rushed at the American in impotent rage, and the driver, +fearing for his safety, caught him by the arm and tried to separate +them, saying, 'You look after the boy. Let me settle with him.' But +the old man was deaf and could not understand, and thought that the +driver, also an American, was assisting his employer. In the struggle, +the American suddenly drew a knife, and in spite of the driver's +efforts, struck twice at his feeble opponent, who fell back in the +arms of his would-be protector, just as the older brother rushed upon +the scene. The American leaped into the carriage and snatched up the +lines. The mechanic sprang after him, and as he caught hold of the +seat in his attempt to climb in, the knife flashed again, cutting a +long gash in his arm and hand, severing the little finger. With the +other hand, he caught the wrist of the American, but a heavy blow in +the face knocked him beneath the wheels, and the horses dashed away +down the road. + +"The driver was bending over the old man trying to staunch the flow +of blood, when several workmen, attracted by the cries of the helpless +grandmother, who had witnessed the scene from the porch, came running +up. ''E's one on 'em--'e's one on 'em,' cried the old lady. ''E 'eld +my man while 'tother 'it 'im.' + +"The driver saw her mistake instantly, and realizing his danger as the +man passed into the house with the body of the old man, he ran down +the street and escaped. Two days later, he read in a Liverpool paper +that the grandfather and boy were both dead, and that the dying +statement of the old man, the testimony of the grandmother and the +brother, was that both the strangers were guilty. + +"How the wealthy American made his escape from the country you know +best. The driver shipped aboard a vessel bound for Australia, and +later, made his way home." + +When Dick had finished his story, Whitley's face was drawn and haggard. +He leaped to his feet again, but the revolver motioned him back. "What +fiend told you all this?" he gasped hoarsely. "Who are you?" + +"I am the driver." + +Whitley sank back in his chair; then suddenly broke into a harsh laugh. +"You are a crazy fool. Who would believe you? You have no proof." + +"Wait a bit," replied Dick, calmly. "There is another chapter to my +story. Less than a year after the tragedy, the invalid grandmother +died and the young machinist was free to enter upon the great work of +his life, the bringing to justice of his brother's murderer, or as +_he_ believed, murderers. He could find no clue as to the identity of +the obscure driver of the carriage, but with the wealthy American it +was different, and he succeeded at last in tracing him to his home in +this city. Unfortunately though, the long search had left the young +mechanic without means, and he arrived in Boyd City in a penniless and +starving condition, the night of the great storm winter before last. +You are familiar with the finding of his body by George Udell." + +Again Whitley sprang to his feet, and with an awful oath exclaimed, +"How do you know this?" + +Dick drew forth a long leather pocket-book, and opening it, took out +a package of papers, which he laid on the table between the two +revolvers. + +"There is the story, written by his own hand, together with the +testimony of his grandfather and grandmother, his own sworn statement, +and all the evidence he had so carefully gathered." + +Whitley sprang forward; but before he could cross the room, both +revolvers covered his breast. + +"Stop!" + +The voice was calm and steady, but full of deadly menace. + +Whitley crouched like an animal at bay. The hands that held the weapons +never trembled; the gray eyes that looked along the shining barrels +never wavered. Slowly he drew back. "Name your price," he said sullenly. + +"You have not money enough to buy." + +"I am a wealthy man." + +"I know it." + +He went back to his seat. "For God's sake, put down those guns and +tell me what you want." + +"I want to know where you left Miss Goodrich." + +"What if I refuse to tell?" + +Dick laid a pair of handcuffs upon the table. + +A cunning gleam crept into Whitley's eyes. "You'll put them on yourself +at the same time. The evidence is just as strong against you." + +"If it were not, I would have turned you over to the law long ago." + +"But you fool, they'll hang you." + +"That won't save you, and you'll answer to God for another murder." + +"You would not dare." + +"I am innocent; you are the coward." + +Then Whitley gave up and told how he had met Amy in Jonesville, and +had taken her east to Buffalo, New York, where he had left her just +before returning to Boyd City. + +"Did you marry her?" asked Dick. + +Whitley shrugged his shoulders. "I am not looking for a wife," he said. + +"But was there no form of a ceremony?" persisted Dick. + +Again Jim shrugged his shoulders. "It was not necessary." + +It was Dick's turn to be agitated now; his hand played nervously on +the handle of his revolver. But the other did not notice. + +"Why did you leave her so soon?" + +"I had business of importance at home," with a sneer. + +Slowly the man behind the table rose to his feet, his form trembling +violently, his strong hands clinching and unclinching in his agitation. +Slowly he reached out and lifted the weapons of death from the table; +slowly he raised them. The criminal sat as though fascinated; his face +livid with fear. For a full minute the revolver covered the cowering +victim; then suddenly Dick's hand fell. + +"Jim Whitley," he said, in a voice that was strangely quiet. "If I +were not a Christian, you could not live a moment. Now go!" He followed +him from the room and watched him down the stairs; then returning, +locked the door again, and throwing himself on the floor, wept as only +a strong man can weep, with great shuddering sobs, until utterly +exhausted, he fell into a stupor, where George found him in the morning. + +Dick told his employer the whole story, and took the first train east. +The same day, Whitley left the city. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +Whitley's sudden return to Boyd City, and his departure so soon after, +revived some whispering gossip about Amy's strange disappearance. And +of course the matter was mentioned at the Ministerial Association, +which still held its regular Monday morning meetings. Then, as was +natural, the talk drifted to the much discussed topic, the low standard +of morality in Boyd City. Old Father Beason said, "Brethren, I tell +you the condition of things in this town is just awful. I walked down +Broadway last Saturday night, and I declare I could hardly get along. +I actually had to walk out in the street, there was such a crowd, and +nearly all of them young men and young women. I never saw anything +like it; and there are all of these dives always open, and always full. +Candidly, Brethren, what are we doing? I just tell you we are not doing +one thing. We are not beginning to touch the problem. It costs just +all we can scrape and dig to keep the churches, running, and so far +as I know, only Brother Cameron here has even attempted any aggressive +work. Brethren, I wish we could put our heads together and formulate +some plan that would stir this town and save our boys and girls, who +are growing up in utter disrespect for Christianity and the teaching +of Christ." + +"What we want here is a Young Men's Christian Association," exclaimed +Rev. Hugh Cockrell. "An Association is the very thing for a town like +this. You all know how it operates. It don't conflict with the work +of the churches in the least. It furnishes parlor, sitting room, +libraries, gymnasium, bath rooms, and all such things, at a very nominal +cost to young men. As I have said in our meetings before, I think we +ought to write to the State Secretary and get him to come here and +look over the situation." + +"That's all right, Brother Cockrell," said the big Brother Howell, +rising to his feet and pushing his hands deep into his pockets; for +the big minister was lots more of a man than he was a preacher, and +put his hands into his pockets when he chose, without any closely +buttoned, clerical cut coat to prevent him. "That's all right about +the Young Men's Christian Association. It's a good thing; a splendid +thing; and I'd like to see one started here in Boyd City, but a dozen +Associations won't meet the needs of this place. Those who could afford +to pay the fee would enjoy the parlors and baths; those who could read +might enjoy the books; and those who had worked in the mines digging +coal all day, might exercise in the gymnasium, but what about the +hundreds of young men who can't afford the fees, and don't want a +parlor so much as a bite to eat, or a gymnasium so much as a bed, or +a reading room so much as a job of work? We need something in this +town that will reach out for the ignorant, fallen, hard-up, debauched, +degraded men and women." + +Father Beason nodded emphatic approval. + +"I don't know, I'm sure," said the Rev. Jeremiah Wilks, "what you +Brethren are going to do. If you hit on any plan to raise the money +for all this, I'd like to know what it is. I'm going night and day +now, trying to raise the debt on our new organ, and I've got to raise +our benevolences yet; and besides this, my own salary is behind. I'm +doing more work than any three preachers in the city. I tell you, the +men who have got the money are going to hang on to it. There's Mr. +Richman; I met him on the street yesterday; he was talking with a +friend; and I stopped and said: Good morning, Brother Richman--he's +not a member of any church you know. I only called him Brother to make +him feel good you know. He said: Good morning, Reverend; kind of short; +and then deliberately turned his back on me and went on talking with +his friend. I didn't like to leave him like that, you know, for he's +got a lot of money, I'm told. And you know we preachers never would +get anything if we always quit like that; so I said, Brother Richman, +I don't like to interrupt you, but can't you give me a little something +this morning? I'm behind on our new organ, and on our benevolences and +some other things, and my own salary is not all paid yet. I thought +maybe you would help me a little. He looked at me a minute, then said +with a sneer: 'I always like to know what returns I may expect for the +money I invest. I'm no church member, that I have money to throw away. +What do I get for it if I give you five dollars?' Why, I said, you +might be a Christian some day. Brother Richman, I'd like mighty well +to have you join my church. We'll all pray for you if you'd like to +have us. And do you believe it, he just stood there and laughed and +laughed; and the other fellow, he laughed too. Yes, he did. Well, I +didn't know what to do you know, but I wanted that five dollars, so +I said: But won't you help us a little, Brother Richman? It will be +very acceptable. 'I tell you, Mr. Wilks,' he said; 'when you can show +me that my money is doing some actual good among the poor people in +this city, or that it's saving the young folks from the degrading +influences here, I'll invest; and until then, I'll keep my money, and +you can keep your prayers.' And do you know, he wouldn't give me a +cent." The Rev. Jeremiah sat down with an air of mingled triumph and +suffering, as much as to say, "See how gladly I bear persecution for +the Lord." + +"I understand that Mr. Richman gave to Cameron's institution though," +the big preacher remarked. "How is it Brother Cameron?" + +"Yes," replied Cameron, "he gave a hundred dollars unsolicited, and +promised more if it were needed." + +There was silence for a moment; then the president said, "Brother +Cameron, would you mind telling the Association just how your work is +conducted? I for one, would like to know more about it, and perhaps +we could all adopt a similar plan. What would you suggest as a remedy +for the existing conditions in this city?" + +"As far as our work goes, we have hardly touched the matter yet," +replied Cameron. "There is room for every church In the place; but +what we need, I feel sure, is a united effort, and--" + +"Brethren," interrupted the Rev. Dr. Frederick Hartzel, "I must beg +that this useless discussion be stopped. So far as I can see, all of +this is of no profit whatever. My time is altogether too valuable to +waste in such foolish talk as this. I endeavor to put some thought +into _my_ sermons, and I cannot take this valuable time from my studies. +If the Association persists in taking up the meetings with such +subjects, instead of discussing some of the recent theological themes +that are attracting the attention of the clergy everywhere, I must beg +that I be given optional attendance. These new-fangled notions of +uneducated young men may be all right for some, but you can't expect +such men as myself to listen to them. I move that we adjourn." + +"Brother Cameron has the floor and I think the Brethren would like to +hear him," suggested the president. + +"Brother President," said Cameron, calmly, before the others could +speak, for he saw the light of righteous indignation creeping into the +eye of the big Rev. Howells; "if the Brethren wish to talk with me of +our work, they know that they are always welcome at my home; and I +will be glad to discuss any plan for reaching those for whom our Saviour +died. I second Rev. Hartzell's motion to adjourn." And the meeting +dismissed with prayer as usual, that God would fill their hearts with +love, and help them to do their Master's work, as He would have it +done, and that many souls might be added to their number. + +That evening, lost in troubled thought, the young pastor of the +Jerusalem Church sat alone before the fire, in his little study. Once +his wife knocked timidly and opening the door, said, "James, dear, +it's time you're going to bed." + +"Not now, Fanny," he answered; and she, knowing well what that tone +of voice meant, retired to her room, after seeing everything snug for +the night. + +The cocks were crowing midnight; the fire burned lower and lower. Once +he impatiently hitched his chair a little closer, but made no other +move, until, just as the clock chimed three, he arose stiffly to his +feet and stood shivering with cold, looking at the blackened embers. +Then he made his way to his chamber, where he fell asleep like a man +tired out with a hard day's work. + +All the next day he said nothing, but was silent and moody, and the +following night sat once more alone in his study, thinking, thinking, +thinking, until again the fire went out and he was cold. + +"Fanny," he said, the following afternoon, entering the kitchen and +putting his arm about his wife, as she stood at the table busy with +her baking. "Fanny, what can we do for the young people of Boyd City? +Amy is only one of many. It is all the result of the do-nothing policy +of the church, and of the Goodrich type of Christians, who think more +of their social position than they do of the souls of their children, +or the purity of their characters." + +"Oh, James, you oughtn't to say that. Mr. Goodrich may not look at +those things as you do perhaps, but we ought to remember his early +training." + +"Early training, bosh," answered the minister, losing his patience as +even ministers will sometimes do. "You'd better say his lack of early +training. I tell you, Fanny, the true gentleman, whether he be Christian +or not, values character more than position, while the sham aristocrat +is a sham in everything, and doesn't even know the real article when +he sees it." + +"Oh, here, here," cried Mrs. Cameron, "that's not the way for a preacher +to talk." + +"Preacher or no preacher, it's the truth," he replied excitedly. "Let +me forget that I belong to the class that has produced such a thing +as this kind of religion, and remember that I am only a man. If the +ministers in this city cared half as much for the salvation of souls +and the teaching of Christ, as they do for their own little theories +and doctrines, the world could not hold such a churchified hypocrite +as Adam Goodrich, and girls would not go wrong as that poor child did. +The Rev. Hartzell, D. D., is the cause; and if you go down on Fourth +Street, or East Third you can see the effect; egotism, bigotry, +selfishness, man-made doctrines and creeds in the pulpit; saloons and +brothels on the street; church doors closed over a mawkish +sentimentality, and men and women dying without shelter and without +God. Truly we need a preacher, with a wilderness training like John +the Baptist who will show us the way of the Lord, rather than a thousand +theological, hot-house posies, who will show us only the opinions of +the authorities." And the Rev. James tramped up and down the kitchen, +speaking with all the vehemence of a political spellbinder, until his +wife caught him by the coat and insisted that she wanted to be kissed. +When that operation was successfully performed, she said, "Now run +away to your study, dear, and don't bother about this just now. You're +excited." And the preacher went, of course. + +Though expressing themselves as very much alarmed over the situation, +and the condition of the churches, the members of the Ministerial +Association went no farther in the matter than the discussions at their +regular meetings and private talks from time to time. It would be hard +to give a reason why this was so if Cameron's criticism were not true; +but so it certainly was. Cameron, however, was much wrought up. He did +not in the least mind the Rev. Hartzell's opinion of himself or his +work, and cared not one whit that he had been prevented from expressing +himself to his brethren. He did care, however, for the work itself, +regardless of the preachers, and the train of thought which he had so +often followed was stirred afresh in his mind by the incident. With +his heart so full of the matter it was not at all strange that he +should preach another of his characteristic sermons on what he called +"Applied Christianity." His house was crowded, as it always was on +Sunday evenings, largely with young men and women, though many business +men were in attendance. + +He introduced his subject by showing the purpose and duty of the church: +that it was not a social club, not simply a place to see and be seen, +not a musical organization, and not an intellectual battlefield; but +that it was a place to build Christ-like characters, and that the +church had no excuse for living, save as it preached Christ's gospel +and did His work. Then he asked, "Is the church doing this?" and called +attention to the magnificent buildings, expensive organs, paid choirs, +large-salaried preachers, and in the same city hundreds and thousands +of men and women who were going to eternal ruin. "Did Christ make a +mistake when he said, 'And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men +unto myself?' Or was it that men were lifting up themselves instead +of the Master?" + +He showed that the reason why more laborers and business men were not +Christians was because Christianity had become, not a work, but a +belief; that it had grown to be, not a life, but a sentiment; and that +laborers and business men had not much place for beliefs and sentiments. +"The church," said Cameron, "must prove herself by her works as did +Christ, and her work must be the same as Christ's." + +It caused a great deal of talk, of course. No preacher can branch out +from the old, well-beaten paths, without creating talk. He was roundly +scored by his Brethren in the ministry, and accused of all sorts of +sensationalism, but bore it all without a word, except to say, "I am +glad if I can even stir you up enough that you will condemn me; though +I cannot help but think that if you would spend the same energy in +remedying the evils you well know exist, you would do more for Christ +and your fellow men." But to his wife he said, "Fanny, I am convinced +that if we ever have a practical working plan for helping the poor and +needy, and for the protection of the boys and girls in this city, on +a scale sufficient to at all meet the needs, it will come from the +citizens and not from the preachers. The world really believes in +Christ, but has lost confidence in the church. And if some plan could +be started, independent of the churches, but on a Christian basis, I +believe it would succeed." + +"Well," said his wife, with a smile, "I think I know one preacher who +will have a hand in it anyway, and I know you do not include the Young +People's Society with the church." + +Cameron jumped to his feet and walked rapidly up and down the room. +"Fanny," he said at last, facing his companion. And as he stood, with +both hands in the side pockets of his short coat, and his feet braced +wide apart, he looked so much a boy that the good wife laughed before +she answered, "Yes sir, please, what have I done?" + +"Do you know that I am to speak at the regular union meeting of the +Young People next Sunday night?" + +"Yes sir," meekly. + +"And you know that the subject of the evening is 'Beaching the Masses.'" + +She nodded. + +"And do you know what I am going to do?" + +"No sir." + +"Well, just wait and see," and planting a kiss on the upturned lips, +he ran off to shut himself up in his study. + +The practical Christian work of the home established by the young +people of the Jerusalem Church, and the remarkable success of the +reading rooms, was proving a great educational factor in the life of +Boyd City. The people were beginning to realize the value of such work, +and the time was ripe for larger things. As has been said, Cameron's +sermon caused no little talk, while the preachers did not hesitate to +help the matter along, and to keep the pot boiling by the fire of their +criticism. + +It was a custom of the Young People's Societies in the city, to meet +for union services once each month, at which time one of the pastors +would speak on some topic of particular interest to young Christians, +dealing with social, civil, or political questions, from the standpoint +of Christianity, and this happened to be Cameron's turn to deliver the +address. The young pastor was a favorite generally, in spite of his +somewhat questionable standing with the theologians; so when it was +announced that he would speak, and that the subject was one upon which +he was known to have strong ideas, the public looked forward to the +meeting with more than usual interest. When the time came, the Zion +Church, which was the largest in the city, was crowded to its utmost +capacity. + +Cameron began by reading from the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew, +"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my +Brethren, ye have lone it unto me." + +Then he said that as his talk was in no way to be a sermon, he felt +free to give himself more liberty perhaps, than if he were in the +pulpit; and that he would discuss the question not simply from the +standpoint of Christianity, but of good citizenship, and the best +interests of the people as well. + +The audience settled itself at these words and waited breathlessly. + +The speaker then laid down the proposition, that the question of +reaching the masses, did not have to do simply with those who called +themselves Christians, but with all society, all business, all +government; in fact, with all that touched mankind. He showed how the +conditions of the least of these gave rise to bad conditions everywhere, +and bred crime, anarchy and animalism; and how that the physical, moral +and intellectual life of all men is concerned. Then he took his hearers +from street to street in their own city, bidding them to look at the +young men and women on the corners, in the saloons and wine rooms, and +asked, without any reference to Christianity in any way, "What will +be the legitimate fruit of such sowing? What influence are we throwing +about our boys and girls, and upon what foundation are we building our +social, business and municipal life?" + +Then turning to Christians, he reviewed the grand work that the church +had done in the past, in moulding the lives of men and nations; and +plead that she prove true to the past by rising to the present and +meeting the problems of to-day. He called upon them in the name of +their common Master, to put their minds to this question and to rest +not from their study until a practical solution had been found. He +urged, too, that those standing outside the church with idle hands, +content to criticize and condemn, were not doing even so much as the +institution with which they refused to stand identified. "I can see +no difference," he said, "and before God, I believe there is none, +between an idle church member and a do-nothing man of the world. They +both stand on the same plane, and that plane is the plane of death." + +Then, after an earnest appeal that the teaching of Jesus be applied, +that the worth of souls be judged by the price paid on Calvary, and +that all men, within and without the church, unite for the common +cause, humanity; he turned suddenly to the chairman and said: "Mr. +President, because of these things regarding the church, which all men +know to be true; because of these things regarding our city, which all +men know to be true; for the sake of Christ and His gospel, for the +sake of our country and our laws, for the love of our boys and girls, +I suggest that each society in this union appoint a committee of three +from their membership, each of these committees to add to itself one +good business man who believes in the teaching of Christ, but who is +not connected with any church; the joint committee to meet in council +for the purpose of formulating some plan to meet the needs of this +city along the lines of our subject this evening." + +At this strange and unexpected ending of Cameron's address, the audience +sat astonished. Then, from all over the house, voices were heard +murmuring approval of the plan. + +Rev. Jeremiah Wilks was the first to speak. "I'm heartily in favor of +the suggestion," he said. "I think it's a good thing. It will get some +of our moneyed men interested in the church and it will do them good. +I've often told our people that something like this ought to be done, +and I know the preachers of the city will be glad to take hold of the +matter and help to push it along. I'll bring it before our Ministerial +Association. You can count on me every time." + +"But, Mr. President," said a strange gentleman, when Rev. Wilks had +resumed his seat, "Is it the idea of the gentleman who suggests this +plan, that the movement be under the control of or managed by the +ministers?" + +A painful hush fell over the audience. The president turned to Cameron, +who answered, "It is certainly _not_ my idea that this matter be placed +in the hands of the ministers; whatever part they have in the movement +must be simply as Christian citizens of this community, without regard +to their profession." + +The audience smiled. Rev. Frederick Hartzel was on his feet instantly: +"Ladies and gentlemen, I must protest. I do not doubt but that your +young brother here means well, but perhaps some of us, with more +experience, and with more mature thought, are better able to handle +this great question. Such a plan as he has proposed is preposterous. +A committee without an ordained minister on it, thinking to start any +movement in harmony with the teaching of Christ is utter folly. It is +a direct insult to the clergy, who, as you know, compose the finest +body of men, intellectually and morally, in the country. I must insist +that the regularly ordained ministers of the city be recognized on +this committee." + +Rev. Hugh Cockrell agreed with Hartzel, in a short speech, and then +Uncle Bobbie Wicks obtained a hearing. + +"I don't reckon that there's much danger of Brother Hartzel's amendment +goin' through, but I just want a word anyhow. To-be-sure, you all know +me, and that I'm a pretty good friend to preachers." The audience +laughed. "I aint got a thing in the world agin 'em. To-be-sure, I +reckon a preacher is as good as any other feller, so long as he behaves +himself; but seein' as they've been tryin' fer 'bout two thousand years +to fix this business, an' aint done nothin' yet, I think it's a mighty +good ide' to give the poor fellers a rest, and let the Christians try +it fer a spell." + +"You've got to recognize the church, sir," cried Hartzel; and Uncle +Bobbie retorted: "Well, if we recognize Christ, the church will come +in all right, I reckon;" which sentiment so pleased the people that +Cameron's suggestion was acted upon. + +And thus began the movement that revolutionized Boyd City and made it +an example to all the world, for honest manhood, civic pride and +municipal virtue. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + + +When Amy Goodrich went to her room after the scene with her brutal +father, wounded pride, anger at his injustice, and reckless defiance +filled her heart. Mrs. Goodrich had heard the harsh words and quietly +followed her daughter, but the door was locked. When she called softly +for admittance, Amy only answered between her sobs, "No, no, mamma; +please go away. I want to be alone." But the girl did not spend much +time in weeping. With a look of determination upon her tear-stained +face, she caught up a daily paper that was lying where she had dropped +it that morning, and carefully studied time-cards. Then removing as +far as possible the evidence of her grief, she changed her dress for +a more simple and serviceable gown, and gathering together a few +necessary articles, packed them, with her jewelry, in a small satchel. +She had finished her simple preparations and was just writing the last +word of her brief farewell message, when Mrs. Goodrich came quietly +to the door again. + +Amy started to her feet in alarm when she heard the low knock, and +then as she listened to her mother's voice softly calling her name, +the hot tears filled her eyes once more, and she moved as though to +destroy the note in her hand. But as she hesitated, her father's words +came back: "You may have your tramp, but don't call me father. You are +no daughter of mine," and a cruel something seemed to arrest her better +impulse and force her to remain silent. + +Mrs. Goodrich, when she received no answer to her call, thought that +her daughter was sleeping, and with a sigh of relief, went to her own +room. A little later, the father came upstairs and retired. Then Frank +returned home, and the trembling listener heard the servants locking +up the house. When all was still, and her watch told her that it was +a few minutes past midnight, she carefully opened the door, and with +her satchel in her hand, stole cautiously down the stairs and out of +the house. Hurrying as fast as she could to Broadway, she found a cab, +and was driven to the depot on the east side. + +As Amy stepped from the vehicle beneath the electric light and paused +a moment to give the driver his fare, a man came out of a saloon on +the corner near by. It was Mr. Whitley. He recognized the girl +instantly, and springing to one side, drew back into the shadow of the +building, where he waited until she went to the ticket office. Then +going quickly to the open window of the waiting room, he heard her ask +for a ticket to Jonesville. After the train had pulled in and he had +watched her aboard, he entered the cab that had brought her to the +station, and was driven to his hotel. + +The next morning Whitley was the first to learn from Frank Goodrich, +of Amy's quarrel with her father, and the reason. Without a word of +what he had seen, he made hurried preparation and followed her on the +next train. + +At Jonesville, he easily made the rounds of the hotels and carefully +examined the registers, but Amy's name was on none of them. Concluding +that she must be at the home of some friend, he had placed his own +name on the last book he examined, and seated himself to think over +the situation, when he heard a bell-boy say: "That girl in number +sixteen wants a 'Frisco' time-table." + +Whitley lounged carelessly up to the counter and again glanced over +the register. Number sixteen was occupied by a Miss Anderson. Catching +the eye of the clerk, he placed his finger on the name and winked. +"When did she get in?" he asked, in a low tone, at the same time +slipping a gold-piece beneath the open page. + +"On the one-thirty from the west, last night," the fellow replied, in +the same cautious manner, as he whirled the book toward him and deftly +transferred the coin to his own pocket, without attracting the attention +of the landlord who stood near by. + +"I believe I'll go to my room and clean up," said Whitley, a moment +later. + +"Show this gentleman to number fifteen," promptly called the clerk, +and Whitley followed the boy who had answered Miss Anderson's call +upstairs. + +When he had placed the heavy grip on the floor, the boy turned to see +Whitley holding out a dollar bill. + +"Did you get a look at the lady in number sixteen, when you went up +with that time-card?" + +"Course I did." + +"Can you describe her?" + +"You bet, mister; she's a daisy too." And as he folded the bill and +carefully placed it in his vest pocket, he gave an accurate description +of Amy. + +Whitley, dismissed the boy and seated himself to watch through the +half-closed door, the room across the hall. He had not long to wait. +Amy stepped out into the corridor and started toward the stairway. In +an instant Whitley was by her side. The girl gave a start of surprise +and uttered a frightened exclamation. + +"Don't be frightened, Miss Goodrich, I have very important news for +you from home. Step into the parlor please." + +Too bewildered to do other than obey, she followed him. + +"I have been searching for you all day," he said, as he conducted her +to a seat in the far corner of the empty room. + +Amy tried to look indignant and started to reply when he interrupted +her. + +"Wait a moment, please, Miss Goodrich, and hear me, before you condemn. +When your father discovered this morning, that you had left home, he +came at once to me and told me the whole story. I tried to explain to +him that it was I, and not Falkner, who had been with you, but he would +not listen; and in spite of my pleading, declared that you should never +enter his home again. I am sorry, but he is very angry and I fear will +keep his word, for a time at least. He even accused me of telling +falsehoods to shield you, and insisted that I should forget you forever +and never mention your name in his hearing again. I learned at the +depot that you had purchased a ticket to this city, and took the first +train, hoping to find and offer you any assistance that might be in +my power to give. A girl in your position needs a friend, for you +cannot go home just now." + +In spite of herself, Amy was touched by the words spoken with such +seeming truth and earnestness, but her heart was filled with anger at +her father, and her face was hard and set as she replied coldly: "I +thank you, but you might have saved yourself the trouble. I have no +wish to go home." + +"Indeed, I do not see how you can feel differently under the +circumstances," admitted the other with apparent reluctance; "but have +you thought of the future? What can you do? You have never been +dependent upon yourself. You know nothing of the world." + +Amy's face grew white. Seeing his advantage, Whitley continued, drawing +a dark picture of a young woman without friends or means of support. +At last, as he talked, Amy began to cry. Then his voice grew tender. +"Miss Goodrich--Amy--come to me. Be my wife. I have long loved you. +I will teach you to love me. Let me comfort and protect you." + +The girl lifted her head. "You dare ask that after what happened the +other night?" + +"God knows how I regret that awful mistake," he replied earnestly. +"But you know I was not myself. I am no worse than other men, and--" +He hesitated--"you must remember that it was through you that I drank +too much. I could not refuse when you gave me the glass. I never was +intoxicated before. Won't you forgive me this once and let me devote +my life to righting the wrong?" + +Amy's eyes fell. The seeming justice and truth of his words impressed +her. + +Again the man saw his advantage and talked to her of the life his +wealth would help her to live. She would be free from every care. They +would travel abroad until her father had forgotten his wrath, and could +she doubt that all would be well when she returned as his wife? + +Amy hesitated, and again he pointed out the awful danger of her trying +to live alone. As he talked, the girl's utter helplessness overcame +her, and rising to her feet she faltered, "Give me time to think; I +will come to you here in an hour." + +When she returned she said: "Mr. Whitley, I will marry you; but my +people must not know until later." + +Whitley started toward her eagerly, but she stepped back. "Not now. +Wait. We will go east on the evening train and will take every +precaution to hide our course. We will travel in separate cars as +strangers, and while stopping at hotels will register under assumed +names, and will not even recognize each other. When we reach New York, +I will become your wife." + +Whitley could scarcely conceal his triumph; that she should so fully +play into his hand was to him the greatest good luck. With every +expression of love he agreed to everything; but when he would embrace +her she put him away--"Not until we are married;" and lie was compelled +to be satisfied. + +For a while longer they talked, completing their plans. Then drawing +out his pocket-book he said: "By-the-way, you will need money." But +she shook her head: "Not until I have the right. Here are my jewels; +sell them for me." + +He protested and laughed at her scruples. But she insisted. And at +last, he took the valuables and left the hotel. Going to a bank where +he was known, he drew a large sum of money, and returning, placed a +roll of bills in her hand. Thinking that it was the price of her rings, +she accepted it without the slightest question. + +That night, he bought a ticket for Chicago, over the Wabash from St. +Louis, taking a chair car, while she purchased one for a little town +on the Alton, and traveled in a sleeper. But at St. Louis, they remained +two days, stopping at a hotel agreed upon, but as strangers. Then they +again took tickets for different stations, over another road, but +stopped at Detroit. It was here that Amy's suspicions were aroused. + +She was sitting at dinner, when Whitley entered the dining room with +two traveling men who seemed to be well acquainted with him. The trio, +laughing and talking boisterously, seated themselves at a table behind +her. Recognizing Whitley's voice, she lifted her eyes to a mirror +opposite, and to her horror, distinctly saw him point her out to his +friends. + +Amy's dinner remained untasted, and hiding her confusion as best she +could, she rose to leave the room. As she passed the table where Whitley +and the men were eating, the two drummers looked at her in such a way +that the color rushed to her pale cheeks in a crimson flame. Later, +at the depot, she saw them again, and was sure, from Whitley's manner, +that he had been drinking. + +Once more aboard the train, the girl gave herself up to troubled +thought. Worn out by the long journey under such trying circumstances, +and the lonely hours among strangers at the hotels, and now thoroughly +frightened at the possible outcome when they reached New York, the +poor child worried herself into such a state that when they left the +cars at Buffalo, Whitley became frightened, and in spite of her. +protests, registered at the hotel as her brother and called in a +physician. + +The doctor at once insisted that she be removed to a boarding place, +where she could have perfect rest and quiet, and with his help, such +a place was found; Whitley, as her brother, making all arrangements. + +For three weeks the poor girl lay between life and death, and strangely +enough, in her delirium, called not once for father or mother or +brother, but always for Dick, and always begged him to save her from +some great danger. Whitley was at the house every day, and procured +her every attention that money could buy. But when at last she began +to mend, something in her eyes as she looked at him, made him curse +beneath his breath. + +Day after day she put him off when he urged marriage, saying "When we +get to New York." But at last the time came when she could offer no +excuse for longer delay, and in a few firm words she told him that she +could not keep her promise, telling him why and begging his forgiveness +if she wronged him. + +Then the man's true nature showed itself and he cursed her for being +a fool; taunted her with using his money, and swore that he would force +her to come to him. + +That afternoon, the landlady came to her room, and placing a letter +in her hand, asked, "Will you please be kind enough to explain that?" + +Amy read the note, which informed the lady of the house that her boarder +was a woman of questionable character, and that the man who was paying +her bills was not her brother. With a sinking heart, Amy saw that the +writing was Jim Whitley's. Her face flushed painfully. "I did not know +that he was paying my bills," she said, slowly. + +"Then it is true," exclaimed the woman. "He is not your brother?" + +Amy was silent. She could find no words to explain. + +"You must leave this house instantly. If it were not for the publicity +I would hand you over to the police." + +She went to a cheap, but respectable hotel, and the next morning, +Whitley, who had not lost sight of her, managed to force an interview. + +"Will you come to me now?" he asked. "You see what you may expect from +the world." + +Her only reply was, "I will take my own life before I would trust it +in your hands." And he, knowing that she spoke the truth, left her to +return to Boyd City. + +A few days later, when Dick Falkner stepped from the cars at Buffalo, +and hurried through the depot toward the hack that bore the name of +the hotel where Whitley had left Amy, he did not notice that the girl +he had come so far to find, was standing at the window of the ticket +office, and while the proprietor of the hotel was explaining why Miss +Wheeler had left his house, the west-bound train was carrying Amy +toward Cleveland. + +Whitley had written a letter to the landlord, explaining the character +of the woman calling herself Miss Wheeler, and had just dropped it in +the box, when Dick met him in the post office on the day of Jim's +arrival home. + +With the aid of the Buffalo police, Dick searched long and carefully +for the missing girl, but with no results, and at last, his small +savings nearly exhausted, he was forced to return to Boyd City, where +he arrived just in time to take an active part in the new movement +inaugurated by Rev. Cameron and the Young People's Union. + +In Cleveland, Amy sought out a cheap lodging house, for she realized +that her means were limited, and began a weary search for employment. + +Day after day she went from place to place answering advertisements +for positions which she thought she could fill. Walking all she could +she took a car only when her strength failed, but always met with the +same result; a cold dismissal because she could give no references; +not a kind look; not an encouraging word; not a helpful smile. As the +days went by, her face grew hard and her eyes had a hopeless, defiant +look, that still lessened her chances of success, and gave some cause +for the suspicious glances she encountered on every hand, though her +features showed that under better circumstances she would be beautiful. + +One evening as she stood on the street corner, tired out, shivering +in the sharp wind, confused by the rush and roar of the city, and in +doubt as to the car she should take, a tall, beautifully dressed woman +stopped by her side, waiting also for a car. + +Amy, trembling, asked if she would direct her. The lady looked at her +keenly as she gave the needed information, and then added kindly, "You +are evidently not acquainted in Cleveland." + +Amy admitted that she was a stranger. + +"And where is your home?" + +"I have none," was the sad reply. + +"You are stopping with friends, I suppose?" + +Amy shook her head and faltered, "No, I know no one in the city." + +The woman grew very kind. "You poor child," she said, "you look as +though you were in distress. Can't I help you?" + +Tears filled the brown eyes that were lifted pleadingly to the face +of the questioner, and a dry sob was the only answer. + +"Come with me, dear," said the woman, taking her kindly by the arm. +"This is my car. Come and let me help you." + +They boarded the car, and after a long ride, entered a finely furnished +house in a part of the city far from Amy's boarding place. The woman +took Amy to her own apartments, and after giving her a clean bath and +a warm supper, sat with her before the fire, while the girl poured out +her story to the only sympathetic listener she had met. + +When she had finished, the woman said, "You have not told me your +name." + +"You may call me Amy. I have no other name." + +Again the woman spoke slowly: "You cannot find work. No one will receive +you. But why should you care? You are beautiful." + +Amy looked at her in wonder, and the woman explained how she had many +girls in her home, who with fine dresses and jewels, lived a life of +ease and luxury. + +At last the girl understood and with a shudder, rose to her feet. +"Madam, I thank you for your kindness; for you _have_ been kind; but +I cannot stop here." She started toward the door, but the woman stopped +her. + +"My dear child; you cannot go out at this time of night again, and you +could never find your way back to your lodging place. Stay here. You +need not leave this room, and you may bolt the door on this side. +Tomorrow you may go if you will." + +Amy could do nothing but stay. As she laid her tired head on the clean +pillow that night, and nestling in the warm blankets watched the +firelight as the flames leaped and played, she heard the sound of music +and merry voices, and thought of the cold, poorly-furnished bed-room, +with coarse sheets and soiled pillows, at her lodging place, and of +the weary tramp about the streets, and the unkind faces that refused +her a chance for life. What would the end be when her money was gone, +she wondered; and after all, why not this? + +The next morning, when she awoke, she could not for a moment, remember +where she was; then it all came back, just as a knock sounded on the +door. + +"Who is it?" she called. + +"Your coffee, miss," came the answer, and she unlocked the door, +admitting an old negro woman with a neat tray, on which was set a +dainty breakfast. + +Later, when she was dressed, Madam came. "And do you still feel that +you must go?" she asked. + +"Yes, yes, I must. Don't tempt me." + +The woman handed her a card with her name and address. "Well, go, my +dear; and when you are driven to the street, because you have no money +and are cold and hungry, come to me if you will, and earn food and +clothing, warmth and ease, by the only means open to you." Then she +went with her to the street and saw that she took the right car. + +As Amy said good-bye, the tears filled her eyes again, and oh, how +lonely and desolate the poor girl felt, as she shivered in the sharp +air, and how hopelessly she again took up her fight against the awful +odds. + +But the end came at last as Madam had said it would. Without money, +Amy was turned from her boarding place. One awful night she spent on +the street, and the next day she found her way, half frozen, and weak +from hunger, to Madam's place. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + +That Frank Goodrich had managed to keep himself free from all appearance +of evil since the night he so nearly became a thief, was not because +of any real change in his character. He gambled no more. Not from a +matter of principle, but because he feared the results, and he accepted +Whitley's sarcastic advice about religious services, not because there +was any desire in his heart for a right life, but because he felt it +was good policy. Like many others, he was as bad as he dared to be; +and while using the church as a cloak to hide his real nature, was +satisfied if he could keep the appearance of respectability. In short, +he was a splendid example of what that old Satanic copy-book proverb, +"Honesty is the best policy" will do for a life if it be lived up to +in earnest. + +He was not a little alarmed over his sister's conduct, because he +feared that Whitley, in a spirit of revenge, would demand payment of +the notes; which could only mean his open disgrace and ruin. And his +feelings reached a climax two weeks after Dick's return when he received +a curt note from Jim saying: + +"You will remember that I promised to surrender those notes of yours +upon certain conditions. Those conditions now can never be met, and +it becomes necessary for us to make other arrangements. You will meet +me with a horse and buggy at Freeman Station tomorrow night, ten-thirty. +Wait for me at the crossroads south of the depot. If anyone learns of +our meeting it will be all up with you." + +Freeman Station was a little cluster of houses near the great hay farms +twelve miles from Boyd City, and the drive was not one to be made with +pleasure; but there was no help for it, and about dusk Frank set out. +It had been raining steadily for several days and the mud was hub deep, +while in many places the road was under water. Once he was obliged to +get out, and by the flickering light of his lantern, to pick his way +around a dangerous washout. Several times he was on the point of giving +up and turning back, but thoughts of Whitley's anger drove him on, and +he at last reached the place, several minutes after the train had +passed on its way across the dark prairie. As he stopped at the corner, +Whitley appeared by the side of the buggy, and clambered in without +a word. Taking the lines from Frank, he lashed the tired horse with +the whip and they plunged forward into the night. + +Once or twice Frank tried to open a conversation with his companion, +but received such short replies that he gave up and shrank back in the +corner of the seat in miserable silence. + +After nearly an hour, Whitley brought the horse to a standstill, and +jumping out of the buggy, began to unhitch. Against the dark sky, Frank +could see the shadowy outlines of a house and barn. + +"Where are we?" he asked. + +"At my place, nine miles south of town," Whitley answered. "Help me +put up the horse, can't you?" + +Frank obeyed. + +"No, don't take the harness off," said Jim again; "you'll want him +before long." And then he led the way to the house. + +Taking a key from its hiding place beneath one corner of the step, he +unlocked the door and entered; and while Frank stood shivering with +the cold and wet, found a lamp and made a light. The room where they +stood was well carpeted and furnished, and upon the table were the +remains of a meal, together with empty bottles and glasses, and lying +on the chair was a woman's glove. + +Frank looked around curiously. He had heard rumors of Whitley's place +in the country, but this was his first visit. + +"Well," said Jim shortly, "sit down while I build a fire and get +something to drink; things are not very gay here to-night, but we'll +do the best we can." + +When the room was warm and they had removed their wraps and outer +clothing, and Jim had partaken freely from a supply of liquor on the +sideboard, he stretched himself in an easy chair and spoke more +pleasantly. "Well, I suppose you are ready to pay those notes, with +the interest." + +Frank moved uneasily. "You know I can't," he muttered. "I thought from +your letter, that we might make other arrangements. Amy, you know, +might come.--" + +"Oh, cut that out," interrupted Whitley, with an oath; "your esteemed +sister is out of this deal for good." Then, as he lit his cigar, "We +might fix things in another way though, if you only had the nerve." + +"How?" asked Frank, eagerly. + +"That printer of Udell's has some papers in his possession that I want. +Get them for me and I'll turn over your notes and call it square." + +Frank looked at his companion in wonder. "What do you mean?" he said +at last. + +"Just what I say. Can't you hear?" + +"But how does that tramp happen to have any papers of value to you?" + +"That is, most emphatically, none of your business, my friend. +All you have to do is to get them, or--" he paused significantly. + +"But will he give them up?" + +Whitley looked at him a few minutes in amused contempt, then said, +mockingly, "Oh yes; of course he will be glad to favor us. All you +need to do is to put on your best Sunday School manners and say sweetly: +'Mr. Falkner, Mr. Whitley would like those papers that you have in the +long leather pocket-book tied with a shoe-string.' He'll hand them +over instantly. The only reason I have taken all this trouble to meet +you out here to-night is because I am naturally easily embarrassed and +don't like to ask him for them myself." + +Frank was confused and made no reply, until Whitley asked: "Where does +the fellow live now?" + +"I don't know, but he's in old man Wicks' office every evening; has +a desk there, and works on some fool Association work." + +Whitley nodded. "Then you will find the papers in Uncle Bobbie's safe." + +"But how am I to get them?" + +"I don't know; you can't buy them. You can't bluff him. And he won't +scare. There's only one other way I know." + +"You mean that I must steal them?" gasped Frank. + +Whitley looked at him with an evil smile. "That's rather a hard word +for a good Christian, isn't it? Let's say, obtain possession of the +documents without Mr. Falkner's knowledge. It sounds better." + +"I'm no thief," snapped Frank. + +Jim lifted his eyebrows as he skillfully flipped the ashes from his +cigar. "Oh, I see; you did not rob the old gentleman's safe that night. +I saved you from committing murder. You only negotiated a trifling +loan with your loving parent. You'll be telling me next that you didn't +gamble, but only whiled away a leisure hour or two in a social game +of cards. But, joking aside, I honestly believe, Frank Goodrich, that +you are more kinds of a fool than any man I have ever had the pleasure +to know. The case in a nutshell is this: I must have those papers. I +can't go after them myself. You've got to get them for me." + +"I won't," said Frank, sullenly. "I can't." + +"You can, and you will," retorted the other, firmly; "or I'll turn +those notes over to my lawyer for collection, inside of twenty-four +hours, and the little story of your life will be told to all the world. +My young Christian friend, you can't afford to tell _me_ that you +won't." + +For another hour they sat before the fire, talking and planning, and +then Frank drove alone, through the mud and rain, back to the city, +reaching his home just before day. + +A few nights later, as Dick sat at his work in Mr. Wicks' office, a +rubber-tired buggy drove slowly past close to the curbing. Through the +big front window, Dick could be seen plainly as he bent over his desk, +just inside an inner room, his back toward the door, which stood open. +A burly negro leaped to the sidewalk without stopping the carriage. +So absorbed was Dick with the task before him, that he did not hear +the outer door of the office open and close again; and so quickly did +the negro move that he stood within the room where Dick sat before the +latter was aware of his presence. + +When Dick did raise his head, he looked straight into the muzzle of +a big revolver. + +"Don't move er ye'r a goner," growled the black giant; and reaching +out with his free hand he swung to the door between the rooms, thus +cutting off the view from the street. + +Dick smiled pleasantly as though his visitor had called in the ordinary +way. "What can I do for you?" he asked, politely. + +"Yo jest move 'way from dat 'ar desk fust; den we kin talk. I don' +'spect you's got a gun handy, an' we don' want no foolin'." + +Dick laughed aloud as though the other had made a good joke. "All +right, boss; just as you say." And leaving his chair he seated himself +on the edge of a table in the center of the room. But the negro did +not notice that he had placed himself so that a heavy glass paper-weight +was just hidden by his right leg. + +"Better take a seat yourself," continued Dick cordially. "Might as +well be comfortable. How are the wife and babies?" + +The negro showed his teeth in a broad grin as he dropped into the +revolving chair Dick had just vacated. "Dey's well, tank yo' kindly +sah." Then as he looked at the young man's careless attitude and smiling +face, he burst forth, admiringly: "Dey done tole me as how yo' wor' +a cool cuss an' mighty bad to han'le; but fo' God I nebber seed nothin' +like hit. Aint yo' skeered'?" + +Dick threw up his head and laughed heartily. "Sure I'm scared," he +said. "Don't you see how I'm shaking? I expect I'll faint in a minute +if you don't put up that gun." + +The negro scowled fiercely. "No yo' don't. Yo' kan't come dat on dis +chile. Dat gun stay pinted jus' lak she is; an' hit goes off too ef +yo' don' do what I says, mighty sudden." + +"Just as you say," replied Dick, cheerfully. "But what do you want me +to do?" + +"I wants yo' to unlock dat air safe." + +"Can't do it. I don't know the combination." + +"Huh," the negro grunted. "Yo' kan't gib me no such guff es dat. +Move sudden now." + +"You're making a mistake," said Dick, earnestly. "I have only desk +room here. I don't work for Mr. Wicks, and have no business with the +safe. Besides, they don't keep money there anyway." + +"Taint money I'm after dis trip, mistah; hit's papers. Dey's in a big +leather pocket-book, tied with er sho' string." + +Like a flash, Dick understood. The papers were in the safe, but as he +said, he did not know the combination. "Papers?" he said, in a tone +of surprise, in order to gain time. + +"Yes sah, papers; dat yo' keeps in dar." He nodded toward the safe. +"I wants em quick." The hand that held the revolver came slowly to a +level with the dark face. + +"Shoot if you want to," said Dick, easily, "but I'm telling you the +truth. I don't know how to open the safe." + +The negro looked puzzled, and Dick, seeing his advantage instantly, +let his hand fall easily on his leg, close to the paper weight. +"Besides," he said carelessly, "if its my papers you want, that's my +desk behind--" He checked himself suddenly as though he had said more +than he intended. + +The negro's face lighted at what he thought was Dick's mistake, and +forgetting himself, half turned in the revolving chair, while the +muzzle of the revolver was shifted for just the fraction of a second. +It was enough. With the quickness of a serpent, Dick's hand shot out, +and the heavy weight caught the negro above the right ear, and with +a groan he slid from the chair to the floor. + +When the black ruffian regained consciousness, Dick was still sitting +on the edge of the table, calmly swinging his feet, but in his hand +was his visitor's weapon. + +"Well," he said, quietly, "you've had quite a nap. Do you feel better? +Or do you think one of these pills would help you?" He slowly cocked +and raised the revolver. + +"Don't shoot. Don't shoot, sah." + +"Why not?" said Dick, coldly, but with the smile still on his face. + +That smile did the business. Oaths and threats the black man could +understand; but a man who looked deliberately along a cocked revolver, +with a smile on his face, was too much for him. He begged and pleaded +for his life. + +"Tell me who sent you here?" + +"Mistah Goodrich." + +Dick was startled, though his face showed no surprise. + +"The old gentleman?" + +"'No sah, Mistah Frank." + +"How did he know that I had any papers?" + +"I don' know sah; he only said as how he wanted dem; an' he's er waitin' +'round de cornah in de kerrige." + +This was a new feature in the situation. Dick was puzzled. At last he +stepped to the phone and, still covering the negro with the revolver, +he rang up central and called for Mr. Wicks' residence. When the answer +came, he said easily, "Excuse me for disturbing you, Mr. Wicks, but +I have a man here in the office who wants to get into your safe, and +I need you badly. You had better come in the back way." + +"I'll be with you in a shake," was the reply; "hold him down till I +get there." And a few minutes later the old gentleman knocked at the +door. Dick admitted him and then burst into a hearty laugh at his +strange appearance; for in his haste, Uncle Bobbie had simply pulled +on a pair of rubber boots and donned an overcoat. With the exception +of these articles, he was in his nightshirt and cap. In his hand, he +carried a pistol half as long as his arm; but he was as calm as Dick +himself, though breathing hard. "To-be-sure," he puffed, +"I'm--so--plagey--fat--can't hurry--worth cent--wind's no good--have +to take--to smokin' agin--sure." + +Dick explained the situation in a few words; "I wouldn't have called +you sir, if young Goodrich were not in it. But--but--you see--I don't +know what to do," he finished, lamely. + +"To-be-sure," said Uncle Bobbie, "I know. To-be-sure. Sometimes a bad +feller like him gets tangled up with good people in such a way you +jist got t'er let 'em alone; tares an' wheat you know; tares and wheat. +To-be-sure Christianity aint 'rithmetic, and you can't save souls like +you'd do problems in long division, ner count results like you'd figger +interest. What'd ye say?--Suppose you skip down to the corner and fetch +him up here." + +Dick glanced at the negro. "Never you mind him," said the old gentleman, +with a fierce scowl. "Your uncle'll shoot the blamed head off him if +he so much as bats an eye; he knows it too." And he trained the long +gun on the trembling black. + +Dick slipped out of the back door and soon returned holding Frank +firmly by the collar. As they entered, Uncle Bobbie said to the negro, +"Now's yer chance, Bill; git out quick 'fore we change our minds." And +the astonished darkey bolted. + +"Now Frank," said the old gentleman kindly, when Dick had placed his +prisoner in a chair, "tell us all about it." And young Goodrich, too +frightened almost to speak above a whisper, told the whole miserable +story. + +"Too bad; too bad," muttered Uncle Bobbie, when Frank had finished. +"To-be-sure, taint no more'n I expected; gamblin' church members ain't +got no call to kick if their children play cards fer money. What'll +we do, Dick?" + +Dick was silent, but unseen by Frank, he motioned toward the door. + +[Illustration: "Too bad, too bad, muttered Uncle Bobbie."] + +Uncle Bobbie understood. "I reckon yer right," he said, slowly, "tares +an' wheat--tares an' wheat. But what about them notes?" + +"I'll fix Whitley," replied Dick. + +Frank looked at him in wonder. + +"Air you sure you can do it?" asked Uncle Bobbie; "'cause if you +can't--" + +"Sure," replied Dick; "I'll write him a line tonight." Then to Frank: +"You can go now, sir, and don't worry about Jim Whitley; he will never +trouble you by collecting the notes." + +Frank, stammering some unintelligible reply, rose to his feet. + +"Wait a bit young man," said Uncle Bobbie, "I want to tell ye somethin' +before ye go. To-be-sure, I don't think ye'll ever be a very _bad_ +citizen, but you've shown pretty clearly that ye can be a mighty mean +one. An' I'm afraid ye'll never be much credit to the church, 'cause +a feller's got to be a _man_ before he can be much of a Christian. +Pieces of men like you don't count much on either side; they just sort +o' fill in. But what ye want to do is to quit tryin' so blamed hard +to be respectable and be _decent_. Now run on home to yer maw and don't +tell nobody where ye've been to-night. Mr. Falkner he will look after +yer friend Whitley." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + +The sun was nearly three hours high above the western hilltops in the +mountain district of Arkansas, as a solitary horseman stopped in the +shadow of the timber that fringed the edge of a deep ravine. It was +evident from the man's dress, that he was not a native of that region; +and from the puzzled expression on his face, as he looked anxiously +about, it was clear that he had lost his way. Standing in the stirrups +he turned and glanced back over the bridle path along which he had +come, and then peered carefully through the trees to the right and +left; then with an impatient oath, he dropped to the saddle and sat +staring straight ahead at a lone pine upon the top of a high hill a +few miles away. + +"There's the hill with the signal tree beyond Simpson's all right," +he said, "but how in thunder am I to get there; this path don't go any +farther, that's sure," and from the distant mountain he turned his +gaze to the deep gulch that lay at his feet. + +Suddenly he leaned forward with another exclamation. He had caught +sight of a log cabin in the bottom of the ravine, half hidden by the +bushes and low trees that grew upon the steep banks. Turning his horse, +he rode slowly up and down for some distance, searching for an easy +place to descend, coming back at last to the spot where he had first +halted. "It's no go, Salem," he said; "we've got to slide for it," and +dismounting, he took the bridle rein in his hand and began to pick his +way as best he could, down the steep incline, while his four-footed +companion reluctantly followed. After some twenty minutes of stumbling +and swearing on the part of the man, and slipping and groaning on the +part of the horse, they stood panting at the bottom. After a short +rest, the man clambered into the saddle again, and fording a little +mountain brook that laughed and sang and roared among the boulders, +rode up to the clearing in which the cabin stood. + +"Hello!" he shouted. + +There was no answer, and but for the thread of smoke that curled lazily +from the mud and stick chimney, the place seemed deserted. + +"Hello!" he called again. + +A gaunt hound came rushing from the underbrush beyond the house, and +with hair bristling in anger, howled his defiance and threats. + +Again the horseman shouted, and this time the cabin door opened +cautiously and a dirty-faced urchin thrust forth a tousled head. + +"Where's your father?" + +The head was withdrawn, and a moment later put forth again. +"He's done gone ter th' corners." + +"Well, can you tell me the way to Simpson's? I don't know how to get +out of this infernal hole." + +Again the head disappeared for a few seconds, and then the door was +thrown wide open and a slovenly woman, with a snuff stick in one corner +of her mouth, came out, followed by four children. The youngest three +clung to her skirts and stared, with fearful eyes, at the man on the +horse, while he of the tousled head threw stones at the dog and +commanded him, in a shrill voice, to "shet up, dad burn ye Kinney, +shet up. He's all right." + +"Wanter go ter Simpson's at the corners, do ye?" said the woman. +"Wal, yer right smart offen yer road." + +"I know that," replied the stranger, impatiently; "I've been hunting +turkeys and lost my way. But can't I get to the corners from here?" + +"Sure ye kin. Jes' foller on down the branch 'bout three mile till ye +come out on the big road; hit'll take ye straight ter th' ford below +ol' Ball whar' the lone tree is. Simpson's is 'bout half a quarter on +yon side the creek." + +The man thanked her gruffly, and turning his horse, started away. + +"Be you'ns the feller what's stoppin' at Sim's ter hunt?" she called +after him. + +"Yes, I'm the man," he answered, "Good-evening." And he rode into the +bushes. + +Catching the oldest urchin by the arm, the woman gave him a vigorous +cuff on the side of the head and then whispered a few words in his +attentive ear. The lad started off down the opposite side of the ravine +at a run, bending low and dodging here and there, unseen by the +stranger. + +The hunter pushed on his way down the narrow valley as fast as he could +go, for he had no time to spare if he would reach his stopping-place +before night, and he knew that there was small chance of finding the +way back after dark; but his course was so rough and obstructed by +heavy undergrowth, fallen trees and boulders, that his progress was +slow and the shadow of the mountain was over the trail while he was +still a mile from the road at the end of the ravine. As he looked +anxiously ahead, hoping every moment to see the broader valley where +the road lay, he caught a glimpse of two men coming toward him, one +behind the other, winding in and out through the low timber. While +still some distance away, they turned sharply to the left, and as it +seemed to him, rode straight into the side of the mountain and were +lost to sight. + +Checking his horse, he watched for them to come into view again, and +while he waited, wondering at their strange disappearance, the men +urged their mules up a narrow gulley that was so hidden by the +undergrowth and fallen timber as to escape an eye untrained to the +woods and hills. After riding a short distance, they dismounted, and +leaving the animals, quickly scaled the steep sides of the little cut +and came out in an open space about two hundred yards above the trail +along which the solitary horseman must pass. Dropping behind the trunk +of a big tree that lay on the mountain side, uprooted by some gale and +blackened by forest fires, they searched the valley below with the +keen glance of those whose eyes are never dimmed by printed page or +city lights. Dressed in the rude garb of those to whom clothes are a +necessity, not a means of display, tall and lean with hard muscles, +tough sinews and cruel stony faces, they seemed a part of the wild +life about them; and yet withal, there was a touch of the mountain +grandeur in their manner, and in the unconscious air of freedom and +self-reliance, as there always is about everything that remains +untouched by the conventionality of the weaker world of men. + +"'Bout time he showed up, aint it, Jake?" said one as he +carefully rested his rifle against the log and bit off a big piece +of long green twist tobacco. + +"Hit's a right smart piece ter ol' Josh's shack an' th' kid done come +in a whoop," returned the other, following his companion's example. +"He can't make much time down that branch on hoss back an' with them +fine clothes of his, but he orten ter be fur off." + +"D'ye reckon he's a durned revenoo sure, Jake?" + +"Dunno, best be safe," with an ugly scowl. "Simpson 'lows he's jes' +layin' low hisself, but ye can't tell." + +"What'd Sim say his name war?" + +"Jim Whitley," returned the other, taking a long careful look up the +valley. + +"An' whar' from?" + +"Sim say St. Louie, or some place like that. Sh--thar' he comes." + +They half rose and crouching behind the log, pushed the cocked rifles +through the leaves of a little bush, covering the horseman below. + +"If he's a revenoo he'll sure see th' path ter th' still," whispered +the one called Jake; "an' if he turns ter foller hit into th' cut drap +him. If he goes on down th' branch, all right." + +All unconscious of the rifles that wanted only the touch of an outlaw's +finger to speak his death, the stranger pushed on his way past the +unseen danger point toward the end of the valley where lay the road. + +The lean mountaineers looked at each other. "Never seed hit," said +one, showing his yellow teeth in a mirthless grin; "an' I done tole +Cap las' night, hit was es plain es er main traveled road an' orter +be kivered." + +"Mebbe so," replied the other; "an' then agin he mighter ketched on +an' 'lows ter fool us." + +The other sprang up with an oath. "We uns aint got no call ter take +chances," he growled; "best make sure." And with his rifle half raised, +he looked anxiously along the trail, but the stranger had passed from +view. + +A few minutes longer they waited and watched, discussing the situation; +then returning to the mules, they rode out of the little gully and on +down the branch in the direction the object of their suspicion had +taken. + +Just across the road from the mouth of the ravine down which the hunter +had come, was a little log cabin, and in the low doorway an old woman +sat smoking a cob pipe. "Howdy Liz," said one of the men, "Seed +anythin'?" + +"Yep," returned the woman. "He done ast th' way ter Simpson's. 'Low'd +he'd been huntin' turkey an' lost hisself. I done tole him he orter +git someone ter tromp 'roun' with him er he might git killed." + +She laughed shrilly and the two men joined in with low guffaws. "Reckon +yer right, Liz," said one. "Jake, why don't ye hire out ter him." + +Jake slapped his leg. "By gum," he exclaimed, "that thar's a good ide'. +I shor' do hit. An' I'll see that he don't find nothin' bigger'n turkey +too; less'n he's too durned inquisitive; then I'll be--." He finished +with an evil grin. "You all tell Cap I've done gone ter hunt with +Mistah Whitley ef I don't show up." And beating his mule's ribs +vigorously with his heels, he jogged away down the road, while his +companion turned and rode back up the little valley. + +Jim Whitley, enraged at Frank's failure to rescue the papers held by +Dick, and alarmed by the latter's letter telling him of young Goodrich's +confession, had come into the wild backwoods district to await +developments. He was more determined now than ever, to gain possession +of the evidence of his crime, and in his heart was a fast-growing +desire to silence, once for all, the man whose steady purpose and +integrity was such an obstacle in his life. But he could see no way +to accomplish his purpose without great danger to himself; and with +the memory of the gray eyes that had looked so calmly along the shining +revolvers that night in the printing office, was a wholesome respect +for the determined character of the man who had coolly proposed to die +with him if he did not grant his demands. He feared that should Dick +find Amy and learn the truth, he would risk his own life rather than +permit him to go unpunished, and so he resolved to bury himself in the +mountains until chance should reveal a safe way out of the difficulty, +or time change the situation. + +The afternoon of the day following his adventure in the little valley, +Whitley sat on the porch of the post office and store kept by his host, +telling his experience to a group of loafers, when the long mountaineer +called Jake, rode up to the blacksmith shop across the street. Leaving +his mule to be shod, the native joined the circle just in time to hear +the latter part of Whitley's story. + +"Lookin' fer turkey, war ye Mister?" asked Jake, with a wink at the +bystanders. + +"Yes, have you seen any?" replied Jim. + +"Sure, the bresh's full of 'em ef ye know whar' ter hunt." + +The company grinned and he continued: "I seed signs this mo'nin' in +th' holler on yon side ol' Ball, when I war' huntin' my mule. An' +thar's a big roost down by th' spring back of my place in th' bottoms." + +Whitley was interested. "Will you show me where they are?" he asked. + +"Might ef I could spar' th' time," replied Jake slowly; "but +I've got my craps ter tend." + +Another grin went the rounds. "Jake's sure pushed with his craps," +remarked one; "Raises mo' corn, 'n 'ary three men in Arkansaw," remarked +another, and with this they all fired a volley of tobacco juice at a +tumble bug rolling his ball in the dust near by. + +Needless to say, the conversation resulted in Whitley's engaging the +moonshiner for seventy-five cents a day, to hunt with him; and for the +next two weeks they were always together. + +All day long the native led the way over the hills and through the +deep ravines and valleys, taking a different course each day, but +always the chase led them away from the little ravine that opened on +the big road. When Whitley suggested that they try the country where +he had lost his way, his guide only laughed contemptuously, "Ain't ye +killin' turkey every trip. Ye jist foller me an' I'll sure find 'em +fer ye. Ain't nothin' over in that holler. I done tromped all over +thar' huntin' that dad burned ol' mule o'mine, an' didn't see nary +sign. Thay's usen' 'round th' south side th' ridge. Ye jist lemme take +ye 'round." And Jim was forced to admit that he was having good luck +and no cause to complain of lack of sport. But he was growing tired +of the hills and impatient to return to the city, while his hatred of +the man whom he feared, grew hourly. + +Jake, seeing that his employer was fast growing tired of the hunt, and +guessing shrewdly, from his preoccupied manner, that hunting was not +the real object of his stay in the mountains, became more and more +suspicious. His careless, good-natured ways and talk changed to a +sullen silence and he watched Whitley constantly. + +One morning, just at daybreak, as they were walking briskly along the +big road on their way to a place where the guide said the game was to +be found, Take stopped suddenly, and motioning Jim to be silent, stood +in a listening attitude. + +Whitley followed his companion's example, but for a minute could hear +nothing but the faint rustle of the dead leaves as a gray lizard darted +to his hiding place, and the shrill scream of a blue-jay calling his +sleepy mates to breakfast. Then the faint thud, thud, thud, of a +galloping horse came louder and louder through the morning mist. +Evidently someone was riding rapidly toward them. + +"Whitley was about to speak, when the other, with a fierce oath and +a threatening gesture, stopped him. + +"Git inter th' bresh thar' quick an' do's I tell ye. Don't stop t' +plaver. Git! An' gimme yer gun." + +Too astonished to do anything else, Jim obeyed, and hastily thrusting +the rifle under a pile of leaves by a log near by, the moonshiner +forced his companion before him through the underbrush to a big rock +some distance from the road. The sound of the galloping horse came +louder and louder. + +"Stand thar' behin' that rock 'n if ye stir I'll kill ye," whispered +Jake; and taking a position behind a tree where he could watch Jim as +well as the road, he waited with rifle cocked and murder written in +every line of his hard face. + +Nearer and nearer came the galloping horse. Whitley was fascinated and +moved slightly so that he could peep over the rock. A low hiss from +Jake fell upon his ear like the warning hiss of a serpent, and half +turning, he saw the rifle pointing full at him. He nodded his head, +and placing his finger upon his lips to indicate that he understood, +turned his face toward the road again, just as the horse and his rider +came into view. + +The animal, though going freely, was covered with dust and dripping +with sweat, which showed a creamy lather on his flanks, and where the +bridle reins touched his neck. The rider wore a blue flannel shirt, +open at the throat, corduroy trousers, tucked in long boots, and a +black slouch hat, with the brim turned up in front. At his belt hung +two heavy revolvers, and across the saddle he held a Winchester ready +for instant use. He sat his horse easily as one accustomed to much +riding, but like the animal, he showed the strain of a hard race. + +Whitley was so wrought up that all these details impressed themselves +upon his mind in an instant, and it seemed hours from the moment the +horseman appeared until he was opposite the rock, though it could have +been but a few seconds. + +The watcher caught one glimpse of the rider's face, square jawed, keen +eyed, determined, alert, stained by wind and weather. + +"Crack!" went the rifle behind Whitley. + +Like a flash the weapon of the rider flew to his shoulder. "Crack!" +and the bark flew from the tree within an inch of Jake's face. + +Whitley saw the spurs strike and the rider lean forward in his saddle +to meet the spring of his horse. "Crack!" Jake's rifle spoke again. +A mocking laugh came back from the road as the flying horseman passed +from sight. Then, "I'll see you later," came in ringing tones, and the +thud, thud, thud, of the galloping horse died away in the distance. + +The mountaineer delivered himself of a volley of oaths, while Whitley +stood quietly looking at him, his mind filled with strange thoughts. +The man who could deliberately fire from ambush with intent to kill +was the man for his purpose. + +"Who is he?" Jim asked at last, when the other stopped swearing long +enough to fill his mouth with fresh tobacco. + +"A revenoo, an' I done missed him clean." He began to curse again. + +"He came near getting you though," said the other, pointing to the +mark of the horseman's bullet. + +"Yas, hit war' Bill Davis. Aint nary other man in the hull dad burned +outfit could er done hit." He looked with admiration at the fresh scar +on the tree. + +"But what is he doing?" asked Whitley. + +Jake looked at him with that ugly, mirthless grin. "Mebbe he's huntin' +turkey too." + +Whitley laughed, "I guess he was goin' too fast for that," he said; +but his companion's reply changed his laughter to fear. + +"Thar's them that better be a follerin' of him mighty sudden." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean you, Mister. The boys has had ther' eye on ye fer sometime. +We know yer huntin's all a blind, an' now Bill Davis he's come in. I +aint right shor' myself er I'd a kep' mum an' he'pped 'em take ye." + +Whitley turned pale. "Do you mean that the people here think I'm a +revenue agent looking for moonshiners?" + +"That's about hit, Mister, an' they'll be fer takin' ye out ter night +shor'." + +The fellow's meaning was too clear to be mistaken, and for some time +Whitley remained silent. He was thinking hard. At last he said: "Jake, +I'll tell you something. The boys are mistaken. I'm not here to get +anybody into trouble, but because I'm in a hole myself." + +"As how?" asked Jake, moving nearer and speaking in a lower tone. + +"I won't tell you how unless you'll help me; and if you will, I'll pay +you more money than you can make in this business in a thousand years." + +The moonshiner's eyes gleamed. "Bill Davis is sure after us an' that +thar' means trouble every time," he said slowly. "Ye heard him say as +how he'd see me agin, an' I never knowed him ter miss befo'." He looked +at the bullet mark on the tree again. "Tell ye what, Mister Whitley, +I'll chance her; but we ain't got no time ter talk now. We gotter git +away from here, fer some er the boys 'll be along purty quick. We'll +just mosey 'round fer a spell an' then go back ter th' corners. I'll +send th' boys off on er hot chase en' fix Sim so's ye kin git erway +t'-night, an' ye come ter my shack; hit's on th' river below that hill +with the lone tree on top, jes' seven mile from th' corners. Ye can't +miss hit. I'll be thar an' have things fixed so's we kin light out +befo' th' boys git back." + +They reached Simpson's in time for dinner and Jake held a long whispered +conversation with that worthy, while Jim sat on the porch after the +meal. + +As Jake passed him on his way to the mule that stood hitched in front +of the blacksmith shop as usual, he said, in the hearing of those near: +"Hit's all right fer to-morrow, is hit, Mister Whitley? An' we'll go +over tother side Sandy Ridge?" + +The words "all right" were accompanied by a wink that Whitley +understood. + +"Yes," he answered carelessly, "I'll be ready. I want to rest this +afternoon and get a good sleep tonight. I'll be with you in the +morning." + +Jake rode off, and all the rest of the day Whitley felt that he was +the mark for many scowling glances, while many whispered words were +passed between the gaunt natives as they slouched in and out of the +post office. Later, when the loafers had seemingly disappeared, Simpson +came, and leaning carelessly against the door post within a few feet +of Whitley, said, in a low voice: "They's a watchin' ye from th' shop +yonder; be keerful an' don't let on. Yer hoss is tied in th' bresh +down th' road a piece. Ride easy fer th' first mile." + +Jim rose slowly to his feet, and stretching his arms above his head, +yawned noisily. "Guess I'll turn in," he said. And then as he passed +Simpson, he put a roll of bills into his hand. The landlord stepped +out on the porch and took the chair Whitley had just left, while that +gentleman slipped quietly out by the back door and crept away to his +horse. + +An hour later, Whitley knocked at the door of the cabin on the river +bank and was admitted by Jake. + +"Did ye make hit all right?" the mountaineer asked, as Jim entered. + +The other nodded. "Simpson is sitting on the front porch and I'm +supposed to be in bed." + +Jake chuckled. "Cap an' th' boys air way up th' holler after Bill +Davis, an' I'm in the bresh er watchin' you. Now let's git down ter +biz right sharp." + +Whitley soon told enough of his story, omitting names and places, to +let his companion understand the situation. + +When he had finished, Jake took a long pull from a bottle, and then +said slowly: "An' ye want me ter put that feller what holds th' papers +out o' yer' way?" + +Whitley nodded. "It'll pay you a lot better than shooting government +agents, and not half the risk." + +"What'll ye give me?" + +"You can name your own price?" + +The outlaw's face glittered and he answered in a hoarse whisper, "I'll +do hit. What's his name, an' whar'll I find him?" + +"Richard Falkner. He lives in Boyd City--" + +Slowly the man who had just agreed to commit a murder for money rose +to his feet and stepped backward until half the width of the room was +between them. + +The other, alarmed at the expression in his companion's face, rose +also, and for several minutes the silence was only broken by the +crackling of the burning wood in the fireplace, the shrill chirp of +a cricket and the plaintive call of a whip-poor-will from without. +Then with a look of superstitious awe and terror upon his thin face, +the moonshiner gasped, in a choking voice, "Boyd City--Richard +Falkner--Mister, aint yo' mistaken? Say, ar' ye right shor'?" + +Whitley replied, with an oath, "What's the matter with you? You look +as though you had seen a ghost." + +The ignorant villain started and glanced over his shoulder to the dark +corner of the cabin; "Thar' might be a ha'nt here, shor' 'nough," he +whispered hoarsely. "Do yo' know whar' ye air, Mister?" + +Then as Whitley remained silent, he continued: "This here's th' house +whar' Dickie Falkner war' borned; an' whar' his mammy died; an'--an' +I'm Jake Tompkins; me 'n his daddy war' pards." + +Whitley was dazed. He looked around the room as though in a dream; +then slowly he realized his situation and a desperate resolve crept +into his heart. Carefully his hand moved beneath his coat until he +felt the handle of a long knife, while he edged closer to his companion. + +The other seemed not to notice, and continued, as though talking to +himself: "Little Dickie Falkner. Him what fed me when I war' starvin', +an' gimme his last nickel when he war' hungry hisself; an' yo' want +me ter kill him."--He drew a long shuddering breath. "Mister, yo' shor' +made 'er bad mistake this time." + +"I'll fix it though," cried Whitley; and with an awful oath he leaped +forward, the knife uplifted. + +But the keen eye of the man used to danger, had seen his stealthy +preparation, and his wrist was caught in a grasp of iron. + +The city-bred villain was no match for his mountain-trained companion +and the struggle was short. + +Keeping his hold upon Whitley's wrist, Jake threw his long right arm +around his antagonist and drew him close, in a crushing embrace. Then, +while he looked straight into his victim's fear-lighted eyes, he slowly +forced the uplifted hand down and back. + +Whitley struggled desperately, but his left arm was pinned to his side +and he was held as in a circle of steel. In vain he writhed and twisted; +he was helpless in the powerful grasp of the mountaineer. Slowly the +hand that held the knife was forced behind him. He screamed in pain. +The glittering eyes that looked into his never wavered. Jake's right +hand behind his back, touched the knife, and Whitley saw that evil, +mirthless grin come on the cruel face, so close to his own. The grip +on his wrist tightened. Slowly his arm was twisted until his fingers +loosened the hold of the weapon, and the handle of the knife was +transferred to the grasp of the man who held him. Then there were two +quick, strong thrusts, a shuddering, choking cry, and the arms were +loosed as the stricken man fell in a heap on the cabin floor, on the +very spot where years before, the dying mother had prayed: "Oh Lord, +take ker' o' Dick." + +"You--have--killed--me--" + +"I reckon that's about hit, Mister." + +"Tell--Falkner--I--lied--Amy--is--pure--and tell--" + +But the sentence was never finished. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + + +After several weeks of careful investigation and study of the conditions +and needs of Boyd City, along the lines suggested by Rev. Cameron in +his address before the Young People's Union, a plan to meet these +conditions was at last fixed upon, the main points of which were as +follows: That a society or company be organized and incorporated to +furnish places of recreation and education for young men and women; +the place to be fitted with gymnasium, library, reading rooms, social +parlors, a large auditorium and smaller class-rooms for work along +special lines. There should also be a department where men out of +employment might earn something to eat and a place to sleep, by working +in wood-yards, coal mines, factories, or farms connected with the +institution; and a similar place for women. It also provided for a +medical dispensary and hospital for the care of the sick. The whole +institution was to be under the charge of some Christian man who should +deliver an address on the teachings of Christ every Sunday afternoon +in the large auditorium. + +Besides this, Bible classes could be organized by different workers +as they chose, with this restriction, that no teaching of any particular +sect or denomination should be allowed, and only the life and laws of +Jesus Christ should be studied. Classes in other studies, such as +pertain to the welfare or the government of the people, could be +organized for those who wished, all educational work being under the +supervision of directors elected by the society. + +Every department of the institution was to be free to the public at +all hours. To make this possible, the funds of the Society would be +raised from the sale of shares, for which the holder was to pay annually +twenty-five dollars. Members of the Association were entitled to one +vote in the society for every four shares. It was expected that the +department for the needy would be self-supporting. + +The purpose and plans of the society were to be fully set forth in a +little pamphlet, and placed in the hands of every citizen. The people +were to be urged to co-operate with the institution by refusing +absolutely to give any man, able to work, either food, clothing or +lodging, on the ground that he could obtain the needed help by paying +for it in labor at the institution; and that they further assist the +work by contributing clothing, by employing laborers, and using the +products of the institution as far as possible. + +The office of the Superintendent was to be in direct communication +with the police station, and anyone applying for help and refusing to +work, when it was offered, would be turned over to the authorities to +be dealt with for vagrancy. The hope was expressed that the city would +co-operate with the institution by contributing liberally for the +building fund, and by using the workers in their street-cleaning +department. + +When the time came to hear the committee's report, the opera house was +crowded as it seldom was for any political speech or theatrical display. +The young people from the various societies occupied the front seats +on the floor of the house; and back of them, in the dress circles and +galleries, were the general public, while on the rostrum were the +leading business men, bankers, merchants, and the city officials, +together with the committee. + +"Look there, Bill," said a saloon keeper, who had come to watch his +interest, "look at that. Blast me if there aint Banker Lindsley; and +see them reporters. And there's the editor of the Whistler. Say, this +aint no bloody church meeting; there aint a preacher on the stage. +Them fellers mean business. We've got to watch out if they keep on +this tack. And would you look at the people?" + +"Come on out of here," growled his companion, a gambler; "we don't +want any truck with this outfit." + +"I'm going to stay and see what they propose doing," said the other. +"Get a grip on yourself and wait." + +Just then the assembly was called to order, and the two men dropped +into seats near the rear entrance. + +The president stated the object of the meeting and reviewed the action +of the previous one at the Zion Church, where Cameron had spoken, +strongly emphasizing the fact that this was not a meeting of the young +people's societies only, but that every one present was to have a share +in it, and all should feel free to express themselves either by voice +or ballot. "Mr. Richard Falkner, the chairman of the committee, will +make the report, and at their request, will speak for a few moments +on the subject." + +As Dick arose from his place in the rear of the stage and stepped +forward, the saloon keeper turned to his companion, and in a loud +whisper said, "Say, aint he that bum printer of Udell's?" + +The other nodded and then replied, as his companion began to speak +again, "Shut up, let's hear what he is going to say." + +As Dick came slowly forward to the front of the rostrum, and stood for +a moment as though collecting himself, the audience, to a man almost, +echoed the thought that the saloon keeper had so roughly expressed. +"Could it be possible that this was the poor tramp who had once gone +from door to door seeking a chance to earn a crust of bread?" And then +as they looked at the calm, clear-cut, determined features, and the +tall, well-built figure, neatly clothed in a business suit of brown, +they burst into involuntary applause. A smile crept over Dick's face +as he bowed his handsome head in grateful acknowledgment. And then he +held up his hand for silence. + +Instantly a hush fell over the audience, and in a moment they were +listening, with intense interest, to the voice of the once tramp +printer. + +"Our president has already detailed to you an account of the meeting +preceding this. You understand that I am but the mouthpiece of the +council appointed at that time, and that I do but speak their will, +their thoughts, their aims, as they have voiced them in our meetings." + +He then told of the methods adopted by the committee, of the help they +had received, and how they had at last decided upon the report which +he was about to submit; then carefully detailed the plan, enlarging +upon the outlines as he proceeded. Drawing upon the mass of information +gathered in the few weeks, he painted the city in its true colors, as +shown in the light of their investigation; and then held out the +wonderful promises of the plan for the future. + +As he talked, Dick forgot himself, and forgot his audience. He saw +only the figure of the Christ, and heard Him say, "Inasmuch as ye did +it unto one of the least of these, my Brethren, ye did it unto me." +While his hearers sat lost to the surroundings under the magic spell +of his eloquence; an eloquence that even his most intimate friends +never dreamed that he possessed. + +Charlie Bowen was enraptured. Clara Wilson wept and laughed and wept +again. Uncle Bobbie could only say, "I jing," and "To-be-sure," while +George Udell sat in wonder. Could this splendid man who, with his +flashing eye and glowing face, with burning words and graceful gestures, +was holding that immense audience subject to his will, could this be +the wretched creature who once fell at his feet fainting with hunger? +"Truly," he thought, "the possibilities of life are infinite. The power +of the human soul cannot be measured, and no man guesses the real +strength of his closest friend." + +As Dick finished and turned to resume his seat by the side of Mr. +Wicks, a perfect furor of applause came from the people. In vain the +chairman rapped for order; they would not stop; while on the rostrum +men were crowding about the young orator, standing on chairs and +reaching over each other's shoulders to grasp his hand. At last, the +president turned to Dick. "Mr. Falkner, can you stop them?" + +Dick, with face now as pale as death, and lips trembling with emotion, +came back to the front of the stage. "I thank you again and again, for +your kindness and the honor you show me, but may I further trespass +upon that kindness by reminding you that this matter will never be met +by clapping hands or applauding voices. Too long in the past have we +applauded when our hearts were touched, and allowed the sentiment to +die away with the echo of our enthusiasm. Shall it be so this time? +Men and women, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ who died +on Calvary, what will you do for the least of these, His Brethren?" + +As he again took his seat, the gambler, who with his friend had been +sitting drinking in every word of Dick's speech, sprang to his feet +and cried, in a loud, clear voice, "Mr. President." + +Upon being recognized by the chair, who knew him and called him by +name, every head turned, for all knew of Chris Chambers, the most +notorious gambler in the city. + +Said Chambers, "I came here to-night out of curiosity, to see if this +movement in any way threatened my business as a professional gambler. +I have, as most of you know, for the last five years, been conducting +my place in your city, in open violation of your laws. To-night, for +the first time, I see myself in the true light, and as a testimony of +my good faith, and as evidence of the truth of my statement, when I +say that I will never again take money from my fellow men but in honest +business, I wish to make the motion that the report of this committee +be accepted, that the plan be approved, and that the committee be +discharged with the hearty thanks of the citizens of Boyd City." + +The motion was seconded and carried. Then came the critical moment. +For a full minute there was a pause. "What is the will of the meeting?" +said the chairman, calmly, but with a silent prayer. There was a buzz +of conversation all over the house. Every man was asking his neighbor, +"What next?" + +For a short time it looked as if things were at a standstill, but upon +the stage men were putting their heads together, and soon Banker +Lindsley shouted: "Mr. Chairman." + +Instantly the people became quiet and all turned toward Boyd City's +leading financier. + +"I am requested to ask all those who wish to become charter members +of an association as suggested in the report of the council, to meet +here on the stage at once, and I move that we adjourn." + +The president, after calling attention of the audience to the importance +of answering Mr. Lindsley's request, immediately put the question, and +the assembly was dismissed. + +Among the first to push his way to the front was the stalwart form of +the gambler, Chambers, and the stage was soon crowded with business +men and not a few women. Mr. Lindsley looked around. "Where's Falkner?" +he said. No one knew. And when Dick could not be found, Mr. Lindsley +called the company to order. + +The editor of the Whistler was chosen to preside, with Mr. Conklin the +express agent, for secretary. Then a committee on constitution and +by-laws was appointed, and the company adjourned to meet in the +Commercial Club rooms the next Wednesday night. + +But where was Dick? Unnoticed by the audience while their attention +was diverted toward Mr. Lindsley, he had slipped from the rear of the +stage and had made his way by the back stairs to the street. A half +hour later, some of the people, on their way home from the meeting, +noticed a tall figure, dressed in a business suit of brown, standing +in the shadow of the catalpa trees on the avenue, looking upward at +a church spire, built in the form of a giant hand, and at the darkened +stained-glass window, in which was wrought the figure of the Christ +holding a lamb in his arms. Later, they might have seen the same figure +walking slowly past a beautiful residence a few blocks farther up the +street, and when opposite a corner window, pausing a moment to stand +with bared head, while the lips moved softly as though whispering a +benediction upon one whose memory filled the place with pleasure and +with pain. + +About one o'clock on the following Wednesday, Uncle Bobbie Wicks dropped +into the printing office. Udell had not returned from dinner. "Good +afternoon, Mr. Wicks," said Dick, looking up from his work, "take a +seat. You want to see a proof of those letter-heads, I suppose. Jack, +take a proof of that stuff of Mr. Wicks'." + +Uncle Bobbie sank, puffing, into a chair. "I jing. Wish't I didn't get +so fat. Quit smokin' about a month ago. Wife, she wanted me to. +To-be-sure, I don't care nothin' fer it nohow. Mighty mean habit too. +Where's your pipe?" + +Dick smiled. "Oh, I haven't any now." + +"Uh! took to smokin' segars, I reckon." + +"No," said Dick, "I don't smoke at all." + +"Oh." Uncle Bobbie looked long and thoughtfully at his young friend. +"To-be-sure, I don't, _much_.--But I told wife this mornin' I'd have +to begin agin if I don't quit gettin' so plaguey fat. D' ye reckon +it'd make me sick?" + +Dick laughed. "You look rather fleshy," he said, encouragingly. + +"Well, you're a good deal fatter yourself, than you were when I first +seen you," said Uncle Bobbie, looking him over with a critical eye. + +"Yes," admitted Dick, "I guess I am; these are my fat years you know. +I'm getting to look at those lean ones as a very bad dream." + +Dick's young helper handed them a proof-sheet, and after looking over +the work for a few moments, Mr. Wicks said: "That new Association meets +t'-night, don't it?" Dick nodded; and the old gentleman continued +carelessly, as he arose to go, "Stop fer me when you go by, will you? +An' we'll go down t'gether." + +"But I'm not going," said Dick, quickly. Uncle Bobbie dropped back in +his seat with a jar and grasped the arms of his chair, as though about +to be thrown bodily to the ceiling. "Not goin'," he gasped; "Why, +what's the matter with you?" And he glared wildly at the young man. + +"Nothing particularly new is the matter," said Dick, smiling at the +old gentleman's astonishment. "My reason is that I cannot become a +member of the Association when it is organized, and so have no right +to attend the meeting to-night. I may go in after a time, but I cannot +now." + +"Why not?" said Mr. Wicks, still glaring. + +"Because I haven't the money." + +Uncle Bobbie settled back in his chair with a sigh of relief. "Oh, is +that all? To-be-sure, I thought mebbe you'd got your back up 'bout +somthin'." + +"Yes, that's all," said Dick quietly, and did not explain how he had +spent everything in his search for the wealthy hardware merchant's +daughter. But perhaps Uncle Bobbie needed no explanation. + +"Well, let me tell you, you're goin' anyhow; and you're goin' t' have +votin' power too. Be a pretty kettle o' fish if after that speech of +your'n, you weren't in the company. Be like tryin' to make a cheese +'thout any milk." + +"But I haven't the money and that's all there is about it. I will go +in as soon as I can." + +"Well, ye can borrow it, can't you?" + +"Borrow. What security can I give?" + +"Aint ye'r Christianity security enough?" + +Dick laughed at him. "Is that the way men do business in Boyd +City?" + +"Well, ye kin laugh if you want to, but that's 'bout th' best security +a feller can have in th' long run. Anyhow, it's good 'nough fer me. +I'll lend you a hundred fer a year. To-be-sure," he added hastily, as +he saw Dick's face, "You'll have to pay me th' same interest I can git +from the other fellers. I've got th' money to loan, and its all th' +same to me whether I loan it to you or some other man." + +"Suppose I die, then what?" asked Dick. + +"Well, if Christ goes on yer note I reckon it'll be good sometime," +muttered Uncle Bobbie, half to himself, as he took a check-book from +his pocket and filled it out. "I'll fix up th' papers this afternoon. +Don't forget t' stop fer me." + +When Dick and Uncle Bobbie reached the rooms of the Commercial Club +that evening, they found them filled with a large company of interested +citizens, and when the opportunity was given, over two hundred enrolled +as members of the Association. + +Mr. Lindsley, the banker, was elected president, with Mr. Wallace, a +merchant, for vice president. Then, with great enthusiasm, the unanimous +ballot of the Association was cast for Mr. Richard Falkner as secretary, +while to Dick's great delight, Uncle Bobbie was given the place of +treasurer. + +The papers of the city gave a full and enthusiastic account of the new +movement, and when the citizens saw that the Association was really +a fact, with men at its head who were so well qualified to fill their +respective positions, they had confidence in the plan, and began +straightway to express that confidence by becoming members. + +A prospectus setting forth the object of the Association, together +with its plans and constitution, was gotten out by the secretary, and +sent to the citizens. The papers continued to speak well of the plan, +and finally, through the influence of the strong business men +interested, the Commercial Club endorsed the movement, and through the +influence of that body, the city appropriated five thousand dollars +to the building fund, and one thousand a year, for five years. + +With such backing as it now had, the Association began preparation for +active work. A fine building site was purchased and Dick was sent to +study different plans and institutions that were in operation for +similar work in several of the large cities. + +"Well, good-bye old man," said Udell, when Dick ran into the office +on his way to the depot. "I can see right now that I'll lose a mighty +good printer one of these days." + +Dick shook his head as he grasped his employer's hand, and with hope +shining in his eyes, replied: "You know why I am glad for this chance +to go east again, George." + +And his friend answered, "Right as usual, Dickie; God bless you. If +Clara was somewhere way out there in the big world without a friend, +I-I reckon I'd go too." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + + +Amy was kindly received by Madam when she reached her house after that +terrible night on the streets of Cleveland, and under the woman's +skillful treatment, rapidly regained her strength and beauty. Never +doubting that Whitley had made it impossible for her ever to return +to Boyd City, she felt that she was dead to the kindly world she had +once known, and looked upon the life she was entering as her only +refuge from the cruel world she had learned to know. Several of the +girls proved very pleasant and sympathetic companions. Little by little +she grew accustomed to her surroundings and learned to look upon the +life they led from their point of view; and when the time came for her +to join the company in the parlor she accepted her lot with calm +resignation. + +When she had carefully dressed in a silken evening gown provided by +Madam, she made her way alone down to the wine rooms. The scene that +met her eye was beautiful and fascinating. The apartment was large and +brilliantly lighted; the furniture, appointments and pictures were of +the finest, with rare bits of statuary half-hidden in banks of choicest +flowers. Upon the floor were carpets and rugs, in which the foot sank +as in beds of moss; and luxurious chairs and couches invited the visitor +to ease and indolence. From behind silken curtains came soft strains +of music, and deft waiters glided here and there, bearing trays of +expensive wines and liquors. + +Seated at the card tables, drinking, laughing and playing, were the +wealthy patrons of the place, and mingling with them, the girls, all +of exceptional grace and beauty, dressed in glittering evening costume; +but not one eclipsed the radiant creature who stood with flushed cheeks +and shining eyes hesitating on the threshold. + +Madam, moving here and there among her guests, saw Amy as she stood +in the doorway, and went to her at once. Leading the girl to a little +alcove at one end of the room, she presented her to a middle-aged man +who was seated by himself and seemed to be waiting for someone. Amy +did not know that he was waiting for her. As the three stood there +chatting, a servant came quietly to Madam's side and whispered in her +jeweled ear. + +"Certainly," she answered, "Tell them to come in." Then turning, she +stepped to a table and rapping with her fan to attract attention, +cried, "The Salvation Army people want to hold a prayer meeting here, +what do you say?" + +There was a babble of voices, shrieks of feminine laughter, and an +oath or two from the men. Some shouted, "Let them come." Others +protested until Madam stopped the clamor by saying sharply: "Of course +they shall come in. You know it is my custom never to refuse these +people. I respect and admire them. They believe in their own teaching +and live what they preach; and I want it understood that they shall +not be insulted in this house. Jake--" A huge ex-prize fighter stepped +into the room from a side door. "You all know Jake, gentlemen," +continued Madam, with a smile; "and if you are not acquainted with him +you can easily obtain an introduction by making some slighting remark, +or offering an insult to these Salvation Soldiers. Here they come; +remember." + +As the little band of men and women filed slowly in, everybody rose +at a sign from Madam, and gathered about the soldiers, who took their +position in the center of the room; all except the girl in the alcove, +who turned her back to the group and stood partly screened by the lace +drapery of the archway. + +The visitors opened their service with a song, rendered with much good +taste and feeling. Not loud and martial as on the street, but soft, +low and pleading. Many eyes glistened and many lips trembled when the +song came to a close; and as the singers dropped to their knees, not +a few heads involuntarily bowed. + +One after another, the little band prayed, pleading with God to be +kind and merciful to the erring; asking the Father, in the name of +Jesus, to pity and forgive. Truly it was a picture of great +contrasts--of brightest lights and deepest shadows--almost as when the +Son of God prayed for his enemies, and wept because they were his +enemies. + +Three out of the six had offered their prayers and the fourth began +to speak: "Our Father and our God,"--At the first word, uttered in a +clear, manly, but subdued tone, the girl behind the curtain started +violently; and as the prayer continued slowly, in that voice so full +of manly truth and vigor, she raised her head and the rich blood colored +neck and cheek. Little by little the hard look in her eyes gave way +to mingled wonder, doubt and awe; then the blood fled back to the +trembling heart again, leaving her face as white as the marble figure +near which she stood; and then, as though compelled by a power superior +to her own will, she turned slowly, and stepped from her hiding place +into full view. As if stricken dumb, she stood until the prayer was +finished. The captain gave the signal and the little company rose to +their feet. + +"O God!" The young soldier who had prayed last, sprang forward; but +he was not quick enough, for before he could cross the room, with a +moan of unutterable anguish, the girl sank to the floor. + +"God help us, she's dead," cried Dick. And dropping on one knee, he +supported the senseless girl in his arms. + +All was confusion in an instant. Men and women crowded about their +companion, and the Salvationists looked at one another in pity, surprise +and wonder. Then Madam spoke: "Girls be quiet. Gentlemen make way. Amy +is not dead. Bring her in here." The stalwart prize-fighter touched +Dick on the shoulder and the latter, with the lovely form still in his +arms, followed as in a dream, to Madam's own private apartments. A +doctor came, in answer to a hurried call, and after no little effort +the color slowly returned to the cheeks and the long, dark lashes began +to tremble. + +The physician turned to Dick. "Leave us now; she must not see you at +first." + +Dick looked at Madam. "May I have a few words privately with you?" + +The woman nodded; and with the Army captain, they retired to another +room, leaving Amy in charge of the doctor and one of the Salvation +lassies. + +Then Dick told Madam and the captain the whole story of Amy's life and +home, how she had gone away because of her father's mistake, how Whitley +had deceived her, and how they had searched for her in vain. Then as +he told of the mother's broken health, and the sorrowing friends, +though he made no mention of himself, they could not but read as he +spoke of others, something of his own trouble. + +Tears gathered in Madam's eyes, and when the tale was finished, she +said: "Somehow I have always felt that Amy would never remain with +us." And then she told of the poor girl's bitter experience alone in +the great city, and how as a last resort, she had accepted her present +situation. "She is more refined and gentle than the others," continued +Madam, "and in my heart, I have always hoped that she would leave here. +But what could she do? She had no friends; and we can't afford to have +any feelings in this wretched business. Oh sir, this life is a very +Hell on earth, and bad as I am, I would never lay a straw in any girl's +way who wanted to get out of it. I am glad, glad, that you came in +time. You know, captain, that I have never opposed your work; and have +seen you take several girls from my place without protest. But I can't +be expected to look after them myself." + +They discussed the situation for some time, and finally Madam said +again, "Mr.--; I don't know your name, and I don't want to; you wear +that uniform and that's enough for me--just let Amy remain here for +a day or two. One of the Salvation girls will stay with her, and can +do more for her than you. She shall have my own room and no one shall +see her. Then when she is strong enough, you may come and take her if +she will go; and I am sure she will. She will be as safe here as in +her father's home." + +The captain nodded. "Madam has passed her word, sir," he said. "You +come with me and arrange for the future while your friend is getting +strong again. Our Sarah will remain with her and keep us posted." + +Dick yielded; and after hearing from the doctor that Amy was resting +easier, they bade Madam goodnight and passed out into the room where +again the music played, jewels sparkled, wine flowed, and the careless +laugh and jest were heard. + +With a shudder of horror Dick muttered, "My God, Amy in such a place." +And yet--another thought flashed through his mind, that brought a flush +of shame to his cheek. "But Amy--" And again the strong man trembled, +weeping like a child. + +Never, though he lived to be an old man, could Dick look back upon +that night and the days following, without turning pale. How he lived +through it he never knew. Perhaps it was because he had suffered so +much in his checkered career that he was enabled to bear that which +otherwise would have been impossible. And the consciousness of the +great change in his own life led him to hope for Amy, when others would +have given up in despair. + +On his tour of study and investigation for the Association, he had +presented his letters to the Salvation Army people, and had been warmly +welcomed by them, as is everyone who manifests a desire to help +humanity. Every kindness and courtesy was shown him, and at the +invitation of the captain, he had gone with them on one of their regular +rescue trips. He had donned the uniform of the Army, for greater +convenience and safety; for the blue and red of these soldiers of the +cross is received and honored in places where no ordinary church member, +whatever be his professed purpose, would be admitted. + +While Dick and his friends planned for Amy's future, Sarah, the +Salvation girl, remained by her bedside caring for her as a sister. +Not one hint of reproach or censure fell from her lips; only words of +loving kindness, of hope and courage. At first the poor girl refused +to listen, but sobbing wildly, cried that her life was ruined, that +she could only go on as she had started, and begged that they leave +her alone in her disgrace and sin. + +But Sarah herself could say, "I know sister, I have been through it +all; and if Jesus could save me he can save you too." So at last love +and hope conquered; and as soon as she was strong enough, she left the +place and went with Sarah to the latter's humble home. There Dick +called to see her. + +"Mr. Falkner," she said, sadly, after the pain and embarrassment of +the first meeting had passed off a little. "I do not understand; what +makes you do these things?" + +And Dick answered, "Did I not tell you once that nothing could make +me change; that nothing you could do would make me less your friend? +You might, for the time being, make it impossible for me to help you, +but the desire, the wish, was there just the same, and sought only an +opportunity to express itself. And besides this," he added gently, +"you know I'm a Christian now." + +Amy hung her head. "Yes," she said slowly, "you are a Christian. These +Salvation soldiers are Christians too; and I--I--am--oh, Mr. Falkner, +help me now. Be indeed my friend. Tell me what to do. I cannot go back +home like this. I do believe in Christ and that He sent you to me. I'm +so tired of this world, for I know the awfulness of it now; and these +good people have taught me that one can live close to Christ, even in +the most unfavorable circumstances." + +Dick told her of their plan; how his friend, the captain, had arranged +for her to live with his brother on a farm in northern Missouri, and +that they only wanted her consent to start at once. Would she go? + +"But how can I? I have no money, and I have never been taught to work." + +"Miss Goodrich," answered Dick, "can you not trust me?" + +Amy was silent. + +"You must let me help you in this. Thank God, I can do it now. Prove +to me that you are still my friend, by letting me make this investment +for Christ. Will you?" + +The next day they bade good-bye to the sturdy soldiers of the cross +who had been so true to them, and started on their westward journey. + +Dick saw Amy safe in her new home, and then with a promise that she +would write to him regularly, and an agreement that he would send her +letters and papers addressed to the people with whom she lived, he +left her; satisfied that she was in kind hands, and that a new life +was open before her. + +But when Dick was once more aboard the train, alone with his thoughts, +without the anxiety for Amy's immediate welfare upon his mind, the +struggle of his life began. He loved Amy dearly; had loved her almost +from the moment she came into George Udell's printing office three +years ago; loved her in spite of the difference in their position, +when he was only a tramp and she was the favored daughter of wealth; +when he was an unbeliever and she was a worker in the church; loved +her when he saw her losing her hold on the higher life and drifting +with the current; loved her when she left home, and as he thought, +honor behind. And he was forced to confess, in his own heart, that he +loved her yet, in spite of the fact that their positions were reversed; +that he was an honored gentleman, respected and trusted by all, while +she, in the eyes of the world, was a fallen woman with no friend but +himself. + +But what of the future? Dick's dreams had always been that he would +win such a position in the world as would enable him, with confidence, +to ask her to share his life. But always there had been the feeling +that he never could be worthy. And with the dark picture of his own +past before him, he knew he had no right to think of her as his wife. +But now there was no question as to his position. But what of hers? +Could he think of taking for a wife, one whom he had seen in that house +at Cleveland? On the one hand, his love plead for her; on the other, +the horror of her life argued against it. Again his sense of justice +plead, and his own life came before him like a horrid vision as it had +done that morning when he learned of his father's death. He saw his +childhood home, smelt the odor of the fragrant pines upon the hills, +and heard the murmur of the river running past the cabin. Again he +heard his drunken father cursing in his sleep, and caught the whisper +of his mother's dying prayer; and again he crept stealthily out of the +cabin into the glory of the morning, with a lean hound his only +companion. + +Slowly and painfully he traced his way along the road of memory, +recalling every place where he had advanced; every place where he had +fallen; going step by step from the innocence of boyhood to the awful +knowledge of the man of the world. He had fought, had fallen, had +conquered and risen again; always advancing toward the light, but +always bearing on his garment the smell of the fire, and upon his hands +the stain of the pitch. And now, because he was safe at last and could +look back upon those things, should he condemn another? Would not Amy +also conquer, and when she _had_ conquered, by what right could he +demand in her that which he had not in himself? Christ would as freely +welcome her as He had welcomed him. Christianity held out as many +glorious hopes for her as for him. Her past might be past as well as +his. Why should he not shut the door upon it forever, and live only +in the present and future? And then his mind fell to picturing what +that future, with Amy by his side, might be. They were equals now, +before God and their own consciences. What should he care for the +world? + +And so the fight went on in the battle-ground of his inner life, until +the whistle blew a long blast for the station, and looking from the +window of the car, he saw the smelter smoke and dust of Boyd City. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + + +John Barton and his wife, Anna, with whom Amy was to make her home for +a while, could fully sympathize with the girl in her sad position, +though one would never dream that the quiet, reserved John knew more +of life than of his pigs and cattle, or that his jolly-faced, motherly +companion had ever been beyond the quiet fields that surrounded her +simple dwelling. Years before, they had been rescued from the world +in which Amy had so nearly perished, by the same kind hand that had +been stretched out to her, the Salvation Army; and now well on in +middle life, happy and prosperous, they showed scarce a trace of the +trouble that had driven them to labor on a farm. As hired help, they +had gained their experience, and by ceaseless industry and careful +economy, had at last come to own the place where they now lived. With +no child of her own, Mrs. Barton took a mother's place in Amy's life +from the first, and was very patient with the girl who had never been +taught to do the simplest household task. Amy returned the loving +kindness full measure, and, determined to be a help to those who so +much helped her, advanced rapidly in the knowledge of her homely duties. +Dressed in the plain working garb of a farm girl, with arms bare and +face flushed by the heat of the kitchen, one would scarcely have +recognized in her the beautiful young woman who moved with Boyd City's +society leaders, or the brilliant novice who stood hesitating at the +entrance to a life of sin in Madam's wine-rooms; and certainly, one +would never have classed the bright eyes, plump cheeks, and well-rounded +figure, with the frightened, starving, haggard thing that roamed about +the streets of Cleveland a few short months before. + +But great as was the change in Amy's outward appearance, the change +within was even greater. She was no longer the thoughtless, proud, +pleasure-loving belle that her parents had trained; nor was she the +hard, reckless, hopeless creature that the world had made. But she was +a woman now, with a true woman's interest and purpose in life. The +shallow brilliance of the society girl had given place to thoughtful +earnestness, and the dreary sadness of the outcast had changed to +bright hopefulness. + +One warm day in June, Mrs. Barton laid the last neatly ironed garment +on the big pile of clothes nearby, and noisily pushing her irons to +the back of the stove, cried, "Thank goodness, that's the last of that +for this week." And "Thank goodness, that's the last of that," exclaimed +Amy, mimicking the voice of her friend as she threw out the dishwater +and hung the empty pan in its place. + +Anna wiped the perspiration from her steaming face. "Come on; let's +get out of this Inferno for a while and do our patching in the shade. +I shall melt if I stay here a minute longer." And the two were soon +seated in their low chairs on the cool porch, with a big basket of +mending between them. + +"Hello, there's our man back from town already," suddenly exclaimed +Anna a few minutes later, as her husband drove into the barnyard; then +with a mischievous twinkle in her blue eyes, she called, "Hurry up, +John, Amy wants her letter." John smiled in his quiet way as he came +up to the porch and handed the girl an envelope with the Boyd City +postmark. Then the old people both laughed at the other's pretty +confusion when Anna, rising, said in her teasing voice, "Come on hubby, +I'll fix your dinner. We've kept it warm. Can't you see the selfish +thing wants to be alone with her treasure?" + +But when Mrs. Barton returned to her mending, after a long talk with +her husband, her jolly face wore an expression of seriousness that was +unusual, and she failed to notice that Amy's hands were idle and her +work was lying untouched in her lap as she sat looking wistfully far +away across the sunlit meadows and pastures. + +Both took up their tasks in silence and plied their needles with energy, +while their thoughts were far away; but one thought of a great city +in the far-away east; the other of a bustling mining town in the nearer +west. + +At last Anna spoke with a little sigh: "Amy dear, I suppose you will +be leaving us one of these days before long." + +The girl answered with a loving smile: "Are you so tired of me that +you are going to send me out into the world again?" + +"No, no, dear. You have a home with John and me as long as you live. +Surely you know that, don't you, Amy dear?" There was a wistful note +in the kind voice, and dropping the stocking she was darning, Anna +leaned forward and placed her hand on the arm of Amy's chair. + +A rush of tears was her answer, as the girl caught the toil-stained +hand and carried it passionately to her lips. "Of course I know. Mother +forgive me; I was only 'funnin' as little Jimmie Clark says." + +"But I am not 'funnin,'" replied the other. "I'm awfully in earnest." + +There seemed to be a hidden meaning in her words and Amy looked at her +anxiously. "I do not understand why you think that I should leave you," +she said earnestly. + +"Because--because--I--this life must be so degrading to you. You could +live so differently at home. You must feel this keenly." + +Amy looked at her steadily. "That is not your reason, Mother," she +said gently. "You know that a woman degrades herself when she does +nothing useful, and that I count my present place and work, far above +my old life at home. Why just think"--with a quiet smile--"John said +last night that he couldn't tell my biscuits from yours. And wasn't +the dinner all right to-day? And isn't that a beautiful patch?" She +held up her work for inspection. + +The other shook her head, while she smiled in answer. "I know, dear +girl, you do beautifully; but that's not it. There is your father and +mother and brother; you know you can't stay away from them always." + +Amy's face grew troubled, while her hand nervously sought the letter +hidden in her bosom. "You do not understand, mother," she replied +slowly; "My people do not want me to come home. My father said I should +not, until--until--" she hesitated. + +"But your father has surely forgotten his anger by this time, and when +he sees you he will be glad to forgive and take you back." + +The brown eyes looked at her in startled surprise. "When he sees me?" +But the other continued hurriedly, "And there are the letters you +know." + +Amy's face grew rosy. "Why the letters?" she murmured in a low voice. + +"Because he loves you, dear, don't you see?" + +"He has never told me so." + +"Not in words perhaps." + +Amy was silent. + +"He will come for you one of these days and then you will go with him." + +The girl sadly shook her head, and turning her face, looked away across +the fields again, where silent, patient John sturdily followed his +team. + +The shadow of the big sycamore was stretching across the barn lot +almost to the gate, where the cows stood watching for the boy to come +and let them in; a troop of droning bees were paying their last visit +for the day to the peach-tree, that flung its wealth of passionate +blossoms almost within reach of the porch, and over the blue distant +woods the last of the feathery banks of mist hung lazily, as though +tangled in the budding branches, reluctant to say good-night. + +Suddenly leaving her chair, Amy threw herself on the floor and burying +her face in the older woman's lap, burst into tears. Anna's own eyes +were wet as she softly smoothed the brown hair of the girl she had +taken to her mother's heart. "You do love him, don't you dear?" + +And Amy answered, between her sobs, "Because I love him so, I must +never see him again. He--he--is so strong and good and true--he must +not care for one who would only bring reproach upon his name." + +"I know, dear girl, and that is why you must go home; take your own +place in the world again and then the way is clear." + +Amy lifted her head. "Oh, if I only could--but you do not know--my +going home would only widen the distance between us. My father--" She +paused again, her quivering lips could not form the words. + +"Amy, I am sure you are mistaken; you must be. When you meet your +father it will all come right, I know." + +Again there seemed to be a hidden meaning in her words. "When I meet +my father?" Amy repeated slowly. + +Anna grew confused. "Yes--I--we--you know John has been trying to sell +for a long time; we want to go back to Cleveland; and to-day he learned +that a buyer was coming from Boyd City to--" + +Amy's face grew white as she rose, trembling, to her feet. "My father," +she gasped--"coming here?" + +Anna took the frightened girl in her arms--"There, there, dear, don't +be afraid. All will be for the best, I am sure. John and I will stand +by you and you shall go with us if you wish. But I am sure your father +will be glad to take you home with him; and you ought to go; you know +you ought; not for your family's sake alone, but for his, you know." + +And so they talked as the shadows grew, until in the twilight John +came from the field with his tired team, when they went into the house +to prepare the evening meal. + + * * * * * + +Adam Goodrich had by no means forgiven his beautiful daughter for the +blow dealt his pride, though one would not easily detect from his +manner that there was anything but supreme self-satisfaction in the +life of this worthy member of the Jerusalem Church. Mrs. Goodrich's +health was broken, but she still remained the same society-loving, +fashion-worshipping woman, who by her influence and teaching had ruined +her child. It never occurred to the mother that Amy's conduct was the +legitimate outcome of her training or associates, but she looked at +it always as a weakness in the girl; and Frank, true son of his father, +never mentioned his sister but with a curl of his lip, and lived his +life as though she had never existed. The family still attended church +once each week, still contributed the same amount to the cause, and +still found fault with Cameron for his low tastes and new-fangled +methods; while they laughed at the new Association as a dream of fools +and misguided enthusiasts. + +Adam had long wanted to add a good farm to his possessions, and after +some correspondence with the agent who had advertised the Barton +property, he boarded the train one bright day, to pay a visit of +inspection to his contemplated purchase. Reaching the little city of +Zanesville in the evening, he spent the night at a hotel. In the morning +he called upon the agent, and the two were soon whirling along the +road behind a pair of wiry little ponies. + +The drive of eight or ten miles passed very pleasantly between the +real estate man and his prospective customer in such conversation as +gentlemen whose lives are spent in the whirl of the money world indulge +in between moments of activity. + +At last they neared the farm, and bringing the ponies to a walk, the +agent began pointing out the most desirable features of the property: +the big barn, the fine timber land in the distance, the rich soil of +a field near by, the magnificent crop of corn, the stream of water +where cattle stood knee-deep lazily fighting the flies, and the fine +young orchard just across the road from the house. + +"Yes, the building is old"--as they drove up in front of the big gate; +"but it is good yet, and with just a little expense, can be converted +into a model of modern convenience and beauty." + +As they drove into the yard and got out to hitch the ponies, +Mrs. Barton came to the door. + +"Just come right in, Mr. Richards, John is over in the north field; +I'll go for him." + +"Oh No, Mrs. Barton, I'll go. This is Mr. Goodrich, who wishes to look +at the farm. Mr. Goodrich, just wait here in the shade and I'll go +after Mr. Barton." + +"I believe," said Adam, "if you don't mind, I'll walk through the +orchard until you return." + +"Certainly, certainly," said both the agent and the farmer's wife; and +the woman added, nervously, "just make yourself at home, Mr. Goodrich; +you'll find the girl out there somewhere. Dinner will be ready in about +an hour." + +Leisurely crossing the road, Adam paused at the orchard gate, to watch +some fine young shoats that were running about with their mother nearby. +From the pigs, his gaze wandered about the farm buildings, the fields, +and the garden. Turning at last to enter the orchard, he saw a young +woman, clad in the homely every-day dress of a country girl; her face +hidden beneath a large sun-bonnet of blue gingham. She was gathering +apple blossoms. Something in her manner or figure struck him as being +familiar, and with his hand on the gate, he paused again. As he stood +watching her all unconscious of his presence, she sprang lightly from +the ground in an effort to reach a tempting spray of blossoms, and at +her violent movement the sun-bonnet dropped from her head, while a +wealth of brown hair fell in a rippling mass to her waist. Then as she +half turned, he saw her face distinctly, and with a start of surprise +and astonishment, knew her as his daughter. + +Under the first impulse of a father's love at seeing his child again, +Adam stepped forward; but with the gate half open, he checked himself +and then drew back, while the old haughty pride, that dominant key in +his character, hardened his heart again; and when he at last pushed +open the gate once more, his love was fairly hidden. + +When Amy first caught sight of her father advancing slowly toward her +beneath the blossom-laden trees she forgot everything and started +quickly toward him, her face lighted with eager welcome, ready to throw +herself in his arms and there pour out her whole tearful story and beg +his love and forgiveness. But when she saw his face, she dared not, +and stood with downcast eyes, trembling and afraid. + +"So this is where you hide yourself, while your family faces your shame +at home," began Adam, coldly. "Tell me who brought you here and who +pays these people to keep you." + +The girl lifted her head proudly. "No one pays them sir; I am supporting +myself." + +The man looked at her in amazement. "Do you mean that your position +here is that of a common servant?" + +"There are worse positions," she replied sadly. "The people here are +very kind to me." + +"But think of your family; you are a disgrace to us all. What can I +tell them when I go back and say that I have seen you?" + +"Tell them that I am well, and as happy as I ever expect to be." +She pressed her hand to her bosom where a letter was hidden. + +"But what will people say when they know that my daughter is working +on a farm for a living?" + +"They need never know unless you tell them." + +Then the man lost all control of himself; that this girl who had always +yielded to his every wish, without so much as daring to have a thought +of her own, should so calmly, but firmly, face him in this manner, +enraged him beyond measure. He could not understand. He knew nothing +of her life since that night he had refused to listen to her +explanation, and in his anger taunted her with being the plaything of +Dick Falkner, and then, because her face flushed, thought that he had +hit on the truth and grew almost abusive in his language. + +But Amy only answered, "Sir, you are mistaken now, as you were when +you drove me from home; Mr. Falkner had nothing to do with my leaving +Boyd City." + +"You are my daughter still," stormed Adam, "and I will force you to +leave this low position and come home to us. You cannot deceive me +with your clever lie about supporting yourself. What do you know about +a servant's work? That cursed tramp printer is at the bottom of all +this, and I'll make him suffer for it as I live. I will force you to +come home." + +Amy's face grew pale, but she replied quietly, "Oh no, father, you +will not do that, because that would make public my position you know. +I have no fear of your proclaiming from the housetops that your daughter +is a hired girl on a farm." + +"But father," she said, in softer voice, as Adam stood speechless with +rage; "Father, forgive me for this, for I know that I am right. Let +me stay here and prove that I am not useless to the world, and then +perhaps I will go to you. In the meantime, keep my secret and no one +shall know that your claim on society has teen lessened because your +daughter is learning to do a woman's work." + +Just a shade of bitter sarcasm crept into her voice, but Adam did not +notice, for he saw the agent and the farmer coming. "Very well," he +said hurriedly, "you have chosen your path and must walk in it. But +you cannot expect me to acknowledge a servant as my daughter." And +turning his back, he went to meet the men, while Amy slipped off to +the house with her blossoms. + +Mrs. Barton needed no word to tell her of the result of the interview +from which she had expected so much, and with a kiss and a loving word, +permitted the girl to go upstairs, where she remained until Mr. Goodrich +had left the place. + +After completing the purchase of the farm, Adam wrote his daughter +from the office of the agent in Zanesville: "The place where you are +living now belongs to me, and the Bartons must give possession at once. +If you will promise never to speak to that man Falkner again, you may +come home and be received into your old place, but on no other terms +will I acknowledge you as my daughter. Refuse and you are thrown on +the charity of the world, for you cannot remain where you are." + +Amy carried the letter to her friends, together with her reply, and +they, by every argument of love, tried to induce her to go with them +back to Cleveland; but she refused in tears. And when she would not +be persuaded, they were compelled to leave her. With many expressions +of love, they said good-bye, and departed for their old home in the +eastern city; but before going, they arranged with a kind neighbor to +give her a place in their already crowded home until she could find +means of support. + +Upon Dick's return from his Cleveland trip, he had thrown himself into +his work with feverish energy, while in his heart the struggle between +love and prejudice continued. But as the weeks went by and Amy's letters +had come, telling of her life on the farm, and how she was learning +to be of use in the world; and as he had read between the lines, of +her new ideas and changed views of life, his love had grown stronger +and had almost won the fight. Then a letter came, bidding him good-bye, +and telling him that she was going away again, and that for her sake, +he must not try to find her; that she was deeply grateful for all that +he had done, but it was best that he forget that he had ever known her. + +Dick was hurt and dismayed. It seemed to him that she had given up, +and the devil, Doubt, ever ready to place a wrong construction upon +the words and deeds of mortals, sent him into the black depths of +despair again. + +"I never saw such a man," declared George Udell to Clara Wilson, one +evening, as they caught a glimpse of him bending over a desk in Mr. +Wicks' office, "he works like a fiend." + +"Like an angel, you'd better say," replied Clara. "Didn't I tell you +that he was no common tramp?" + +"Yes, dear, of course; and you never made a mistake in your life; that +is, never but once." + +"When was that?" asked Clara curiously. + +"When you said 'No' to me night before last. Won't you reconsider it, +and--" + +"Where do you suppose Amy Goodrich is now?" interrupted the young lady. +"Do you know, I have fancied at times, that Mr. Falkner learned +something on his trip last fall, that he has not told us?" + +George opened his eyes. "What makes you think that?" + +"Oh, because; somehow he seems so different since he returned." + +But George shook his head. "I thought so too for a while," he replied; +"but I talked with him just the other day, and I'm afraid he's given +up all hope. He works to hide the hurt. But I'll tell you one thing, +girlie, if anything could make a Christian of me, it would be Dick's +life. There's something more than human in the way he stands up against +this thing." + +Then Dick received another letter, from a post office in Texas. + + +"Dere Dikkie: I take my pen in hand to let u no that Ime wel an hoape +u ar the same. Jim Whitly is ded he don tried to nife me an i fixed +him. he wanted to hire me to kil u fer some papers an we was in you +ol caben kross the river from the still. He said ter tel u thet he +lied to u an that Amy is pure. I don't no what he means but thot u ort +ter no. I skipped--burn this. your daddys pard. + +"JAKE THOMPSON." + + +The Association building was finished at last, and the pastor of the +Jerusalem Church sat in his little den looking over the morning mail. +There were the usual number of magazines, papers, and sample copies +of religious periodicals, with catalogues and circulars from publishing +houses; an appeal to help a poor church in Nebraska whose place of +worship had been struck by lightning; a letter from a sister in +Missouri, asking for advice about a divorce case; one from a tinware +man in Arkansas, who inquired about the town with a view of locating; +and one that bore the mark of the Association, which informed him, +over the signature of the Secretary, that he had been unanimously +called to take charge of the new work. Cameron carried the letter, in +triumph, to the kitchen. + +"Well," said the little woman; "didn't I tell you that one preacher +would have a hand in whatever work was started here? Of course you'll +accept?" + +"I don't know," Cameron answered. "We must think about it." + +A day later he called for a consultation with Elder Wicks, and Uncle +Bobbie said: + +"To-be-sure, it's mighty hard for me to advise you in a thing like +this; for as a member of the church, I'm bound to say stay; and as a +member of the Association, I say, accept. I jing! I don't know what +to do." And for a few moments, the old gentleman thoughtfully stroked +his face; then suddenly grasping the arms of the chair fiercely, he +shouted: "As a Christian, I say, accept, an' I reckon that settles it." + +And so Cameron became the manager of the new work; and his first +recommendation to the directors was that they send their Secretary +away for a vacation. And indeed Dick, poor fellow, needed it, though +at first he flatly refused to go. But Dr. Jordan came down on him with +the cheerful information that he would die if he didn't, and Uncle +Bobbie finished matters by declaring that he had no more right to kill +himself by over work, than he had to take Rough on Eats, or blow his +head off with a gun; "and besides," added the old gentleman, "you aint +paid me that hundred dollars yet. To-be-sure, the note aint due for +sometime; but a fellow has got to look after his own interest, aint +he?" + +The first address delivered by Cameron in the auditorium of the +Association building, was from the text, "Ye shall know the truth, and +the truth shall make you free." The audience room was crowded, and the +young minister had never appeared to better advantage, or declared the +teaching of his Master with greater freedom, earnestness and vigor; +and to the astonishment of the people, who should come forward at the +close of the service, to declare his belief in, and acceptance of +Christ as the Son of God, but the so-called infidel printer, George +Udell. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + + +In Southwestern Missouri, in the White Oak district, there are many +beautiful glens and sheltered valleys, where a sturdy people have tamed +the wildness of nature and made it obedient to their will. The fields +lie fertile and fruitful on either bank of murmuring streams, clear +to the foot of the hills where the timber grows. Always a road winds +down the valley, generally skirting the forest, and the farmhouses are +nearly all built of logs, though more modern and finished dwellings +are fast taking the place of the primitive mansions. Every few miles, +one may see little school-houses, most often made of good lumber and +painted white, with heavy shutters and a high platform in front. For +the Ozark settler takes great pride in his school-house, which is also +a church and a political rallying point, and meeting-place for the +backwoods "Literary;" and though he may live in a rude log hovel +himself, his hall of education must be made of boards and carefully +painted. + +To this romantic region Dick Falkner went to spend his vacation, during +the latter part of October, the loveliest season of the year in that +section of the country. Mr. Cushman, who was a successful farmer living +in the White Oak district, and an old friend of Uncle Bobbie's, gladly +welcomed the young man, of whom his old partner, Wicks, had written +so highly. When Dick left the train at Armourdale, a little village +in the lead and zinc field, he was greeted at once by his host, a +bluff, pleasant-faced, elderly gentleman, whom he liked at first sight, +and who was completely captivated by his guest before they had been +together half an hour. + +Oak Springs Farm, which was to be Dick's home for the next month, took +in the whole of a beautiful little glen, and many acres of timber-land +on either side. Crane Creek had its source, or rather one of its +sources, within a hundred feet of the house, where a big spring bubbled +from beneath the roots of a giant oak, and the water went chattering +and laughing away to the south and east. + +Three-quarters of a mile from Oak Springs, just over the ridge in +another hollow, another stream gushed bright and clear, from beneath +another ancient oak and went rushing away to join its fellow brook a +mile distant, where the little glens broadened into a large valley, +through which the creek hurried onward to the great river, miles away +in the heart of the wilderness. + +It was all very beautiful and restful to the young man, wearied and +worn by the rush and whirl of the city, and stifled with the dust and +smoke from factory and furnace. The low hills, clothed with foliage, +richly stained by October's brush; the little valley lying warm in the +sunlight, was a welcome change to the dead monotony of the prairie, +where the sky shut down close to the dull brown earth, with no support +of leafy pillars. And the mother quail, with her full-grown family +scurrying to cover in the corner of the fence; the squirrel scolding +to his mate in the tree-tops, or leaping over the rustling leaves, and +all the rest of the forest life, was full of interest when compared +to the life of busy men or chattering sparrows in the bustling mining +town. + +Though Mr. Cushman and his wife had raised a large family of boys and +girls, only one, a daughter, remained with them on the farm. The others +had, one by one, taken their flight from the home nest, to build home +nests of their own in different parts of the great world wilderness. + +Kate was a hearty, robust, rosy-cheeked country lass of eighteen, the +youngest of the flock; her father's chum, with all his frank, open +ways; and her mother's companion, with all her loving thoughtfulness. +And, best of all, she possessed the charming freshness, innocence and +purity of one who had never come in touch with those who, taught by +the world she had never known, were content to sham her virtues as +they tried to imitate the color of her cheek. + +Dick sank to rest that night with a long sigh of relief, after meeting +the mother and daughter and enjoying such a supper as one only finds +on a prosperous farm. And strangely enough, the last picture on his +mind before he fell asleep, was of a little school-house which he had +seen just at sunset, scarcely a quarter of a mile up the valley; and +he drowsily wondered who taught the children there; while a great owl, +perched in an old apple-tree back of the chicken house, echoed his +sleepy thoughts with its "Whoo! Whoo!" + +With a whoop and hallo and whistle, the noisy troop of boys and girls +came tumbling out of the doorway of the White Oak School, their dinner +pails and baskets on their arms, homeward bound from the irksome duties +of the day. The young teacher, after standing a few moments in the +doorway, watching her charges down the road and out of sight in the +timber across the valley, turned wearily back, and seating herself at +a rude desk in the rear of the room, began her task of looking over +the copybooks left by the rollicking youngsters. Had she remained a +moment longer in the door-way she would have seen a tall, well-dressed +gentleman coming leisurely up the hill. It was Dick. He had been roaming +all the afternoon over the fields and through the brown woods. + +He came slowly up the road, and crossing the yard, stood hesitating +at the threshold of the building. The teacher, bending low, did not +see him for a moment; but when she raised her head, she looked straight +into his eyes. + +Dick would have been dull indeed had he failed to interpret that look; +and Amy would have been more than dull had she failed to see the love +that shone in his glance of astonishment and pleasure. + +For an instant, neither spoke; then, "I have found you again," said +Dick, simply. "I hope you will forgive me, Miss Goodrich; I assure you +the meeting is entirely by accident. I stopped for a drink of water." + +"Please help yourself, Mr. Falkner," said the girl, with a little choke +in her voice. "There it is." And she pointed to a wooden pail and tin +dipper near the door. + +"I am spending my vacation in the Ozarks; or rather, I came here to +rest." He paused awkwardly. "I--I did not dream of your being here, +or of course I should not have come, after your letter. Forgive me and +I will go away again." + +He turned to leave the room, but with his foot on the threshold, paused, +and then walked back to the desk where the girl sat, leaning forward +with her face buried in her arms. + +"There's just one thing though, that I must say before I go. Are you +in need of any help? If so, let me be of use to you; I am still your +friend." + +The brown head was raised and two glistening eyes proudly pleading +looked at Dick. + +Through a mist in his own eyes he saw two hands outstretched and heard +a voice say, "I do need your help. Don't go. That is--I mean--leave +me here now and to-morrow call, and I will tell you all. Only trust +me this once." + +Dick took the outstretched hands in his and stood for a moment with +bowed head; then whispered softly, "Of course I will stay. Shall I +come at this hour to-morrow?" Amy nodded, and he passed out of the +building. + +Had Dick looked back as he strode swiftly toward the timber, he would +have seen a girlish form in the door holding out her hands; and had +he listened as he climbed the fence, he might have heard a sweet voice +falter, "Oh Dick, I love you. I love you." And just as he vanished at +the edge of the woods, the girl who was more than all the world to +him, fell for the second time in her life, fainting on the floor. + +All the forenoon of the next day, Dick wandered aimlessly about the +farm, but somehow he never got beyond sight of the little white +school-house. He spent an hour watching the colts that frolicked in +the upper pasture, beyond which lay the children's playground; then +going through the field, he climbed the little hill beyond and saw the +white building through the screen of leaves and branches. Once Amy +came to the door, but only for a moment, when she called the shouting +youngsters from their short recess. Then recrossing the valley half +a mile above, he walked slowly home to dinner along the road leading +past the building. How he envied the boys and girls whose droning +voices reached his ears through the open windows. + +While Dick was chatting with his kind host after dinner, as they sat +on the porch facing the great oak, the latter talked about the spring +and the history of the place; how it used to be a favorite camping +ground for the Indians in winter; and pointed out the field below the +barn, where they had found arrowheads by the hundreds. Then he told +of the other spring just over the ridge, and how the two streams came +together and flowed on, larger and larger, to the river. And then with +a farmer's fondness for a harmless jest, he suggested that Dick might +find it worth his while to visit the other spring; "for," said he "the +school-marm lives there; and she's a right pretty girl. Sensible too, +I reckon, though she aint been here only since the first of September." + +When the farmer had gone to his work, Dick walked down to the +spring-house, and sitting on the twisted roots of the old oak, looked +into the crystal water. + +"And so Amy lives by a spring just like this," he thought, "and often +sits beneath that other oak, perhaps, looking into the water as I am +looking now." + +A blue-jay, perched on a bough above, screamed in mocking laughter at +the dreamer beneath; an old drake, leading his family in a waddling +row to the open stream below the little house, solemnly quacked his +protest against such a willful waste of time; and a spotted calf thrust +its head through the barn-yard fence to gaze at him in mild reproach. + +In his revery, Dick compared the little stream of water to his life, +running fretted and troubled, from the very edge of its birthplace; +and he followed it with his eye down through the pasture lot, until +it was lost in the distance; then looking into the blue vista of the +hills, he followed on, in his mind, where the stream grew deeper and +broader. Suddenly, he sprang to his feet and walked hastily away along +the bank of the creek. In a little while, he stood at the point of +land where the two valleys became one, and the two streams were united, +and with a long breath of relief, found that the course of the larger +stream, as far as he could see, was smooth and untroubled, while the +valley through which it flowed was broad and beautiful. + +At the appointed time, Dick went to the school-house, and with Amy, +walked through the woods toward the farm where she lived, while she +told him of her life since last they met; of her father's visit and +his threats, and of her fear that he would force her to go home. The +farm had been sold the day after Adam was there, and how through her +friends, she had obtained her present position in the school. She told +of her pride and desire to wipe out alone, the disgrace, as alone she +had fallen. She longed to be of use in the world. + +As she talked, Dick's face grew bright. "This is good news indeed," +he said. "I'm so glad for your sake." Then, with a smile, "I see you +do not need my help now that you can be of so much help to others." + +"But won't you help me plan for the future?" said Amy, trying to hide +the slight tremble in her voice. "Won't you tell me what is best to +do? I have thought and thought, but can get no farther than I am now." + +"Let us say nothing about that for a time," replied Dick. "We will +talk that over later." + +And so it came about that the farmer's advice, spoken in jest, was +received in earnest; and for four happy weeks the two lived, +unrestrained by false pride or foolish prejudice; walking home together +through the woods, or wandering beside the little brooks, talking of +the beauties they saw on every hand, or silently listening to the +voices of nature, But at last the time came when they must part, and +Dick gave his answer to her question. + +"You must go home," he said. + +"But you know what that means," answered Amy. "I will be forced to +give up my church work and be a useless butterfly again; and besides, +the conditions father insists upon--." She blushed and hesitated. + +"Yes," said Dick, "I know what it means for me, your going home. But +you need not again be a useless butterfly as you say. Write your father +and tell him of your desire; that you cannot be content as a useless +woman of society. He will ask you to come home, I am sure. And when +your present term of school is finished, you can take your old place +in the world again. You will find many ways to be of use to others, +and I know that your father will learn to give you more liberty." + +"And the past?" asked Amy, with a blush of shame. + +"Is past," said Dick, emphatically. "No one in Boyd City knows your +story, nor need they ever know." + +"One man there can tell them," answered the girl, with averted face. + +"You are mistaken," said Dick, quietly. And then, as gently as he +could, he told her of Whitley's death. But of his connection with him +and the real cause of the fight in the cabin, he said nothing. + +It was hard for Dick to advise Amy to go home, for as she was then, +they were equals. If she went back to Boyd City, all would be changed. +But he had fought over the question in his own mind and the right had +conquered. + +Amy agreed with him that it was best, and added, "I have felt all along +that I ought to do this after a while, but I wished to see you again +first, and had you not happened to find me, I should have written to +you later." + +And so it was settled. No word of love was spoken between them. Dick +would not permit himself to speak then, because he felt that she ought +not to be influenced by her present surroundings; and even had he +spoken, Amy would not have listened, because she felt her work could +only be complete when she had returned to her old position and had +proved herself by her life there. + +And so they parted, with only a silent clasping of hands, as they stood +beside the brook that chattered on its way to join the other; though +there was a world of love in both the gray eyes and the brown; a love +none the less strong because unspoken. + +Upon Dick's return to the city, he took up his work again with so light +a heart that his many friends declared that he had entirely recovered +his health, and their congratulations were numerous and hearty. + +During the holidays, there was some gossip among the citizens when it +was announced in the Daily Whistler, that Miss Goodrich would soon +return to her home. The article stated that she had been living with +some friends in the east, finishing her education, and the public +accepted the polite lie with a nod and a wink. + +Mrs. Goodrich, though her mother heart was glad at the return of her +child, received the girl with many tearful reproaches; and while Amy +was hungering for a parent's loving sympathy and encouragement, she +could not open her heart to the woman who mourned only the blow dealt +her family pride and social ambition. + +Adam was formal, cold and uncompromising, while Frank paid no more +attention to his sister than if she were a hired servant in the house. +Only the girl's firm determination, awakened womanhood, patience and +Christian fortitude enabled her to accept her lot. But in spite of the +daily reproaches, stern coldness and studied contempt, she went steadily +forward in her purpose to regain the place she had lost; and somehow, +as the weeks went by, all noticed a change in Amy. Her father dared +not check her in her work, for something in the clear eyes, that looked +at him so sadly, but withal so fearlessly, made him hesitate. It was +as though she had spoken, "I have been through the fire and have come +out pure gold. It is not for you to question me." And though she +attended to her social duties, her influence was always for the good, +and no one dared to speak slightingly of religious things in her +presence; while the poor people at the Mission learned to love the +beautiful young woman who visited their homes and talked to them of +a better life, and never failed to greet them with a kindly word when +they met her on the street. + +Of course Dick could not call at her home. He knew well that it would +only provoke a storm; nor did Amy ask him to. They met only at church +or at the Mission; and nothing but the common greetings passed between +them. No one ever dreamed that they were more than mere acquaintances. +But they each felt that the other understood, and so were happy; content +to wait until God, in his own way, should unite the streams of their +lives. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + + +It was about nine o'clock in the evening, and Dick was in his office +at the Association building, writing some letters pertaining to the +work, when the door opened, and to his great astonishment, Amy entered +hurriedly, out of breath and very much excited. + +"I beg your pardon for interrupting you, Mr. Falkner," she began, as +soon as she could speak; "but I must tell you." And then she broke +down, sinking into a chair and crying bitterly. + +Dick's face was very grave, and stepping to the window he drew the +curtain, then turned the key in the door. + +"Now what is it, Miss Goodrich? Please be calm. You know you have +nothing to fear from me." + +Amy brushed away her tears, and looking up into his face, "I'm not +afraid of you," she said. "But--but--, our secret is out." + +Dick nodded that he understood, and she continued: "You know that Frank +has been at Armourdale the last few weeks, looking after papa's +interests in the mines there, and--and he came home this afternoon?" + +"Yes, I know," said Dick calmly. + +"I was in the sitting-room and he and father were in the library. I--I +did not mean to listen, but the door was open and I heard them speak +your name." + +"Yes," said Dick again. + +"Frank met Mr. Cushman and spent several days at the farm where they +are prospecting, and--and of course learned that we were together +there. Father believes the awfullest things and threatens to kill you; +he is so angry. I--I'm afraid for you--and--and I slipped away because +I--I thought you ought to know." The poor girl finished with a sob and +buried her face in her hands. + +Dick thought rapidly for a few moments. He remembered that he had never +told Amy how her father had accused him of taking her away at first, +and he saw now how that belief would be strengthened by her brother's +story. Then as his heart bitterly rebelled at the thought of such a +misunderstanding, and of the danger to Amy, his mind was made up +instantly. + +"Miss Goodrich," he said; "can you let me talk to you plainly?" + +She nodded and grew quiet. + +"I have known all along that these things would come out sooner or +later. I have foreseen that the whole story must be told, and have +prayed that the time might be put off until your life could give the +lie to the thought that the past was not passed forever, and now I +thank God that my prayers have been answered. No harm can come to you +now for your Christianity is no vain trifle, but a living power that +will help you to bear the reproach that must come. Had this happened +before you were strong, it would have driven you back again. But now +you can bear it. But Miss Goodrich--Amy--I don't want you to bear +this alone. Won't you let me help you? You know that I love you. I +have told you so a thousand times, though no word has been spoken. And +I know that you return my love. I have seen it in your eyes, and I +have waited and waited until the time should come for me to speak. +That time is here now. Amy, dearest, tell me that you love me and will +be my wife. Give me the right to protect you. Let us go to your father +together and tell him all. He dare not refuse us then." + +The beautiful girl trembled with emotion. "You must not. Oh, you must +not," she said. "Don't, don't tempt me." She buried her face in her +hands again. "You--you cannot take for your wife one who has been what +I have." + +"Amy dear, listen," said Dick. "You and I are Christians. We each have +fallen; but Christ has forgiven and accepted both. God has only one +love for each, one Saviour for each, one forgiveness for each. There +is only one promise, one help, one Heaven for us both. Darling, don't +you see that we are equal? I cannot reproach you for your past, because +I too, have been guilty. You, in your heart of hearts, must recognize +this great truth. Won't you forget it all with me?" + +The girl lifted her face and looked into his eyes long and searchingly, +as though reading his very soul. + +Had there been anything but love in Dick Falkner's heart then, he would +have argued in vain. But he returned the look unflinchingly, then-- + +"Amy listen. On the soul that has been pardoned in the name of Jesus +Christ, there is no spot. Won't you put your past beneath your feet +as I put mine in the dust, and come to me upon the common ground of +Christ's love and forgiveness? Come, because we love each other, and +for the good we can do." + +The brown eyes filled with tears again; the sweet lips trembled, as +holding out her hand she replied, "Oh Dick, I do love you. Help me to +be strong and true and worthy of your love. I--I--have no one in all +the world but you." + +A few minutes later, Dick said, "I must take you home now." + +"No, no," she answered, hurriedly; "the folks will think that I am +calling on some of the neighbors, even if they miss me at all. I often +run out of an evening that way. It is not late and I'm not afraid." + +"Listen to me, dearest," he answered. "You must not see your father +alone until I have told him everything. I will go up to the house with +you now, and we will settle this matter once for--" A loud knock at +the door interrupted him. Amy trembled in alarm. "Don't be frightened +dear. No harm can come to you from this visit now. Thank God you have +given me the right to speak for you." + +The knock was repeated. "Step in here," he said, leading her to a chair +in the next room, "and be a brave girl now. It's just some fellow on +business. He'll be gone in a moment." And leaving her with the door +partly closed, he stepped across the room just as the knock came the +third time. + +Dick threw open the door, and without waiting for an invitation, Adam +Goodrich stepped across the threshold. To say that Dick was astonished +but faintly expressed his feelings, though not a muscle of his face +quivered, as he said: + +"Good evening, sir, what can I do for you?" + +"You can do a good deal," said Adam. "But first lock that door; we +want no visitors here to-night." + +Without a word, Dick turned the key again. + +"Now sir, I want to know first, is it true that you were with my +daughter in the Ozark Mountains this summer? Don't try to lie to me +this time. I'll have the truth or kill you." + +"I have never lied to you, sir," answered Dick; "and have no desire +to do so now. It is perfectly true I did meet you daughter last summer +while on my vacation." + +"I knew I was right," raved Adam. "I knew you led her away from home. +Oh, why did you ever come to this city? Why did I ever see you? Here." +And he frantically tore a check-book from his pocket. "Fill this out +for any amount you choose and go away again. Oh, I could kill you if +I dared. You have ruined me forever--you--" + +"Stop sir," said Dick; and when Adam looked into his face, he saw again +that nameless something which compelled him to obey. + +"You have said quite enough," continued Dick, calmly, "and you are +going to listen to me now. But first, I want to beg your pardon for +the language I used when you called on me before."--He heard a slight +rustle in the next room--"when you accused me of taking your daughter +from her home; I told you that you were a liar. I beg your pardon now. +I was excited. I know that you were only mistaken. You would not have +listened to me then, nor believed me, had I told you what I knew. But +the time has come when you _shall_ listen, and be forced to know that +I speak the truth." + +Adam sat as though fascinated. Once he attempted to answer, but a quick +"Silence, sir, you _shall_ hear me," kept him still, while Dick detailed +the whole story, omitting nothing from the evening when he had rescued +Amy from her drunken escort, to the day he had said good-bye in the +Ozark Mountains. When he had finished, the old gentleman sat silent +for a moment. + +"Can it be possible," thought Dick, "that I have misjudged this man, +and that he is grateful for the help that I have given Amy?" + +But no; Dick had not misjudged him. There was not a thought of gratitude +in Adam Goodrich's heart. Thankfulness for his daughter's salvation +from a life of sin had no part in his feelings; only blind rage, that +his pride should be so humbled. Leaping to his feet, he shouted, "The +proof, you miserable scoundrel; the proof, or I'll have your life for +this." + +Dick remained perfectly calm. "You shall have the proof," he said, +quietly, and turning, stepped to the next room, coming back an instant +later with his arm encircling Amy's waist. + +Adam sprang forward. "You here at this hour alone? Go home at once. +Drop her, you ruffian," turning to Dick. + +The latter stood without moving a muscle, and Goodrich started toward +him. + +"Stop," said Dick, still without moving; and again the older man was +forced to obey that stronger will. + +"Father," said Amy. "I am going to marry Mr. Falkner. I heard you and +Frank talking in the library, and when you said that you would kill +him I came to warn him, and--and--his story is every word true. Oh +papa, don't you see what a friend he has been to me? You forced me to +the society that ruined me, and he saved me from an awful life. I love +him and will be his wife, but I can't be happy as I ought, without +your forgiveness. Won't you forgive us papa?" + +Never in his life had it been Dick's lot to see a face express so much, +or so many conflicting emotions, love, hate, pride, passion, remorse, +gratitude, all followed each other in quick succession. But finally, +pride and anger triumphed and the answer came; but in the expression +of the man's face rather than in his words, Dick found the clue to his +course. + +"You are no longer a daughter of mine," said Adam. "I disown you. If +you marry that man who came to this town a common tramp, I will never +recognize you again. You have disgraced me. You have dragged my honor +in the dust." He turned toward the door. But again Dick's voice, clear +and cold, forced him to stop. "Sir," he said; "Before God, you and not +this poor child, are to blame. By your teaching, you crippled her +character and made it too weak to stand temptation, and then drove her +from home by your brutal unbelief." + +Adam hung his head for a moment, then raised it haughtily. "Are you +through?" he said with a sneer. + +"Not quite," answered Dick. "Listen; you value most of all in this +world, pride and your family position. Can't you see that by the course +you are taking, you yourself proclaim your disgrace, and forfeit your +place in society. No one now but we three, knows the story I have just +related to you; but if you persist in this course the whole world will +know it." + +He paused, and Adam's face changed; for while his nature could not +forgive, pity, or feel gratitude, such reasoning as this forced its +way upon his mind, a mind ever ready to cheat the opinions of men. +"What would you suggest?" he asked coldly. + +"Simply this," answered Dick. "Do you and Amy go home together. No one +shall ever know of this incident. Live your life as usual, except that +you shall permit me to call at the house occasionally. Gradually the +people will become accustomed to my visits, and when the time comes, +the marriage will not be thought so strange. But remember, this woman +is to be my wife, and you shall answer to me if you make her life +hard." + +"Very well," answered Adam, after a moment's pause; "I can only submit. +I will do anything rather than have this awful disgrace made public. +But understand me sir; while you may come to the house occasionally, +and while you force me to consent to this marriage by the story of my +daughter's disgrace, I do not accept you as my son, or receive the +girl as my daughter; for my honor's sake, I will appear to do both, +but I shall not forget; and now come home." + +"Good-night, dearest, be brave," whispered Dick. And then as he unlocked +and opened the door, he could not forbear smiling at Adam and wishing +him a good-night, with pleasant dreams. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + + +Mother Gray and her husband were sitting before a cheery fire in their +little parlor, at the Institution for Helping the Unemployed. The cold +November rain without came beating against the window panes in heavy +gusts, and the wind sighed and moaned about the corners of the house +and down the chimney. + +"Winter's coming, wife," said Mr. Gray, as he aroused himself and +stirred the fire. "We'll not be having such an easy time as we did +this summer. When cold weather gets here in earnest the poor will begin +calling on us." + +"Yes, but that's the time people need kindling wood the worst, so there +will be enough to feed them," answered the good wife brightly, as she +too aroused and began knitting with great vigor. + +"I fear we are going to have a hard winter this year, mother; my old +bones begin to complain a little now; but thank God, we're sure of a +comfortable home and enough to eat. What we'd a done without this place +is more than I know, with Joe away and me not able to do heavy work +in the mines. If Maggie were only with us." And the old man wiped a +tear from his eyes. + +"Yes, father, but Maggie is better off than we. It's Joe that hurts +my heart. To think that he may be hungry and cold like some of the +poor fellows we fed here last spring. Hark. Isn't that someone knocking +at the door?" She dropped her knitting to listen. + +The old man arose and stepped into the next apartment, which was used +as a kind of reception hall and office. A faint rapping sounded more +clearly from there; and crossing the room, he opened the door, and in +the light streaming out, saw a woman. "Come in," he cried, reaching +forth and taking her by the arm. "Come in out of the rain. Why, you're +soaked through." + +"Oh please sir, can I stay here all night? They told me this was a +place for people to stop. I'm so hungry and tired." + +And indeed she looked it, poor thing. Her dress, though of good material +and nicely made, was soiled with mud and rain. Beneath the sailor hat, +from which the water ran in sparkling drops, her hair hung wet and +disheveled; her eyes were wild and pleading; her cheeks sunken and +ashy pale; while the delicately turned nostrils and finely curved, +trembling lips, were blue with cold. Beyond all doubt, she had once +been beautiful. + +Mr. Gray, old in experience, noted more than all this, as he said, "We +are not allowed to keep women here, but it's a little different in +your case, and I'll see my wife. Sit down and wait a minute." + +He gave her a chair and went back to the sitting-room, returning a +moment later with Mother Gray at his heels. + +"My poor dear," said the good woman, "of course you must stay here. +I know, I know," as the girl looked at her in a questioning manner. +"Anyone can see your condition; but bless your heart, our Master +befriended a poor woman, and why should not we?" + +And soon the girl was in the other room and Mrs. Gray was removing her +hat and loosening her clothing. + +"Father," whispered the old lady, "I think you had better go for Dr. +Jordan. He'll be needed here before morning." + +When the doctor returned with Mr. Gray, the patient, dry and clean, +was wrapped in the soft blankets of Mother Gray's own bed, with one +of Maggie's old night-dresses on, and hot bricks at her tired feet. +But warmth and kindness had come too late. The long, weary tramp about +the streets of the city, in the rain; the friendless shutting of doors +in her face; the consciousness that she was a mark for all eyes; and +the horror of what was to come, with the cold and hunger, had done +their work. When the morning sun, which has chased away the storm +clouds, peeped in at the little chamber window, Dr. Jordan straightened +up with a long breath, "She will suffer no more pain now, mother, until +the end." + +"And when will that be, Doctor?" + +"In a few hours, at most; I cannot tell exactly." + +"And there is no hope?" asked Mrs. Gray, smoothing the marble brow on +the pillow, as she would have touched her Maggie. + +"Absolutely no hope, Mother," said the physician, who knew her well. + +"Ah well, tis better so," murmured the old lady. "This world is not +the place for such as she. Christ may forgive, but men won't. The man +alone can go free. And the little one too--surely God is good to take +them both together. Will she come to, do you think, Doctor, before she +goes?" + +"Yes, it is probable that she will rally for a little while, and you +may find out her name perhaps. There was no mark on her clothing, you +say?" + +"Not the sign of a mark, and she would tell me nothing; and see, there +is no wedding ring." + +They were silent for some time, and then: "She is awakening," said the +doctor. + +The blue eyes opened slowly and looked wonderingly about the room. +"Mother," she said, in a weak voice, "Mother--who are you?--" looking +at the doctor and Mrs. Gray. "Where am I?" and she tried to raise her +head. + +"There, there, dear; lie still now and rest. You have been sick you +know. We are your friends and this is the doctor. Your mother shall +come when you tell us where to send for her." + +The poor creature looked for a full minute into the kind old face above +her, and then slowly the look of wonder in her eyes gave place to one +of firmness, pain and sorrow, and the lips closed tightly, as though +in fear that her secret would get out. + +"Oh honey, don't look like that, don't. Tell us who you are. Have you +no mother? I know you have. Let us send for her at once, that she may +come to you." + +The lips parted in a sweet, sad smile. "I'm going to die then? +You would not look so if I were not. Oh, I am so glad, so glad." +And in a moment she was sleeping like a child. + +"Poor girl," muttered Doctor Jordan, wiping his own eyes. Very sharp +professional eyes they were too. "I fear you will have to take her +mother's place. I must go now, but I will look in again during the +day. Don't have any false hopes; there is nothing to be done, save to +make the end easy." + +For an hour the stranger slept, with a smile on her lips; and then +opened her eyes again. But there was no pain, no fear in them now; +only just a shadow of trouble, as she asked in a whisper, "Where is +it?" + +The woman, with one hand smoothed back the hair from the forehead of +her patient, and with the other pointed upward; the troubled shadow +passed from the eyes of the young mother, and she slept again. Later +in the day, the doctor called, and once more she awoke. + +"I thank you, doctor," she said, in a weak voice; but shook her head +when he offered her medicine. + +"But, dear child, it is only to relieve you from any pain." + +She answered, "you said I must go; let me go as I am. Oh, this world +is cold and harsh. God knows that I do not fear to die. Christ, who +welcomed little children, has my babe, and he knows that in my heart +I am innocent." + +"But won't you tell us of your friends?" + +"No, no," she whispered. "I have no friends but you and God; and I +have doubted even his love until you told me that he would take me." + +Nor could any argument prevail upon her to change her mind; her only +answer was a shake of the head. + +That evening, just after dusk, she whispered to her kind nurse, who +sat by the bedside, "Won't you tell me your name, please?" + +"They call me Mother Gray." + +"And may I call you that too?" + +"Yes honey, of course you may," answered the old woman. "Of course you +may." + +"And why do you cry, mother?" as the tears rolled down the wrinkled +face. "Are you not glad that God is good to me? Oh, I forgot, you are +afraid for me. You don't understand." And she turned her face away. + +"Is there anything I can do for you, dear? Brother Cameron is coming +to see you just as soon as he gets home. Would you like to talk to +him?" + +"Brother Cameron--Brother Cameron--I have no brother," she answered, +turning to Mother Gray again. "Who is he?" + +"Brother Cameron is our pastor; a minister you know." + +The lips parted in a scornful smile, and the eyes flashed with a spark +of fire that must have once been in them. "Oh, a church member; no, +I beg of you, don't let him come here; I want nothing to do with him." + +"But, my dear, he is a good man." + +"Yes I know," said the girl. "I have met these good church people +before." + +"But honey, I'm a church member." + +"You are a _Christian_, mother; I love Christ and his people; but a +man can't prove himself a Christian simply by being a church member. +But I am tired. Forgive me if I pain you, mother, but I cannot see the +minister. He is a good man, a Christian perhaps, but he can do me no +good now; and I would rather die alone with you. The church has driven +me from its doors so many, many times. It was always so cold and +unfeeling. They bestow their pity on the dead bodies of people, and +by their manner, freeze the souls of men." + +Exhausted with the effort of so long a speech, she dropped into a +stupor again. + +Later, after Rev. Cameron had come and gone without seeing her, she +suddenly opened her eyes and whispered, "mother, I have been thinking; +would you be happier in knowing that I'm not afraid to die?" + +The good old woman tightened her grasp on the white hand she held, and +made no other answer but to bow her gray head and press her lips to +the forehead of the girl. + +"I know you would; and I'll tell you." + +"I lived--" She was interrupted by a low knock at the door and a sweet +voice calling gently: "May I come in, Mother Gray?" + +It was Amy, who had come at Cameron's request. + +The sufferer half rose in her bed. "Who is it?" she gasped. "I--I--know +that voice." + +"There, there, dearie," returned the nurse, gently pushing her back +on the pillows. "There, there, lie down again; it's only Miss Amy." + +"Yes, come in," she called; and Miss Goodrich softly pushed open the +door and entered. + +"I thought perhaps I could help you, Mother Gray," she said, as she +removed her hat and arranged a beautiful bunch of flowers on a little +stand in the center of the room. Then turning to the sufferer, she was +about to speak again when she paused and her face grew as white as the +colorless face upon the pillow. + +The wide eyes of the dying girl stared back at her in doubting wonder, +while the trembling lips tried to whisper her name. + +The next instant, Amy had thrown herself on her knees, her arms about +the wasted form upon the bed. "Oh Kate; Kate;" she cried. "How did +this happen? How came you here?" + +It was Kate Cushman, from Oak Springs Farm. + +Mother Gray quickly recovered from her surprise, and with the instinct +of a true nurse, calmed Amy and soothed the patient. + +"There, there, my dears," she said. "God is good--God is good. Let us +thank Him that He has brought you together. You must be brave and +strong, Miss Amy. This poor dear needs our help. Yes, yes, dear, be +brave and strong." + +Amy controlled herself with an effort, and rising from her knees, sat +down on the edge of the bed, still holding Kate's hand, while she +assisted Mother Gray to soothe her. + +When she grew more quiet, Amy said, "We must send for your father and +mother at once; they can--" + +"No, no, you must not--you shall not--they do not know--in mercy, don't +tell them--it would kill them. Promise; oh promise me you will never +tell them how I died. In pity for them, promise me." + +Mother Gray bowed her gray head, while the tears streamed down her +wrinkled cheeks. "Yes, yes, dearie, we'll promise. It's better that +they do not know until it's all over; and they need never know all." +And whispering to Amy, she added, "The poor child can't last but a +little longer." + +Reassured, the sufferer sank back again with a long sigh, and closed +her eyes wearily, but a moment later, opened them once more to look +at Amy. + +"I'm so glad you're here," she said feebly; "but I can't bear to have +you think that I am all bad." And then in whispered, halting words, +with many a break and pause, she told her story; a story all too common. +And Amy, listening with white horror-stricken face, guessed that which +Mother Gray could not know, and which the sufferer tried to conceal, +the name of her betrayer. + +"And so we were married in secret, or I thought we were," she concluded. +"I know now that it was only a farce. He came to visit me twice after +the sham ceremony that betrayed me, and I never saw him again until +last night. Oh God, forgive him; forgive him, I--I loved him so." + +The poor wronged creature burst into a fit of passionate sobbing that +could not be controlled. In vain did Mother Gray try to soothe her. +It was of no use. Until at last, exhausted, she sank again into a +stupor, from which she roused only once near morning, and then she +whispered simply, "Good-bye Mother; Goodbye Miss Amy. Don't let father +know." And just as the day dawned in all its glory, her soul, pure and +unstained as that of her babe, took its flight, and the smile of +innocent girlhood was upon her lips. + +When Amy reached home early in the forenoon, she met her brother in +the hallway, just going out. + +"You look like you'd been making a night of it," he said, with a +contemptuous sneer. "Been consoling some wanderer I suppose." + +The young woman made no reply, but stood with her back to the door, +her eyes fixed on his face. + +"Well, get out of my way," he said roughly; "can't you see I want to +go out?" + +Amy spoke--"I have been at the Institution all night. Kate +Cushman and the baby are both dead. Go look at your work." + +Frank started as though she had struck him; and then as she stepped +aside, he fairly ran from the house as though in fear of his life. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + + +In the little country village of Anderson, where the southern branch +of the "Memphis" joins the main line, a group of excited citizens were +standing in front of the doctor's office. "You're right sure it's +small-pox, are you, Doc?" + +"There's no doubt of it," answered the physician. + +"Who is he?" + +"He won't tell his name, but Jack Lane says it's Frank Goodrich. He +came in day before yesterday on the 'Memphis,' from Boyd City, where +they have just lost a case or two of the worst form." + +An angry murmur arose from the little group of men. "What you goin' +to do, Doc?" asked the spokesman. + +"I've sent to Pleasantville for that nigger who has had the disease, +and he'll be in as soon as he can get here. We must find some place +out of town for the fellow to stay, and let old Jake take care of him." + +Jim Boles spoke up. "Thar's a cabin on my west forty, that's in purty +good shape. A couple of us could fix her up in an hour or two; it's +way back from the road, a good bit over a mile I reckon--in heavy +timber too." + +"I know the place," said another. "We run a fox past there last winter, +and found him denned in that ledge of rocks 'bout half a quarter on +yon side." + +"That's it," said another. "It's sure out of the way all right." + +"Well," said the doctor, "three or four of you go over there and fix +up the cabin as comfortable as possible, and I'll have the negro take +him out as soon as he comes." + +The cabin, which was built by some early settler, had long ago been +abandoned, and was partly fallen into decay. Tall weeds grew up through +the ruins where the pole stable had stood; the roof and one side of +the smoke-house had fallen in; and the chinking had crumbled from +between the logs of the house; while the yard was overgrown with brush +and a tangle of last season's dead grass and leaves, now wet and sodden +with the late heavy rain. Deep timber hid the place from view, and a +hundred yards in front of the hovel a spring bubbled from beneath a +ledge of rock, sending a tiny stream trickling away through the forest. + +Jim Boles and his helpers had just finished patching up the cabin roof +and floor, after first building a huge fire in the long unused +fireplace, when they heard the rattle of a wagon, and between the +trees, caught a glimpse of a scrawny old horse, harnessed with bits +of strap and string, to a rickety wagon, that seemed about to fall to +pieces at every turn of the wheel. Upon the board, used for a seat, +sat an old negro, urging his steed through the patches of light and +shadow with many a jerk of the rope lines, accompanied by an occasional +whack from the long slender pole. Behind the negro was a long object +wrapped in blankets and comforters. + +"Hullo!" shouted the colored man, catching sight of the cabin and the +men. "Am dis yar de horspital fer de small-pox diseases? Dey dun tol' +me ter foller de road; but fo' Gawd, all de's yar roads look erlike +ter me in dis yer place. Nevah seed sich er lonsom ol' hole in all ma' +bo'n days. Reckon dars any hants in dat air ol' shack?" + +"No, this cabin is all right," shouted one of the men; "but you stay +where you are till we get away." And they began gathering up their +tools and garments. + +"All right, sah; all right, sah," grinned the negro. "You'uns jes clar +out ob de way fer de amblance am er comin'. We dun got de right ob way +dis trip, shor'." + +And so Frank Goodrich was established in the old log house, with the +colored man to nurse him. A place was fixed upon where the doctor and +citizens would leave such things as were needed, and Jake could go and +get them. + +Three days passed, and then by bribes and threats and prayers, Frank +persuaded the negro to walk to Pleasantville in the night and post a +letter to Rev. Cameron, begging the minister to come to him, telling +him only that he was in trouble and warning him to keep his journey +secret. + +What fiend prompted young Goodrich to take such a course cannot be +imagined. But let us, in charity, try to think that he was driven to +it by the fright and horrors of his condition. + +Mrs. Cameron was away in the far east visiting her parents, and when +the minister received the letter, he made hurried preparations, and +telling Dick that he might be gone several days, left the city that +evening. At a little way-station named in the letter, he found the +negro, with his poor old horse and rickety wagon waiting him. + +"Is you de parson?" asked the colored man. + +"Yes, I am a minister," Cameron answered, wondering much at the +appearance of the darkey and his strange turn-out. And as he climbed +up to the board seat, he questioned his guide rather sharply, but the +only answer he could get was: "Mistah Goodrich dun tol' me ter hol' +ma tongue er he'd hant me, an' I'm shor goin' t' do hit. Golly, dis +yere chile don't want no ghostes chasin' ob him 'roun'. No sah. I'se +done fotch yo' t' Mistah Goodrich en he kin tell yo' what he's er mind +ter." + +Needless to say, all this did not add to Cameron's peace of mind, and +the moments seemed hours as the poor old horse stumbled on through the +darkness of the night. At last they entered the timber, and how the +negro ever guided his crippled steed past the trees and fallen logs +and rocks was a mystery; but he did; and at last they saw the light +of the cabin. + +"Dar's de place, sah. Dis yere's de horspital. We dun got yere at +las'." And the colored Jehu brought the horse to a stand-still near +the tumbled down smoke-house. + +"Go right in, s'ah; go right in. Nobody dar but Mistah Goodrich. I put +eway ol' Mose." And he began fumbling at the ropes and strings that +made the harness. + +Cameron, burning with impatience and curiosity, stepped to the door +of the cabin and pushed it open. By the dim light of a dirty kerosene +lantern, he could see nothing at first; but a moaning voice from one +end of the room, drew his attention in the right direction. "Is that +you, Brother Cameron?" + +He stepped to the side of the cot. "Why Frank, what are you doing here; +and what is the matter?" + +"I'm sick," answered the young man, in a feeble voice. "I wanted to +see you so bad. I'm awful glad you came." + +"But why are you here in this miserable place? I do not understand." + +"Small-pox," muttered the sick man. "Folks in town are afraid. +The nigger takes care of me. He has had it." + +The minister involuntarily started back. + +"Oh Brother Cameron, don't leave me here alone," cried Frank. "I can't +die like this." + +For one brief moment Cameron trembled. He saw his danger and the trap +into which he had fallen. He thought of his work and of his wife, and +took one step toward the door; then stopped. + +"Oh, I can't die alone," said the voice again. + +Then with a prayer to his God for help, the minister made up his mind. + +"Why of course I'll not leave you, Frank," he said cheerily, resuming +his seat. "You know that surely." + +And so this man of God wrote his friends in the city that he would be +detained a few days, and stayed by the side of the wretched sufferer +in the old cabin in the lonely woods. + +The disease was not slow in its work, and before many hours had passed, +it was clear to Cameron that the end was approaching. Frank also +realized that death was not far distant, and his awful fear was pitiful. + +"Brother Cameron," he whispered hoarsely, as he held his pastor's hand, +while the old negro crouched by the fire-place smoking his cob pipe. +"I must tell you--I've lived an awful life--people think that I'm a +Christian--but I've lived a lie--" + +Then with a look that made Cameron shudder, and in a voice strong with +terror, he screamed, "O God, I shall go to Hell. I shall go to Hell. +Save me, Brother Cameron, save me. I always said that you were a good +fellow. Why do you let me die here like a dog? Don't you know that I +want to live? Here you cursed nigger, go fetch a doctor. I'll haunt +you if you don't. Do as I say." + +The colored man chattering in fright, dropped his pipe in the ashes, +and half rose as though to leave the room, but sank back again with +his eyes fixed on Rev. Cameron, who was bending forward, his hand on +the forehead of the dying man. + +"God knows all, Frank," said the minister. + +"Yes," muttered the other, "God knows all--all--all." Then in a scream +of anguish again, "He has been watching me all the time. He has seen +me everywhere I went. He is here now. Look! don't you see his eyes? +Look! Brother Cameron; look you nigger!--Look there--" He pointed to +one corner of the cabin. "Oh, see those awful eyes, +watching--watching--I have fooled men but I couldn't fool God. _Don't. +Don't._--Oh, Christ, I want to live. Save me--save me--" And he prayed +and plead for Jesus to heal him. "You know you could if you wanted +to," he shouted, profanely; as though the Saviour of men was present +in the flesh. Then to Cameron again, "I must get out of here. Don't +you hear them coming? Let me go I say," as the minister held him back +on the bed. "Let me go. Don't you know that I can't look God in the +face? I tell you, I'm afraid." + +For a moment he struggled feebly and then sank back exhausted; but +soon began to talk again; and the minister heard with horror the dark +secrets of his life. + +Suddenly he ceased muttering, and with wide-open eyes, stared into the +darkness. "Look there, Brother Cameron," he cried, hoarse with emotion. +"Amy; don't you see her? She disgraced the family you know; ran away +with that low-down printer. But see! Look! Who is that with her? Oh +God, it's Kate--Kate--Yes, Kate, I'll marry you. It can't be wrong, +you know, for you love me. Only we must not marry now for father +would--Look Cameron--" His voice rose in a scream of fear. "She's got +smallpox. Drive her out, you nigger; take her away to that cabin in +the woods where you kept me. Sh'-- Don't tell anyone, Cameron, but she +wants me to go with her. She's come to get me. And there's--there's--My +God, look--Yes--Yes-- Kate, I'm coming--" And he sank back on the bed +again. + +The negro was on his knees trying to mumble a prayer, while the minister +sat with bowed head. The lantern cast flickering shadows in the corners +of the room, and the firelight danced and fell. A water bug crawled +over the floor; a spider dropped from the rude rafters; and from without +came the sound of the wind among the bare branches of the trees, and +the old horse feeding on the dead grass and mouldy leaves about the +cabin. + +Suddenly the sick man spoke once more. "No sir, I will never disgrace +you. I am as proud of our family as yourself. I am--home--day--" The +sentence trailed off into a few unintelligible words in which only +"Mother" and "Amy" could be distinguished. And then, with a last look +about the cabin, from eyes in which anguish and awful fear was pictured, +he gasped and was gone. + +The next day, the old negro dug a grave not far from the house, and +at evening, when the sun was casting the last long shadows through the +trees, the colored man and the minister lowered the body of the rich +man's son, with the help of the rope lines from the old harness, to +its last resting place. + +A few moments later, the darkey came around to the front of the house. + +"Ready to go, sah?" + +"Go where?" asked Cameron. + +"Why, go home ob course. I reckoned you'd be mighty glad ter get away +from dis yer place." + +"I'm not going anywhere," the minister answered. "You may unhitch the +horse again." + +The old man did as he was told; then scratching his woolly head, said +to himself, "I golly. Neber thought ob dat. I'll sure hab ter take +care ob him next." + +In the days which followed, Cameron wrote long letters to his wife, +preparing her, with many loving words, for what was, in all probability, +sure to come before she could reach home again. He also prepared an +article for the Whistler, telling of Frank's death, but omitting all +that would tend to injure the young man's character. To Adam Goodrich +only, he wrote the awful truth. Other letters containing requests in +regard to his business affairs, he addressed to Dick Falkner and Uncle +Bobbie Wicks, and one to the President of the Association, in which +he made several recommendations in regard to the work. All of these, +except the one to his wife, he placed in the hands of the negro to be +mailed after his death, if such should be the end. + +Then when the symptoms of the dread disease appeared, he calmly and +coolly began his fight for life. But his efforts were of no avail; and +one night, just before the break of day, he called the old colored man +to his bedside and whispered, with a smile, "It's almost over, Uncle +Jake; my Master bids me come up higher. Good-bye; you have been very +kind to me, and the good Father will not forget you." And so talking +calmly of the Master's goodness and love, he fell asleep, and the old +negro sat with a look of awe and reverence on his dusky face, as the +glorious sunlight filled the cabin and the chorus of the birds greeted +the coming of the day. + +Much that passed in the weeks following, cannot be written here. Mrs. +Cameron's grief and anguish were too keen, too sacred, to be rendered +in unsympathetic print. But sustained by that power which had ennobled +the life of her husband, and kept by the promises of the faith that +had strengthened him, she went on doing her part in the Master's work, +waiting in loving patience the call that would unite them again. + +A month after the news of Cameron's death reached Boyd City, the +president of the Association called on Dick and spent an hour with him +talking of the work. Before leaving, he said: "Mr. Falkner, in Rev. +Cameron's letter to me, he strongly recommended that you be called to +take the place left vacant as director of the Association. With your +consent, I will announce that recommendation at our next meeting. But +first, I would like to know what answer you would give." + +Dick asked for a week to think over the matter, which was granted. And +during that time he consulted Elder Wicks. + +Uncle Bobbie only said, as he grasped his young friend by the hand, +"Behold, I have set before you an open door." And Dick bowed his head +in silent assent. + +The same day, late in the afternoon, George Udell was bending over +some work that he was obliged to finish before going home. His helper +had gone to supper, and the boy, a new one in the office, was cleaning +up preparatory to closing for the night. "Don't clean that press, Jim," +said the printer, suddenly. + +"What's the matter; don't you know that it's time to quit?" asked the +tired youngster, a note of anxiety in his voice. + +"You can quit," replied George, "but I am going to run off some of +this stuff before I go." And he proceeded to lock up the form. + +With a look of supreme disgust on his ink-stained countenance, the +other removed his apron and vanished, as though fearing his employer +might change his mind. At the foot of the stairs, the apprentice met +Clara Wilson. "He's up there," he said with a grin, and hurried on out +of the building, while the young lady passed slowly to the upper floor. +The stamping of the press filled the room, and the printer, his eyes +on his work, did not hear the door close behind the girl; and only +when she stood at his elbow did he look up. The machine made three +impressions on one sheet before he came to his senses; then he turned +to the young lady inquiringly. + +"I--I--thought I'd stop and ask you to come over to the house this +evening; Mother wants to see you." + +"Hum--m--m, anything important?" asked George, leaning against the +press. "You see I'm pretty busy now." He shut off the power and stepped +across the room as the phone rang. "Hello--Yes, this is Udell's--I'm +sorry, but it will be impossible--We close at six you know. Come over +first thing in the morning--Can't do it; it's past six now, and I have +an important engagement to-night. All right. Good-bye." + +"Oh, if you have an engagement I will go," said Clara, moving toward +the door. + +"You needn't be in a hurry," said George, with one of his queer smiles. +"My engagement has been put off so many times it won't hurt to delay +it a few minutes longer. And besides," he added, "the other party has +done all the putting off so far, and I rather enjoy the novelty." + +The young lady blushed and hung her head, and then--but there--what +right have we to look? It is enough for us to know that Udell's +engagement was put off no longer, and that he spent the evening at the +Wilson home, where the heart of Clara's mother was made glad by the +announcement she had long wished to hear. + +"Law sakes," snapped the old lady; "I do hope you'll be happy. Goodness +knows you ought to be; you've waited long enough." And for just that +once, all parties interested were agreed. + +Charlie Bowen is in an eastern college fitting himself for the ministry. +His expenses are paid by Mr. Wicks. "To-be-sure," said Uncle Bobbie, +"I reckon a feller might as well invest in young men as any other kind +o' stock, an' the church needs preachers who know a little about the +business of this world, as well as the world what's comin'. I don't +know how my business will get along without the boy though, but I +reckon if we look after Christ's interests he won't let us go broke. +To-be-sure, college only puts the trimmins' on, but if you've got a +Christian business man, what's all _man_ to begin with, they sure do +put him in shape; an' I reckon the best 'aint none too good for God. +But after all, it's mighty comfortin' for such old, uneducated sticks +as me to know that 'taint the trimmings the good Father looks at. Ye +can't tell a preacher by the long words in his sermon, no more 'n you +can tell a church by the length of its steeple." + +Five years later, two traveling men, aboard the incoming "Frisco" +passenger, were discussing the business outlook, when one pointed out +of the window to the smoke-shrouded city. "That town is a wonder to +me," he said. + +"Why?" asked his fellow-drummer, who was making his first trip over +that part of the road. "What's the matter with it? Isn't it a good +business town?" + +"Good business town," ejaculated the other, "I should say it was. +There's not a better in this section of the country. But it's the +change in the character of the place that gets me. Five years ago, +there wasn't a tougher city in the whole west. Every other door on +Broadway was a joint, and now--" + +"Oh yes, I've heard that," interrupted the other, with a half sneer; +"struck by a church revival or something, wasn't they? And built some +sort of a Salvation Army Rescuing Home or Mission?" + +"I'm not sure about the church revival," returned the other slowly, +"though they do say there are more church members there now than in +any other city of its size in the country. But I'm sure of one thing; +they were struck by good, common-sense business Christianity. As for +the Rescue Home, I suppose you can call it that if you want to; but +it's the finest block in the business portion of the city; and almost +every man you meet owns a share in it. But here we are; you can see +for yourself; only take my advice, and if you want to do business in +Boyd City, don't try to sneer at the churches, or laugh at their +Association." + +And indeed the traveling man might well wonder at the change a few +years had brought to this city in the great coal fields of the middle +west. In place of the saloons that once lined the east side of Broadway +and the principal streets leading to it, there were substantial +buildings and respectable business firms. The gambling dens and brothels +had been forced to close their doors, and their occupants driven to +seek other fields for their degrading profession. Cheap variety and +vulgar burlesque troops had the city listed as no good, and passed it +by, while the best of musicians and lecturers were always sure of +crowded houses. The churches, of all denominations, had been forced +to increase their seating capacity; and the attendance at High School +and Business College had enlarged four-fold; the city streets and +public buildings, the lawns and fences even, by their clean and +well-kept appearance, showed an honest pride, and a purpose above mere +existence. But a stranger would notice, first of all, the absence of +loafers on the street corners, and the bright, interested expressions +and manners of the young men whom he chanced to meet. + +And does this all seem strange to you, reader, as to our friend, the +traveling man? Believe me, there is no mystery about it. It is just +the change that comes to the individual who applies Christ's teaching +to his daily life. High purpose, noble activity, virtue, honesty and +cleanliness. God has but one law for the corporation and the individual, +and the teaching that will transform the life of a citizen will change +the life of a city if only it be applied. + +The reading-room and institution established by the young people of +the Jerusalem Church had accomplished its mission, and was absorbed +into the larger one established by the citizens, where boys and girls, +men and women, could hear good music, uplifting talk, and helpful +entertainment; where good citizenship, good health, good morals, were +all taught in the name of Jesus. The institution was free in every +department; visitors were restricted only by wholesome rules that in +themselves were educational. Co-operating with the city officials, +it separated the vicious from the unfortunate, and removed not only +the influence of evil, but the last excuse for it, by making virtue +a pleasure, and tempting the public to live wholesomely. And as the +traveling man testified, it paid from a business standpoint; or as +Uncle Bobbie Wicks tells his customers from other towns, "Folks come +to Boyd City to live 'cause they 'aint 'fraid to have their boys 'n +girls walk down the street alone." And after all, that's about the +best recommendation a place can have. And perhaps the happiest couple +in all that happy, prosperous city, as well as the best-loved of her +citizens, is the young manager of the Association, Mr. Richard Falkner, +and his beautiful wife, Amy. + +But Dick will soon leave his present position to enter a field of wider +usefulness at the National Capitol. For the people declared, at the +last election, that their choice for representative was "That Printer +of Udell's." And before they leave for their Washington home, Dick and +Amy will pay still another visit to a lonely spot near the little +village of Anderson. There, where the oaks and hickorys cast their +flickering shadows on the fallen leaves and bushes, and the striped +ground-squirrel has his home in the rocks; where the redbird whistles +to his mate, and at night, the sly fox creeps forth to roam at will; +where nature, with vine of the wild grape, has builded a fantastic +arbor, and the atmosphere is sweet with woodland flowers and blossoms, +not far from the ruins of an old cabin, they will kneel before two +rough mounds of earth, each marked with a simple headstone, one bearing +no inscription save the name and date; the other this: "Inasmuch as +ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have +done it unto Me." + + + THE END. + + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's That Printer of Udell's, by Harold Bell Wright + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THAT PRINTER OF UDELL'S *** + +***** This file should be named 6384.txt or 6384.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/8/6384/ + +Produced by Vital Debroey, Charles Aldarondo and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: That Printer of Udell's + +Author: Harold Bell Wright + +Release Date: August, 2004 [EBook #6384] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on December 5, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THAT PRINTER OF UDELL'S *** + + + + +Produced by Vital Debroey, Charles Aldarondo +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + +[Frontispice illustration: "Come on, Smoke, we've gotter go now."] + + + + + THAT PRINTER OF UDELL'S + + + A STORY OF THE MIDDLE WEST + + + BY HAROLD BELL WRIGHT + + + + + + DEDICATION + + TO THAT FRIEND WHOSE LIFE HAS TAUGHT ME + MANY BEAUTIFUL TRUTHS; WHOSE WORDS + HAVE STRENGTHENED AND ENCOURAGED ME + TO LIVE MORE TRUE TO MY GOD, MY FELLOWS + AND MYSELF; WHO HOPED FOR ME WHEN + OTHERS LOST HOPE; WHO BELIEVED IN ME + WHEN OTHERS COULD NOT; WHO SAW GOOD + WHEN OTHERS LOOKED FOR EVIL; TO THAT + FRIEND, WHOEVER HE IS, WHEREVER HE MAY + BE, I AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATE THIS STORY. + + H. B. W. + + + + "And the King shall answer and say unto + them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch + as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, + even these least, ye did it unto me." + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +"O God, take ker' o' Dick!--He'll sure have a tough time when I'm +gone,--an' I'm er' goin'--mighty fast I reckon.--I know I aint done +much ter brag on,--Lord,--but I aint had nary show.--I allus 'low'd +ter do ye better,--but hit's jes' kept me scratchin'--ter do fer me +an' Dick,--an' somehow I aint had time--ter sarve--ye like I ought.--An' +my man he's most ways--no 'count an' triflin',--Lord,--'cepten when +he likers up,--an' then,--you know how he uses me an' Dick.--But Dick, +he aint no ways ter blame--fer what his dad an' mammy is,--an' I ax +ye--fair,--o Lord,--take ker o' him--fer--Jesus' sake--Amen." + +"Dick!--O Dick,--whar are ye honey?" + +A hollow-cheeked wisp of a boy arose from the dark corner where he had +been crouching like a frightened animal, and with cautious steps drew +near the bed. Timidly he touched the wasted hand that lay upon the +dirty coverlid. + +"What ye want, maw?" + +The woman hushed her moaning and turned her face, upon which the shadow +was already fallen, toward the boy. "I'm er goin'--mighty fast,--Dicky," +she said, in a voice that was scarcely audible. "Whar's yer paw?" + +Bending closer to the face upon the pillow, the lad pointed with +trembling finger toward the other end of the cabin and whispered, while +his eyes grew big with fear, "Sh--, he's full ergin. Bin down ter th' +stillhouse all evenin'--Don't stir him, maw, er we'll git licked some +more. Tell me what ye want." + +But his only answer was that broken prayer as the sufferer turned to +the wail again. "O Lord, take ker o'--" + +A stick of wood in the fire-place burned in two and fell with a soft +thud on the ashes; a lean hound crept stealthily to the boy's side and +thrust a cold muzzle against his ragged jacket; in the cupboard a mouse +rustled over the rude dishes and among the scanty handful of provisions. + +Then, cursing foully in his sleep, the drunkard stirred uneasily and +the dog slunk beneath the bed, while the boy stood shaking with fear +until all was still again. Reaching out, he touched once more that +clammy hand upon the dirty coverlid. No movement answered to his touch. +Reaching farther, he cautiously laid his fingers upon the ashy-colored +temple, awkwardly brushing back a thin lock of the tangled hair. The +face, like the hand, was cold. With a look of awe and horror in his +eyes, the child caught his parent by the shoulder and shook the lifeless +form while he tried again and again to make her hear his whispered +words. + +"Maw! Maw! Wake up; hit'l be day purty soon an' we can go and git some +greens; an' I'll take the gig an' kill some fish fer you; the's a big +channel cat in the hole jes' above the riffles; I seed 'im ter day +when I crost in the john boat. Say Maw, I done set a dead fall +yester'd', d' reckon I'll ketch anythin'? Wish't it 'ud be a coon, +don't you?--Maw! O Maw, the meal's most gone. I only made a little +pone las' night; thar's some left fer you. Shant I fix ye some 'fore +dad wakes up?" + +But there was no answer to his pleading, and, ceasing his efforts, the +lad sank on his knees by the rude bed, not daring even to give open +expression to his grief lest he arouse the drunken sleeper by the +fireplace. For a long time he knelt there, clasping the cold hand of +his lifeless mother, until the lean hound crept again to his side, and +thrusting that cold muzzle against his cheek, licked the salt tears, +that fell so hot. + +At last, just as the first flush of day stained the eastern sky, and +the light tipped the old pine tree on the hill with glory, the boy +rose to his feet. Placing his hand on the head of his only comforter, +he whispered, "Come on, Smoke, we've gotter go now." And together boy +and dog crept softly across the room and stole out of the cabin +door--out of the cabin door, into the beautiful light of the new day. +And the drunken brute still slept on the floor by the open fire-place, +but the fire was dead upon the hearth. + +"He can't hurt maw any more, Smoke," said the lad, when the two were +at a safe distance. "No, he sure can't lick her agin, an' me an' you +kin rustle fer ourselves, I reckon." + + * * * * * + +Sixteen years later, in the early gray of another morning, a young man +crawled from beneath a stack of straw on the outskirts of Boyd City, +a busy, bustling mining town of some fifteen thousand people, in one +of the middle western states, many miles from the rude cabin that stood +beneath the hill. + +The night before, he had approached the town from the east, along the +road that leads past Mount Olive, and hungry, cold and weary, had +sought shelter of the friendly stack, much preferring a bed of straw +and the companionship of cattle to any lodging place he might find in +the city, less clean and among a ruder company. + +It was early March and the smoke from a nearby block of smelters was +lost in a chilling mist, while a raw wind made the young man shiver +as he stood picking the bits of straw from his clothing. When he had +brushed his garments as best he could and had stretched his numb and +stiffened limbs, he looked long and thoughtfully at the city lying +half hidden in its shroud of gray. + +"I wonder"--he began, talking to himself and thinking grimly of the +fifteen cents in his right-hand pants pocket--"I wonder if--" + +"Mornin' pard," said a voice at his elbow. "Ruther late when ye got +in las' night, warn't it?" + +The young man jumped, and turning faced a genuine specimen of the genus +hobo. "Did you sleep in this straw-stack last night?" he ejaculated, +after carefully taking the ragged fellow's measure with a practiced +eye. + +"Sure; this here's the hotel whar I put up--slept in the room jes' +acrost the hall from your'n.--Whar ye goin' ter eat?"--with a hungry +look. + +"Don't know. Did you have any supper last night?" + +"Nope, supper was done et when I got in." + +"Same here." + +"I didn't have nothin' fer dinner neither," continued the tramp, "an' +I'm er gettin' powerful weak." + +The other thought of his fifteen cents. "Where are you going?" he said +shortly. + +The ragged one jerked his thumb toward the city. "Hear'd as how thar's +a right smart o' work yonder and I'm on the hunt fer a job." + +"What do you do?" + +"Tendin' mason's my strong-holt. I've done most ever'thing though; +used ter work on a farm, and puttered round a saw-mill some in the +Arkansaw pineries. Aim ter strike a job at somethin' and go back thar +where I know folks. Nobody won't give a feller nuthin' in this yer +God-fer-saken country; haint asked me ter set down fer a month. Back +home they're allus glad ter have a man eat with 'em. I'll sure be all +right thar." + +The fellow's voice dropped to the pitiful, pleading, insinuating whine +of the professional tramp. + +The young man stood looking at him. Good-for-nothing was written in +every line of the shiftless, shambling figure, and pictured in every +rag of the fluttering raiment, and yet--the fellow really was +hungry,--and again came the thought of that fifteen cents. The young +man was hungry himself; had been hungry many a time in the past, and +downright, gnawing, helpless hunger is a great leveler of mankind; in +fact, it is just about the only real bond of fellowship between men. +"Come on," he said at last, "I've got fifteen cents; I reckon we can +find something to eat." And the two set out toward the city together. + +Passing a deserted mining shaft and crossing the railroad, they entered +the southern portion of the town, and continued west until they reached +the main street, where they stopped at a little grocery store on the +corner. The one with the fifteen cents invested two-thirds of his +capital in crackers and cheese, his companion reminding the grocer +meanwhile that he might throw in a little extra, "seein' as how they +were the first customers that mornin'." The merchant, good-naturedly +did so, and then turned to answer the other's question about work. + +"What can you do?" + +"I'm a printer by trade, but will do anything." + +"How does it happen you are out of work?" + +"I was thrown out by the Kansas City strike and have been unable to +find a place since." + +"Is he looking for work too?" with a glance that made his customer's +face flush, and a nod toward the fellow from Arkansas, who sat on a +box near the stove rapidly making away with more than his half of the +breakfast. + +The other shrugged his shoulders, "We woke up in the same straw-stack +this morning and he was hungry, that's all." + +"Well," returned the store-keeper, as he dropped the lid of the cracker +box with a bang, "You'll not be bothered with him long if you are +really hunting a job." + +"You put me on the track of a job and I'll show you whether I mean +business or not," was the quick reply. To which the grocer made answer +as he turned to his task of dusting the shelves: "There's lots of work +in Boyd City and lots of men to do it." + +The stranger had walked but a little way down the street when a voice +close behind him said, "I'm erbliged ter ye for the feed, pard; reckon +I'll shove erlong now." + +He stopped and the other continued: "Don't much like the looks of this +yer' place no how, an' a feller w'at jes' come by, he said as how thar +war heaps o' work in Jonesville, forty miles below. Reckon I'll shove +erlong. Aint got the price of er drink hev' ye? Can't ye set 'em up +jest fer old times' sake ye know?" and a cunning gleam crept into the +bloodshot eyes of the vagabond. + +The other started as he looked keenly at the bloated features of the +creature before him, and there was a note of mingled fear and defiance +in his voice as he said, "What do you mean? What do you know about old +times?" + +The tramp shuffled uneasily, but replied with a knowing leer, +"Aint ye Dicky Falkner what used ter live cross the river from +Jimpson's still-house?" + +"Well, what of it?" The note of defiance was stronger. + +"Oh nuthin, only I'm Jake Tompkins, that used ter work fer Jimpson at +the still. Me 'n yer daddy war pards; I used ter set 'em up ter him +heap o' times." + +"Yes," replied Dick bitterly, "I know you now. You gave my father +whiskey and then laughed when he went home drunk and drove my mother +from the cabin to spend the night in the brush. You know it killed +her." + +"Yer maw allus was weakly-like," faltered the other; "she'd no call +ter hitch up with Bill Falkner no how; she ort ter took a man with +book larnin' like her daddy, ole Jedge White. It allus made yer paw +mad 'cause she knowed more'n him. But Bill lowed he'd tame her an' he +shor' tried hit on. Too bad she went an' died, but she ort ter knowed +a man o' Bill's spirit would a took his licker when he wanted hit. I +recollect ye used ter take a right smart lot yerself fer a kid." + +The defiance in the young man's voice gave way to a note of hopeless +despair. "Yes," he said, "you and dad made me drink the stuff before +I was old enough to know what it would do for me." Then, with a bitter +oath, he continued, half to himself, "What difference does it make +anyway. Every time I try to break loose something reaches out and pulls +me down again. I thought I was free this time sure and here comes this +thing. I might as well go to the devil and done with it. Why shouldn't +I drink if I want to; whose business is it but my own?" He looked +around for the familiar sign of a saloon. + +"That's the talk," exclaimed the other with a swagger. "That's how yer +paw used ter put it. Your maw warn't much good no how, with her finicky +notions 'bout eddicati'n an' sech. A little pone and baken with plenty +good ol' red eye's good 'nough fer us. Yer maw she--" + +But he never finished, for Dick caught him by the throat with his left +hand, the other clenched ready to strike. The tramp shrank back in a +frightened, cowering heap. + +"You beast," cried the young man with another oath. "If you dare to +take my mother's name in your foul mouth again I'll kill you with my +bare hands." + +"I didn't go fer to do hit. 'Fore God I didn't go ter. Lemme go Dicky; +me'n yer daddy war pards. Lemme go. Yer paw an' me won't bother ye no +more Dicky; he can't; he's dead." + +"Dead!" Dick released his grasp and the other sprang to a safe +distance.--"Dead!" He gazed at the quaking wretch before him in +amazement. + +The tramp nodded sullenly, feeling at his throat. "Yep, dead," he said +hoarsely. "Me an' him war bummin' a freight out o' St. Louie, an' he +slipped. I know he war killed 'cause I saw 'em pick him up; six cars +went over him an' they kept me in hock fer two months." + +Dick sat down on the curbing and buried his face in his hands. +"Dead--Dead"--he softly repeated to himself. "Dad is dead--killed by +the cars in St. Louis.--Dead--Dead--" + +Then all the past life came back to him with a rush: the cabin home +across the river from the distillery; the still-house itself, with the +rough men who gathered there; the neighboring shanties with their +sickly, sad-faced women, and dirty, quarreling children; the store and +blacksmith shop at the crossroads in the pinery seven miles away. He +saw the river flowing sluggishly at times between banks of drooping +willows and tall marsh grass, as though smitten with the fatal spirit +of the place, then breaking into hurried movement over pebbly shoals +as though trying to escape to some healthier climate; the hill where +stood the old pine tree; the cave beneath the great rock by the spring; +and the persimmon grove in the bottoms. Then once more he suffered +with his mother, from his drunken father's rage and every detail of +that awful night in the brush, with the long days and nights of sickness +that followed before her death, came back so vividly that he wept again +with his face in his hands as he had cried by the rude bedside in the +cabin sixteen years ago. Then came the years when he had wandered from +his early home and had learned to know life in the great cities. What +a life he had found it. He shuddered as it all came back to him now. +The many times when inspired by the memory of his mother, he had tried +to break away from the evil, degrading things that were in and about +him, and the many times he had been dragged back by the training and +memory of his father; the gambling, the fighting, the drinking, the +periods of hard work, the struggle to master his trade, and the reckless +wasting of wages in times of wild despair again. And now his father +was dead--dead--he shuddered. There was nothing to bind him to the +past now; he was free. + +"Can't ye give me that drink, Dicky? Jest one little horn. It'll do +us both good, an' then I'll shove erlong; jes fer old times' sake, ye +know." + +The voice of the tramp broke in upon his thoughts. For a moment longer +he sat there; then started to his feet, a new light in his eye; a new +ring in his voice. + +"No, Jake," he said slowly; "I wouldn't if I could now. I'm done with +the old times forever." He threw up his head and stood proudly erect +while the tramp gazed in awe at something in his face he had never +seen before. + +"I have only five cents in the world," continued Dick. "Here, take it. +You'll be hungry again soon and--and--Good bye, Jake--Good bye--" He +turned and walked swiftly away while the other stood staring in +astonishment and wonder, first at the coin in his hand, then at the +retreating figure. Then with an exclamation, the ragged fellow wheeled +and started in the opposite direction toward the railroad yards, to +catch a south-bound freight. + +Dick had walked scarcely a block when a lean hound came trotting across +the street. "Dear old Smoke," he said to himself, his mind going back +to the companion of his early struggle--"Dear old Smoke." Then as the +half-starved creature came timidly to his side and looked up at him +with pleading eyes, he remembered his share of the breakfast, still +untouched, in his pocket. "You look like an old friend of mine," he +continued, as he stooped to pat the bony head, "a friend who is never +hungry now--, but you're hungry aren't you?" A low whine answered him. +"Yes, you're hungry all right." And the next moment a wagging tail was +eloquently giving thanks for the rest of the crackers and cheese. + +The factories and mills of the city gave forth their early greeting, +while the sun tried in vain to drive away the chilly mist. Men with +dinner buckets on their arms went hurrying along at call of the +whistles, shop-keepers were sweeping, dusting and arranging their +goods, a street-car full of miners passed, with clanging gong; and the +fire department horses, out for their morning exercise, clattered down +the street. Amid the busy scene walked Dick, without work, without +money, without friends, but with a new purpose in his heart that was +more than meat or drink. A new feeling of freedom and power made him +lift his head and move with a firm and steady step. + +All that morning he sought for employment, inquiring at the stores and +shops, but receiving little or no encouragement. Toward noon, while +waiting for an opportunity to interview the proprietor of a store, he +picked up a daily paper that was lying on the counter, and turning to +the "want" column, read an advertisement for a man to do general work +about the barn and yard. When he had received the usual answer to his +request for work, he went at once to the address given in the paper. + +"Is Mr. Goodrich in?" he asked of the young man who came forward with +a look of inquiry on his face. + +"What do you want?" was the curt reply. + +"I want to see Mr. Goodrich," came the answer in tones even sharper, +and the young man conducted him to the door of the office. + +"Well," said a portly middle-aged gentleman, when he had finished +dictating a letter to the young lady seated at the typewriter, "What +do you want?" + +"I came in answer to your ad in this morning's Whistler," answered +Dick. + +"Umph--Where did you work last?" + +"At Kansas City. I'm a printer by trade, but willing to do anything +until I get a start." + +"Why aren't you working at your trade?" + +"I was thrown out by the strike and have been unable to find anything +since." + +A look of anger and scorn swept over the merchant's face. "So you're +one of that lot, are you? Why don't you fellows learn to take what you +can get? Look there." He pointed to a pile of pamphlets lying on the +table. "Just came in to-day; they cost me fifty per cent more than I +ever paid before, just because you cattle can't be satisfied; and now +you want me to give you a place. If I had my way, I'd give you, and +such as you, work on the rock pile." And he wheeled his chair toward +his desk again. + +"But," said Dick, "I'm hungry--I must do something--I'm not a +beggar--I'll earn every cent you pay me." + +"I tell you no," shouted the other. "I won't have men about me who +look above their position," and he picked up his pen. + +"But, Sir," said Dick again, "what am I to do?" + +"I don't care what you do," returned the other. "There is a stone-yard +here for such as you." + +"Sir," answered Dick, standing very straight, his face as pale as +death. "Sir, you will yet learn that it does matter very much what +such fellows as I do, and some day you will be glad to apologize for +your words this morning. I am no more worthy to work on the rock pile +than yourself. As a man, I am every bit your equal, and will live to +prove it. Good morning, Sir." And he marched out of the office like +a soldier on parade, leaving the young lady at the typewriter motionless +with amazement, and her employer dumb with rage. + +What induced him to utter such words Dick could not say; he only knew +that they were true, and they seemed somehow to be forced from him; +though in spite of his just anger he laughed at the ridiculousness of +the situation before he was fairly away from the building. + +The factory whistles blew for dinner, but there was no dinner for Dick; +they blew again for work at one o'clock, but still there was nothing +for Dick to do. All that afternoon he continued his search with the +same result--We don't need you. Some, it is true, were kind in their +answers. One old gentleman, a real estate man, Dick felt sure was about +to help him, but he was called away on business, and the poor fellow +went on his weary search again. + +Then the whistles blew for six o'clock, and the workmen, their faces +stained with the marks of toil, hurried along the streets toward home; +clerks and business men crowded the restaurants and lunch counters, +the street cars were filled with shoppers going to their evening meal. +Through hungry eyes, Dick watched the throng, wondering what each +worked at during the day and what they would have for supper. + +The sun went behind a bank of dull, lead-colored clouds and the wind +sprang up again, so sharp and cold that the citizens turned up the +collars of their coats and drew their wraps about them, while Dick +sought shelter from the chilly blast in an open hallway. Suddenly a +policeman appeared before him. + +"What are you doing here?" + +"Nothing," answered Dick. + +"Wal, ye'd better be doing something. I've had my eye on you all the +afternoon. I'll run ye in if I ketch ye hanging round any more. Get +a move on now." And Dick stepped out on the sidewalk once more to face +the bitter wind. + +Walking as rapidly as possible, he made his way north on Broadway, +past the big hotel, all aglow with light and warmth, past the vacant +lots and the bicycle factory, until he reached the ruins of an old +smelter just beyond the Missouri Pacific tracks. He had noticed the +place earlier in the day as he passed it on his way to the brickyard. +Groping about over the fallen walls of the furnace, stumbling over +scraps of iron and broken timbers in the dusk, he searched for a corner +that would in some measure protect him from the wind. It grew dark +very fast, and soon he tripped and fell against an old boiler lying +upturned in the ruin. Throwing out his hand to save himself, by chance, +he caught the door of the firebox, and in a moment more was inside, +crouching in the accumulated dirt, iron rust and ashes. At least the +wind could not get at him here; and leaning his back against the iron +wall of his strange bed-room, tired and hungry, he fell asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +The next morning Dick crawled from his rude lodging place stiff and +sore, and after making his toilet as best he could, started again on +his search for employment. It was nearly noon when he met a man who +in answer to his inquiry said: "I'm out of a job myself, stranger, but +I've got a little money left; you look hungry." + +Dick admitted that he had had no breakfast. + +"Tell you what I'll do," said the other. "I ain't got much, but we can +go to a joint I know of where they set up a big free lunch. I'll pay +for the beer and you can wade into the lunch." + +Poor Dick, weak from hunger, chilled with the March winds, tired and +discouraged, he forgot his resolve of the day before and followed his +would-be benefactor. It was not far and they soon stood in a well-warmed +saloon. The grateful heat, the polished furniture, the rows of bottles +and glasses, the clean-looking, white-jacketed and aproned bar-tender, +and the merry air of those whom he served, were all wonderfully +attractive to the poor shivering wanderer from out in the cold. And +then there was the long table well loaded with strong, hot food. The +starving fellow started toward it eagerly, with outstretched hand. +"Two beers here," cried his companion. + +Then Dick remembered his purpose. The hand reaching out to grasp the +food was withdrawn; his pale face grew more haggard. "My God!" he +thought, "what can I do. I must have food." + +He saw the bartender take two large glasses from the shelf. His whole +physical being plead with him, demanding food and drink, and shaking +like a leaf he gazed about him with the air of a hunted thing. + +He saw one of the glasses in the hand of the man in the white jacket +and apron filling with the amber liquid. A moment more and--"Stop!" +he cried, rushing toward the one who held the glasses. "Stop! it's a +mistake. I don't drink." + +The man paused and looked around with an evil leer, one glass still +unfilled in his hand. Then with a brutal oath, "What are ye in here +for then?" + +Dick trembled. "I--I--was cold and hungry--" his eyes sought the food +on the table--"and--and--this gentleman asked me to come. He's not to +blame; he thought I wanted a drink." + +His new-found friend looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Oh take +a glass, stranger. You need it; and then help yourself to the lunch." + +Dick shook his head; he could not speak. + +"Look here!" broke in the bartender, with another string of vile +language, as he quickly filled the empty glass and set it on the counter +before Dick. "You drink this er git out. That there lunch is fer our +customers and we aint got no room fer temperance cranks er bums. +Which'll it be? Talk quick." + +Dick's eyes went from the food to the liquor; then to the saloon man's +hard face, while a strange hush fell over those who witnessed the +scene. Slowly the stranger swept the room with a pleading glance, but +met only curious indifference on every side. Again he turned to the +food and liquor, and put out his hand. A light of triumph flashed in +the eyes of the man behind the bar, but the hand was withdrawn and +Dick backed slowly toward the door. "I won't," he said, between his +clenched teeth, then to his would-be friend, "Thank you for your good +intention." + +The silence in the room was broken by a shout of harsh laughter as the +bartender raised the glass of beer he had drawn for Dick and mockingly +drank him good luck as the poor fellow stepped through the doorway +leaving warmth and food behind. + +All that day Dick continued his search for work. Night came on again +and he found himself wandering, half dazed, in the more aristocratic +portion of the city. He was too tired to go to the old smelter again. +He could not think clearly and muttered and mumbled to himself as he +stumbled aimlessly along. + +The door of a cottage opened, letting out a flood of light, and a +woman's voice called, "Dick, Oh Dick, come home now; supper is waiting." +And a lad of ten, playing in the neighboring yard with his young +companion, answered with a shout as he bounded across the lawn. Through +the windows our Dick caught a glimpse of the cosy home: father, mother, +two sisters, bright pictures, books, and a table set with snowy linen, +shining silver and sparkling glass. + +Later, strange voices seemed to call him, and several times he paused +to listen. Then someone in the distance seemed to say, "Move on; Move +on." The words echoed and re-echoed through his tired brain. "Move on; +Move on," the weary, monotonous strain continued as he dragged his +heavy feet along the pavement. "Move on; Move on;" the words seemed +repeated just ahead. Who was it? What did they want, and why couldn't +they let him rest? He drew near a large building with beautiful stained +glass windows, through which the light streamed brilliantly. In the +center was a picture of the Christ, holding in his arms a lamb, and +beneath, the inscription, "I came to seek and to save that which was +lost." + +"Move on; Move on;" the words seemed shrieked in his ears now, and +looking up he saw a steeple in the form of a giant hand, pointing +toward the stormy sky. "Why of course,"--he laughed with mirthless +lips,--"of course,--it's a church. What a fool--I ought to have come +here long ago.--This is Thursday night and that voice is the bell +calling people to Prayer Meeting." + +"I'll be all right now," he continued to himself as he leaned against +a tree near the building. "I ought to have remembered the church +before.--I've set up their notices many a time; they always say +'Everybody welcome.' Christians won't let me starve--they'll help me +earn something to eat.--I'm not a beggar--not me," and he tried to +straighten his tired figure. "All I want is a chance." + +By this time, well-dressed people were passing where Dick stood +muttering to himself, and entering the open door of the church. Then +the organ began to play, and arousing himself by a supreme effort of +his will, Dick followed them into the building. + +The organ now filled the air with its sweetly solemn tones. The bell +with its harsh command to move on was forgotten; and as Dick sank on +a cushioned seat near the door, his heart was filled with restful +thoughts. He saw visions of a Gracious Being who cared for all mankind, +and who had been all this time waiting to help him. Had he not heard +his mother pray, years ago in the cabin, "O Lord take care o' Dick!--" +How foolish he had been to forget--he ought to have remembered,--but +he would never forget again,--never. + +The music and the singing stopped. The pastor arose and read the lesson, +calling particular attention to the words recorded in the twenty-fifth +chapter of Matthew: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least +of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Then after a long +prayer and another song, the man of God spoke a few words about the +Christian's joy and duty in helping the needy; that the least of these, +meant those who needed help, no matter what their positions in life; +and that whosoever gave aid to one in the name of Christ, glorified +the Master's name and helped to enthrone him in the hearts of men. + +"The least of these," whispered Dick to himself, then unconsciously +uttering his thoughts in the dialect of his childhood--"that's me +shor'; I don't reckon I kin be much less'n I am right now." And as one +after another of the Christians arose and testified to the joy they +found in doing Christ's work, and told of experiences where they had +been blessed by being permitted to help some poor one, his heart warmed +within him, and, in his own way, he thanked God that he had been led +to such a place and to such people. + +With another song, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow," the +congregation was dismissed and began slowly passing from the building, +exchanging greetings, with more or less warmth, and remarking what a +helpful meeting they had had, and how much it had been enjoyed. + +Dick stood near the door, hat in hand, patiently waiting. One by one +the members passed him; two or three said "Good Evening;" one shook +him by the hand; but something in their faces as they looked at his +clothing checked the words that rose to his lips, and the poor fellow +waited, his story untold. At last the minister came down the aisle, +and greeting Dick, was about to pass out with the others; this was too +much, and in a choked voice the young man said, "Sir, may I speak to +you a moment?" + +"If you'll be brief," replied the preacher, glancing at his watch. "I +have an engagement soon." + +Dick told his story in a few words. "I'm not begging, Sir," he added. +"I thought some of the church members might have work that I could do, +or might know where I could find employment." + +The minister seemed a little embarrassed; then beckoning to a few who +still remained, "Brother Godfrey, here's a man who wants work; do you +know of anything?" + +"Um, I'm sorry, but I do not," promptly replied the good deacon. "What +can you do?" turning to Dick. He made the usual answer and the officer +of the church said again, "Find it rather hard to strike anything in +Boyd City I fear; so many tramps, you know. Been out of work long?" + +"Yes sir, and out of food too." + +"Too bad; too bad," said the deacon. And "Too bad; too bad," echoed +the preacher, and the other followers of the meek and lowly Jesus. "If +we hear of anything we'll let you know. Where are you stopping?" + +"On the street," replied Dick, "when I am not moved on by the police." + +"Um--Well--we'll leave word here at the church with the janitor if we +learn of anything." + +"Are you a Christian?" asked one good old mother in Israel. + +"No," stammered poor confused Dick; "I guess not." + +"Do you drink?" + +"No mam." + +"Well, don't get discouraged; look to God; he can help you; and we'll +all pray for you. Come and hear our Brother French preach; I am sure +you will find the light. He is the best preacher in the city. Everybody +says so. Good-night." + +The others had already gone. The sexton was turning out the lights, +and a moment later Dick found himself once more on the street, looking +with a grim smile on his hunger-pinched features, at the figure of the +Christ, wrought in the costly stained glass window. "One of the least +of these," he muttered hoarsely to himself. Then the figure and the +inscription slowly faded, as one by one the lights went out, until at +last it vanished and he seemed to hear his mother's voice: "I ax ye +fair--O Lord--take ker o' Dick--fer Jesus sake--Amen." + +The door shut with a bang. A key grated in the heavy lock that guarded +the treasures of the church; and the footsteps of the church's humblest +servant died away in the distance, as Dick turned to move on again. + +The city rumbled on with its business and its pleasure, its merriment +and crime. Guardians of the law protected the citizens by seeing to +it that no ill-dressed persons sat too long upon the depot benches, +sheltered themselves from the bitter wind in the open hall-way, or +looked too hungrily in at the bakery windows. + +On the avenue the homes grew hushed and still, with now and then a +gleam of light from some library or sitting-room window, accompanied +by the tones of a piano or guitar,--or sound of laughing voices. And +the house of God stood silent, dark and cold, with the figure of the +Christ upon the window and the spire, like a giant hand, pointing +upward. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +"I declare to goodness, if that ain't the third tramp I've chased away +from this house to-day! I'll have father get a dog if this keeps up. +They do pester a body pretty nigh to death." Mrs. Wilson slammed the +kitchen door and returned to her dish-washing. "The ide' of givin' +good victuals to them that's able to work--not much I won't--Let 'em +do like I do." And the good lady plied her dish-cloth with such energy +that her daughter hastily removed the clean plates and saucers from +the table to avoid the necessity of drying them again. + +"But this man wanted work, didn't he mother?" asked Clara, "And I heard +you tell father at dinner that you wanted someone to fix the cowshed +and clean up the back yard." + +"There you go again," angrily snapped the older woman, resting her wet +hands upon her hips and pausing in her labor, the better to emphasize +her words; "Allus a criticisin' and a findin' fault--Since you took +up with that plagy church there aint been nothin' right." + +"Forgive me mother, I didn't think," said the daughter, looking into +the wrathful black eyes of her parent. + +"Didn't think," whined the woman, "You never think of nothin' but your +blamed Young Folks' Society or Sunday School. Your mother an' father +and home aint good enough fer your saintship now-a-days. I wish to +goodness you'd never heard tell of that preacher; the whole set's a +batch of stingy hypocrites." She turned to her dish-washing again with +a splash. "An' there's George Udell, he aint going to keep hanging +around forever, I can tell you; there's too many that'ud jump at his +offer, fer him to allus be a dancin' after you; an' when you git through +with your foolishness, you'll find him married and settled down with +some other girl, an' what me and your father'll do when we git too old +to work, the Lord only knows. If you had half sense you'd take him too +quick." + +Clara made no reply, but finishing her work in silence, hung up her +apron and left the kitchen. + +Later, when Mrs. Wilson went into the pleasant little sitting-room, +where the flowers in the window _would_ bloom, and the pet canary +_would_ sing in spite of the habitual crossness of the mistress of the +house, she found her daughter attired for the street. + +"Where are you going now?" she asked; "Some more foolishness, I'll be +bound; you just take them things off and stay to home; this here weather +aint fit fer you to be trapsin round in. You'll catch your death of +cold; then I'll have to take care of you. I do believe, Clara Wilson, +you are the most ungratefulest girl I ever see." + +"But mother, I just must go to the printing office this afternoon. Our +society meets to-morrow night and I must look after the printing of +the constitution and by-laws." + +"What office you goin' to?" asked the mother sharply. + +"Why, George's, of course," said Clara; "You know I wouldn't go anywhere +else." + +"Oh well, get along then; I guess the weather won't hurt you; its +clearin' off a little anyway. I'll fix up a bit and you can bring +George home to supper." And the old lady grew quite cheerful as she +watched the sturdy figure of her daughter making her way down the board +walk and through the front gate. + +George Udell was a thriving job printer in Boyd City, and stood high +in favor of the public generally, and of the Wilson family in +particular, as might be gathered from the conversation of Clara's +mother. "I tell you," she said, in her high-pitched tones, "George +Udell is good enough fer any gal. He don't put on as much style as +some, an' aint much of a church man; but when it comes to makin' money +he's all there, an' that's the main thing now-a-days." + +As for Clara, she was not insensible to the good points in Mr. Udell's +character, of which money-making was by no means the most important, +for she had known him ever since the time, when as a long, lank, awkward +boy, he had brought her picture cards and bits of bright-colored +printing. She was a wee bit of a girl then, but somehow, her heart +told her that her friend was more honest than most boys, and, as she +grew older, in spite of her religious convictions, she had never been +forced to change her mind. + +But George Udell was not a Christian. Some said he was an infidel; at +least he was not a member of any church; and when approached on the +subject, always insisted that he did not know what he believed; and +that he doubted very much if many church members knew more of their +beliefs. Furthermore; he had been heard upon several occasions to make +slighting remarks about the church, contrasting its present standing +and work with the law of love and helpfulness as laid down by the +Master they professed to follow. + +True, no one had ever heard him say that he did not believe in Christ +or God. But what of that? Had he not said that he did not believe in +the church? And was not that enough to mark him as an infidel? + +Clara, in spite of her home training, was, as has been shown, a strong +church member, a zealous Christian, and an earnest worker for the cause +of Christ. Being a practical girl, she admitted that there were many +faults in the church of today; and that Christians did not always live +up to their professions. But, bless you, you could not expect people +to be perfect; and the faults that existed in the church were there +because all churches were not the same, which really means, you of +course understand-"all churches are not of _my_ denomination." And so, +in spite of her regard for the printer, she could not bring herself +to link her destiny with one whose eternal future was so insecure, and +whose life did not chord with that which was to her, the one great +keynote of the universe, the church. And then, too, does not the good +book say: "Be ye not unequally yoked with unbelievers." What could +that mean if not, "Do not marry an infidel?" + +While Clara was thinking of all these things and making her way through +the mud of Boyd City streets, Udell, at the printing office, was having +a particularly trying time. To begin with, his one printer had gone +off on a spree the Saturday before and failed to return. Then several +rush jobs had come in; he had tried in vain to get help; the boy had +come late to the office, and, altogether it seemed as though everything +had happened that could happen to make things uncomfortable. + +Clara arrived on the scene just when the confusion was at its height; +the room was littered with scraps of paper and inky cloths; the famous +printer's towel was lying on the desk; the stove, with its hearth piled +full of ashes, emitted smoke and coal gas freely; and the printer was +emptying the vials of his wrath upon the public in general, because +all wanted their printing done at the same instant; while the boy, +with a comical look of fear upon his ink-stained face, was dodging +here and there, striving as best he could to avoid the threatening +disaster. + +The young girl's coming was like a burst of sunlight. In an instant +the storm was past. The boy's face resumed at once its usual expression +of lofty indifference; the fire burned freely in the stove; the towel +was whisked into its proper corner; and she was greeted with the first +smile that had shown on the printer's face that day. "You're just in +time," he cried gaily, as he seated her in the cleanest corner of the +office. + +"I should think so," she answered, smiling, and glancing curiously +about the room; "looks as though you wanted a woman here." + +"I do," declared George. "I've always wanted _a_ woman; haven't I told +you that often enough?" + +"For shame, George Udell. I came here on business," Clara answered +with glowing cheeks. + +"Well, that's mighty important business for me," Udell answered. +"You see--" but Clara interrupted him. + +"What's the matter here anyway?" she asked. + +"Oh--nothing; only my man is off on a drunken spree, and everybody +wants their stuff at the same time. I worked until two o'clock last +night; that's why I wasn't at your house; and I must work tonight too. +I'm--Yes, there's another;" as the telephone rang. "Hello!--Yes, this +is Udell's job office--We have the matter set up and will send you +proof as soon as possible--I'm sorry, but we are doing the best we +can--Yes--all right--I'll get at it right away--three o'clock--can't +possibly get it out before"--bang! He hung up the receiver. + +"I tell you this is making me thin. If you had half the influence at +headquarters that you profess to have, I wish you'd pray them to send +me a printer." + +"Why don't you get help?" + +"Get help?--Get nothing! I tell you I've prayed, and threatened, and +bribed, and promised, as well as the best prayer-meeting church member +you've got, and I can't get the sign of an answer. Reckon the wire +must be down," he added, a queer shadow of a smile twitching up the +corners of his mouth; "Y-e-s," as the phone rang again. "I wish that +wire was down." + +The girl noted the worn look on his rugged face, and when he had hung +up the receiver again, said: "I wish I could help you, George." + +"You can, Clara,--you know you can," he answered quickly. "You can +give me more help than the ghost of Franklin himself. I don't mind the +hard work, and the worry wouldn't amount to anything if only--if only--" +he stopped, as Clara shook her head. + +"George, you know I have told you again and again--" + +"But Clara," he broke in,--"I wouldn't in any way interfere with your +church work. I'd even go with you every Sunday, and you could pay the +preacher as much as you liked. Don't you see, dear, it couldn't possibly +make any difference?" + +"You don't understand, George," she answered, "and I can't make you +see it; there's no use talking, I _can't_, until you change your ideas +about--" + +The door opened and a weary, hungry, unshaven face looked in.--The +door opened wider and a figure came shuffling timidly toward the man +and girl. + +"What do you want?" said Udell, gruffly, a little put out at such an +interruption. + +"Are you the foreman of this office?" said the newcomer. + +"Yes, I'm the boss." + +"Do you need any help? I'm a printer." + +"You a printer?" exclaimed Udell. "What's the matter?--No,"--he +interrupted himself.-"Never mind what the matter is. I don't care if +you're wanted for horse stealing. Can you go to work now?" The man +nodded. Udell showed him to a case and placed copy before him. "There +you are, and the faster you work the better I'll pay you." + +Again the other nodded, and without a word caught up a stick and reached +for the type. + +George turned back to Clara who had risen. "Don't go yet," he said. + +"Oh, yes, I must; I have been here too long now; you have so much to +do; I only wanted to get that society printing." George handed her the +package. "Who is he?" she whispered, with a look toward the newcomer. + +"Don't know; some bum I suppose; looks like he had been on a big spree. +I only hope I can keep him sober long enough to help me over this +rush." + +"You're wrong there," said the girl, moving toward the door, "He asked +for work at our house early this morning; that man is no drunkard, +neither is he a common tramp." + +"How do you know?" + +"Same as I know you, by the looks," laughed Clara. "Go talk to him and +find out. You see your prayer was answered, even if you did pray like +a church member. Who knows, perhaps the wire is not down after all," +and she was gone. + +The printer turned to his work again with a lighter heart for this bit +of brightness. Somehow he felt that things would come out all right +some day, and he would do the best he could to be patient; and, for +Clara's sake, while he could not be all she wished, he would make of +himself all that he could. + +For a while, he was very busy with some work in the rear of the office; +then remembering Clara's strange words about the tramp, he went over +to the case where the new man sat perched upon his high stool. The +stranger was working rapidly and doing good work. George noticed though, +that the hand which held the stick trembled; and that sometimes a +letter dropped from the nervous fingers. "What's the matter?" he asked, +eyeing him keenly. + +The man, without lifting his head, muttered, "Nothing." + +"Are you sick?" + +A shake of the head was the only answer. + +"Been drinking?" + +"_No_." This time the head was lifted and two keen gray eyes, filled +with mingled suffering and anger, looked full in the boss's face. "I've +been without work for some time and am hungry, that's all." The head +bent again over the case and the trembling fingers reached for the +type. + +"Hungry!--Good God, man!" exclaimed Udell. "Why didn't you say so?"--and +turning quickly to the boy he said, "Here, skip down to that restaurant +and bring a big hot lunch. Tell 'em to get a hustle on too." + +[Illustration: "Here you are; come and fill up."] + +The boy fled and George continued talking to himself; "Hungry--and I +thought he had been on a spree. I ought to have known better than that. +I've been hungry myself--Clara's right; he is no bum printer. Great +shade of the immortal Benjamin F! but he's plucky though--and proud--you +could see that by the look in his eye when I asked him if he'd been +drunk--poor fellow--knows his business too--just the man I've been +looking for, I'll bet--Huh--wonder if the wire is down." And then as +the boy returned with the basket of hot eatables, he called cheerily, +"Here you are; come and fill up; no hungry man in this establishment, +rush or no rush." He was answered by a clatter as half a stick full +of type dropped from the trembling hand of the stranger. "Thank you," +the poor fellow tried to say, as he staggered toward the kind-hearted +infidel, and then, as he fell, Dick's outstretched fingers just touched +Udell's feet. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +It was a strange coincidence that the Rev. James Cameron should have +preached his sermon on "The Church of the Future," the Sunday following +the incidents which have been related in the preceding chapters. If +he had only known, Rev. Cameron might have found a splendid +illustration, very much to the point, in the story of Dick Falkner's +coming to Boyd City and his search for employment. But the minister +knew nothing of Dick or his trouble. He had no particular incident in +mind; but simply desired to see a more practical working of +Christianity. In other words, he wished to see Christians doing the +things that Christ did, and using, in matters of the church, the same +business sense which they brought to bear upon their own affairs. He +thought of the poverty, squalor and wretchedness of some for whom +Christ died, and of the costly luxuries of the church into whose hands +the Master had given the care of these. He thought of the doors to +places of sin, swinging wide before the young, while the doors of the +church were often closed against them. He thought of the secret +societies and orders, doing the work that the church was meant to do, +and of the honest, moral men, who refused to identify themselves with +the church, though professing belief in Jesus Christ; and, thinking +of these things and more like them, he was forced to say that the +church must change her methods; that she must talk less and do more; +that she must rest her claims to the love of mankind where Christ +rested his; upon the works that He did. + +He saw that the church was proving false to the Christ; that her service +was a service of the lips only; that her worship was form and +ceremony--not of the heart--a hollow mockery. He saw that she was not +touching the great problems of life; and that, while men were dying +for want of spiritual bread, she was offering them only the stones of +ecclesiastical pride and denominational egotism. He saw all this, and +yet,--because he was a strong man--remained full of love for Christ +and taught that those things were not Christianity but the lack of it; +and placed the blame where it justly belonged, upon the teaching and +doctrines of men, and not upon the principles of Christ; but upon the +shepherds, who fattened themselves, while the starving sheep grew thin +and lean; and not upon Him who came to seek and save that which was +lost. + +Adam Goodrich walked out of the church with his aristocratic nose +elevated even beyond its usual angle. He was so offended by the plebeian +tastes of his pastor that he almost failed to notice Banker Lindsley +who passed him in the vestibule. + +"Fine discourse--fine discourse, Mr. Goodrich." + +"Uh--" grunted Adam, tossing his head. + +"Just the kind of sermon we need;" went on Mr. Lindsley, who was not +a church member. "Practical and fearless; I'm glad to have heard him. +I shall come again;" and he hurried out of the house. + +It was not often that a sermon was honored by being discussed at the +Goodrich table; nor indeed, that any topic of religion was mentioned; +but Adam could not contain himself after the unheard of things which +his pastor had preached that morning. "It's a pity that Cameron hasn't +better judgment," he declared, in a voice that showed very plainly the +state of his mind. "He could easily make his church the first church +in the city if he would only let well enough alone and not be all the +time stirring things up. He is a good speaker, carries himself like +an aristocrat, and comes from a good family; but he is forever saying +things that jar the best people. He might be drawing half as much again +salary if only he would work to get those people who are worth something +into the church, instead of spending all his time with the common +herd." + +"Perhaps he thinks the common herd worth saving too," suggested Miss +Amy, a beautiful girl of nineteen, with dark hair and eyes. + +"What do you know about it?" replied the father. "You're getting your +head full of those silly Young People's Society notions, and your +friends will drop you if you don't pay more attention to your social +duties. The common classes are all right of course, but they can't +expect to associate with us. Cameron has his mission schools; why isn't +that enough? And he makes three times as many calls on South Broadway +and over by the Shops, as he does on our street." + +"Perhaps he thinks, 'they that are whole have no need of a physician,'" +again suggested the young lady. + +"Amy," said Mrs. Goodrich, "how often have I told you that it's not +the thing to be always repeating the Bible. No one does it now. Why +will you make yourself so common?" + +"You agree with Cameron perfectly, mother," put in Frank, the only +son; "he said this morning that no one used their Bibles now-a-days." + +"It's not necessary to be always throwing your religion at people's +heads," answered the father, "and as for Cameron's new-fangled notion +about the church being more helpful to those who need help, he'll find +out that it won't work. We are the ones who pay his salary, and if he +can't preach the things we want to hear, he'll find himself going +hungry, or forced to dig along with those he is so worried about. I +don't find anything in the Bible that tells me to associate with every +low-down person in the city, and I guess I'm as good a Christian as +anyone in the church." + +"Brother Cameron said that helping people and associating with them +were two different things," said Amy. + +"Well, it means the same, anyway, in the eyes of the world," retorted +the father. + +"Fancy," said Frank, "my going down the street with that tramp who +called at the office last week. According to Cameron, you ought to +have invited him home and asked him to stay with us until he found a +job, I suppose. Amy would have liked to meet him, and to make his visit +with us pleasant. He was not bad-looking, barring his clothes and a +few whiskers." + +"Who was that, Mr. Goodrich?" inquired the wife. + +"Oh, an impudent fellow that Frank let into the office the other day; +he claimed that he was a printer and wanted work; said that he was +thrown out of employment by the Kansas City strike; anyone could see +that he was a fraud through and through, just Cameron's kind. If I had +my way I would give him work that he wouldn't want. Such people are +getting altogether too numerous, and there will be no room for a +respectable man if this thing keeps up. I don't know what we'll come +to if we have many such sermons as that this morning; they want the +earth now." + +"They'd get Heaven too if Cameron had his way," put in Frank again. +"Won't it be fine when the church becomes a home for every wandering +Willie who happens along?" + +"Did not Christ intend His church to be a home for the homeless?" asked +the sister. + +"Amy," interrupted Mrs. Goodrich, "you are getting too many of those +fanciful notions; you will learn in time that the church is meant to +go to on Sundays, and that people who know what is demanded of them +by the best society, leave socials, aids, missions, and such things +to the lower classes." + +"Yes," answered Frank, as he arose to leave the table--"and don't go +looking up that bum printer to teach him the way of the Lord." + +The reader must not think that the Goodrichs were unworthy members of +the church; their names were all on the roll of membership, and Frank +and Amy were also active members of the Young People's Societies. +Beside this, Adam contributed liberally (in his own eyes at least) to +the support of the gospel; and gave, now and then, goodly sums set +opposite his name on subscription lists, for various charitable +purposes; although he was very careful, withal, that his gifts to God +never crippled his business interests, and managed, in religious +matters, to make a little go a long way. + +The pastor of the Jerusalem Church, having been called to attend a +funeral, was not present at the meeting of the Boyd City Ministerial +Association, following his sermon, and the field was left open for his +brethren, who assembled in the lecture room of the Zion Church on +Monday morning. After the Association had been called to order by the +president, the reports of the work given by the various pastors had +been heard, and some unfinished business transacted, good old Father +Beason arose, and, in his calm, impassioned manner, addressed the +Chair. + +"Brethren," he said, "I don't know how you all feel about it, but I +would like to know what the Association thinks about Brother Cameron's +sermon yesterday. Now, I don't want to be misunderstood, Brethren; I +haven't a particle of fault to find with Brother Cameron. I love him +as a man; I admire him as a preacher; and I believe that whatever he +has said he meant for the best. But, Brother Cameron is a young man +yet, and I have heard a good deal of talk about the things he said +Sabbath morning; and I would just like to know what you Brethren think +about it. Have any of you heard anything?" Six reverend heads nodded +that they had, and the speaker continued: + +"Well, I thought probably you would hear something, and with no harm +meant toward our Brother, I would like to have you express yourselves. +I have been in the ministry nearly forty years now, and I have never +heard such things as people say he said. And, Brethren, I'm awfully +afraid that there is a good deal of truth in it all--a good deal of +truth in it all;" and slowly shaking his head the old man took his +seat. + +The Rev. Jeremiah Wilks was on his feet instantly, and, speaking in +a somewhat loud and nervous manner, said: "Mr. Chairman, I was coming +down town early this morning, after some thread and ribbons and things +for my wife, and Sister Thurston, who runs that little store on Third +Street--you know she's a member of my church, you know--and always +gives me things lots cheaper than I can get them anywhere else, because +she's a member of my church, you know--she says to me that Brother +Cameron said that the average church of to-day was the biggest fraud +on earth. Now she was there and heard him. I don't know of course, +whether he really said that or not; that is, I mean, you know,--I don't +know whether he meant it that way or not. But I've heard him say myself, +that he didn't think the church was doing all she might along some +lines. I don't know whether he means all the churches or only his own. +_My_ people gave fifteen dollars for foreign missions last year, and +the Ladies' Aid paid fifty dollars on my salary. Besides that, they +bought me a new overcoat last winter, and it will last me through next +winter too. They paid eighteen dollars for that, I'm told; and of +course they got it cheap because it was for me, you know. And we gave +a pound social to Sister Grady, whose husband died some time ago, you +know. It took almost all her money to pay funeral expenses--She's a +member of my church you know; so was he, poor man; he's gone now. I'm +sure I don't know about Brother Cameron's church; we're doing all _we_ +can; and I don't think it's right for him to talk against the work of +the Lord." The reverend gentleman resumed his seat with the satisfied +air of a school boy who has just succeeded in hitting a hornet's nest, +and devoutly wishes that someone would come along to share the fun. + +Little Hugh Cockrell arose, and, crossing his hands, meekly spoke: +"Now, Brethren, I don't think we ought to be hasty in regard to this +matter. I would advise caution. We must give the subject due and careful +consideration. We all respect and love Brother Cameron. Let us not be +hasty in condemning him. You know the Scriptures say, Judge not, and +I believe we ought to be careful. We don't know what Cameron meant +exactly. Brethren, let us try to find out. I know I have heard a great +many things, and some of my members say that he spoke rather slightingly +of the ministry as a whole, and seemed to think that the church was +not practical enough, and my wife is a good deal hurt about some things +that he said about the clergy. But, let's be careful. I don't want to +believe that our Brother would cast a slur in any way upon us or the +church. Let's be cautious and work in a Christianlike manner; find out +by talking with people on the street and in their homes, what he said, +and above all, don't let Cameron know how we feel. We ought not to be +hasty, Brethren, about judging our Brother." + +There were nods of approval as the minister took his seat, for he was +much admired in the Association because of his piety, and much respected +for his judgment. All knew that nothing could possibly harm them if +they followed Rev. Cockrell's advice. + +Then the Rev. Dr. Frederick Hartzell reared his stoop-shouldered, +narrow-chested, but commanding figure, and, in a most impressive and +scholarly manner addressed the Association. + +"Of course I don't know anything about this matter, Brethren; it's all +news to me. I am so confined by my studies that I go on the street +very little, and, when I do go out, my mind is so full of the deep +things of the Scriptures, that I find it hard to retain anything that +has to do with the commonplace in life; and in-as-much as the reverend +gentleman failed to consult me as to his sermon, which I understand +he calls The Church of the Future, I am unable to say at present whether +his position is orthodox or not. But Brethren, of one thing I am sure, +and I don't care what Cameron or any other man thinks; the orthodox +church of to-day is the power of God unto salvation. God intended that +we ministers should be His representatives on earth, and as such, we +ought to have a keen appreciation of the grandeur and nobility of our +calling. After years of study on the part of myself, and after much +consultation with other eminent men, I give it as my opinion that the +church of the future will be the same as the church of the past. All +denominations--that is, all evangelical denominations, are built upon +a rock. Upon this rock I will build my church, Matthew 16-18. Brethren, +we are secure; even the gates of Hades cannot prevail against us; and +it is proven by the scholarship of the world, that we shall be the +same in the future as we have been in the past. Rev. Cameron, whatever +may be his opinions, cannot harm so glorious an institution. Why, +Brethren, we represent the brains and culture of the world. Look at +our schools and seminaries; we must be right. No change can possibly +come; no change is needed. As to the gentleman's remarks about the +ministry; if he made any, I don't think his opinion matters much anyhow, +I understand that he is not a graduate of any regular theological +institution; and I'm sure that he cannot harm _my_ reputation in the +least." + +Secure in the impregnable position of his own learning and in the +scholarship of his church; amid a hush of profound awe and admiration, +the learned gentleman took his seat. + +Rev. Hartzell's speech practically finished the discussion of the +sermon by the Association. Indeed, the Rev. Frederick nearly always +finished whatever discussion he took part in. One or two of the +remaining preachers tried to speak, but subsided as soon as they caught +the eye of the scholar fixed upon them, and the Association was +adjourned, with a prayer by the president that they might always be +able to conduct the Master's business in a manner well pleasing in his +sight; and that they might have strength to always grapple boldly with +questions concerning the church, ever proving true to the principles +of the Christ, and following in His footsteps. + +While the members of the Ministerial Association were engaged in +discussing Rev. Cameron's much-abused sermon, the printer, George +Udell, dropped in at the office of Mr. Wicks, to make the final payment +on a piece of property which he had purchased some months before. Mr. +Wicks, or as he was more often called, Uncle Bobbie, was an old resident +of the county, an elder in the Jerusalem Church, and Rev. Cameron's +right-hand man. + +"Well," he said, as he handed George the proper papers, "that place +is your'n, young man, what are ye goin' to do with it?" + +"Oh I don't know," replied Udell, "it's handy to have round; good +building spot, isn't it?" + +"You bet it is," returned the other. "There aint no better in Boyd +City, an' I reckon I know. Ye must be goin' to get a wife, talking +about buildin'?" + +Udell shook his head. "Well, ye ought to. Let's see--this is the third +piece of property I've sold ye, aint it?--all of 'em good investments +too--You're gettin' a mighty good start fer a young man. Don't it make +ye think of the Being what's back of all these blessin's? Strikes me +ye'r too blame good a man to be livin' without any religion. George, +why don't you go to church anyway? Don't ye know you ought to?" + +"Why don't I go to church," said Udell thoughtfully; "Well, Mr. Wicks, +I'll tell you why I don't go to church. Just because I've got too much +to do. I make my own way in the world and it takes all the business +sense I have to do it. The dreamy, visionary, speculative sort of +things I hear at meeting may be all right for a fellow's soul, but +they don't help him much in taking care of his body, and I can't afford +to fill my mind with such stuff. I am living this side of the grave. +Of course I like to hear a good talker, and I enjoy the music, but +their everlasting pretending to be what they are not, is what gets me. +You take this town right here now," he continued, pushing his hat back +from his forehead; "we've got ten or twelve churches and as many +preachers; they all say that they are following Christ, and profess +to exist for the good of men and the glory of God. And what are they +actually doing to make this place better? There's not a spot in this +city, outside a saloon, where a man can spend an hour when he's not +at work; and not a sign of a place where a fellow down on his luck can +stay all night. Only last week, a clean honest young printer, who was +out of money through no fault of his own, struck me for a job, and +before night fainted from hunger; and yet, the preachers say that +Christ told us to feed the hungry, and that if we didn't it counted +against us as though we had let him starve. According to their own +teaching, what show have these churches in Boyd City when they spend +every cent they can rake and scrape to keep their old machines running +and can't feed even one hungry man? Your church members are all right +on the believe, trust, hope, pray and preach, but they're not so much +on the do. And I've noticed it's the _do_ that counts in this life. +Why, their very idea of Heaven is that it's a loafing place, where you +get more than you ask for or have any right to expect." + +"Gettin' a little excited, ain't ye?" smiled Uncle Bobbie, though there +was a tear twinkling in his sharp old eyes. + +"Yes I am," retorted the other. "It's enough to excite anyone who has +a heart to feel and eyes to see the misery in this old world, and then +to be asked eternally, 'Why don't you go to church?' Why look at 'em; +they even let their own preachers starve when they get too old to work. +Societies and lodges don't do that. I don't mean to step on your toes +though," he added hastily. "You know that, Uncle Bobbie. You've proven +yourself a Christian to me in ways I'll never forget. My old mother +was a member of the church and they let her go hungry, when I was too +little to take care of her; and if it hadn't been for you she would +have died then. But you fed her, and if there's a Heaven, she's there, +and you'll be there too. But what makes me mad is, that these fellows +who _never_ do anything, are just as sure of it as you who do so much." + +"Ah, George," said Wicks; "that help I give your maw warn't nothin'. +Do you think I'd see her suffer? Why, I knowed her when she was a +girl." + +"I know, Uncle Bobbie, but that isn't the question. Why, don't the +church _do_ some of the things they are always talking about?" + +"Do infidels do any more?" asked Mr. Wicks. + +"No, they don't," answered George, "but they don't thank God that Jesus +Christ was crucified, so that they might get to Heaven, either." + +"Thar's one fellow that I didn't feed," said the old man, after a long +pause. "That same printer called here and I didn't give him nothin' +to do. I've thought of it many a time since though, and asked the Lord +to forgive me for sech carelessness. And so he's got a job with you, +has he? Well, I'm mighty glad. But say, George, were you at our church +yesterday?" + +"No," answered Udell, "Why?" + +"Oh, nothin'; only I thought from the way you've been preachin' +Cameron's sermon, that you'd heard him give it, that's all." + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +"There's only one girl in this world for me," whistled Dick, as he +made a form ready for the press. Only in his own mind he rendered it, +"There's not one girl in this world for me;" and from Dick's point of +view his version was the better one. Thus far in his life there had +come no woman's influence; no loving touch of a girlish hand to help +in moulding his character; no sweet voice bidding him do right; no +soft eyes to look praise or blame. He had only the memory of his mother. + +It was less than a week ago that the poor outcast had fainted from +lack of food, but he had already become a fixture in the office. George +Udell confided to Miss Wilson that he did not know how he could get +along without him, and that he was, by long odds, the best hand he had +ever had. He was quick and sure in his work, and as George put it, +"You don't have to furnish him a map when you tell him to do anything." +With three good meals a day and a comfortable cot in the office for +the night, with the privilege of spending his evenings by the fire, +and the assurance that there was work for him for many weeks ahead, +it was no wonder that Dick whistled as he bent over the stone. Locking +up the form, he carried it to the press and was fixing the guide pins, +when the door opened and a young lady came in. + +Dick's whistle stopped instantly and his face flushed like a school +girl as he gave her a chair and went to call Udell, who was in the +other room trying to convince the boy that the stove needed a bucket +of coal. + +"Faith," said Dick to himself, as he went back to the press, "If there +is one girl in this world for me I hope she looks like that one. What +a lovely voice," he added, as he carefully examined the first +impression; "and a heavenly smile;" as he finished his work and went +back to the composing case; "and what eyes,"--he turned sideways to +empty his stick--"And what hair;" trying to read his copy--"a perfect +form;" reaching for the type again. "I wonder who--" + +"Dick!" shouted Udell. Crash went the overturned stool, and, "Yes Sir," +answered the young man, with a very red face, struggling to his feet. + +A merry light danced in the brown eyes, though the girlish countenance +was serious enough. + +Udell looked at his assistant in mingled wonder and amusement. "What's +the matter, Dick?" he asked, as the latter came toward him. + +"Nothing, Sir--I only--I was--" he looked around in confusion at the +overturned stool, and the type on the floor. + +"Yes, I see you were," said his employer with a chuckle. "Miss Goodrich, +this is Mr. Falkner; perhaps he can help us out of our difficulty. Mr. +Falkner is just from Kansas City," he added, "and is up in all the +latest things in printing." + +"Oh yes," and Amy's eyes showed their interest. "You see, Mr. Falkner, +we are trying to select a cover design for this little book. Mr. Udell +has suggested several, but we cannot come to any decision as to just +the proper one. Which would you choose?" + +Dick's embarrassment left him at once when a matter of work was to be +considered. "This would be my choice," he said, selecting a design. + +"I like that too," said the young lady; "but you see it is not _just_ +what I want;" and she looked not a little worried, for above all things, +Miss Goodrich liked things _just_ as she liked them; and besides, this +was _such_ an important matter. + +"I'll tell you what," said Dick. "If you'll let me, and Mr. Udell does +not object, I'll set up a cover for you to-night after supper." + +"O, indeed, you must not think of it," said Amy. + +"But I would enjoy it," he answered. + +"You need to rest after your day's work," she replied; "and besides, +it would be so much trouble for you to come way down here in the night. +No, you need not mind; this will do very well." + +"But we often work after hours, and I--I--do not live far from here," +said Dick. + +"What do you think, Mr. Udell?" + +"I am sure, Miss Goodrich, that Mr. Falkner would enjoy the work, for +we printers have a good bit of pride in that kind of thing you know, +and, as he says, we often work after supper. I think you might let him +do it, without too great a feeling of obligation." + +After some further talk, the matter was finally settled as he had +suggested, and Dick went back to his work; as he picked up his +overturned stool, he heard the door close and then Udell stood beside +him, with a broad grin on his face. + +"Well, I'll be shot," ejaculated the printer, "I've seen fellows take +a tumble before, but hang me if I ever saw a man so completely +kerflummuxed. Great shade of the immortal Benjamin F--! But you were +a sight--must be you're not used to the ladies. Seemed all right though +when you got your legs under you and your mouth agoing. What in time +ailed you anyway?" + +"Who is she?" asked Dick, ignoring the other's laughter, and dodging +his question. + +"Who is she? Why I introduced you to her, man; her name is Amy Goodrich. +Her daddy is that old duffer who keeps the hardware store, and is so +eminently respectable that you can't get near him unless you have a +pedigree and a bank account. Amy is the only daughter, but she has a +brother though who takes after the old man. The girl takes after herself +I reckon." Dick made no reply and Udell continued: "The whole family +are members of the swellest church in the city, but the girl is the +only one who works at it much. She teaches in the Mission Sunday School; +leads in the Young People's Society and all that. I don't imagine the +old folks like it though; too common you know." And he went off to +look after the boy again, who was slowly but painfully running off the +bill-heads that Dick had fixed on the press. + +"What's the matter with him, George?" asked that individual, leaning +wearily against the machine; "Did he faint agin, or was he havin' a +fit?" + +"You shut up and get that job off sometime this week," answered Udell, +as he jerked the lever of the electric motor four notches to the right. + +Just before the whistles blew for dinner, he again went back to Dick +and stood looking over his shoulder at a bad bit of copy the latter +was trying to decipher. "Well, what do you think about it?" he asked. + +"She's divine," answered Dick absently, as he carefully placed a capital +A upside down. + +George threw back his head and roared; "Well, you've got it sure," he +said, when he could speak. + +"Got what?" asked Dick in wonder. + +"Oh, nothing," replied the other, going off with another shout. "But +look here;" he said, after a moment; very serious this time; "Let me +give you a piece of good advice, my friend; don't you go to thinking +about _that_ girl too much." + +"What girl? Whose thinking about her? You need have no fears on that +score," said Dick, a little sharply. + +"Oh, you needn't get mad about it, a fellow can't help but think a +chap is hit when he falls down, can he?" And with another laugh, George +removed his apron and left for dinner. + +"Yes, it did look bad;" said Dick to himself, as he dried his hands +on the office towel; "but I never saw such eyes; and she's as good as +she looks too; but Adam Goodrich's daughter, Whew--" And he whistled +softly to himself as he thought of his first meeting with the wealthy +hardware merchant. + +That evening while Miss Goodrich was entertaining a few of her friends +at her beautiful home on the avenue, and while Udell, with Clara Wilson, +was calling on old Mother Gray, whose husband had been injured in the +mines, Dick worked alone in the printing office. The little book, as +Amy called it, was a pamphlet issued by the literary club of which she +was the secretary, and never since the time when he set his first line +of type, had Dick been so bothered over a bit of printing. The sweet +brown eyes and smiling lips of the young woman were constantly coming +between him and his work, and he paused often to carry on an imaginary +conversation with her. Sometimes he told her funny incidents from his +adventurous past and heard her laugh in keen appreciation. Then they +talked of more earnest things and her face grew grave and thoughtful. +Again he told her all his plans and ambitions, and saw her eyes light +with sympathy as she gladly promised her helpful friendship. Then, +inspired by her interest, he grew bolder, and forgetting the task +before him altogether, fought life's battles in the light of her smiles, +conquering every difficulty, and winning for himself a place and name +among men. And then, as he laid his trophies at her feet, her father, +the wealthy merchant, appeared, and Dick walked the floor in a blind +rage. + +But he managed to finish his work at last, and about three o'clock, +tumbled on to his cot in the stock room, where he spent the rest of +the night trying to rescue Amy from her father, who assumed the shape +of a hardware dragon, with gold eyes, and had imprisoned the young +lady in a log cabin near the river, beneath a hill upon which grew a +pine tree tipped with fire, while a lean hound sat at the water's edge +and howled. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +Uncle Bobbie Wicks pulled down the top of his desk and heard the lock +click with a long sigh of satisfaction, for a glance at his large, +old-fashioned hunting-case watch told him that it was nearly eleven +o'clock. It was a dismal, dreary, rainy night; just the sort of a night +to make a man thank God that he had a home; and those who had homes +to go to were already there, except a few business men, who like Mr. +Wicks, were obliged to be out on work of especial importance. + +Locking the rear door of the office and getting hastily into his rain +coat, the old gentleman took his hat and umbrella from the rack and +stepped out into the storm. As he was trudging along through the wet, +his mind still on business, a gleam of light from the window of Udell's +printing office caught his eye. "Hello!" he said to himself; "George +is working late tonight; guess I'll run in and see if he's got that +last batch of bill-heads fixed yet; we'll need 'em tomorrow morning. +Howdy, George," he said, a few seconds later; and then stopped, for +it was not Udell, but Dick, who was bending over the stone; and in +place of working with the type, he was playing a game of solitaire, +while he pulled away at an old corn-cob pipe. + +"Good evening," said the young man, pausing in his amusement, +"What can I do for you?" + +"I see ye got a job," said Uncle Bobbie. + +"Yes," Dick replied, as he shuffled the cards; "and a very good one +too." + +"Huh! looks like ye weren't overworked just now." + +"Oh, this is out of hours; we quit at six, you know." + +"Strikes me ye might find somethin' better to do than foolin' with +them dirty pasteboards, if 'tis out of hours;" said Mr. Wicks, +pointedly. + +"They are rather soiled," remarked Dick, critically examining the queen +of hearts; and then he continued, in a matter-of-fact tone, "you see +I found them back of the coal box; some fellow had thrown them away, +I guess. Lucky for me that he did." + +"Lucky for you? Is that the best you can do with your time?" + +"Perhaps you would suggest some more elevating amusement," smiled Dick. + +"Well, why don't you read somethin'?" + +The young man waved his pipe toward a lot of month-old papers and +printers journals--"My dear sir, I have gone through that pile three +times and have exhausted every almanac in this establishment." + +"Visit some of your friends." + +"Not one in the city except Udell," answered the other, "and if I +had--" he glanced down at his worn clothing. + +Mr. Wicks tried again; "Well, go somewhere." + +"Where?" asked Dick. "There is only one place open to _me_ --the +saloon--I haven't money enough for that, and if I had, I wouldn't spend +it there now. I might go to some respectable gambling den, I suppose, +but there's the money question again, and my foolish pride, so I play +solitaire. I know I am in good company at least, if the sport isn't +quite so exciting." + +Uncle Bobbie was silent. The rain swished against the windows and +roared on the tin roof of the building; the last car of the evening, +with one lone passenger, scurried along Broadway, its lights brightly +reflected on the wet pavement; a cab rumbled toward the hotel, the +sound of the horses' feet dull and muffled in the mist; and a solitary +policeman, wrapped in his rubber coat, made his way along the almost +deserted street. As Uncle Bobbie stood listening to the lonely sounds +and looking at the young man, with his corn-cob pipe and pack of dirty +cards, he thought of his own cheery fireside and of his waiting wife. +"To-be-sure," he said at last, carefully placing his umbrella in a +corner near the door, and as carefully removing his coat and hat; +"To-be-sure, I quit smokin' sometime ago--'bout a month, I reckon--used +to smoke pretty nigh all the time, but wife she wanted me to quit--I +don't know as there is any use in it." A long pause followed, as he +drew a chair to the stove and seated himself. "To-be-sure, I don't +know as there's any great harm in it either." There was another pause, +while Dick also placed his chair near the stove--"and I git so plaguey +fat every time I quit." + +Dick tilted back and lazily blew a soft cloud into the air. Uncle +Bobbie arose and placed the coal bucket between them. "Told mother +last night I was gettin' too fat again--but it made me sick last time +I tried it--I wonder if it would make me sick now."--A longer pause +than usual followed--then: "It's really dangerous for me to get so +fat, and smokin' 's the only thing that keeps it down. D'ye reckon it +would make me sick again?" He drew a cigar from his pocket, almost as +big as a cannon fire-cracker and fully as dangerous. "I got this t'day. +Looks like a pretty good one. It didn't use to make me sick 'fore I +quit the last time." Dick handed him a match and two minutes later the +big cigar was burning as freely as its nature would permit. + +"What an awful wasteful habit it is to-be-sure, ain't it?" went on the +old gentleman between vigorous puffs. "Just think, there's school +books, and Bibles and baby clothes and medicine for the sick, and food +for the hungry, and houses and stores, and farms, and cattle, all a' +goin' up in that smoke;" he pointed with his cigar to the blue cloud +that hung between them. "If I had half the money church members burn, +I could take care of every old worn-out preacher in the world, and +have a good bit left over for the poor children. I wisht I was as young +as you be; I'd quit it fer good; but it sure does take a hold on an +old feller like me." + +Dick's face grew thoughtful. "I never looked at it in that way before," +he said, as he took his pipe from his mouth; "It's a big comfort to +a chap who is all alone, though I suppose it does get a strong hold +on a man who has used it most of his life; and a fellow could do a lot +of good with the money it costs him." He arose to his feet and went +to the window, where he stood for a moment looking out into the rain. +Presently he came back to his chair again; "Look out," cried Uncle +Bobbie, as Dick took his seat, "You've dropped your pipe into the coal +bucket." + +"Oh, that's all right; its worn-out anyway, and I have another." +But he smoked no more that evening. + +"Where are you from?" asked Wicks abruptly. + +"Everywhere," answered Dick, shortly, for he did not relish the thought +of being questioned about his past. + +"Where you goin'?" came next from his companion. + +"Nowhere," just as short. + +"Folks livin'?" + +"No." + +"How long been dead?" + +"Since I was a little fellow." + +"Ain't you got no relations?" + +"Don't want any if they're like an aunt of mine." + +Uncle Bobbie nodded in sympathy. + +"How'd you happen to strike this place?" + +Dick told him in three words, "Lookin' for work." + +"Udell's a mighty fine fellow." + +"You're right he is." + +"Not much of a Christian though." And the old man watched Dick keenly +through the cloud of smoke. + +"No, good thing for me he isn't," the young man answered bitterly, his +face and voice betraying his feelings. + +"I know; yes, I know," nodded Uncle Bobbie. "To-be-sure, I used to +look at things just like you, and then I got more sense and learned +a heap better, and I tell you right now that you'll do the same way. +I know there is church members that are meaner'n a mule with shoulder +galls. They won't pull nothin' and would kick a man's head off quicker'n +greased lightnin'. But they ain't goin' to Heaven, be they? Not much +they ain't; no more'n my dog's goin' to the Legislature. And there's +them outside the church that's a whole lot worse. Taint Christianity +that makes folks mean, but they're mean in spite of it, though you +can't get such fellers as you to see it that way, no more'n you can +foller a mosquito through a mile o' fog. To-be-sure, I aint blamin' +you much though." + +Dick's face changed. This was not just what he expected. "I'll tell +you," he said, when he saw that the old gentleman expected him to +reply. "Ever since I can remember, I've been kicked and cuffed and +cursed by saint and sinner alike, until I can't see much difference +between the church members and those whom they say are in the world." + +"Except that the members of the church do the kickin' and cuffin' and +let the sinners do the cussin'," broke in Uncle Bobbie. "To-be-sure, +ye can't tell me nothin' about that either." + +"I'm not saying anything about the teaching of Christ," continued Dick; +"that's all right so far as it goes, but it don't seem to go very far. +I have not made much of a success of life, but I've worked mighty hard +to earn a living and learn my trade, and I don't know but that I am +willing to take my chances with some of the church members I have +seen." + +"To-be-sure," said Uncle Bobbie; "and I reckon your chance is just as +good as their'n. But it strikes me that I want to stand a little better +show than them fellers. How about the folks that be Christians? You +know there is them that do follow the Master's teachin'; what about +their chances, heh?" + +"You see it's just this way," continued Uncle Bobbie, settling himself +more comfortably in his chair; "I had a whole lot of brothers and +sisters at home, back in Ohio; an' they was all members of the church +but me. To-be-sure, I went to Sunday School and meetin' with the rest--I +jing! I had to!--Huh!--My old dad would just naturally a took th' hide +off me if I hadn't. Yes sir-ee, you bet I went to church. But all the +same I didn't want to. An' they sorter foundered me on religi'n, I +reckon, Jim and Bill and Tom and Dave. They'd all take their girls and +go home with them after meetin', an' I'd have to put out the team and +feed the stock all alone; an' Sunday evenin' every one of 'em would +be off to singin' and I'd have to milk and feed again. An' then after +meetin' of course the boys had to take their girls home, and other +fellows would come home with our girls, and I'd have to put up the +team and take care of the boys' horses that come sparkin'. An' somehow +I didn't take to Christianity. To-be-sure, 'twas a good thing fer the +stock I didn't." + +He carefully knocked the ashes from his cigar and continued: +"To-be-sure, I know now that wasn't no excuse, but it looked that way +then. After a while the boys married off and I staid to home and took +care of the old folks; and purty soon the girls they got married too; +and then pa and ma got too old to go out, and I couldn't leave 'em +much, and so I didn't get to meetin' very often. Things went on that +way a spell 'til Bill got to thinkin' he'd better come and live on the +home farm and look after things, as I didn't have no woman; to-be-sure, +it did need a good bit of tendin'. Six hundred acres all in fine shape +and well stocked--so I told pa that I'd come west an let 'em run things +at home. I got a job punchin' steers out here in James County, and +they're all back there yet. The old folks died a little bit after I +came west, and Bill--well--Bill, he keeps the home place 'cause he +took care of 'em ye know--well, I homesteaded a hundred and sixty, and +after a spell, the Santa Fe road come through and I got to buyin' grain +and hogs, and tradin' in castor-oil beans and managed to get hold of +some land here when the town was small. To-be-sure, I aint rich yet, +though I've got enough to keep me I reckon. I handle a little real +estate, get some rent from my buildin's, and loan a little money now +and then. But you bet I've worked for every cent I've got, and I didn't +fool none of it away either, 'cept what went up in smoke." + +The old gentleman's voice sank lower and lower as he recalled the years +that had flown. And as Dick looked at the kindly face, seamed and +furrowed by the cares of life, and the hair just whitened by the frost +of time, now half hidden in a halo of smoke, he felt his heart warm +with sympathy, which he knew was returned full measure by the boy who +had left his Ohio home to battle with life alone in that strange western +country. + +"But what I wanted to tell ye," said Uncle Bobbie, coming suddenly +back to the present and speaking in his usual abrupt manner, "you'll +find out, same as I have, that it don't much matter how the other +feller dabbles in the dirt, you've got to keep your hands clean anyhow. +An' taint the question whether the other feller's mean or not, but am +I livin' square? I know that Christ is the Saviour of men, but he can't +save 'em 'less they want him to, no more'n I can catch a jack-rabbit +a-foot. Christianity's all right, but it aint a goin' to do no good +'less people live it, and there's a heap more living it too than we +think. What such fellers as you want to do is to listen to what Christ +says and not look at what some little two by four church member does. +They aint worth that;" and he tossed his cigar stub to keep company +with Dick's pipe. + +Dick said nothing, because he could find no words to express himself, +and the older man, seeing how it was, rose to his feet. + +"Well, I must be goin'. Wife'll think I've clean gone back on her. +Come up to the house and see me sometime. I reckon you know you're +welcome after what I've been sayin'." And then as the young man gave +him a lift with his coat; "keep a stiff upper lip; you'll strike pay +dirt after a while; just keep a hangin' on, like a puppy to a root. +Good-night," and Dick was alone again. + +"Wife," said Mr. Wicks next morning, just before getting up to build +the fire; "wife, I made a discovery last night." + +"You were out late enough to discover something," returned Mrs. Wicks, +with a laugh; "what is it?" + +And Uncle Bobbie replied slowly as he arose and began dressing, "There's +some fellers go to the devil just because they aint got nowheres else +to go." + +Later, the old gentleman sat at his desk in his office, tilted back +in his revolving chair, his feet among the papers where his hands +should have been. No one came in to disturb his revery for it was still +early in the morning, and the only sound was the clicking of a +typewriter in the next room. Suddenly the feet came down to their +proper place with a bang, and leaning forward, he wrote rapidly for +a few moments, then called, "Charlie." The noise of the typewriter +stopped and a young man entered the room. "Charlie, I've been gettin' +out a little advertisin' stuff here, and I wish you'd take it over to +George Udell's an' wait until they fix it up, so you can bring me back +the proof. You can let them letters rest a spell." + +The young man took his hat and umbrella, for it was still raining, and +started on his errand, but his employer stopped him. "Wait a bit, +Charlie. Do you remember that young feller what called here for a job +week before last, the time I sold that Johnson property, you know?" + +"Said he was a printer from Kansas City?" asked Charlie. + +The other nodded. + +"Yes, sir, I remember him." + +"Well, he's got a job with Udell. I was there last night and had a +talk with him. He aint got no friends and stays in the office nights +alone. I just thought I'd tell you. He's shy of Christians though, and +proud as an old turkey gobbler in the spring. But he needs somebody +to talk to more'n anything else, that's all." And the old man turned +back to his papers. + +This was the beginning. The end is easily foreseen; for, given a young +man of Dick's temperament, longing for companionship, and another young +man of Charlie's make-up, with a legitimate business to bring the two +together, and only a friendship of the David and Jonathan order could +result. + +Dick was distant at first, but Charlie was too wise to force himself +upon him, and as Mr. Wicks found many excuses for sending his young +assistant to the printing office, the two slowly grew better acquainted. +Then came a time when Charlie dared to ask Dick what he did evenings, +and Dick answered in his proud way, "Smoke and play solitaire. Couldn't +Charlie come up and chat with him sometimes? He couldn't play cards +and didn't care to smoke, but he did like to talk. Yes, Charlie could +if he chose, but he would find it a dull place to spend an evening." + +Dick was pulling away at his corn-cob pipe the first time Charlie came, +but moved to hide it from sight as the latter entered the room. Then +thinking better of it, with a proud lifting of his chin, he stuck the +pipe in his mouth again. However, Charlie noticed that the smoke soon +ceased to come from his companion's lips, and guessed that the tobacco +was not burning well. This was the last time that he ever saw Dick +smoking. Indeed, it was the last time that Dick ever used tobacco in +any form. "For," said he to himself, "I can't afford to do anything +that robs babies and mothers, and makes me disagreeable to my friends." + +The ice once broken, Charlie's calls grew more and more frequent, until +the two met and talked like old friends, and often left the office to +walk about the city, arm in arm, after dark. + +"Mr. Udell," said Dick, one Saturday night, as the latter handed him +his wages for the week, "Where's the best place to go for clothing?" + +And George, with a pleased look on his face, which Dick could not help +but notice, directed him to a clothing store on the corner of Fourth +and Broadway. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +The quiet of a Sunday morning in early May was over the city. Stores +and business houses were closed, save here and there a meat market, +which opened for careless citizens who had neglected to lay in their +supply the night before. A group of negro loafers sat on the stone +steps of the National Bank, and lounged about the entrance of the Opera +House. A little farther up the street a company of idle whites sat in +front of a restaurant; and farther on, in the doorway of a saloon, a +drunkard was sleeping in the sun. Old Dr. Watkins, in his buggy, came +clattering down the street and stopped in front of the Boyd City Drug +Store, and a man with his arm in a sling followed him into the building. +Then the church bells rang out their cheery invitation, and the +children, neat and clean in their Sunday clothes, trooped along the +street to the Sunday Schools. An hour later the voices of the bells +again floated over the silent city, and men and women were seen making +their way to the various places of worship. + +In the throng which passed through the door of the Jerusalem Church +was a gentleman dressed in gray. It was not difficult to guess from +his manner, as he stood in the vestibule as though waiting for someone, +that he was a stranger in the place. His figure was tall, nearly if +not quite six feet, well formed, but lithe rather than heavy, giving +one the impression not only of strength, but of grace as well; the +well-set head and clear-cut features; the dark hair and brows, +overshadowing, deep-set, keen gray eyes; the mouth and chin, +clean-shaven and finely turned; all combined to carry still farther +the impression of power. Even the most careless observer would know +that he would be both swift and sure in action, while a closer student +would say, "Here is one who rules himself, as he leads others; who is +strong in spirit as well as body; who is as kind as he is powerful; +as loving as he is ambitious; this is indeed a man whom one would love +as a friend and be forced to respect as an enemy." + +Charlie Bowen, one of the ushers, came hurrying up and caught the +stranger by the hand. "Good," he whispered, looking him over admiringly; +"Glad to see you, old man. Whew, but you do look swell. Folks will +think you're a Congressman sure, in that outfit." + +"Do I take my hat off when I go in?" whispered Dick, who already had +his hat in his hand, "Or do I wait till after prayers?" + +"You come along and do as the Romans do, of course," replied +Charlie. + +"Didn't know I was getting into a Catholic church," retorted the other. +"Say, don't rush me way up in front, will you?" + +"Never you mind that. Come on." And before Dick could say more the +usher was half way up the aisle. + +"Who is that stranger Charlie Bowen is seating?" said old Mrs. Gadsby +in a low voice, to her neighbor. The neighbor shook her head. "Isn't +he handsome?" whispered a young school teacher to her chum. "Some +distinguished strangers here to-day," thought the pastor as he glanced +over his congregation. And Adam Goodrich turned his head just in time +to look into the face of the tramp printer, who was being seated in +the pew behind him. Miss Goodrich was with her father and Dick heard +nothing of the opening part of the service, only coming to himself +when Cameron was well started in his discourse. The preacher's theme +was, "The Sermon on the Mount," and the first words that caught the +young man's ear were, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is +the kingdom of Heaven." He glanced around at the congregation. Mrs. +Gadsby was inspecting the diamonds in the ears of the lady by her side, +who was resting her powdered and painted face on the back of the pew +in front, as though in devotion. + +"Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted," read the +minister. Dick thought of the widows and orphans in the city, and of +the luxurious homes of the people he saw about him. "Blessed are the +meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Dick looked straight at Adam +Goodrich, the very back of whose head showed haughty arrogance and +pride. "Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness, +for they shall be filled." Dick lifted up his eyes and looked at four +members of the choir who were whispering and giggling behind their +books, and noted the beautiful frescoed ceiling, the costly +stained-glass windows, the soft carpets and carved furniture on the +rostrum, and the comfortable, well-cushioned pews. "Is all this +righteousness?" he asked himself. And he thought of the boys and girls +on the street, of the hungry, shivering, starving, sin-stained creatures +he had seen and known, who would not dare present themselves at the +outer door of this temple, consecrated to the service of Him who said, +"Come unto me and I will give you rest." And then, lest men might be +mistaken, added, "Whosoever will may come." + +"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Dick's eyes +rested on the girl in the next seat. Yes, Amy was pure in heart. There +was no shadow of evil on that beautiful brow. Innocence, purity and +truth were written in every line of the girlish features, and Dick's +heart ached as he thought of his own life and the awful barrier between +them; not the barrier of social position or wealth; _that_, he knew, +could be overcome; but the barrier he had builded himself, in the +reckless, wasted years. And then and there the strong young man fought +a battle in the secret chamber of his own soul; fought a battle and +won; putting from himself forever, as he believed, the dreams he had +dared to dream in the lonely evening hours in the printing office. + +His struggle with himself seemed to make Dick feel more keenly the +awful mockery of the worshippers; and to him, who all his life had +been used to looking at things as they really were, without the glasses +of conventionalism or early training, the very atmosphere of the place +was stifling. + +When the services were over, he rushed from the building without even +returning Charlie's salutation, only drawing a long breath when he was +safe on the street again; and rejoiced in his heart when at dinner, +the restaurant keeper cursed his wife in the kitchen, and a drunken +boarder fell from his chair. "This, at least, is real," he said to +himself; "but what a world this would be if only the Sermon on the +Mount were lived, not simply talked about." + +The Monday night following Dick's visit to the church, Charlie Bowen +had gone back to the office after supper, as he often did when business +was brisk, forgetting that it was the first Monday in the month, and +that the official board of the Jerusalem Church would hold their regular +business meeting there. + +The matter was only brought to his mind when Elder Wicks, with Rev. +Cameron, entered, followed soon after by two or three others. Charlie's +first impulse was to leave the office, but it was necessary that his +work be done. His employer knew that he was there and could easily +give him a hint if it would be better for him to retire. Shrewd old +Uncle Bobbie, however, had his own plans in regard to this particular +meeting, and it was not a part of them to have his young assistant +leave the office. So nothing was said, and the meeting opened in the +regulation way, with a prayer by Elder Gardner, the Chairman of the +Board. The pastor and the different standing committees, with the +treasurer, made their reports; some general matters were passed upon, +and then the much-talked-of, long-deferred subject of building an +addition to their place of worship was introduced. + +"You know, Brethren," said the pastor, "our house does not begin to +hold the people at the regular services, and we must have more Sunday +School room. It seems to me that there will be no better time than the +present. The church is in a prosperous condition; we are out of debt; +and if we ever expect to enlarge our work we must begin." + +"I know, Brother Cameron," said Deacon Godfrey, stating the standard +objection, as it had been stated for the past two years, "but where's +the money to come from? The members are paying all they can now to +keep out of debt, and I don't believe they will do any more." + +"We do need more room," said Elder Chambers; "that's a fact. The Sunday +School is too crowded, and lots of people can't get to hear the +preaching. But I'm like Brother Godfrey, I don't see how it's to be +done. I'm giving every cent I can now, and I know lots of the Brethren +who are doing the same." + +"The Lord will provide," said Deacon Wickham, with a pious uplifting +of his eyes, and a sanctimonious whine in his voice. "The Lord will +provide. Brethren, I'm ashamed for you to talk in this doubting manner. +What would the congregation think if they should hear you? Can't you +trust the Lord? Don't, oh, don't doubt His precious promises. He will +provide. If we need an addition to the church let us ask Him. He will +provide." + +"Yes, the Lord will provide, but we've got to do the hustlin'," said +Uncle Bobbie. "He'll provide common sense and expect us to use it." + +"Couldn't the women folks do something?" timidly suggested another. + +"Of course they could," said Deacon Sharpe. "They could get up a social, +or fair, or an entertainment of some kind. They used to do a lot that +way before Brother Cameron came." + +"Yes, and spent twenty-seven cents to make seventeen, while their boys +run the streets and their husbands darn their own britches," broke in +Uncle Bobbie again. "I tell you, I don't believe that so much of this +Ladies' Aid business is business. Christ wouldn't run a peanut stand +to support the church, ner pave a sinner's way to Heaven with pop-corn +balls and molasses candy--" A half smothered cough came from the next +room and everybody started. "Oh, it's only Charlie. He's got some work +to do to-night," said the old man, reassuringly. + +"Everybody does it though," said Deacon Sharpe, encouraged by the nods +of Chambers and Godfrey. "All the churches depend upon the women, with +their fairs and such, to pay their way. I don't see what's the harm. +It gives the women something to do, and keeps us from paying out so +much cash." + +"Yes, an' that's what ails the churches," retorted Elder Wicks again. +"There's too many of 'em run on the lemonade and ice cream basis; and +as fer givin' the women somethin' to do, my wife's got her hands full +takin' care o' me and her home. That's what I got her for, ain't it? +She didn't marry the church--to-be-sure, though, it does look like it +sometimes." + +"We must all work in the Master's vineyard. None shall lose his reward," +said Deacon Wickham again. "We all have our talents and God will hold +us responsible for the use we make of them. We all have our work to +do." To which sentiment Uncle Bobbie's reply was, "Yes; that means all +the women have our work to do, and that we'll get our reward by makin' +'em do it. I ain't got no use fer a man who lets a woman do his work, +even in church. There's enough for 'em to do that we can't, without +their spoilin' their eyes and breakin' their backs makin' sofa pillows, +carpet rags, and mince meat, to pay the runnin' expenses of the church, +and the debt besides." + +"I know of only one way," said the pastor, anxious to prevent these +too frequent clashes between the pious deacon and the sharp old elder. + +"What's that?" asked Chairman Gardner. + +"The Young People's Society." + +There was a slight rustle and the sound as of a book falling to the +floor in the other room. + +"Umph," said Godfrey; "what can _they_ do?" + +"Have you ever attended their meetings?" asked Cameron. "They have +done more practical, Christian work this past year than all the rest +of the church put together. And if the truth must be told, are more +to be depended upon at regular services, and prayer meeting, than some +members of the official board." + +"Better turn the church into a Young Folks' Society then," said Wickham, +angrily; "and throw away the Bible altogether. Christ didn't say, 'Upon +this rock I'll build my Young People's Society.' For my part, I won't +have nothing to do with it. There is not a single passage of Scripture +that says we shall have such things; and until you can show me, book, +chapter and verse, I'll fight it." + +"I'll give ye book, chapter and verse," said Uncle Bobbie; +"Phillippians, iv: 8." + +There was a painful silence and then one of the deacons asked, "But +would the young folks help?" + +"I think so," said the pastor. + +"We might ask Charlie Bowen 'bout that," suggested Mr. Wicks. +"Charlie," he called, "are you most through with them books?" + +"Yes, sir," answered the young man. + +"Well, lock 'em up and come in here." + +When they had laid the matter before him Charlie said, "Yes, I am sure +the Society would take the matter up but for one thing; ever since +Brother Cameron's sermon, on the Church of the Future, we have been +planning to furnish a reading room somewhere, and it may be that they +wouldn't want to give up the idea. If it was arranged so that we could +have a room in the church when the addition was built, I am sure the +Society would be glad to take hold." + +Uncle Bobbie's eyes twinkled as he watched his young helper. He had +not misjudged his man. This was just what he had expected. But Deacon +Wickham was on his feet almost before Charlie finished speaking. + +"Brethren, this is entirely out of order. We have no right to listen +to the counsel of this boy. He has not a single qualification, for +either a deacon or an elder. I believe we ought to go according to the +Scriptures or not at all; and as for this new-fangled idea of a reading +room in the church, it's all wrong. The Bible don't say a thing about +reading rooms and there is no authority for it whatever. If the inspired +apostles had wanted reading rooms in the church they would have said +so. Paul didn't have them. Let us stand for the religion of our fathers +and let the young people read at home if they want to. Brethren, I am +opposed to the whole thing. This boy has no right to speak here." + +Wicks whispered to Charlie, "Never you mind him. He's got just so much +sputtering to do anyway. I'll fix him in a minute, and then he'll wash +his hands of the whole matter." "I think it's a fine plan," he said +aloud. + +"So do I," agreed Deacon Sharpe. "Why not let the young folks have the +room? We could charge ten cents admission and make a good thing for +the church. I believe we ought to watch these corners and make a little +now and then. Paul worked to support himself." + +"Make not my Father's house an house of merchandise," said Cameron, +but faintly concealing his disgust. "I tell you, Brethren, this thing +must be free. I am sure that is the plan of the young folks. The Young +People's Society is not in the business to make money. Am I right, +Charlie?" + +"Yes, sir," answered the young Christian eagerly. "We wanted to fix +some place where the young men of the town could spend their evenings, +without going to the bad. There are lots of them who don't have homes, +but live in boarding houses and have no place to go." + +"And a pretty crowd you'll have too," said Wickham. + +"Yes, and if you had to pay the preacher you'd want to rent the room," +said Sharpe. + +Cameron's face flushed at the hard words. + +"Come, come, Brethren, what shall we do about this?" said the +Chairman. + +"I move," said Elder Wicks, "that we ask the Young People's Society +to assist us in building the addition to the church, and that we give +them one of the rooms." + +"I second the motion," said Cameron; and it was carried. Then the +meeting adjourned with the usual prayer. + +"Well," said Wickham, "I wash my hands of the whole matter." + +Uncle Bobbie nudged Charlie in the side as he started for his hat; and +later, as he walked down the street, arm in arm with his pastor and +his bookkeeper, he said: "Poor old Wickham; his heart's all right, but +he's got so much Scripture in his head that his think machine won't +work." + +"Friends," said Cameron, as they paused in front of the parsonage; +"this is the day I have looked forward to for a long time. This step +will revolutionize our methods. It's hard to get out of old ruts, but +the world needs applied Christianity. Thank God for the young people." +And Uncle Bobbie said, "Amen." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +Charlie Bowen ran into the printing office one day on his way home to +dinner. "Dick," he said, "it's time you got out of this. I want you +to put on your best bib and tucker to-night and go with me to meet +some young people." + +Dick carefully spread a pile of letterheads on the drying rack; then +shutting off the power, stood watching the machine as its movements +grew slower and slower. "Young people," he thought; "the Young People's +Society of the Jerusalem Church. I saw the announcement in to-day's +Independent. Church members--_she'll_ be there, and I'll have the joy +of seeing how near I can come to the candle without getting my wings +singed. Well, I suppose a fellow can't stay in the dark all the time," +he said aloud, as he turned from the now motionless press. + +"Of course not," cried Charlie. "You've hidden yourself long enough. +It will do you a world of good to get out; and, beside, I always do +feel like a sneak when I'm having a good time and you're moping up +here in this dirty old place." + +Dick looked around. "I've moped in worse places," he said. "But I'll +go with you to-night and be as giddy as you please. I'll whisper pretty +nothings to the female lambkins and exchange commonplace lies with the +young gentlemen, and then--why then--we'll come away again and +straightway forget what manner of things we said and did, and they +won't count when we meet on the street before folks." + +"That's all right," returned the other. "You just come anyway and see +how badly you're mistaken. I'll call for you at seven-thirty sharp." +And he left him cleaning up for his mid-day lunch. + +When Charlie returned to the office that evening he found Dick dressed +ready to go, and a strange contrast the latter presented to the +poorly-clad, half-starved tramp who had walked into Boyd City only a +few weeks before. Some thought of this flashed through Dick's mind as +he read the admiration in his friend's face, and his own eyes glowed +with pleasure. Then a shadow swiftly came, but only for a moment. He +was determined to forget, for one evening at least. "Come on," he cried +gaily, squaring his shoulders as though looking forward to a battle, +"my soul seemeth anxious for the fray." + +Charlie laughed as he answered, "I only hope that you'll come off +whole. There will be some mighty nice girls there to-night. Look out +you don't get your everlasting." + +When the two young men reached the home of Helen Mayfield, where the +social was to be held, they were met at the door by Miss Clara Wilson, +who was Chairman of the reception committee. + +"Glory," whispered that young lady to herself. "Here comes Charlie +Bowen with that tramp printer of George's. Wish George could see him +now." But not a hint of her thought found expression in her face, and +the cordial, whole-hearted way in which she offered her hand in +greeting, carried the conviction that no matter what might be his +reception from others, this, at least, was genuine. + +The guests gathered quickly, and soon there was a house full of +laughing, chattering, joking young people; and Dick, true to his +promise, laughed and chattered with the rest. + +"Who is that tall, handsome man with the dark hair, talking to those +girls with Nellie Graham and Will Clifton?" whispered Amy Goodrich to +Miss Wilson, who had been asking her why Frank was not at the gathering. + +"Haven't you met him yet?" answered Clara, secretly amused, for George +had told her of the incident at the office. "That's Mr. Falkner, from +Kansas City. Come, you must meet him. Mr. Falkner," she said, skillfully +breaking up the group, "I wish to present you to a very dear friend. +Miss Goodrich, Mr. Falkner." Poor Dick felt the room spin round and +everybody looking at him, as he mumbled over some nonsense about the +great honor and happiness of having met Miss Goodrich before. + +Amy looked at him in astonishment. "I think you are mistaken, Mr. +Falkner," she said. "I do not remember having met you. Where was it; +here in town?" + +With a mighty effort, Dick caught hold of himself, as it were, and +gazed around with an air of defiance. To his amazement, no one was +paying the least attention to him. Only his fair partner was looking +up into his face with mingled amusement, wonder and admiration written +on her features. + +"In California; I think it was year before last," he said glibly. + +Amy laughed--"But I never was in California in my life, so you must +be mistaken." Then, as Dick swept the room with another anxious glance: +"What is the matter, Mr. Falkner; are you looking for someone?" + +"I was wondering where Charlie Bowen went to," he answered desperately. +"I didn't know but what he would want me to turn the ice-cream freezer +or something." + +[Illustration: "Mr. Falkner, I wish to present you to a very dear +friend."] + +Miss Goodrich laughed again. "You're the funniest man," she said, and +something in her voice or manner brought Dick to his senses with a jar. + +"Well," he said, with a smile, "if I am mistaken I am very sorry, I +assure you." + +"About the ice cream?" + +"No, about having met you before." + +"Oh, sorry that you thought you had met me?" + +Dick protested to some length with much unnecessary earnestness, and +at last suggested that they find seats. Miss Goodrich agreed, and +leading the way to an adjoining room, discovered a cushioned corner +near the window. "Do you know," she said, when they were seated, "I, +too, feel as you do?" + +"About the ice-cream?" retorted Dick. + +"No," she laughed, "about having met you before." + +"Indeed, I am glad." + +"Glad?" + +"Yes, that you feel as I do." + +"Truly," she said, ignoring his reply, "you _do_ remind me of someone +I have seen somewhere. Oh, I know; it's that tramp printer of Mr. +Udell's, I--Why, what is the matter, Mr. Falkner? Are you sick? Let +me call someone." + +"No, no," gasped Dick. "I'll be all right in a moment. It's my heart. +Please don't worry." He caught up a basket of pictures. "Here, let's +look at these. I find nothing that has a more quieting effect than the +things one finds on the center tables of our American homes." + +Amy looked uneasy but began turning over the pictures in the basket. +There were some commonplace photos of commonplace people, a number of +homemade kodaks, one or two stray views of Yellowstone Park, the big +trees of California, Niagara Falls, and several groups that were +supposed to be amusing. "Oh, here's a picture of that printer," she +cried, picking up one which showed the interior of an old-fashioned +printing office, with a Washington hand-press and a shock-headed +printer's devil sitting on a high stool, his face and shirt-front +bespattered with ink. "That looks just like him. Why,--why, Mr. Falkner, +you've torn that picture! What _will_ Helen Mayfield say?" + +"Awfully sorry," said Dick, "I'll find her another. It was very awkward +of me, I am sure." Then in desperation, "But tell me more about this +printer of whom I remind you; what was his name?" + +"Oh, I don't know that," replied Amy, "but he was very kind to me and +sat up at night to design a cover for a little booklet I was having +printed. I never saw him to thank him though, for he was out when I +called the next day. I heard that Mr. Udell had a tramp working for +him and I suppose it was he, for he acted very strangely--he may have +been drinking. It is too bad for he must have been a splendid workman. +There ought to be one of those books here," and she began turning over +the things on the table. "Yes, here it is." And she handed Dick the +pamphlet that had caused him so much trouble that night in the office. + +It is hard to say where the matter would have ended had not Miss +Jameson, another member of the social committee, appeared just then, +and ordered them to the parlor, where Amy was wanted to play. + +After the company had listened to several instrumental pieces and one +or two solos by different girls, one of the young men asked, "Don't +you sing, Mr. Falkner?" + +"Of course he does," and all began calling for a song. + +A sudden thought struck Dick, and stepping quickly to the piano, he +played his own accompaniment and sang, in a rich baritone voice, a +street song: + + "They tell me go work for a living, + And not round the country to stamp; + And then when I ask for employment, + They say there's no work for a tramp." + +The song was by no means a classic one, but the manner in which Dick +rendered it made it seem so, and as he sang: + + "There's many a true heart beating, + Beneath the old coat of a tramp." + +A strange hush fell over the little audience, and when the song was +finished a subdued murmur of applause filled the room, while eager +voices called for more. Dick responded with another selection and then +declaring that he had done his share, left the instrument and seated +himself by Charlie's side. + +"Good, old man," said that young gentleman, in a whisper, "but where +in the world did you learn all that?" + +"Dance hall and variety," whispered Dick. "Never thought I'd air that +accomplishment at a church social." + +Charlie's reply was lost in a call to the dining room, where light +refreshments were served to the hungry young people by waiters from +among their number; then turn about, and the waiters were waited upon; +and through it all ran the laugh and jest of happy young folks, who +thoroughly enjoyed each other's company, and who for one evening met +on common ground. After supper, came games and more music, while a few +of the more earnest ones, in an out-of-the-way corner, discussed the +reading room and planned for its future. Then came a call for everyone +to sing, and with Amy at the piano, they sang song after song until +it was time to go. Then the bustle of leave-taking--good nights--lovely +time--my house next month--and Dick found himself walking downtown, +arm in arm with his friend. "Well," said the latter, "how about it?" + +"Thank you for a pleasant evening," replied Dick. "But say, those folks +don't know me, do they?" + +"Some of them do; some don't. What does it matter?" + +"Well, tell me, did those who know how I came to town, know that I +would be there tonight?" + +"_No, sir,_" said Charlie, emphatically. "What do you take me for, +Dick?" + +"Forgive me," said Dick. "I ought to have known better, only you see +my experience with church people, and--well--I'm a bit sore I guess. +I couldn't believe there were any like those. I didn't know, that's +all," and with a "good-night," he turned down the street toward his +humble lodging place, while Charlie went on toward home. + +"Yes, that's all," said the latter to himself. "Dick didn't know; and +that's what's the matter with hundreds of fellows just like him; they +don't know what real Christianity is like; they see so much of the +sham; but he'll find out though, or I'm mistaken. My, what a worker +he would make, with his experience and talents, if only once he got +started right. He just made that old street song burn its way into the +heart, and I felt like I wanted to be a brother to every poor, homeless +chap in the world." + +Meanwhile, Dick had reached the office, and throwing off his coat, +laid aside his collar, tie and cuffs. Then seating himself in the +rickety old chair, he tilted back as far as possible and fixed his +feet as high as he could get them, against the big Prouty press. +Five--ten--fifteen-minutes went by, Dick sat without moving a muscle. +The clanging bell of the eleven-thirty train on the "Memphis" pulling +into the depot, sounded plainly in his ear, but still he sat immovable. +A night-hawk cab rattled over the brick pavement, and a drunkard yelled +beneath the window; still Dick held his place. So still that a little +mouse that lived in one corner of the office, crept stealthily out, +and glancing curiously with his bead-like eyes, at the motionless +figure, ran, with many a pause, to the very legs of Dick's chair. +Crash--as Dick's feet struck the floor. The shaky old piece of furniture +almost fell in ruins and the poor frightened mouse fled to cover. +Kicking the chair to one side, the young fellow walked to the window +and stood with his hands in his pockets, looking into the night. Then, +in sullen tones, he addressed the lamp that twinkled in the bakery +across the way: "I'm a fool. I know I'm a fool; a great big fool. I +ought to have told her who I was. I ought to get out a poster and label +myself _dangerous_, so people would know they were talking to a tramp. +Oh, but when she finds out, as she must--and her father--." Here Dick's +imagination failed him, and he laughed again and again in spite of +himself, as he thought of the tramp who had applied to Adam Goodrich +for work, chatting with his beautiful daughter as an equal. "Whew--but +there'll be a hot time in the camp of the enemy when they learn the +truth," and he took himself off to bed. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +The opinions on the part of Rev. Cameron's flock regarding the proposed +reading room, were numerous and varied. Adam Goodrich, in his usual +pompous manner, gave it as his judgment that Cameron would be running +a free lodging house next, as though that were the greatest depth of +infamy to which a poor preacher could sink, and Mrs. Goodrich declared +that it would ruin the social influence of the church forever. Amy was +heart and soul with the movement, but prudently refrained from +discussing the matter in the presence of her parents; while Frank, +though he attended all the meetings of the society and would not openly +oppose their efforts for fear of being unpopular, lost no opportunity +to secretly throw a stumbling block in their way, and made all manner +of sneering allusions to the work when he thought it would not come +to the ears of the young people. + +When at last the room was finished and ready to be occupied, the +committee appointed met to select a manager. The church, with the usual +good judgment shown by churches in such matters, had named Elder Wicks +and Deacon Wickham, and the young people had selected Charlie Bowen +and two young ladies, to represent the Society. They met in the new +rooms one evening and Deacon Wickham took the floor at once. + +"I hope our young friends won't take offense at what I am about to +say, but you know I am one of the kind who always say just what I +think, for I believe that if a man has anything on his mind, it had +better come out. This business ought to be in the hands of the church +board; you young folks have no Scriptural rights to speak on the subject +at all." The three young Christians looked at Uncle Bobbie, whose left +eye remained closed for just the fraction of a second, and the speaker +wondered at the confident smile with which his words were received. +"There's not one of you that has the proper qualifications for an elder +or a deacon," he continued. "You girls have no right to have the +oversight of a congregation, anyway, and Charlie Bowen here is not +even the husband of one wife." + +"Give him time, Brother Wickham; give the boy time," broke in Uncle +Bobbie, with a chuckle, much to the delight of the girls, and the +confusion of Charlie. "You just wait; he may surprise you some day in +his qualifications." + +But the deacon continued with a frown at the interruption, "As far as +that goes, the whole thing is unscriptural and I was opposed to it at +the first, as Brother Wicks here can tell you." Uncle Bobbie nodded. +"But you've gone ahead in spite of what I and the Scriptures teach, +and you've got your reading rooms; and now I mean to see to it that +you have a good Brother, who is eminently qualified to teach, at the +head of the concern; a good man who is thoroughly grounded in the +faith, and who has arrived at years of discretion; a workman that +needeth not to be ashamed of his handiwork, rightly dividing the word +of truth. Such a man could get the young Christians together evenings +and lay out their Bible reading for them, spending an hour or two +perhaps, each week, in explaining the more difficult passages. If I +had time I would be glad to do the work myself, for there's nothing +I like better than teaching. I don't know, I might possibly find time +if the Brethren thought best for me to take the work. I am always ready +to do what the Lord wants me to, and I promise you that I'd teach those +young people the Scriptures, and make them interested, too. Why, when +I was in Bear City, down in Oklahoma, I had a--" + +"But, Brother Wickham," interrupted Uncle Bobbie, who knew from +experience that if the good deacon ever got started on his work in +Oklahoma they never would get to the business of the evening, "it +strikes me you ain't got jist the right ide' of this. Tain't to be a +Sunday School, ner a place to teach the Bible, as I understand it, +though I reckon it's in line with the teachin' of Christ. It is--" + +"Not to teach the Bible?" ejaculated the astonished deacon. "What on +earth can you teach in the church except the Bible, and what kind of +a reading room can you have in the Lord's house I'd like to know?" + +"The ide', Brother Wickham," said the old elder, as gently as he could, +"is to furnish some place where young men of the town can go and spend +their time when they aint working. This room will be stocked with the +latest books, magazines and papers; there will be tables with writin' +material and sich stuff, if a feller wants to write to his girl, you +know, and the room in there will be fixed with easy chairs and sofas +for them that wants to talk er play games, er have a good time +generally. Seems to me what we want fer a manager is some young man +who's got good boss sense, and who could make things pleasant, even +if he don't know so much Scripture." + +"And it's to be free to every loafer who wants to come in and use the +place?" + +"Yes, just as free as Christ's invitation to come and be saved." + +"But you'll fill the church with a lot of trash who don't know anything +about the Bible, or the plan of salvation. How can you, when the +Scriptures say, have no fellowship with such?" + +"We'll save a few young men who are startin' fer Hell by way of the +saloons and bawdy houses." + +"No you won't. The Gospel and the Gospel alone, is the power of God +unto salvation. God never ordained that men should be saved by reading +rooms and such." + +"I believe I know just the man we want," said Uncle Bobbie, turning +to the young people, when the deacon had at last subsided into an +attitude of sullen protest. + +"Who?" asked one of the young ladies, with the hint of a laugh in her +eyes, as she looked at their stand-by. + +"That printer of Udell's. He's a clean, strong young feller, and +I believe would be glad of some sech place to spend his evenin's. +Of course he aint a Christian, but--" + +"Not a Christian," cried Wickham, starting to his feet again; "not a +Christian? And you propose to let an alien take charge of the Lord's +work? I wash my hands of the whole matter." + +"Are you sure he will be all right?" asked the other girl on the +committee. + +"Sure," replied Wicks, "if he will take it, and I think we can get +Charlie here to see to that." + +Charlie nodded. "It will be a splendid thing for him," he said; and +then he told them how Dick spent his evenings alone in the office, +rather than go to the only places open to him. + +"Well," said Uncle Bobbie, "let's fix it that way. Brother Wickham, +we have decided to ask Richard Falkner to take charge of the rooms." + +"I've got nothing to say about it, sir," answered the good deacon. "I +don't know anything about it. I wash my hands of the whole matter." + +And so the work at the Jerusalem Church was established. It took no +little power of persuasion on the part of Charlie Bowen, to bring his +friend to the point of accepting the committee's offer, even when it +was endorsed by the entire Young People's Society, and a large part +of the congregation. But his arguments finally prevailed and Dick +consented to be at the rooms between the hours of seven and eleven +every evening, the time when a strong, tactful man in authority would +be most needed. + +The rooms were furnished by friends of the cause and were cheery, +comfortable, homelike apartments, where everyone was made welcome. +Many a poor fellow, wandering on the streets, tired of his lonely +boarding house, and sorely tempted by the air of cheerfulness and +comfort of the saloons, was led there, where he found good books and +good company; and at last, for what was more natural, became a regular +attendant at the only church in the city which did not close its doors +to him during the week. + +Dick enjoyed the work, and in a short time had many friends among the +young men. He treated everybody in the same kindly, courteous manner, +and was always ready to recommend a book, to introduce an acquaintance, +or to enter into conversation with a stranger. Indeed he soon grew so +popular among the young folks that George Udell told Miss Wilson it +seemed as though he had always lived in Boyd City, he knew so many +people, and so many knew him. And of course Clara answered, "I told +you so." What woman could resist such an opportunity? "Didn't I say +that he was no common tramp? You needn't tell me I don't know a man +when I see him." + +The two were driving in the evening, on the road that leads south from +town, down a hill, across a bridge, and along the bank of a good-sized +creek, where the trees bend far over to dip the tips of their branches +in the water, and the flowers growing rank and wild along the edges, +nod lazily at their own faces reflected in the quiet pools and eddies. + +"You may know a man when you see him," replied George, letting the +horse take his own time beneath the overhanging boughs, "but you take +precious good care that you don't see too much of one that I could +name." + +"Who do you mean; Mr. Falkner?" replied Clara, with a provoking smile, +as she tried in vain to catch one of the tall weeds that grew close +to the side of the road. + +"Hang Mr. Falkner," returned Udell impatiently. "You know what I mean, +Clara. What's the use of you and me pretending? Haven't I told you +ever since I was ten years old that I loved you, and would have no one +else to be my wife? And haven't you always understood it that way, and +by your manners toward me given assent?" + +The girl looked straight ahead at the horse's ears as she answered +slowly, "If my manner has led you to have false hopes it is very easy +to change it, and if accepting your company gives assent to all the +foolish things you may have said when you were ten years old, you'd +better seek less dangerous society." + +"Forgive me dear, I spoke hastily," said George, in a much softer tone. +"But it's mighty hard to have you always just within reach and yet +always just beyond." + +The sun had gone down behind the ridge. The timbers of an old mining +shaft, and the limbs and twigs of a leafless tree showed black against +the tinted sky. A faint breath of air rustled the dry leaves of the +big sycamores and paw-paw bushes, and the birds called sleepily to +each other as they settled themselves for the coming night. A +sparrow-hawk darted past on silent wings, a rabbit hopped across the +road, while far away, the evening train on the "Frisco" whistled for +a crossing; and nearer, a farm boy called to his cattle. After a long +silence, George spoke again, with a note of manly dignity in his voice, +which made his fair companion's heart beat quicker. "Clara, look at +me; I want to see your eyes," he insisted. She turned her face toward +him. "Clara, if you can say, I do not love you as a woman ought to +love her husband, I will promise you, on my honor, never to mention +the subject to you again. Can you say it?" + +She tried to turn her head and to hide the tell-tale color in her +cheeks, but he would not permit it. "Answer me," he insisted. "Say you +do not love me and I will never bother you again." + +At last the eyes were lifted, and in their light George read his answer. +"All right," he said, picking up the whip, "I knew you could not lie; +you do love me, and I'll never stop asking you to be my wife." He +turned the horse's head toward the city. + +That same evening, Adam Goodrich, with his family and two or three +neighbors, sat on the veranda of the Goodrich home, enjoying the +beauties of the hour, and passing the evening in social chat. In the +course of the conversation, someone mentioned the rooms at the Jerusalem +Church. Adam grunted. "What a splendid thing it is for the young men," +said one of the lady callers. "I don't see why more of the churches +don't adopt the plan. I wish ours would." + +"Yes," chimed in another, "and isn't that Mr. Falkner, who has charge +of the rooms in the evening, a splendid fellow? My brother speaks of +him so highly, and all the young men seem to think so much of him." + +"Where is he from; St. Louis, is it?" asked the first lady. + +"Kansas City," said Frank. "At least that's what _he_ says. He bummed +his way into town last spring and got a job in that infidel Udell's +printing office. That's all anybody knows of him." + +"Except that he has never shown himself to be anything but a perfect +gentleman," added his sister. + +"Amy," said Mrs. Goodrich, a note of warning in her voice. + +"I don't care, mamma, it's the truth. What if he _was_ out of money +and hungry and ragged when he came to town? He was willing to work, +and Mr. Udell says that he is a splendid workman, and--" But her father +interrupted her. "Well, what of it? No one knows anything about his +family or how he lived before he came here. He's only a tramp, and you +can't make anything else out of him. Some folks are never satisfied +unless they are trying to make gentlemen out of gutter snipes. If we +let such fellows get a foothold, there won't be any respectable society +after a while; it will be all stable boys and boot-blacks." + +Later, when the visitors had said good-night and Amy and her mother +had entered the house, Frank said, "Father, I'll tell you one thing +about that man Falkner, you've got to watch him." + +"What do you mean?" asked Adam. + +"I mean Amy," replied the other, moving his chair nearer the old +gentleman and speaking in a guarded tone. "He takes every chance he +can to talk with her, and she is altogether too willing to listen." + +"Pshaw," grunted the older man, "she never sees him." + +"That's where you are mistaken, father. They met first last spring in +the printing office; and afterwards, when he had gotten in with that +soft fool, Charlie Bowen, they met again at the Young People's social. +He was all dressed up in a new suit of clothes and of course Amy didn't +know him. They were together all that evening, and since then, though +she has found out who he is, she talks with him at every opportunity. +They meet at the Society, at church, at picnics and parties, and +sometimes in the printing office. I tell you you'd better watch him. +He's doing his level best to get in with her, and just look how he's +working everybody else. Half the town is crazy over him." + +Low spoken as were Frank's words, Amy heard every one, for she had not +retired as her brother supposed, but was lying on a couch just inside +the doorway of the darkened parlor. With burning cheeks, she rose +cautiously and tiptoed out of the silent room. Making her way upstairs +and entering her own chamber, she closed and bolted the door, and then, +throwing herself on the floor by the low seat of an open window, rested +her head on her arm while she looked up at the stars now shining clear +and bright. Once she started impatiently and her eyes filled with angry +tears. Then she grew calm again, and soon the girlish face was worthy +of a master's brush as she gazed reverently into the beautiful heavens, +her lips moving in a whispered prayer; a softly whispered prayer for +Dick. And as she prayed, in the shadow of the Catalpa trees, unseen +by her, a man walked slowly down the street. Reaching the corner, he +turned and slowly passed the house again; crossing the street, he +passed once more on the opposite side, paused a moment at the corner, +and then started hurriedly away toward the business portion of the +city. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +November, with its whispered promises of winter fun, was past, and the +Christmas month, with snow and ice, had been ushered in. Usually in +the latitude of Boyd City, the weather remains clear and not very cold +until the first of the new year; but this winter was one of those +exceptions which are met with in every climate, and the first of +December brought zero weather. Indeed, it had been unusually cold for +several weeks. Then, to make matters worse, a genuine western blizzard +came howling across the prairie, and whistled and screamed about the +streets, from which it had driven everything that could find a place +of shelter. The stores on Broadway were vacant, save a few shivering +clerks. In the offices, men sat with their feet on the stove and called +to mind the biggest storms they had ever known; while street cars stood +motionless and railway trains, covered with ice and snow, came puffing +into the stations three or four hours behind time. In spite of the +awful weather, George Udell spent the evening at the Wilson home on +the east side. He had not seen Clara for nearly two weeks and the hour +was rather late when he arose to prepare for the long, cold walk to +his boarding house. "And I must wait, Clara?" he asked again, as they +stood in the hallway, and the girl answered rather sharply, "Yes, you +must wait. I do wish you would be sensible, George." The printer made +no reply, but paused for some time with his hand on the door-knob, as +though reluctant to leave her in such a mood. Then with an "Alright, +goodnight," he stepped out into the storm, his mind filled with bitter +thoughts that had best be left unspoken. The man did not know how heavy +was the heart of the girl who stood at the window watching long after +his form had vanished into the night. + +The wind was terrific and the snow cut the printer's face like tiny +needles, while he was forced again and again to turn his back to the +blast in order to breathe, and in spite of his heavy clothing was +chilled to the bone before he had gone three blocks. On Broadway, he +passed saloon after saloon, brilliant with glittering chandeliers and +attractive with merry music, inviting all the world to share the +good-fellowship and cheer within. He thought of his rooms, how cold +and lonely they would be, and had half a mind to stop at the hotel for +the night. For an instant he hesitated, then with a shake, "What folly," +pushed on again. As he struggled along, fighting every inch of the +way, with head down and body braced to the task, warm lights from the +windows of many cozy homes fell across his path, and he seemed to feel +the cold more keenly for the contrast. Then through the storm, he saw +a church, dark, grim and forbidding, half-hidden in the swirling snow, +the steps and entrance barricaded with heavy drifts. A smile of bitter +sarcasm curled his lip as he muttered to himself: "How appropriate; +what a fine monument to the religious activity of the followers of +Christ," and he almost laughed aloud when he remembered that the sermon +delivered there the Sunday before was from the text, "I was a stranger +and ye took me not in." Suddenly he stopped and stood peering through +the storm. In the light of an electric arc, which sizzled and sputtered +on the corner, he saw a dark form half hidden in the snow piled about +the doorway of the building. Stepping closer, he reached out and touched +it with his foot, then bending down, he discovered to his horror that +it was the body of a man. + +George tried to arouse the fallen one and lift him to his feet, but +his efforts only met with failure, and the other sank back again on +his bed of snow. The printer studied a moment. What should he do? Then +his eyes caught a gleam of light from a house near by. "Of course," +he thought, "Uncle Bobbie Wicks lives there." Stooping again, he +gathered the man in his arms, and with no little effort, slowly and +painfully made his way across the street and along the sidewalk to Mr. +Wicks's home. + +Uncle Bobbie was sitting before the fire, dozing over his Sunday School +quarterly, when he was aroused by the sound of heavy feet on the porch +and a strange knock, as though someone was kicking at the door. Quickly +he threw it open, and Udell, with his heavy burden, staggered into the +room. + +"Found him on the church steps," gasped the printer, out of breath, +as he laid the stranger on a couch. "I'll go for a doctor," and he +rushed out into the storm again, returning some thirty minutes later +with Dr. James at his heels. They found Uncle Bobbie, who had done all +that was possible, sitting beside the still form on the couch. "You're +too late, Doc," he said. "The poor chap was dead before George left +the house." + +The physician made his examination. "You're right, Mr. Wicks," he +answered, "we can do nothing here. Frozen to death. Must have died +early in the evening." + +The doctor returned to his home to get what sleep he could before +another call should break his rest, and all that night the Christian +and the infidel sat together, keeping watch over the dead body of the +unknown man. + +The next morning the coroner was summoned; the verdict was soon handed +in, "Death by exposure." Or the body was found a church statement that +there had been paid to the current expense fund, in the quarter ending +August first, the sum of three dollars, but the name written with lead +pencil was illegible. Besides this, was a prayer-meeting topic-card, +soiled and worn, and a small testament, dog-eared, with much fingering, +but no money. A cheap Christian Endeavor pin was fastened to the ragged +vest. There was nothing to identify him, or furnish a clew as to where +he was from. The face and form was that of a young man, and though +thin and careworn, showed no mark of dissipation. The right hand was +marked by a long scar across the back and the loss of the little finger. +The clothing was very poor. + +Among those who viewed the body in the undertaking rooms where it lay +for identification, was Dick, and Udell, who was with him, thought +that he seemed strangely moved as he bent over the casket. George +called his attention to the disfigured hand, but Dick only nodded. +Then, as they drew back to make room for others, he asked in a whisper, +"Did they search thoroughly for letters or papers? Sometimes people +hide important documents in their clothing, you know." + +"No, there was nothing," answered George. "We even ripped out the +linings." + +When they reached the open air Dick drew a long breath. "I must hurry +back to the office," he said. "I suppose you'll not be down to-day." + +"No, I must arrange for the funeral; you can get along I guess." + +"Oh yes, don't worry about that," was the reply, and the young man +started off down the street, but at the corner he turned, and walking +rapidly, in a few moments reached the church where the body of the +stranger was found. + +The steps and walks had been carefully cleaned and the snow about the +place was packed hard by the feet of the curious crowd who had visited +the scene earlier in the morning. + +Dick looked up and down the street. There was no one in sight. Stepping +swiftly to the pile of snow which the janitor had made with his shovel +and broom, he began kicking it about with his feet. Suddenly, with an +exclamation, he stopped and again glanced quickly around. Then stooping, +he picked up a long, leather pocketbook, and turning, walked hurriedly +away to the office. + +The body was held as long as possible, but when no word could be had +as to the poor fellow's identity, he was laid away in a lot purchased +by the printer, who also bore the funeral expenses. When Uncle Bobbie +would have helped him in this, George answered: "No, this is my work. +I found him. Let me do this for his mother's sake." + +The funeral was held in the undertaking rooms. Dick Falkner, Uncle +Bobbie and his wife, and Clara Wilson, with George, followed the hearse +to the cemetery. + +To-day, the visitor to Mt. Olive, will read with wonder, the inscription +on a simple stone, bearing no name, but telling the story of the young +man's death, and followed by these words, "I was a stranger and ye +took me not in." + +The church people protested loudly when it was known how the grave was +to be marked, but George Udell answered that he wanted something from +the Bible because the young man was evidently a Christian, and that +the text he had selected was the only appropriate one he could find. + +The evening after the funeral, Charlie Bowen and Dick sat alone in the +reading room, for the hour was late and the others had all gone to +their homes. Charlie was speaking of the burial. "I tell you," he said, +"it looks mighty hard to see a man laid away by strangers who do not +even know his name, and that too, after dying all alone in the snow +like a poor dog. And to think that perhaps a mother is watching for +him to come home; and the hardest part is that he is only one of many. +In a cold snap like this, the amount of suffering among the poor and +outcast is something terrible. If only the bad suffered, one might not +feel so." + +Dick made no reply, but sat staring moodily into the fire. + +"I've studied on the matter a good bit lately," continued Charlie. +"Why is it that people are so indifferent to the suffering about them? +Is Udell right when he says that church members, by their own teaching, +prove themselves to be the biggest frauds in the world?" + +"He is, so far as the church goes," replied Dick; "but not as regards +Christianity. This awful neglect and indifference comes from a _lack_ +of Christ's teaching, or rather from a lack of the application of +Christ's teaching, and too much teaching of the church. The trouble +is that people follow the church and not Christ; they become church +members, but not Christians." + +"Do you mean to say that the church ought to furnish a lodging place +for every stranger who comes to town?" asked Charlie. + +"I mean just this," answered Dick, rising to his feet and walking +slowly back and forth across the room, "there is plenty of food in +this world to give every man, woman and child enough to eat, and it +is contrary to God's law that the _helpless_ should go hungry. There +is enough material to clothe every man, woman and child, and God never +intended that the needy should go naked. There is enough wealth to +house and warm every creature tonight, for God never meant that men +should freeze in such weather as this; and Christ surely teaches, both +by words and example, that the hungry should be fed, the naked clothed, +and the homeless housed. Is it not the Christian's duty to carry out +Christ's teaching? It is an awful comment on the policy of the church +when a young man, bearing on his person the evidence of his Christianity +and proof that he supported the institution, dies of cold and hunger +at the locked door of the house of God. That, too, in a city where +there are ten or twelve denominations, paying at least as many thousand +dollars for preachers' salaries alone each year." + +"But we couldn't do it." + +"The lodges do. There is more than enough wealth spent in the churches +in this city, for useless, gaudy display, and in trying to get ahead +of some other denomination, than would be needed to clothe every naked +child in warmth to-night. You claim to be God's stewards, but spend +his goods on yourselves, while Christ, in the person of that boy in +the cemetery, is crying for food and clothing. And then you wonder why +George Udell and myself, who have suffered these things, don't unite +with the church. The wonder to me is that such honest men as you and +Mr. Wicks can remain connected with such an organization." + +"But," said Charlie, with a troubled look on his face, "would not such +work encourage crime and idleness?" + +"Not if it were done according to God's law," answered Dick. "The +present spasmodic, haphazard sentimental way of giving does. It takes +away a man's self-respect; it encourages him to be shiftless and idle; +or it fails to reach the worthy sufferers. Whichever way you fix it, +it kills the man." + +"But what is God's law?" asked the other. + +"That those who do not work should not eat," replied Dick; "and that +applies on the avenue as well as in the mines." + +"How would you do all this, though? That has been the great problem +of the church for years." + +"I beg your pardon, but it has _not_ been the problem of the church. +If the ministry had spent one-half the time in studying this question +and trying to _fulfill_ the teaching of Christ, that they have wasted +in quarreling over each other's opinions, or in tickling the ears of +their wealthy members, this problem would have been solved long ago. +Different localities would require different plans, but the purpose +must always be the same. To make it possible for those in want to +receive aid without compromising their self-respect, or making beggars +of them, and to make it just as impossible for any unworthy person to +get along without work." + +For some minutes the silence in the room was only broken by the steady +tramp, tramp, as the speaker marched up and down. + +"Dick," said Charlie, "do you believe that anything could be done +here?" + +Dick started and looked sharply at his companion. "Of course it could, +if only the church would go about it in a businesslike way." + +Charlie shook his head. "That's hopeless. The church will never move +in the matter. Brother Cameron has preached again and again on those +subjects and they do nothing." + +"But has your pastor presented any definite plan for work?" asked Dick. +"It's one thing to preach about it, and another thing to present a +plan that will meet the need. That's the great trouble. They're all +the time preaching about Christianity and trying to live as they talk, +in a sickly, sentimental fashion; when of all things in the world +Christianity is the most practical, or it is nothing." + +"The young folks would take it up, I am sure," said Charlie. +"Say, will you suggest a plan to the Society?" + +"I'm like the rest," said Dick, with a slight smile. "I'm preaching +when I have no remedy," and he began locking up for the night. "But," +as they stepped out into the street, he added, "I'll not go back on +my statement though. I believe it can be done." + +Nothing more was said on the subject so much in the hearts of the young +men, until the Saturday before the regular monthly business meeting +of the Young People's Society. Then Charlie broached the matter to +Dick as together they walked down the street at the close of their +day's work. + +"No," said Dick, "I have not forgotten, and I believe I have a plan +that would meet the needs of the case as it is in this city." + +"Will you go before the Young People's Society at their meeting next +Tuesday night, and explain your scheme?" + +Dick hesitated. "I fear they would not listen to me, Charlie," he said +at last. And then added, as he rested his hand affectionately on the +other's shoulder, "You see, old man, people here don't look at me as +you do. They can't, or won't forget the way I came to town, and I fear +they would not attach much weight to my opinion, even should they +consent to hear me." + +"That's where you're wrong, Dick, all wrong. I know there are some who +look at things in that light, but they wouldn't do anything if Paul +himself were to teach them. But there are many who want only someone +to lead the way. Take myself for instance. I realize what's needed, +and I honestly want to do something, but I don't know how to go at it; +and Dick, if this problem is ever solved, it will be through someone +like you, who knows from actual experience; not from occasional slumming +expeditions; whose heart is filled with love for men; who is absolutely +free from ecclesiastical chains, and who is a follower of no creed but +Christ, a believer in no particular denomination." + +Dick smiled at his friend's manner. "You too, have been doing a little +thinking," he said quietly. "But had this come to you, that the man +must also be a Christian?" + +"Yes, a Christian so far as he is a believer in the truths that Christ +teaches; but not in the generally accepted use of that word; which is, +that a man can't be a Christian without hitching himself up in some +denominational harness." + +"If you believe that, why do you wear the badge?" asked Dick, drily. + +"Because I believe that while the man who takes the initiative must +owe allegiance to no particular congregation, the work must be carried +on by the church; there are many Christians who are thinking on these +lines, and I hope that you will some day see that the church with all +its shortcomings and mistakes, is of divine origin; and that she needs +just such men as yourself to lead her back to the simplicity of Christ's +life and teaching. But that's not the question," he continued, as he +saw a slight shadow cross the face of his companion. "The question is: +Will you go before the Young People's Society next Tuesday night and +submit your plan as a suggested way to do Christ's work here in the +city? You see, you'll not be going before the church, and I will give +you such an introduction that there will be no danger of a mistaken +notion as to your presence." + +The two walked on in silence until they reached the door of Dick's +restaurant. "Won't you come in and eat with me?" he said. + +"Not unless you need more urging," answered Charlie, with a laugh, +"for I have other fish to fry just now." + +"Well," said Dick, "I'll go." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +Needless to say that Charlie Bowen, who was the president of the Young +People's Society at this time, took particular pains to notify each +member that there would be a matter of unusual importance to discuss +at the next meeting. And so, when he called the Society to order at +eight o'clock Tuesday evening, in the lecture room of the church, +almost the entire membership, including Rev. Cameron, was present. +Dick remained in the reading room, but it was understood between the +two that he was to be called in at the proper time. + +After the regular routine business had been disposed of, the president +stated that he wished to introduce a matter of great importance, which +he felt sure would interest every Christian present. He then called +to their minds some of the teaching they had heard from their pastor, +along lines of practical Christianity; noticed briefly the condition +of things in Boyd City; and asked if they would not be glad to remedy +such evils. The nodding heads and earnest faces told Charlie of their +interest. After recalling the death of the young man found by George +Udell, he told of his conversation with Dick. "I am aware that Mr. +Falkner makes no profession of Christianity," he said, "but you know +him and need no word from me to tell you of the strength of his +character." He then explained how he had asked Dick to speak to them, +and after delicately stating the latter's objections, asked if they +would receive him and listen to his ideas of Christian work. + +At the close of Charlie's talk, the Society gladly voted to invite +Dick in, and three of the boys started to find him, when Rev. Cameron +rose to his feet, and in a voice full of emotion, said: "My dear young +people. Wait just a moment. My heart is moved more than I can say, by +the Christian spirit you are showing. And now, before your invitation +is carried to Mr. Falkner, let us bow our heads in prayer, that we may +be guided by the Holy Spirit in listening to the things he may have +to put before us, and in any discussion of this subject that may +follow." + +A deep hush fell on the little band of young people as they followed +their pastor's example, and it seemed as if a wonderful presence filled +all the room. The thought flashed through Cameron's mind, "This must +be another step in the new era of Christian work in this city." And +then, in a few beautiful words, he voiced the prayer in the hearts of +the young people, and the committee appointed went to call Dick. They +found him nervously pacing up and down the passageway between the +reading room and the parlor. Making known the wish of the Society, +they escorted him to the meeting in the other part of the building. +He was greeted by smiling faces, nods of encouragement, and just a +faint ripple of applause, that sprung from a desire on the part of the +young people to let him know that they were glad to bid him welcome, +and ready to give him their attention. + +The president stated simply that he had explained to the Society the +purpose of Mr. Falkner's visit, and that he could assure the latter +he was most heartily welcome. At Charlie's words, the ripple of applause +became a wave, which in its strength, left no doubt on Dick's mind as +to their earnestness and interest. Bowing his thanks he began, while +both Charlie and Cameron wondered at his ease of manner, and the strange +power of his simple, but well-chosen words. + +"I have no means of knowing what your president may have said by way +of introduction of myself, or as a preface to my remarks, but judging +from your faces, the manner in which you receive me, and my knowledge +of him, I feel that I am safe in assuming that he has said all that +is necessary, and that I may proceed at once with my plan. But let me +add simply this: What I have to say to you is in no way new or +startling. I claim no originality, for I have simply gathered from the +works of better men that which seems to me best fitted for the needs +of this particular city. And understand, farther, that I speak in no +sense as a Christian, but from the standpoint of one to whom has been +given opportunities for study along these lines, I hope may ever be +denied you. + +"As I understand it, the problem that we have to consider is, briefly, +how to apply Christ's teaching in our own town. Let me suggest first: +That there are in this city, as in every city, two classes who present +their claims for assistance; the deserving and undeserving. Any plan +which does not distinguish between these two classes must prove a +failure, because it would encourage the idle in their idleness, and +so prove a curse instead of a blessing. It would make fraud profitable +by placing a premium rather than a penalty on crime; and it would make +the sufferings of the truly unfortunate much keener by compelling them +to yield their self-respect as the price of their succor. The only +test that can possibly succeed in distinguishing between these two +classes is the test of work. + +"The first thing necessary would be a suitable building. This building +should have sleeping rooms, dining room, sitting room, kitchen, +store-room and a bath room. There should also be a large yard with an +open shed in the rear. I would have the sleeping rooms small, and a +single cot in each, for you know it is sometimes good for a man to be +alone. It ought not to be hard to find twenty-five people in the church +who would furnish a room each, at a cost of say three dollars. The +reading room supplies could be donated by friends who would be glad +to give their papers and magazines when they were through with them, +just as your present room is supplied. Now if you stop to think, in +this mining city everyone burns coal, and kindling wood ought to find +a ready sale. I believe the merchants would be glad to give away their +old packing cases, boxes and barrels. These could be collected, hauled +to the yard, there worked up into kindling and delivered to the +customer. The whole establishment to be under the supervision of some +man who, with his family, could occupy rooms in the building. All the +work of the house, kitchen, dining room, care of the sleeping rooms, +and all, must be done by the inmates. When a man applied for help he +would be received on these conditions: that his time belonged wholly +to the institution, and that he receive for his work only food and +bed, with the privilege of bath and reading room of course. If he +refused to comply with these conditions, or to conform to the rules +of the institution, no food would be issued, nor would he be admitted. + +"This briefly is my plan. I would be glad to have you ask questions +and make objections or suggestions, for I believe that would be the +best way to thoroughly understand the matter." Dick paused and one of +the young people asked: "What would be the cost of the building and +its furnishings?" + +"That I cannot say," replied Dick. "It would depend of course upon how +large an establishment you wished to conduct. I should think a house +might be found in some convenient locality, which could be converted +into the right thing, for I would not think of a large institution at +the start. It would grow as fast as the people came to believe in it." + +"You spoke of a store-room--what for?" + +"Let the people contribute clothing, which could be kept and issued +by the superintendent in charge. I said store-room, that the material +might always be on hand when needed." + +"Would you receive women?" + +"No; they would require a separate institution with a different kind +of employment." + +"Would we not need women to do the housework?" + +"No, everything could be done by the men under the direction of the +superintendent's wife." + +"Would the merchants contribute boxes enough?" + +"That," with a bow and a smile, "is a matter for the Society to look +after. The workers at the institution would gather them up and haul +them to the yard. Old side-walks, fences, tumbled-down buildings, could +also be used, so the supply need not run short, and the city would be +much improved if these things were gathered up and utilized." + +"Would the people buy the kindling-wood?" + +"That again, is the business of the Society. Every member should be +a salesman. The kindling would be put up in bundles of uniform size, +warranted to be dry and to give satisfaction and delivered at the door +by the workers of course. It ought not to be difficult for you to +secure a sufficient number of regular customers to insure the success +of the business. You see, it is not a church-begging scheme, for it +benefits every person connected with it, and every person pays for +what he gets. The citizens would have the pleasure of feeling that +they were assisting only the worthy sufferers, and the satisfaction +of knowing that they were receiving their money's worth." + +"Would the income be sufficient to pay all bills?" asked Cameron. + +"The food, of course, could be of the plainest, and could be bought +in quantities. Twenty cents will feed a man a day. It is possible, of +course, to live on less," Dick added, with a whimsical smile, which +was met with answering smiles from the company of interested young +people. "Now suppose you had for the start, one hundred regular +customers, who would pay, each, ten cents per week for their kindling! +that would bring you ten dollars per week, which would feed seven +people. Not a large thing I grant you, but a start in the right +direction, and much more than the church is doing now. The other +expenses would not be large, and I am confident that the institution +would be self-supporting. But bear in mind that the Society must own +the grounds and building, so that there would be no rent. _That_ must +be the gift of the people to the poor." + +"How would the superintendent and his wife be paid?" + +"They would receive their house rent, provisions, and a small weekly +salary, paid either by the Society, the church, or the institution. +There are many men and women who would be glad to do such work." + +"Would kindling-wood be the only industry?" + +"I believe other things would suggest themselves. I am only planning +a start you know. I said kindling-wood because that seems to be the +most practical thing for this particular city." + +"Would not men impose on the institution by working just enough to get +their food and remain idle the rest of the time?" + +"That," said Dick, "is the greatest danger, but I believe it would be +met in this way: You remember I said that the time of the inmates must +be given wholly to the institution. The men could be kept busy at the +housework, scrubbing and cleaning when not in the yard. Then too, they +could be hired out to do odd jobs of rough work for the citizens; the +wages all to go to the institution. Thus, if every man was kept busy +eight hours each day, and received only his food and a place to sleep, +there would be no temptation to remain longer than necessary. The +institution would also act as an employment agency, and when a man was +offered work of any kind he would no longer be permitted to remain in +the home. Much of this would necessarily be left to the discretion of +the managers and directors." + +This question seemed to bring the matter to a close as far as Dick was +concerned, and after asking if there was anything more, and again +calling attention to the fact that the greatest obstacle in the way +was a suitable building, he thanked them for their attention and took +his seat. + +Then followed a warm discussion. Several spoke enthusiastically in +favor of the scheme. One or two thought it very good, but feared it +would be impossible because of the building needed. A few offered +amendments to the plan. Finally a committee was appointed to see if +a suitable building could be secured, and the meeting was adjourned. + +At once the young people crowded about Dick, shaking his hand, thanking +him, asking questions, making suggestions, with now and then a happy +laugh or jest. Much to Charlie's delight, Dick, for the time being, +forgot himself and talked and laughed and prophesied with the rest +about _our_ institution and the things we would do. But in the midst +of it all, his manner suddenly changed, and making his way quickly to +Charlie's side he whispered, "Good-night, old man, I must go." + +"So soon?" asked his friend in a tone of surprise. + +"Yes," replied Dick hurriedly, "I must." And Charlie was left wondering +at the pain in his face, which a moment before had been so bright, for +he did not know that Dick had heard Frank Goodrich saying to his sister, +"Come, we must go home. We can't afford to associate with that tramp," +and that he had seen Amy leaving the room on her brother's arm, without +even acknowledging his presence by so much as a glance. + +The next morning bright and early, Deacon Wickham might have been seen +knocking at the door of the parsonage. "Why, good morning, Brother," +cried Cameron, throwing wide the door and extending his hand. "What +good fortune brought you out so early? Come in. Come in." + +"No good fortune, sir," replied the deacon, and seating himself very +stiffly on the edge of the straightest-backed chair in the room, he +glared with stern eyes at the pastor, who threw himself carelessly +into an easy rocker. "No good fortune, sir; I came to inquire if it +is true that you are encouraging that unscriptural organization in +their foolish and world-wise plans." + +Cameron put on a puzzled look. "What organization, and what plans?" +he asked. + +"There," said the good deacon, with a sigh of great relief. "I told +Sister Jones that there must be some mistake, for though you and I +don't always agree, and lock horns sometimes on certain passages of +the Scriptures, I did not believe that you were so far from the teaching +of the Word as that." + +"As what?" asked Cameron again, but this time with a faint glimmer of +understanding in his voice. "Please explain, Brother Wickham." + +"Why, Sister Jones came over to my house early this morning and told +me that at the meeting of the Young People's Society last night, that +young upstart Falkner, laid down plans for doing church work, and that +you were there and approved of them. That rattle-headed boy of hers +is all carried away." + +The preacher nodded, "Well?" + +"I could not believe it of course, but she said, as near as I could +gather, that you were going to have the church buy a house and keep +all the tramps who came to Boyd City. A more unscriptural thing I never +heard of. Were you at the meeting last night?" + +"Yes, I was there," said Cameron slowly. + +The official frowned again as he said sharply: "You'll do more good +for the cause, Brother Cameron, if you spend your time calling on the +members. There is Deacon Godfrey's wife hasn't been out to services +for three months because you haven't been to see her; and you're ruining +the church now by your teaching. You've got to build on a Scriptural +foundation if you want your work to last. All these people you've been +getting in the last two years don't know a thing about first +principles." + +The minister tried to explain: "The plan suggested last night by Mr. +Falkner, who was there at the invitation of the Society, was simply +for an institution that would permit a man who was homeless, cold and +hungry, to pay for food and lodging until he could do better. In short, +to prevent deaths like that of the young man found frozen a few weeks +ago." + +"You don't know anything about that fellow," said the deacon. "If he +had followed the teaching of the Scriptures he wouldn't have been in +that fix. The Word says plainly: 'He that provideth not for his own +is worse than an infidel.' You don't know whether he was a Christian +or not. He may have never been baptized. Indeed, I am ready to prove +that he never was, for the Scripture says that the righteous are never +forsaken, nor their seed begging for bread. I've lived nearly fifty +years now and I never went hungry and never slept out-doors either." + +Cameron sat silently biting his lip; then looking his parishioner +straight in the eye, said: "Brother Wickham, I cannot harmonize your +teaching with Christ's life and character." + +"My teaching is the Scripture, sir; I'll give you book, chapter and +verse," snapped the deacon. + +"Christ taught and lived a doctrine of love and helpfulness toward all +men, even enemies," continued Cameron. "When I remember how he pointed +out the hungry and naked and homeless, and then said: 'Inasmuch as ye +did it not unto one of the least of these, ye did it not unto me,' I +cannot help but feel sure in my heart that we are right, and I must +tell you that Mr. Falkner's plan for doing just that work is the most +practical and common-sense one I have ever heard. The only thing I +find to wonder at is the stupidity of the church and myself, that we +did not adopt it long ago." + +"Then I am to understand that you support and encourage this +unscriptural way of doing things?" + +"I most certainly have given my support to the young people in this +effort; and as far as possible, will encourage and help them in their +labor of love." + +"Labor of love, fiddlesticks," said the deacon; "Labor of foolishness. +You'll find, sir, that it will be better to take my advice and the +advice of the sacred writers, instead of going off after the strange +teaching of an outcast and begging infidel." + +"Stop!" said Cameron, springing to his feet, and speaking in a tone +that few people ever heard him use. "I beg of you be careful that you +do not go too far. Whatever his religious convictions may be, Mr. +Falkner is neither an outcast nor a beggar; and although I am only +your pastor, it might be well for you to remember that I am also a +gentleman, and will allow no man to speak of my friends in any such +language." + +"Well, well," whined Wickham hastily, holding out his hand, "The +Scriptures say that there must be love between brethren, and I want +you to know that I bear you no ill will whatever, no ill will whatever; +but I warn you, I wash my hands of the whole matter. I don't want to +know anything about it." + +Cameron took the proffered hand and replied, "That's the best thing +you can do, Brother Wickham. You have discharged your duty faithfully +as an officer in the church and are released from all responsibility +whatever." + +"Yes, yes," said the other, as he stood on the porch; "And don't let +them call on me for any money. Remember I wash my hands of the whole +thing. How much did you say it would cost?" + +"I don't know yet, exactly." + +"Well, you know I can't give anyway. I'm already doing more than my +share in a scriptural way, and I must wash my hands of this." + +"Yes," said Cameron to himself, as he shut the door; "A certain Roman +governor washed his hands once upon a time." And then the pastor took +himself to task for his uncharitable spirit. + +Later in the day, Rev. Cameron had another visitor. Old father Beason, +whose hair had grown white in the Master's service. He had been with +his congregation over twenty years and they would not give him up; for +while his sermons may have lost some of their youthful fire, they were +riper for the preacher's long experience, and sweeter for his nearness +to the source of love. + +The old man met Cameron's outstretched hand of welcome with a smile +that, in itself, was a benediction. Though identified with a different +denomination, he was a close friend to the pastor of the Jerusalem +Church, and always stood ready to draw from his wealth of experience +for the benefit of his younger brother. When they were seated in +Cameron's cozy den with a basket of fruit between them, Rev. Beason +began: + +"Brother Jim, what's this about the proposed work of your young people? +Suppose you tell me about it, if you don't mind. I've heard a good +many things to-day, and I just thought I'd run over and get the straight +of it." + +Cameron laughed as he carefully selected a rosy-cheeked apple. "You're +the second caller I've had to-day who needed straightening out. I've +been wishing you would run in, and if you had not, I would have been +over to see you this evening. This work is right along lines that you +and I have talked over many times." And then he told the whole story. + +When Cameron had finished, the older man asked a few questions, and +then slowly nodding his head, repeated softly: "Thy kingdom come, thy +will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven." + +"Brother Cameron, you know that I belong to a church that is noted for +its conservative spirit, but I have been preaching more years than you +have lived, and have been at it too long to be bound altogether by the +particular belief of any particular people, and I want to say to you +that if I were a younger man, I would take just your course exactly. +There is no use, Brother Jim, of our flinching or dodging the question. +The church is not meeting the problems of the day, and it's my candid +opinion that ninety-nine out of every hundred preachers know it. But +I'm too old to make the fight. I haven't the strength to do it. But +my boy, do you go in to win, and may God's richest blessing rest upon +you. And you'll stir this city as it never was stirred before. I only +wish I were twenty years younger; I'd stand by you. But this needs +young blood and I am an old, worn-out man. It is almost time that I +was going home, and I dare not take up any work like this that will +need years of patient labor to complete." He arose to his feet, and +grasping Cameron's hand, said, "Good night, Brother Jim; we older men +must turn our work, all unfinished, over to younger, stronger hands +to complete. My boy, see that you keep that which is committed unto +you, and don't, Oh don't, be sidetracked by the opinions of men. The +victory will be yours, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Good-night Jim, +I thank God for this day." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +The sun sank into the prairie and tinted the sky all red and green and +gold where it shone through the rents in the ragged clouds of purple +black. The glowing colors touching dull, weather-beaten steeples and +factory stacks, changed them to objects of interest and beauty. The +poisonous smoke from smelter and engine, that hung always over the +town like a heavy veil, shot through with the brilliant rays, became +a sea of color that drifted here and there, tumbled and tossed by the +wind, while above, the ball of the newly painted flag-staff on the +courthouse tower gleamed like a signal lamp from another world. And +through it all, the light reflected from a hundred windows flashed and +blazed in wondrous glory, until the city seemed a dream of unearthly +splendor and fairy loveliness, in which the people moved in wonder and +in awe. Only for a moment it lasted. A heavy cloud curtain was drawn +hurriedly across the west as though the scene in its marvelous beauty +was too sacred for the gaze of men whose souls were dwarfed by baser +visions. For an instant a single star gleamed above the curtain in the +soft green of the upper sky; then it too vanished, blotted out by the +flying forerunners of the coming storm. + +About nine o'clock, when the first wild fury of the gale had passed, +a man, muffled in a heavy coat and with a soft hat pulled low over his +face, made his way along the deserted streets. In front of the Goodrich +hardware and implement store, he stopped and looked carefully about +as though in fear of some observer. Then taking a key from his pocket, +he unlocked the door and entered. Walking quickly through the room to +the office, as though familiar with the place, he knelt before the big +safe, his hand upon the knob that worked the combination. A moment +later the heavy door yielded to his hand. Taking a bunch of keys from +his pocket, he selected one without hesitation, and upon applying it, +the cash box opened, revealing a large sum of money. Catching up a +package of bills, he placed it in his side coat pocket, and locking +the cash box again, was closing the safe, when he paused as though +struck with a sudden thought. The storm without seemed to be renewing +its strength. The dashing of sleet and snow against the windows, the +howling of the wind, the weird singing of the wires, and the sharp +banging of swinging signs and shutters, carried terror to the heart +of the man kneeling in the dimly lighted office. Sinking on the floor, +he buried his face in his hands and moaned aloud, "My God--What am I +doing? What if I should fail?" + +Again there came a lull in the storm; everything grew hushed and still, +almost as if the very spirit of the night waited breathlessly the +result of the battle fought in the breast of the tempted man. Rising +slowly to his knees, he swung back the heavy doors and once more +unlocking the cash box reached out to replace the package of bills; +but with the money before his eyes he paused again. Then with a sudden +exclamation, "I won't fail this time; I can't lose always," he quickly +closed the safe, and with the money in his pocket, sprang to his feet +and hurried out of the building, where the storm met him in all its +fury, as though striving to wrest from him that which he had taken +from another. But with set face and clenched fists, he pushed into the +gale, and a few minutes later knocked at the door of a room on the top +floor of a big hotel. He was admitted and greeted cordially by two men +who were drinking and smoking. + +"Hello Frank," they exclaimed; "We thought you had crawfished this +time sure. What makes you so late; it is nearly ten?" + +"Oh, the old man had some work for me, of course. What a beastly night. +Where's Whitley?" He tried to speak carelessly, but his eyes wavered +and his hands trembled as he unbuttoned his heavy coat. + +"You're right; this storm's a ripper. Jim will be back in a minute; +he just stepped down to the corner drug-store to see a man. Here he +is now;" as another low knock sounded on the door, and the fourth man +entered, shaking the snow from his fur-trimmed coat. + +"Pile out of your duds, boys, and have a drink. Good liquor hits the +spot a night like this." + +Whitley grasped the proffered glass eagerly and emptied it without a +word, but Frank refused. + +"You know I don't drink," he said, shortly; "take it yourself if you +need it, and let's get to work." He drew a chair to the table in the +center of the room. + +The others laughed as they took their places, and one said, as he +shuffled a deck of cards: "We forgot you were a church member." And +the other added, with a sneer, "Maybe you'd like to open the services +with a song and prayer." + +"You drop that and mind your own business," retorted young Goodrich, +angrily. "I'll show you tonight that you can't always have your own +way. Did you bring my papers with you?" The others nodded and one said, +"Whitley here told us you wanted a chance to win them back before we +were obliged to collect. It's to be cash tonight though," added the +other; "good cold cash, against the notes we hold." + +"For God's sake, shut up and play," growled Frank in reply. "I guess +there's cash enough," and he laid the package of bills on the table. +Four eyes gleamed in triumph. Whitley looked at the young man keenly +and paused with the cards in his hands. Then he dealt and the game +began. + +Meanwhile Adam Goodrich and his wife were entertaining the whist club, +of which they were enthusiastic members, for it was the regular weekly +meeting; and though the weather was so rough not a few of the devoted +lovers of the game were present. + +In the conversation that preceded the play, the Young People's Society, +with Dick Falkner's plan of work, was mentioned. Nearly all of the +guests being members of different churches, expressed themselves quite +freely, with a variety of opinions, until the host, with annoyance +plainly expressed on his proud face and in his hard cold voice, said: +"You must not think, ladies and gentlemen, that because I and my family +are members of the Jerusalem Church, that we agree with Rev. Cameron +in his outlandish ideas. We have never been accustomed to associating +with such low characters as he delights in forcing us to meet in the +congregation; and if he don't change his line of work some, he will +drive all the best people to other churches." + +The guests all nodded emphatic approval and each silently resolved to +send his pastor to interview the Goodrich's without delay. + +Adam continued: "As for that tramp printer and his fool plan, I say +that it's just such stuff that causes all the discontent among the +lower classes and makes them unfit to serve their betters, and that +_my_ children shall have nothing to do with it. I have not brought +them up to follow the lead of a vagabond and a nobody." + +Amy's face flushed painfully and she lifted her head as though to +speak, when Mrs. Goodrich silenced her with a look, and skilfully +changed the subject by saying: "It's too bad Frank won't be here +to-night. He enjoys these evenings so much and plays so well. But he +and Mr. Whitley are spending the evening with a sick friend. The dear +boy is so thoughtful of others and is always ready to give up his own +pleasures. And Mr. Whitley too; he will miss the game so much, and Amy +loses a strong partner." The company took the hint and talked of other +things until the all-absorbing game began. + +And so, while the son played with his friend Whitley, and the two +professional gamblers at the hotel, played with fear in his face and +a curse in his heart, to save himself from sure disgrace, his fond +parents and beautiful sister at home, forgot his absence in their eager +efforts to win with the cards the petty prize of the evening, a +silver-mounted loving cup. + +One, two, three hours passed. The storm had spent its strength; Mr. +Goodrich had won the coveted prize, and the guests of the evening had +returned to their homes. The last of the pile of ills before Frank was +placed in the center of the table. The silence was unbroken save for +the sound of the shuffling cards and the click of a whiskey glass as +one of the men helped himself to a drink. + +Suddenly young Goodrich leaped to his feet with a wild exclamation: +"Tom Wharton, you're a liar and a cheat!" As he spoke, a heavy chair +whirled above his head and fell with a crashing blow upon the man who +sat at his right. Instantly all was confusion; the table was overturned; +the cards, money and glasses scattered over the room. Whitley and the +other man stood in blank astonishment at the sudden outburst. Frank +leaped at his prostrate victim, with a chair again raised to strike, +and had the second blow fallen, he would have been a murderer, for the +intent to kill shone from his glittering eyes. But Whitley, just in +time, caught his arm, while the other drew a knife and stepped between +the crazed man and his victim. + +"Stop, you fool!" said Whitley. "And you, Jack, put up that knife and +look after Tom. This is a nice mess for us to be caught in." The gambler +did as he was bid, but Frank struggled in his friend's grasp. "Let me +go, Jim. Let me at him. I'm ruined anyway and I'll finish the man that +did it before I go myself." But Whitley was the stronger and forced +him backward, while the other man was busy with his fallen partner. + +"Ruined nothing," said Jim in Frank's ear. "I'll stand by you. You get +out of this quick and go to my room. I'll come when I've settled with +them." He unlocked the door and pushed Frank into the hall, just as +the man on the floor struggled to his feet. + +The two gamblers turned on Whitley in a rage when they saw Frank had +escaped. Standing with his back to the door, he let them curse a few +minutes and then said calmly: "Now if you feel better let's take a +drink and talk it over." + +When he had them quiet again he continued, in a matter-of-fact tone: +"Suppose you fellows raise a row about this, what will you gain?" + +"We'll teach that young fool a lesson he won't forget soon," snarled +the one who had fallen. + +"Yes, and you'll pay big for the lesson," replied Whitley quietly. + +"What do yon mean?" + +"I mean that if this gets out young Goodrich is ruined and you won't +get a cent on the paper you hold." + +Wharton's friend nodded, "That's straight, Tom," he said. + +"Well," growled the other; "What of it, the old man won't pay it +anywray." + +"Yes he would," returned Jim quickly, "if you didn't make it public; +but I don't happen to want him to know about this little deal." + +"What's it to you?" + +"Never mind what it is to me. I know what I'm doing, and I don't want +this to get out." + +"How'll you help it?" + +"This way." He took a check-book from his pocket. "Make the notes over +to me and I'll add two hundred to the amount. Go after Frank and you +get nothing. Go to the old man and you get what the paper calls for. +Keep your mouth shut and sell me the notes and you get an extra hundred +apiece. What do you say?" + +"I say yes," exclaimed Jack, with an oath; "I'm no fool." And the other +grumbled a surly "All right. But I'd like to get one crack at that +kid's head." + +"You'll have to pass that little pleasure this time." said the other +with a laugh. "Write your check, Whitley and let's get out of this. +I'm sleepy." + +When Whitley reached his room after settling with the two gamblers, +he found Frank pacing the floor, his face white and haggard. + +"Sit down. Sit down, old man; and take things easy. You're all right. +Look here." And he drew the notes from his pocket. + +Frank sank into a chair. "What have you done?" he gasped. "How did you +get those?" + +Whitley laughed. "Just invested a little of my spare cash, that's all," +he said. + +"But I tell you I'm ruined. I can't pay a third of that in six years." + +"Well, perhaps you won't have to." Frank stared. "What do you mean?" + +"I mean Amy," the other replied coolly. "You poor idiot, can't you +see. I can't afford to have you disgraced before the world under the +circumstances. If I wasn't in it, I'd let you go to thunder and serve +you right. But a fine chance I'd have to marry your sister if she knew +about this business tonight. If it wasn't for her I'd let you hang +your fool self too quick, before I'd spend a dollar on your worthless +carcass; but I've said that I would marry that girl and I will, if it +costs every cent I've got, and you'll help me too." + +Frank was silent for a time, completely cowed by the contempt in the +other's voice, too frightened to protest. But at last he managed to +say: "There's more than those notes." + +"I know that too," quickly returned Whitley, with an oath. "How much +did you steal from the old man's safe tonight?" + +"What--How--How do you know?" stammered the other. + +"Saw you," returned Whitley, shortly; and then added, as Frank rose +to his feet and began walking the floor again. "Oh, for Heaven's sake +quit your tragedy and sit down. You make me tired. You're not cut out +for either a gambler or a robber. You haven't the nerve." + +Frank was silent, while the other went to a small cupboard and leisurely +helped himself to a glass of whiskey; then lit a fresh cigar. + +"What can I do?" ventured Frank at last, in a voice but little above +a whisper. + +Jim crossed the room, and unlocking a drawer in his desk, returned +with a handful of bills. "You can put that money back in the safe +before morning and keep your mouth shut." And then when Frank attempted +to grasp his hand, while stammering words of gratitude, he said, "No +thanks," and put his own hands behind his back in a gesture that there +was no mistaking. "Be a good boy, Frankie. Listen with more care to +your pastor's sermons; keep your Young People's Society pledge; read +your Bible and pray every day, and take part in all the meetings, and +when I marry your sister I'll make you a present of these papers. But +Oh Lord," he added, with a groan, "you'll make a healthy brother-in-law, +you will." + +"How much did you say?" + +Frank muttered the amount he had stolen. + +Jim quickly counted it out and threw the bills on the table. "There +you are. And now you better go quickly before you slop over again and +I kick you." And turning his back he poured himself another glass of +liquor while Frank, with the money in his hand, sneaked from the room +like a well-whipped cur. And over his head, as he crept stealthily +down the street toward his father's store, the stars shone clear and +cold in their pure, calm beauty, while the last of the storm-cloud on +the far horizon covered the face of the bright new moon. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +The committee appointed by the Society called on Mr. Wicks at his +office, and found him deep in a letter to an old lady, whose small +business affairs he was trying to straighten out. He dropped the matter +at once when they entered, and, after shaking hands, as though he had +not seen them for years, said: "Now tell me all about it. To-be-sure, +Charlie here has had some talk with me, but I want to get your ide's." + +"Our brightest idea, I think," said the leader, with a smile, "is to +get your help." + +Uncle Bobbie laughed heartily. "I reckoned you'd be around," he said. +"I'm generally kept posted by the young folks when there's anything +to do. To-be-sure, I aint got much education, 'cept in money matters +an' real estate, but I don't know--I reckon education is only the +trimmings anyhow. It's the hoss sense what counts. I've seen some +college fellers that was just like the pies a stingy old landlady of +mine used t' make; they was all outside--To-be-sure, they looked +mighty nice though. Now tell me what ye want." + +When the young people had detailed to him Dick's plan, and he had +questioned them on some points, the old gentleman leaned back in his +chair and thoughtfully stroked his face. Then--"Now I tell ye what ye +do. Mebbe I can handle the property end of this a little the best. +To-be-sure, folks would talk with me when they might not listen to +you; 'cause they'd be watchin' fer a chance to get me into a deal, you +see; fer business is a sort of ketch-as-ketch-can anyhow you fix it. +So jes' let me work that end an' ye get Charlie here and some more to +help, and drum up the store-keepers to find out if they'll let ye have +their barrels and boxes. An' then go fer the citizens and see how many +will buy kindlin'-wood. Tell 'em about what it will cost--say ten cents +a week fer one stove. To-be-sure, some will use more'n others, but +give 'em an ide'. Then we'll all come together again and swap reports, +an' see what we've got." + +For the next few days, the young people went from store to store, and +house to house, telling their plan, and asking the citizens to support +it by their patronage. Some turned them away with rudeness; some +listened and smiled at their childish folly; some said they couldn't +afford it; and some gave them encouragement by entering heartily into +the scheme. With but few exceptions, the merchants promised the greater +part of their boxes and barrels, and one man even gave them the ruins +of an old cow shed, which he said he would be glad to have cleared +away. + +Meanwhile, Uncle Bobbie interviewed the business men, members of the +church, and those who were not Christians. He argued, threatened and +plead, studied plans, consulted architects and contractors, figured +and schemed, and, when besieged by the young people for results, only +shook his head. "Jes' hold your hosses and wait till the meetin'. It +don't pay to fire a gun before ye load it." And none but Charlie Bowen +noticed that the old gentleman's face grew grim whenever the subject +was introduced, and the young man guessed that the outlook was not so +promising as Uncle Bobbie would like. Then one Wednesday night, the +Society met again in the church. The weather was cold and stormy, but, +as at the previous meeting, nearly every member was present. When the +committee had made their report and it was known that the merchants +and citizens would support the movement by their patronage and +contributions, a wave of enthusiasm swept over the room while the call +for Mr. Wicks was enforced by loud applause. + +Uncle Bobbie, who had been sitting by Rev. Cameron's side, arose and +came slowly forward. Turning, he faced the little company and his +honest old eyes were wet as he said in a trembling voice: "I didn't +want to come here tonight, young folks; I jes' tell ye I was ashamed +to come; but I knew I ought to; and now I am ashamed that I didn't +want to. I might have known better. Fer I can see right now as I look +into your faces, that Brother Cameron is right, and that what I have +to tell won't make no difference." An ominous hush fell upon the +company. "To-be-sure, we may have to wait a bit, but God will show a +way, and we'll conquer this old devil of indifference yet." He paused +and drew a long breath. "Well, I found a big house that is for sale; +jes' the thing we need; and it could be bought and fixed up in +first-class shape fer about nine hundred dollars. I sold the property +myself to Mr. Udell, fer fifteen hundred, 'bout a year ago; an' I want +to tell you young folks, right now, that whether he's a Christian er +not, George Udell is the whitest man in this city, and the fellow what +says anythin' again him's got me to whip." The old gentleman paused +and glared about him, without a thought of how his words sounded; but +the young people, who knew him well, only answered with a clapping of +hands, which was a tribute to Uncle Bobbie's heart and character, +rather than to his unconscious recklessness of speech or love for the +man whom he championed. But when he went on to say that of all the men +he had interviewed, church members and all, only Udell had met him +half way, and had agreed to give the lot if they would raise the money +to pay for the house, they applauded with a vim, the generosity of the +printer. + +"Just think," said Uncle Bobbie, "that among all the church members +in this city, I couldn't raise two hundred dollars fer such a cause. +One of 'em said no, because he'd jes' bought a new span of carriage +hosses. Huh! I told him he might ride to Hell behind fine bosses but +he'd not feel any better when he got there. 'Nother said he'd jes' put +five hundred dollars into the new lodge temple, and that he couldn't +spend any more. I asked him if Jesus was a member of his lodge, and +he said he reckoned not. I said, Well, we want to build a home for +Christ, and you say you can't. Seems to me if I was you I wouldn't +call Christ my redeemer in prayer meeting so much. 'Nother had just +fixed his home. 'Nother had just put in a new stock of goods; and so +with 'em all. They all had some excuse handy, and I don't know what +to do. I'm up a stump this time fer sure. We've got the material to +work up; we've got the people to buy the goods; we've got the lot; and +there we're stuck, fer we can't get the house. _I_ can't anyway. We're +jes' like the feller that went fishin'; had a big basket to carry home +his fish; a nice new jointed pole with a reel and fixin's, a good +strong linen line, an' a nice bait box full of big fat worms, an' when +he got to the river he didn't have no hook, and the fish just swum +'round under his nose an' laughed at him 'cause he couldn't touch +'em--and still I believe that God will show us the way yet, 'though +mebbe not. Perhaps taint fer the best fer us to do this; to-be-sure +though I thought it was, and so did Brother Cameron; and so did you. +But I don't know--" And the old man took his seat. + +After a long silence, one or two offered suggestions but could not +help matters. Rev. Cameron was called for and tried to speak +encouragingly, but it was hard work, and it seemed that the plans were +coming to an inglorious end, when Clara Wilson sprang to her feet. + +"I'm not a bit surprised at this," she said, while the young people, +forgetting the praise they had just bestowed upon George Udell, thought +that her rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes were caused by her excitement. +"I don't wonder that the business men won't go into such a scheme. +They haven't any faith in it. It isn't so much that they've not got +the money or don't want to help, but it's because they don't trust the +church. They have seen so many things started, and have supported so +many, and still no real good comes of it, that they're all afraid. +They put money into their lodges because they see the results there. +I believe there has been more wealth put into the churches than has +ever been put into lodges; but all we've got to show for it is fine +organs, fine windows, and fine talk, while the lodges do practical +work. We can't expect folks to take hold of our plan until we show +what we are going to do. We are starting at the wrong end. We haven't +done anything ourselves yet. I wish I was a man, I'd show you," with +a snap of her black eyes. + +"Yo're a pretty good feller if you ain't a man," chuckled Uncle Bobbie. +This raised a laugh and made them all feel better. + +"That's all right; you can laugh if you want to," said Clara, "but I +tell you we can do it if we have a mind to. Why, there is enough jewelry +here tonight to raise more than half the amount. Let's not give up now +that we've gone so far. Let's have a big meeting of the Society, and +have speeches, and tell what has been done, and see what we can raise. +Just make the people believe we are going to have this thing anyway. +Mr. President, I move you that we have an open meeting of the Society +one week from next Sunday, and that a special committee be appointed +to work up a good program." + +Cameron jumped to his feet. "With all my heart, I second that motion." +And before the president could speak, a storm of Ayes was followed by +prolonged applause. Clara was promptly named chairman of the committee, +and in a few minutes they were trooping from the building, out into +the storm, but with warm hearts and merry voices. + +George Udell had not been to call on Miss Wilson since the night he +found the man frozen in the streets. Indeed, he had not even spoken +to her since the funeral. He had seen her though, once when she had +met him on the street with several friends, and several times when he +had glanced up from his work by the window as she had passed the office. +All this was strange to Clara. What could be the matter? George had +never acted so before. She wanted to talk to him about the incident +of that stormy night when they had parted so abruptly. She wanted him +to know how proud she was that he had proven so kind in the matter of +the funeral. "What a warm heart he has beneath all his harsh speeches," +she thought; and could not help but contrast him, much to his credit, +with many professed Christians she knew. And then, Mr. Wicks had spoken, +in the business meeting, of his generosity, and had talked so strongly +of his goodness; no wonder her cheeks burned with pride, while her +heart whispered strange things. + +When the young woman had said Good-night to her companions, after the +meeting, and had shut herself in her room, she asked again and again, +was she right in always saying No? Was she not unnecessarily cruel to +the friend who had shown, and was showing himself, so worthy of her +love? Oh why was he not a Christian? And when Mrs. Wilson crept into +her daughter's room that night, to get an extra comfort from the closet, +to put over the little boy's crib, she was much surprised to see a big +tear, that glistened in the light of the lamp, roll from beneath the +dark lashes, as her eldest child lay sobbing in her sleep. + +The next morning the girl was strangely silent and went about her work +without the usual cheery whistle--for Clara would whistle; it was her +only musical accomplishment. But toward noon, after arousing from a +prolonged spell of silent staring into the fire, during which her +mother tried in vain to draw her into conversation, she suddenly became +her own bright self again, and went about getting dinner in her usual +manner. Then when the dishes were washed, she appeared in her street +dress and hat. + +"Land sakes alive, child, you aint going out to-day, be you?" said +Mrs. Wilson, her hands on her hips, in her usual attitude of amazement +or wrath. + +"Yes mother, I've got a little business down-town that I can't put +off. I won't be gone long. Is there anything that I can do for you?" + +"But look how it's snowing; you'll be wet through and catch your death +sure. I wish to goodness you'd have more sense and try to take some +care of yourself." + +"Not the first time I've been wet. The walk will do me good." And soon +the determined young lady was pushing her way through the snow and +wind toward the business part of the city. + +The boy in the printing office had gone out on an errand and George +and Dick were both at the composing case, setting up a local +politician's speech, which was to be issued in the form of a circular, +when Clara walked in, stamping her feet and shaking the snow from her +umbrella and skirt. Udell started forward. + +"Great shade of the immortal Benjamin F!" he shouted. "What in the +name of all that's decent are you doing here?" And he placed a chair +near the stove with one hand as he captured the umbrella with the +other. + +"I'm going to get warm just now," Clara replied, with an odd little +laugh, and Dick noticed that the wind, or cold, or something, had made +her face very red. "Come here and sit down," she commanded. "I want +to talk business to you. Don't stand there as though you had never +seen me before." + +"Well, it has been ages since I saw you," he declared, seating himself +on the edge of the waste-box. + +"Yes, all of twenty-four hours. I passed you yesterday and you looked +me right in the face, and never even said 'Howdy.' If you were anyone +else, George Udell, I'd make you wait awhile before you got another +chance to do me that way." + +George drummed on the edge of the box and whistled softly. Then looking +anxiously toward Dick, said: "How are you getting along with that +stuff, old man?" + +"Almost through," answered Dick, with a never-to-be-forgotten wink. +"But I believe I'll run off those dodgers on the big press, and let +you finish the politics." + +"All right, I reckon that'll be better," answered Udell; and soon the +whir of the motor, and the stamp of the press filled the room. + +"We are awfully busy now," said Udell, turning to Clara again. +"I ought to be at work this minute." + +"Why haven't you been to see me, George?" persisted the girl, a strange +light coming into her eyes. "There are so many things I want to talk +to you about." + +"Thought I'd let you come and see me awhile; turn about is fair play. +Besides, I don't think it would be safe in this cold weather. It's +chilly enough business even in the summer time." + +Clara held out manfully--or--womanly--"George Udell; you knew very +well that I would come here if you staid away from my home; and it's +real mean of you, when you knew how bad I wanted to see you, to make +me come out in all this snow." + +George looked troubled. "I'll take my death of cold, and then how'll +you feel?--" George looked still more worried--"I've not felt very +well lately anyway--" George looked frightened; "and I--came all the +way--down here--just to see what was the matter." The printer looked +happy. "And now you don't want me to stay, and I'll go home again." +She moved toward her umbrella, Udell got it first. Whir--Whir--went +the motor, and clank--clank--clank--sounded the press. Dick was feeding +the machine and must necessarily keep his eyes on his work, while the +noise prevented any stray bits of the conversation from reaching his +ears. Besides this, Dick was just now full of sympathy. Clara let go +her end of the umbrella, and George, with an exaggerated expression +of rapture on his face, kissed the place where her hand had held it. +The young lady tried to frown and look disgusted. Then for several +moments neither spoke. At last Clara said, "I wanted to tell you how +proud and glad I am of the things you have been doing. You are a good +man, George, to take care of that poor dead boy the way you did." + +"Why, you see I had a sort of fellow-feeling for him," muttered the +printer. "I had just been frosted myself." + +"And that Young People's Society business, it is just grand," went on +Clara. "Only think, you have given more than all the church members +even." + +Udell grunted, "No danger of me losing on that offer. They'll never +raise the rest." + +"Oh yes we will. I'm chairman of the committee." And then she told him +of the meeting, and how Uncle Bobbie had praised him. + +Udell felt his heart thaw rapidly, and the two chatted away as though +no chilly blast had ever come between them. + +"And yet, Clara, with all your professed love for me, you won't allow +me a single privilege of a lover, and I can have no hope of the future. +It had better stop now." + +"Very well, George; it can stop now if you like; but I never could +have lived without talking it out with you and telling you how glad +I am for your gift to the Society." + +"Look here, don't you go and make any mistakes on that line. I'm giving +nothing to the Society or the church. That bit of land goes to the +poor, cold, hungry fellows, who are down on their luck, like Dick here +was. I tell you what though, Clara, if you'll say yes, I'll add the +house and enough to furnish it besides." + +The girl hesitated for just a moment. Here was temptation added to +temptation. Then she pulled on her rubbers and rose to go. "No, George, +No, I cannot. You know you would not need to buy me if I felt it right +to say yes." + +"But I'm going to keep on asking you just the same," said George. +"You won't get angry if I keep it up, will you?" + +"I--guess--not. I feel rather badly when you don't. I don't like to +say no; but I would feel awful if you didn't give me a chance to say +it. Good-bye George." + +"Good-bye dearest. You can't forbid me loving you anyway, and some day +you'll take me for what I am." + +Clara shook her head. "You know," she said. + +As the door closed, Dick wheeled around from the press, holding out +his ink-stained hand to George. + +"What's the matter?" said the other wonderingly, but grasping the +outstretched hand of his helper. + +"I want to shake hands with a man, that's all," said Dick. "Why don't +you join the church and win her?" + +"Because if I did that I wouldn't be worthy of her," said George. + +"You have strange ideas for this day and age." + +"Yes, I know; but I can't help it; wish I could." + +"You're a better man than half the church members." + +George shook his head. "It won't do, Dickie, and you know it as well +as I. That's too big a thing to go into for anything but itself. What +is it mother used to say? No other Gods before me, or something like +that." + +And Dick said to himself as he turned back to the press, "I have indeed, +shaken hands with a man." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +The night was at hand when the young people were to hold their special +meeting in the interest of the new movement. Clara Wilson had worked +incessantly, and when at last the evening arrived, was calm and well +satisfied. Whether the effort proved a success or not, she would be +content, for she had done her best. + +The incident of the man found frozen to death on the steps of the +church, still so fresh in the minds of the citizens, the flying rumors +about Dick's visit to the Society, and the plans of the young people, +all served to arouse public curiosity to such a pitch that the place +of meeting was crowded, many even standing in the rear of the room. +After the opening services, which were very impressive but short, and +the purpose of the Society and the proposed plan of work had been fully +explained, Uncle Bobbie told, in his simple way, of the work that had +been done; how the young people had called on him; how they had gone +from house to house, through the cold and snow; and how he had +interviewed the business men, many of whom he saw in the audience. +"To-be-sure," he said, "I don't suppose you understood the matter fully +or you would have been glad to help; but we'll give ye another chance +in a minute." Then he told of the last business meeting; how they were +encouraged when the reports came in that the citizens had responded +so liberally; and how he had been forced to tell them that he had met +with nothing but failure in his attempt to secure a house. "I just +tell you, it made my old heart ache to see them young folks tryin' to +do some practical work for Christ, come up agin a stump like that. I +wish you church members could have seen 'em and heard 'em pray. I tell +you it was like Heaven; that's what it was; with the angels weepin' +over us poor sinners 'cause we won't do our duty." + +The old gentleman finished, amid a silence that was almost painful, +while many were leaning eagerly forward in their seats. The great +audience was impressed by the scheme and work so practical and +Christ-like. This was no theory, no doctrine of men, no dogma of a +denomination. + +The pastor of the Jerusalem Church stepped to the front of the rostrum +and raised his hand. Without a word the people reverently bowed their +heads. After a moment of silent prayer, the minister voiced the +unuttered words of all, in a few short sentences: "God help us to help +others," and then in clear, earnest tones began to speak. He recalled +to their minds the Saviour of men, as he walked and talked in Galilee. +He pictured the Christ feeding the hungry and healing the sick. He +made them hear again the voice that spake as never man spake before, +giving forth that wonderful sermon on the mount, and pronouncing his +blessing on the poor and merciful. Again the audience stood with the +Master when he wept at the grave of Lazarus, and with him sat at the +last supper, when he introduced the simple memorial of his death and +love. Then walking with him across the brook Kedron, they entered the +shadows of the Olive trees and heard the Saviour pray while his +disciples slept. "If it be possible, let this cup pass from me. +Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done." And then they stood +with the Jewish mob, clamoring for his blood; and later with the Roman +soldiery, grouped at the foot of the cross, where hung the brother of +men, and heard that wonderful testimony of his undying love. "Father +forgive them, they know not what they do." Then under the spell of +Cameron's speech, they looked into the empty tomb and felt their hearts +throb in ecstasy, as the full meaning of that silent vault burst upon +them. Looking up they saw their risen Lord seated at the right hand +of the Father, glorified with the glory that was his in the beginning; +and then, then, they looked where the Master pointed, to the starving, +shivering, naked ones of earth, and heard with new understanding, those +oft repeated words, "Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of +these, ye did it unto me." "Men and brethren," cried the pastor, +stretching out his arms in the earnestness of his appeal, "what shall +we do? Shall there be no place in all this city where the least of +these may find help in the name of our common Master? Must our brothers +perish with cold and hunger because we close the doors of the Saviour's +church against them? These young people, led by a deep desire to do +God's will, have gone as far as they can alone. Their plan has been +carefully studied by good business men and pronounced practical in +every way. They have the promised support of the merchants in supplying +material. They have the promised patronage of the citizens; and a man, +not a professed Christian, but with a heart that feels for suffering +humanity has given the land. In the name of Jesus, to help the least +of these, won't you buy the house?" + +The deacons, with the baskets and paper and pencils, started through +the congregation. In a moment Mr. Godfrey went back to Cameron and +placed something in his hand. The pastor, after listening a moment to +the whispered words of his officer, turned to the audience and said: +"At our last meeting, one of the young people made the remark that +there were jewels enough on the persons of those present to pay half +the amount needed. Brother Godfrey has just handed me this diamond +ring, worth I should say, between forty and fifty dollars. It was +dropped into the basket by a member of the Young People's Society. +Friends, do you need any more proof that these young folks are in +earnest?" + +At last the offering was taken, and the deacons reported one thousand +dollars in cash, and pledges, payable at once. "And perhaps," said the +leader, "I ought to say, in jewelry also." And he held up to the gaze +of the audience a handful of finger rings, scarf-pins, ear-rings and +ornaments, and a gold watch, in the ease of which was set a tiny +diamond. + +Again for a moment a deep hush fell over the vast congregation as they +sat awed by this evidence of earnestness. Then the minister raised his +voice in prayer that God would bless the offering and use it in his +service, and the audience was dismissed. + +Dick did not sleep well that night. Something Cameron had said in his +talk, together with the remarkable gifts of the young people, had +impressed him. He had gone to the church more from curiosity than +anything, and had come away with a feeling of respect for Christians, +that was new to him. As he thought of the jewelry, given without the +display of name or show of hands, he said to himself, "Surely these +people are in earnest." Then, too, under the spell of Cameron's talk, +he saw always before him the figure of the Christ as he lived his life +of sacrifice and love, and heard him command, "Follow thou me." In the +meantime at the church he had seen people doing just that, following +Him; doing as He did; and the whole thing impressed him as nothing had +ever done before. So, when he went to the office next morning and found +Udell strangely silent and apparently in a brown study, he was not at +all surprised, and asked, "What's the matter, George? Didn't you sleep +well last night either? Or did the thoughts of having been so generous +with your property keep you awake?" + +"The property hasn't anything to do with it," answered Udell. "It's +what that preacher said; and not so much that either, I guess, as what +those young folks did. I've been thinking about that handful of jewelry; +if I hadn't seen it I wouldn't have believed it. Say, do you know that +a few sermons like those gold trinkets would do more to convert the +world than all the theological seminaries that ever bewildered the +brains of poor preachers?" + +"Right you are, George, but is it true?" + +"Is what true?" asked the other. + +"Why, what Cameron said about Christ being the Saviour of men, and all +that." + +The printer paused in his work. "What do _you_ say?" he asked as last, +without answering Dick's question. + +"Well," answered Dick slowly, "I've tried hard for several years, to +make an infidel of myself, because I couldn't stand the professions +of the church, and their way of doing things. But that meeting last +night was different, and I was forced to the conclusion, in spite of +myself, that Cameron spoke the truth, and that Christ is what he claimed +to be, the Saviour of mankind, in the truest, fullest sense of the +word. I'm sure of this. I have always wished that it were true, and +have always believed that the Christian life, as Christ taught it, +would be the happiest life on earth. But there's the rub. Where can +a fellow go to live the life, and why are you and I not living it as +well as the people who have their names on the church books? Must I +join a company of canting hypocrites in order to get to Heaven?" + +"Seems to me that word is a little strong for those who put up their +rings and stuff last night," said Udell; "and anyway, I know one in +the crowd who was in earnest." + +"You are right, George," returned Dick. "I spoke harshly. I know there +are earnest ones in the church, but I don't see how they stand it. But +you're dodging my question. Do you believe in Christ as the Saviour +of men?" + +"Folks say that I'm an infidel," answered George. + +"I don't care what folks say, I want to know what you think about it." + +"I don't know," said George. "Sometimes, when I listen to the preachers, +I get so befuddled and mixed up that there's nothing but a big pile +of chaff, with now and then a few stray grains of truth, and the parson +keeps the air so full of the dust and dirt that you'd rather he wouldn't +hunt for the grain of truth at all. Then I'm an infidel. And again I +see something like that last night, and I believe it must be true. And +then I think of Clara, and am afraid to believe because I fear it's +the girl and not the truth I'm after. You see, I want to believe so +bad that I'm afraid I'll make myself believe what I don't believe. +There, now you can untangle that while you run off that batch of cards. +It's half-past eight now and we have not done a blessed thing this +morning." He turned resolutely to his task of setting up another speech +for the local politician. + +"George, what in the world does this mean?" asked Dick, about two hours +later, holding up a proof sheet that he had just taken from the form +George had placed on the stone, and reading: "When Patrick Henry said, +Give me liberty or give me Clara, he voiced a sentiment of every +American church member." + +George flushed. "Guess you'd better set up the rest of this matter," +he said gruffly. "I'll run the press awhile." He laid down his stick +and put the composing case between himself and Dick as soon as possible. + +"That bloomin' politician must be crazy," said the boy, as he scrubbed +wearily at an inky roller, with a dirty rag. "Old Pat. Henry never +said no such stuff as that, did he George?" + +"You dry up," was all the answer he received. + +All that week and the week following, Dick's mind fastened itself upon +the proposition: Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and the Saviour of +men. At intervals during working hours at the office, he argued the +question with Udell, who after his strange rendering of the great +statesman's famous speech, had relapsed into infidelity, and with all +the strength of his mind, opposed Dick in his growing belief. The +evenings were spent with Charlie Bowen, in discussing the same question. +And here it was Charlie who assumed the affirmative and Dick as stoutly +championed Udell's position. At last, one day when Dick had driven his +employer into a corner, the latter ended the debate forever, by saying +rather sharply, "Well, if I believed as you do, I'd stand before men +and say so. No matter what other folks believed, did or said, if a man +was so good as to give me all the things that you say Christ has given +to the world, I would stand by him, dead or alive. And I don't see why +you can't be as honest with Him as you are with men." And Charlie +clinched the matter that evening by saying, "Dick, if I thought you +really believed your own arguments, I wouldn't talk with you five +minutes, for the doctrine you are teaching is the most hopeless thing +on earth. But I can't help feeling that if you would be as honest with +yourself as you are with others, you wouldn't take that side of the +question. Suppose you preach awhile from your favorite, Shakespeare, +taking for your text, 'This above all, To thine own self be true, and +it must follow as the night the day. Thou canst not then be false to +any man.'" + +There were no more arguments after that, but Dick went over in his +mind the experience of the past; how he had seen, again and again, +professed Christians proving untrue to their Christ. He looked at the +church, proud, haughty, cold, standing in the very midst of sin and +suffering, and saying only, "I am holier than thou." He remembered his +first evening in Boyd City, and his reception after prayer-meeting, +at the church on the avenue, and his whole nature revolted at the +thought of becoming one of them. Then he remembered that meeting of +the Young People and the unmistakable evidence of their love, and the +words of Uncle Bobbie Wicks in the printing office that rainy night: +"You'll find out, same as I have, that it don't matter how much the +other fellow dabbles in the dirt, you've got to keep your hands clean +anyway. And it aint the question whether the other fellow is mean or +not, but am I living square?" + +And so it was, that when he went to church Sunday evening, his heart +was torn with conflicting emotions, and he slipped into a seat in the +rear of the building, when the ushers were all busy, so that even +Charlie did not know he was there. Cameron's sermon was from the text, +"What is that to thee? Follow thou me." And as he went on with his +sermon, pointing out the evils of the church, saying the very things +that Dick had said to himself again and again, but always calling the +mind of his hearers back to the words of Jesus, "What is that to thee? +Follow thou me," Dick felt his objections vanish, one by one, and the +great truth alone remain. The minister brought his talk to a close, +with an earnest appeal for those who recognized the evils that existed +in the church, because it was not following Christ as closely as it +ought, to come and help right the wrongs, Dick arose, went forward, +and in a firm voice, answered the question put by the minister, thus +declaring before men his belief in Christ as the Son of God, and +accepting Him as his personal Saviour. + +As he stood there, the audience was forgotten. The past, with all its +mistakes and suffering, its doubt and sin, came before him for an +instant, then vanished, and his heart leaped for joy, because he knew +that it was gone forever. And the future, made beautiful by the presence +of Christ and the conviction that he was right with God, stretched +away as a path leading ever upward, until it was lost in the glories +of the life to come, while he heard, as in a dream, the words of his +confessed Master, "Follow: thou me." + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +George was busy in the stock room getting out some paper for a lot of +circulars that Dick had just finished setting up, when the door opened +and Amy Goodrich entered. "Good Morning, Mr. Falkner," as Dick left +his work and went forward to greet her. "I must have some new calling +cards. Can you get them ready for me by two o'clock this afternoon? +Mamma and I had planned to make some calls and I only discovered last +night that I was out of cards. You have the plate here in the office, +I believe." + +"Yes," said Dick, "the plate is here. I guess we can have them ready +for you by that time." + +"And Mr. Falkner," said the girl, "I want to tell you how glad I was +when you took the stand you did Sunday night." + +Dick's face flushed and he looked at her keenly. "I have thought for +a long time, that you would become a Christian, and have often wondered +why you waited. The church needs young men and you can do so much +good." + +"You are very kind." said Dick, politely. "I am sure that your interest +will be a great inspiration to me, and I shall need all the help I can +get. In fact, we all do, I guess." + +A shadow crossed the lovely face, and a mist dimmed the brightness of +the brown eyes for a moment before she replied. "Yes, we do need help; +all of us; and I am sure you will aid many. Will you enter the +ministry?" + +"Enter the ministry," replied Dick, forgetting his studied coolness +of manner. "What in the world suggested that? Do I look like a +preacher?" + +They both laughed heartily. + +"Well no, I can't say that you do. At least I wouldn't advise you to +go into the pulpit with that apron and that cap on; and the spot of +ink on the end of your nose is not very dignified." + +Dick hastily applied his handkerchief to the spot, while Amy, like a +true woman, stood laughing at his confusion. "But seriously," she +added, after a moment, "I was not joking. I do think you could do grand +work if you were to enter the field. Somehow, I have always felt that +you exerted a powerful influence over all with whom you came in touch. +Let me make a prophecy; you will yet be a preacher of the Gospel." + +"I'm sure," said Dick, "that if I truly came to believe it to be my +work, I would not refuse. But that is a question which time alone can +answer. Do you remember the first time we met?" + +"Indeed I do," the girl replied, laughing again. "It was right here, +and you met with an accident at the same time." + +Dick's face grew red again. "I should say I did," he muttered. +"I acted like a frightened fool." + +"Oh, but you redeemed yourself beautifully though. I have one of those +little books yet. I shall always keep it; and when you get to be a +famous preacher, I'll exhibit my treasure, and tell how the Rev. Mr. +Richard Falkner sat up late one night to design the cover for me, when +he was only a poor printer." + +"Yes," retorted Dick, "and I'll tell the world how I went to my first +church social, and what a charming young lady I met, who told me how +much I reminded her of someone she knew." + +It was Amy's time to blush now, and she did so very prettily as she +hurriedly said, "Let's change the subject. I ought not to be keeping +you from your work. Mr. Udell will be asking me to stay away from the +office." + +"Oh, we're not rushed today," said Dick, hastily, "and I'll make up +all lost time." + +"So you consider this lost time, do you?" with a quick little bow. +"Thank you, then it's surely time for me to go;" and she turned to +leave the room, but Dick checked her. + +"Oh, Miss Goodrich, you know I did not mean that." Something in his +voice made her eyes drop as he added, "You don't know how much I enjoy +talking with you; not that I have had many such pleasures though, but +just a word helps me more than I can say." He stopped, because he dare +not go farther, and wondered at himself that he had said even so much. + +"Do you really mean, Mr. Falkner, that you care at all for my +friendship?" + +"More than the friendship of any one in the world," he replied, +earnestly. + +"Why?" + +Dick was startled and turned away his head lest his eyes reveal too +much. "Because," he said slowly, "your friendship is good for me and +makes me want to do great things." + +"And yet, if I were not a member of the church you would not think +that way." + +"I would think that way, no matter what you were," said Dick. + +"You would still value my friendship if I should do some awful wicked +thing?" she asked. "Suppose I should leave the church, or run away, +or steal, or kill somebody, or do something real terrible?" + +Dick smiled and shook his head. "Nothing you could ever do would make +me change. But tell me," he added; "you're not thinking of giving up +your church work, are you?" + +"Why do you ask?" said she quickly. + +"You'll pardon me won't you, if I tell you. I can't help noticing that +you are not so much at the meetings of the Society as you were; and +that--well--you don't seem--somehow--to take the interest you did. And +you have given up your class at the South Broadway Mission." + +"How do you know that?" + +"I asked Brother Cameron if there was any place for me out there, and +he said, yes, that your class was without a teacher now." + +"So you are to have my boys at the Mission. Oh, I am so glad." And her +eyes filled. "Don't let them forget me altogether, Mr. Falkner." + +"But won't you come back and teach them yourself?" + +"No, no; you do not understand; I must give it up. But you'll do better +than I anyway, because you can get closer to them. You understand that +life so well." + +"Yes," he said, very soberly. "I do understand that life very well +indeed." + +"Oh, forgive me, I didn't mean to pain you." She laid her hand timidly +on his arm. "I admire you so much for what you have overcome, and +that's what makes me say that you can do a great deal, now that you +are through with it. You must forget those things that are behind, you +know." + +"Yes," murmured Dick, "those things _are_ behind, and I can do all +things through Him; but may I also have the help of thinking of you +as my friend?" + +Amy blushed again. "Please notice," said Dick, quietly, "I said of +_thinking_ of you as my friend." + +The girl put out her hand. "Mr. Falkner, just as long as you wish, you +may think of me as your friend. But I want you to pray for me, that +I may be worthy your friendship, for I too, have my battles to fight." +And she smiled. "Good-bye. You were so funny when you fell off the +stool that day, but I like you better as you are now." Then suddenly +the room grew dark and close, and as Dick turned again to his work, +he heard a voice within whispering, "Only in your thoughts can she be +your friend." + +Adam Goodrich was just coming out of the express office, which was in +the same block as the printing establishment, when he saw his daughter +leave the building and cross the street. All that day the incident +persisted in forcing itself upon his mind, and that night, after the +younger members of the family had retired, and he and Mrs Goodrich +were alone, he laid aside his evening paper and asked, "What was Amy +doing at Udell's place today?" + +"She went to have some calling cards printed. Why, what made you ask?" + +"Oh nothing. I saw her coming from the building, and I wondered what +she was doing there, that's all." He picked up his paper again, but +in a moment laid it down once more. "That fellow Falkner joined the +church last Sunday night." + +"So Frank told me," answered Mrs. Goodrich. "I do wish Rev. Cameron +would be more careful. He gets so many such characters into the church. +Why can't he keep them out at the Mission where they belong, and not +force us to associate with them?" + +Mr. Goodrich spoke again. "I suppose he will be active in the Young +People's Society now. Does Amy still take as much interest there as +she did?" + +"Oh no, not nearly as much as she used to. I have tried to show her +that it was not her place to mix in that kind of work, and she's +beginning to understand her position, and to see that she can't afford +to lower herself and us, by running after such people. I don't +understand where she gets such low tastes." + +"She don't get them from the Goodrich's, I'm sure," answered Adam. +"You know _our_ family was never guilty of anything that could +compromise their standing in society." + +"Well, she will outgrow it all in time, I am sure. I have been as +careful in her training as I could, Mr. Goodrich. It is a hard task +to raise girls, and make them understand their position when they're +Amy's age; but she's taking up her social duties again now. We are to +make some calls tomorrow, and Thursday night, she has accepted an +invitation to the card party at Mrs. Lansdown's; and Mr. Whitley has +called frequently of late. I have great hopes, for she seems to be +quite interested in him." + +"Yes," agreed Adam. "Whitley is worth while; he is of a good family, +and without doubt, the richest man in Boyd City. It would be a great +thing for us. It's time he was thinking about a wife too. He must be +well on toward forty." + +"Oh dear no; he can't be more than thirty-five; he was quite young +when he went abroad, and you remember that was only five years ago." + +"Well, well, it's no matter; he's young enough. But does she see much +of that printer of Udell's?" + +"Why, of course not; what a question. She would have nothing to do +with him." + +"But she has met him at the socials and in the Society. He would +naturally pose as a sort of hero, for he was the one who suggested +that fool plan that Cameron is working on; and now that he has joined +the church, she must see more or less of him. I tell you, he's a sharp +fellow. Look how he has been quietly worming himself into decent society +since he got hold of that reading room. There is no knowing what such +a man will do, and Amy naturally would be a good mark for him." + +"I'm sure I am doing the best I can," faltered Mrs. Goodrich; "but +you'd better talk to her yourself; with Mr. Whitley so interested, we +must be careful. I do wish she would be more like Frank. He has never +given us a moment's trouble." + +"Yes," said the father, with no little pride manifest in his voice and +manner. "Frank is a Goodrich through and through. Amy seems to take +more after your people." + +Mrs. Goodrich sighed. "I'm sorry, but I don't see how I can help it." + +The next day, after dinner, Mr. Goodrich found his daughter alone in +the library, where she had gone with a bit of fancy work, which girls +manage to have always about them. "Frank tells me that Mr. Falkner has +united with the church," he remarked, carelessly. + +"Yes," said Amy, "I am so glad. The church needs such young men, I +think." + +"He is quite a shrewd fellow, isn't he?" continued her father." + +"He's very intelligent, I'm sure. You know it was he who proposed the +plan for our new institution, and Mr. Wicks and Brother Cameron think +it is very fine." + +"Does he use good language in his conversation?" + +"Oh yes sir, indeed. He is a very interesting talker. He has traveled +so much, and read almost everything. I tell him I think he ought to +preach." + +"Hum. And will he, do you think?" + +"He said he would if he were convinced it was his work." + +"Where did he live before he came here?" + +"Oh, he has lived in nearly all the big cities. He was in Kansas City +last." + +"And what did his father do?" + +"His mother died when he was a little boy, and his father drank himself +to death, or something. He won't talk about his family much. He did +say though, that his father was a mechanic. I believe that he tells +Mr. Udell more about his past than anyone." + +"And did Udell tell you all this?" + +"No," answered Amy, who suddenly saw what was coming. + +"How do you know so much about him then?" + +"He told me." + +"Indeed. You seem to be on very good terms with this hero. How long +were you at the printing office yesterday? I saw you leaving the +building." + +Amy was silent, but her burning cheeks convinced her father that he +had cause to be alarmed. + +"Did you talk with him when you were there?" + +"Yes sir; he waited on me." + +"And do you think it is a credit to your family to be so intimate with +a tramp who was kicked out of my place of business?" + +"Oh father, that is not true--I mean, sir, that you do not +understand--Mr. Falkner is not a tramp. He was out of work and applied +to you for a place. Surely that is not dishonest. And that he wanted +to work for you ought not to be used against him. He has never in any +way shown himself anything but a gentleman, and is much more modest +and intelligent than many of the young men in Boyd City who have fine +homes. I am sure we ought not to blame him because he has to fight his +own way in the world, instead of always having things brought to him. +If you knew him better, you wouldn't talk so." She spoke rapidly in +her excitement. + +"You seem to know him very well when you champion him so strongly that +you call your own father a liar," replied Adam, harshly. + +"Oh papa," said Amy, now in tears. "I did not mean to say that. I only +meant that you were mistaken because you did not know. I cannot help +talking to Mr. Falkner when I meet him in the Young People's Society. +I have not been anywhere in his company, and only just speak a few +words when we do meet. You wouldn't have me refuse to recognize him +in the church, would you? Surely, father, Christ wants us to be helpful, +doesn't he?" + +"Christ has nothing to do with this case," said Adam. "I simply will +not have my daughter associating with such characters; and another +thing, you must give up that Mission business. I believe that's where +you get these strange ideas." + +"I have already given up my work there," said Amy, sadly. "Mr. +Falkner has taken my class." + +"Which is just the place for him. But don't you go there again. And +if you have any printing that must be done at Udell's, send it by +Frank, or someone. You understand, I forbid you to have any conversation +whatever with that man. I'll see if such fellows are going to work +themselves into my family." + +Amy's face grew crimson again. "You must learn," went on the angry +parent, "that the church is a place for you to listen to a sermon, and +that it's the preacher's business to look after all these other details; +that's what we hire him for. Let him get people from the lower classes +to do his dirty work; he shan't have my daughter. Christianity is all +right, and I trust I'm as good a Christian as anyone; but a man need +not make a fool of himself to get to Heaven, and I'm only looking out +for my own family's interest. If you wish to please me you will drop +this Young People's foolishness altogether, and go more into society. +I wish you would follow Frank's example. He is a good church member +but he don't let it interfere with his best interests. He has plenty +of friends and chooses his associates among the first families in the +city. _He_ don't think it necessary to take up with every vagabond +Cameron chooses to drag into the church. Remember, it must stop." And +the careful father took his hat and left for the place on Broadway, +where on the shelves and behind the counters of his hardware store he +kept the God he really worshipped. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +The year following Dick's stand for Christianity, an open air theater +was established in the park on West Fourth Street, near the outskirts +of the city, which was advertised by its enterprising manager as a +very respectable place, well looked after by the police. It is true +that the shows were but cheap variety and vulgar burlesque, and of +course liquor, as well as more harmless drinks, was sold freely; and +equally of course, the lowest of the criminal classes were regular +attendants. But, with all that, there was something terribly fascinating +in the freedom of the place. And all too often, on a Sunday evening, +while the pure, fragrant air of summer was polluted by the fumes of +tobacco and beer, while low plays were enacted on the stage, and the +sound of drunken laugh or shout went out, young men and women mingled, +half frightened, in the careless throng. + +Among a certain set of Boyd City's gay young society people, to spend +an evening at the park was just the thing to do; and often they might +be seen grouped about the tables, sipping their refreshments, while +laughing at the actors on the stage, or chatting and joking among +themselves. + +On an evening in August, when our chapter opens, one such party was +even gayer than usual, and attracted no little attention from the +frequenters of the place, as well as the employes. Waiters winked at +each other and made remarks, as they hurried to and fro attending to +the wants of their guests, while people with less wealth looked on in +envy at the glittering show. The gentlemen were in evening dress, the +ladies gowned in the latest fashion, jewels and trinkets flashed, eyes +sparkled, cheeks glowed, as story and jest went round, while the ladies +sipped their refreshing sodas and the men drank their wine. + +One of the younger girls seemed a little frightened for a moment as +she caught the eye of a waiter fastened upon her in anything but a +respectful glance, and gave the fellow such a look in return that he +dropped a napkin in his confusion. "I tell you, Bill," he said to his +companion at the bar, where he had gone to get more drinks for the +company, "that's a fast lot all right, but there's one in the bunch +that can't go the pace." + +But the waiter was evidently mistaken, for that same girl, after a +glance around which revealed to her that she and her companions were +the center of all eyes, tossed her head as though getting rid of some +unpleasant thoughts, and turning to her escort, with a reckless laugh, +asked him why he kept the best for himself. "I don't think it fair, +girls," she declared in a loud voice. "We have as good a right to that +nice wine as the boys have. I move that we make them treat us as well +as they treat themselves." + +"Done," cried one of the men before the others could object, even had +they so desired; and in a moment another bottle, with more glasses, +was set before them. The girl who had proposed the thing only drank +a little. Something seemed to choke her when she lifted the glass to +her lips, and she set it down again almost untasted. "Ugh," she said, +"I don't like it," and a laugh went around at her expense. + +"Take it. Take it. You must. You started it you know." + +"I can't," she protested. "Here Jim," to her companion, who had already +taken more than was good for him. "You must help me out." And she +handed him the glass. + +"Glad to help a lady always," he declared. "Notisch please, gen'lemen, +I set y' good example. Alwaysh come to the rescue of fair ones in +trouble--" He drained the glass. "Anybody else in trouble?" he said, +looking around the table with a half tipsy grin. But the other girls +had no scruples and drank their wine without a protest. + +At last the party discovered that it was time to go home, and indeed +the garden was almost deserted. One of the girls proposed that they +walk, it was such a beautiful night; and accordingly they set out, two +and two; the men reckless with wine; the ladies flushed and excited; +all singing and laughing. Not far from the park entrance, the girl who +had proposed the wine, and her companion, who was by this time more +than half intoxicated, dropped a little behind the others and soon +turned down a side street. + +"This is not the way, Jim," she said, in a tone of laughing protest. + +"Oh yesh 'tis. I know where'm goin'. Come 'long." And he caught her +by the arm. "Nicesh place down here where we can stop and resht," and +he staggered against her. + +"But I want to go home, Jim," her tone of laughing protest changed to +one of earnestness. "Father will be looking for me." + +"Hang father," said the other. "Old man don't know. Come on I tell +you." And he tried to put his arm about her waist. + +The girl was frightened now in earnest. "Stop sir," she said. + +"Why? Whash ze matter m' dear?" stammered the other. "Whash ze +harm--zash all--I'll take care you all right--Ol' man never know." And +again he clutched her arm. + +This was too much, and giving the drunken wretch a push, which sent +him tumbling into the gutter, where cursing fiercely he struggled to +regain his feet, the frightened girl, without pausing to see his +condition, or listening to his calls and threats, fled down the street. +When her companion had at last managed to stagger to the sidewalk and +could look around by clinging to the fence, she was out of sight. He +called two or three times, and then swearing vilely, started in pursuit, +reeling from side to side. The frightened girl ran on and on, paying +no heed to her course, as she turned corner after corner her only +thought being to escape from her drunken and enraged companion. + +Meanwhile, Dick Falkner was making his way home after a delightful +evening at the parsonage, where he had talked with Cameron on the +veranda until a late hour. As he was walking leisurely along through +the quiet streets, past the dark houses, enjoying the coolness of the +evening and thinking of the things that he and Cameron had been +discussing, his ear caught a strange sound, that seemed to come from +within a half finished house on North Catalpa Street, near the railroad. +He paused a moment and listened. Surely he was not mistaken. There it +was again. The sound of someone sobbing. Stepping closer and peering +into the shadow, he saw a figure crouching behind a pile of lumber. +It was a woman. + +"I beg your pardon, madam, but can I be of any help to you?" + +She started to her feet with a little cry. "Don't be frightened," said +Dick, in a calm voice. "I am a gentleman. Come, let me help you." And +stepping into the shadow, he gently led her to the light, where she +stood trembling before him. "Tell me what--My God! Amy--I beg your +pardon--Miss Goodrich." + +"Oh Mr. Falkner," sobbed the poor girl, almost beside herself with +fear. "Don't let that man come near me. I want to go home. Oh, please +take me home?" + +"There, there," said Dick, controlling himself and speaking in a steady, +matter-of-fact tone. "Of course I'll see you home. Take my arm, please. +You need have no fear. You know I'll protect you." + +Calmed by his voice and manner, the girl ceased her sobbing and walked +quietly down the street by his side. + +Dick's mind was in a whirl. "Was he dreaming? How came she here at +such an hour. Who was she afraid of? By her dress, she had been to a +social party of some kind; what did it all mean? But he spoke no word +as they walked on together. + +"Oh look," exclaimed Amy, a few moments later, as they turned east on +Sixth Street; "there he is again. Oh Mr. Falkner, what shall I do? Let +me go." And she turned to run once more. + +Dick laid his hand on her arm. "Miss Goodrich, don't you know that you +are safe with me? Be calm and tell me what you fear." Something in his +touch brought Amy to herself again and she whispered: "Don't you see +that man standing there by the light?" She pointed to a figure leaning +against a telephone pole. + +"Well, what of it?" said Dick. "He won't hurt you." + +"Oh, but you don't understand. I ran away from him. He is drunk and +threatened me." + +Dick's form straightened and his face grew hard and cold. "Ran away +from him. Do you mean that that fellow insulted you, Miss Goodrich?" + +"I--I--was with him--and--he frightened me--" gasped Amy. "Let's go +the other way." + +But they were too late. Amy's former escort had seen them, and with +uncertain steps approached. "Oh, here you are," he said. "Thought I'd +find you, my beauty." + +Dick whispered to Amy in a tone she dared not disobey. "Stand right +where you are. Don't move. And you might watch that star over there. +Isn't it a beautiful one?" He deftly turned her so that she faced away +from the drunkard. Then with three long steps, he placed himself in +the way of the half-crazed man. + +"Who are you?" asked the fellow, with an oath. + +"None of your business," replied Dick, curtly. "I'm that girl's friend. +Go to the other side of the street." + +"Ho, I know you now," cried the other. "You're that bum printer of +Udell's. Get out of my way. That girl's a lady and I'm a gentleman. +She don't go with tramps. I'll see her home myself." + +Dick spoke again. "You may be a gentleman, but you are in no condition +to see anybody home. I'll tell you just once more; cross to the other +side of the street." + +The fellow's only answer was another string of vile oaths, which however +was never finished. + +In spite of herself, Amy turned just in time to see a revolver glisten +in the light of the electric lamp; then the owner of the revolver +rolled senseless in the gutter. + +"Miss Goodrich, I told you to watch that star. Don't you find it +beautiful?" Dick's voice was calm, with just a suggestion of mild +reproach. + +"Oh Mr. Falkner, have you killed him?" + +"Killed nothing. Come." And he led her quickly past the place where +the self-styled gentleman lay. "Just a moment," he said; and turning +back, he examined the fallen man. "Only stunned," he reported +cheerfully. "He'll have a sore head for a few days; that's all. I'll +send a cab to pick him up when we get down town." + +"Mr. Falkner," said Amy, when they had walked some distance in silence. +"I don't know what you think of finding me here at this hour, but I +don't want you to think me worse than I am." And then she told him the +whole story; how she had gone to the park with her friends to spend +the evening; and how they had a few refreshments. Dick ground his +teeth; he knew what those refreshments were. Then she told how her +companion had frightened her and she had run until she was exhausted +and had stopped to hide in the unfinished house. "Oh, what must you +think of me?" she said, at the point of breaking down again. + +"I think just as I always have," said Dick simply. "Please calm +yourself, you're safe now." Then to occupy her mind, he told her of +the work the Young People's Society was doing, and how they missed her +there and at the Mission. + +"But don't you find such things rather tiresome, you know?" she asked. +"There's not much life in those meetings seems to me; I wonder now how +I ever stood them." + +"You are very busy then?" asked Dick, hiding the pain her words caused +him. + +"Oh yes; with our whist club, box parties, dances and dinners, I'm so +tired out when Sunday comes I just want to sleep all day. But one must +look after one's social duties, you know, or be a nobody; and our set +is such a jolly crowd that there's always something going." + +"And you have forgotten your class at the Mission altogether?" Dick +asked. + +"Oh no, I saw one of the little beggars on the street this summer. It +was down near the Mission building, and don't you know, we were out +driving, a whole party of us, and the little rascal shouted: 'Howdy, +Miss Goodrich.' I thought I would faint. Just fancy. And the folks did +guy me good. The gentlemen wanted to know if he was one of my flames, +and the girls all begged to be introduced; and don't you know, I got +out of it by telling them that it was the child of a woman who scrubs +for us." + +Dick said nothing. "Could it be possible?" he asked himself, "that +this was the girl who had been such a worker in the church." And then +he thought of the change in his own life in the same period of time; +a change fully as great, though in another direction. "It don't take +long to go either way if one only has help enough," he said, half +aloud. + +"What are you saying, Mr. Falkner?" asked Amy. + +"It's not far home now," answered Dick, and they fell into silence +again. + +As they neared the Goodrich mansion, Amy clasped Dick's arm with both +her little hands: "Mr. Falkner, promise me that you will never speak +to a living soul about this evening." + +Dick looked her straight in the eyes. "I am a gentleman, Miss +Goodrich," was all he said. + +Then as they reached the steps of the house, she held out her hand. +"I thank you for your kindness--and please don't think of me too +harshly. I know I am not just the girl I was a year ago, but I--do you +remember our talk at the printing office?" + +"Every word," said Dick. + +"Well, has my prophecy come true?" + +"About my preaching? No; not yet." + +"Oh, I don't mean that," with a shrug of her shoulders. "I mean about +the other. Do you still value my friendship?" + +Dick hesitated. "The truth, please," she said. "I want to know." + +"Miss Goodrich, I cannot make you understand; you know my whole life +has changed the last year." + +"Yes." + +"But my feelings toward you can never change. I do value your +friendship, for I know that your present life does not satisfy you, +and that you are untrue to your best self in living it." + +The girl drew herself up haughtily. "Indeed, you are fast becoming a +very proficient preacher," she said, coldly. + +"Wait a moment, please," interrupted Dick. "You urged me to tell the +truth. I desire your friendship, because I know the beautiful life you +could live, and because you--you--could help me to live it," his voice +broke. + +Amy held out her hand again. "Forgive me please," she said. "You are +a true friend, and I shall never, never, forget you. Oh, Mr. Falkner, +if you are a Christian pray for me before it is too late. Good-night." +And she was gone; just as her brother Frank came up the walk. + +Young Goodrich stopped short when he saw Dick, and then sprang up the +steps and into the house, just in time to see his sister going up the +stairway to her room. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +The day following Amy's adventure with her drunken escort, and her +rescue by Dick Falkner, Frank Goodrich had a long interview with his +father, which resulted in Adam's calling his daughter into his library +that evening. Without any preface whatever, he began, in an angry tone: +"I understand, Miss, that you have disobeyed my express commands in +regard to that tramp printer, and that you have been with him again; +and that too, late at night. Now I have simply to tell you that you +must choose between him and your home. I will _not_ have a child of +mine keeping such company. You must either give him up or go." + +"But father, you do not know the circumstances or you would not talk +so." + +"No circumstances can excuse your conduct; I know you were with him +and that is enough." + +"Indeed I have not disobeyed you; father, you do not understand; I was +in Mr. Falkner's company only by accident, and--" + +"Stop. Don't add a falsehood to your conduct. I understand quite enough. +Your own brother saw you bidding him an affectionate good-night at one +o'clock, on my doorstep. Such things do not happen by accident. I +wonder that you dare look me in the face after roaming the streets at +that time of night with such a disreputable character." + +"Father, I tell you you are mistaken. Won't you please let me explain?" +said Amy, almost in tears. + +But the angry man only replied, "No explanation can be made. Frank saw +you himself and that's enough; no excuse can justify such conduct. I +have only to repeat that I will not own you as my daughter if you +persist in keeping such company." + +Amy tried again to speak, but he interrupted her. "Silence, I don't +want to hear a word from you. Go to your room." + +Then the woman asserted herself and there were no tears this time, as +she said respectfully, but firmly, "Father, you _shall_ hear me. I am +not guilty of that of which you accuse me. I was in other company, +company of your own choosing, and to save myself from insult I was +forced to appeal to Mr. Falkner, who brought me safely home. He is far +more a gentleman than the men I was with, even though they are welcome +at this home; and he is not. I--" + +Adam turned fairly green with rage. "You ungrateful, disobedient girl. +How dare you say that this miserable vagabond is a fit associate for +you, and more worthy than the guests of my house? You must not think +you can deceive me and clear yourself by any trumped-up lie of his +teaching. You may have your tramp, but don't call me father. You are +no daughter of mine." And he left the room. + +It is astonishing how little the proud man knew of the real nature of +his child; a nature which rightfully understood and influenced, was +capable of any sacrifice, any hardship, for the one she loved; but +misunderstood or falsely condemned, was just as capable of reckless +folly or despair. A nature that would never prove false to a trust, +but if unjustly suspected, would turn to the very thing of which it +stood accused. + +The next morning Amy did not appear at breakfast and the mother went +to her room; while Mr. Goodrich, impatient at the delay, stood with +angry eyes awaiting their appearance. + +Frank came in. "Good morning, father," he said, glancing about with +an assumed expression of surprise. "Where is Amy and mother? I thought +I heard the bell." + +Adam grunted some reply and the son picked up a week-old daily and +pretended to be deeply interested. Suddenly a piercing scream reached +their ears, and a sound as of someone falling. With an exclamation of +alarm, Mr. Goodrich, followed by his son, hurried from the dining-room +and ran upstairs. The door of Amy's apartment was open, and just inside +prone upon the floor, lay Mrs. Goodrich, holding in her hand a piece +of paper. Adam, with the help of his son, lifted his wife and laid her +upon the bed, which they noticed had not been occupied. For an instant +the two stood looking into each other's face without a word, and then +the older man said, "We must take care of mother first. Call Dr. +Gleason." + +Under the advice of the physician, who soon came in answer to Frank's +telephone call, Mrs. Goodrich was removed to her own room, and in a +short time regained consciousness, but fell to moaning and sobbing, +"Oh, Amy--Amy--my poor child--my baby girl--what have you done? I never +thought that you would do a thing like this. Oh, my beautiful girl--come +back--come back--" And then when she became calmer, told them what +they already knew; that she had found her daughter's room undisturbed, +with a note addressed to herself on the toilet table, containing only +a simple farewell message. + +"There, there, wife, she's gone," said Adam, clumsily trying to soothe +the mother's anguish, but finding that a tongue long accustomed to +expressions of haughty pride and bigotry, could but poorly lend itself +to softer words of comfort. "There, there, don't cry, let her go. That +scoundrel printer is at the bottom of it all. Somehow the girl does +not seem to take after the Goodrich's. Madam, please try to control +your feelings. You must not make yourself ill over this matter." + +Mrs. Goodrich, accustomed to obey, with a great effort, ceased the +open expression of her grief. + +"There can be no doubt but that she has gone with that tramp," continued +Adam. "I shall do what I can to find her and give her one more chance. +If she acknowledges her fault and promises to do better she may come +home. If not, she shall never darken these doors again." + +"Oh, Mr. Goodrich, don't say that," cried the mother. "Think of that +poor child on the streets all alone. Perhaps you are mistaken." + +"_What_? Am I to understand that you take her part against me?" + +"No, no," murmured the frightened woman. + +"I tell you, there can be no mistake. You saw them did you not, Frank?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"You hear that, Mrs. Goodrich? You will oblige me by not mentioning +this matter again." And hurriedly leaving the room, Adam went to his +own private apartment, where, after he had turned the key in the door, +he paced to and fro, the tears streaming down his cheeks. But in a few +moments, while he made his preparations for going down the street, +thoughts of the curious faces he must meet aroused the old pride and +hardened his heart again. So that when he left the building, not a +trace of his worthier feelings showed on his cold, proper countenance, +except that to the keen observer, he looked a little older perhaps, +and a trifle less self-satisfied. + +His first visit was to the store, where he spent an hour or two going +over his correspondence, interviewing the head clerk and issuing his +orders for the day. Then taking his hat and cane, he left for the +printing office. + +The boy was away on an errand, and George had stepped out for a few +moments, so that Dick was alone when Mr. Goodrich entered. Thinking +that it was the printer who had returned, he did not look up from his +work until he was startled by the angry voice of his visitor. + +"Well, sir, I suppose you are satisfied at last. Where is my daughter?" + +"Your daughter," said Dick, who had not heard the news, "I'm sure, +sir, that I do not know." + +"Don't lie to me, you scoundrel," shouted Adam, losing all control of +himself. "You were with her last. You have been trying ever since you +came here to worm yourself into the society of your betters. Tell me +what you have done with her." + +"Mr. Goodrich," said Dick, forcing himself to be calm, "you must +explain. It is true that I was with your daughter night before last, +but--" he hesitated; should he explain how he had found Amy?--"I left +her safely at your door and have not seen her since." He finished. "Is +she not home?" + +Adam only glared at him. "She did not sleep at home last night," he +growled. + +Dick's voice failed him for a moment. "Then she must be stopping with +some friend; surely there is no need for alarm." + +"I tell you she's gone," said the other furiously. "She left a letter. +You are to blame for this. You I say; and you shall suffer for it." +He shook his clenched fist at the young man. "If you have hidden her +anywhere I'll have your life; you miserable, low-down vagabond. You +have schemed and schemed until you have succeeded in stealing her heart +from her home, and disgracing me." + +"Adam Goodrich, you lie," said Dick, pale with mingled anxiety for the +girl, and angry that her father should thus accuse him. "Do you +understand me? I say that you lie. That you are the most contemptible +liar that I have ever known. Your whole life is a lie." He spoke in +a low tone, but there was something underlying the quiet of his voice +and manner that contrasted strangely with the loud bluster of the older +man, and made the latter tremble. This was a new experience for him, +and something in the manly face of the one who uttered these hard words +startled and frightened him. + +"You have forced your daughter to drop her church work, and have goaded +her into the society of people whose only claim to respectability is +their wealth. You value your position in the world more than your +daughter's character, and you yourself are to blame for this. I tell +you again, sir, that you are a liar. I do not know where your daughter +is, but if she is on earth I will find her and bring her back to your +home; not for your sake, but for hers. Now go. Get out. The very +atmosphere is foul with your rotten hypocrisy." + +"Whew!" whistled George a moment later, as he Stepped into the room, +having passed Adam on the stairway. "What's the matter with his Royal +Highness, Dickie? He looks like he had been in a boiler explosion." +But his expression changed when Dick told him of the interview and +apologized for driving a good customer from the office. "Good customer!" +he shouted; "good customer! A mighty bad customer. I say you'd better +apologize for not throwing him into the street. I'll never set up +another line for him unless it's an invitation to his funeral." + +For many days Dick searched for the missing girl, bringing to bear all +his painfully acquired knowledge of life, and the crooked ways of the +world. Though unknown to Mr. Goodrich, the detective from Chicago, +whom he employed, was an old companion of Dick's, and to the officer +only, he confided the full story of Amy's visit to the park. But they, +only learned that she had boarded the twelve-forty Kansas City Southern, +for Jonesville, and that a woman answering to her description had +stopped there until nearly noon the next day, when she was seen in +conversation with a man whose face was badly bruised on the under left +side of the chin. The two had taken the same train east on the "Frisco." +They found also that her companion of that night at the park, James +Whitley, had hurriedly left Boyd City on the morning train, over the +"Frisco," to Jonesville, and had not returned, nor could his whereabouts +be discovered. It was given out in public, among the society items of +the Whistler, that he had been called suddenly to the bedside of a +sick friend; but Dick and the detective knew better. + +Gradually the interest on the part of the citizens subsided, and the +detective returned to Chicago to other mysteries, demanding his +attention. Adam Goodrich refused to talk of the matter, and gave no +sign of his sorrow, save an added sternness in his manner. But the +mother's health was broken; while Frank, declaring that he could not +stand the disgrace, went for a long visit to a friend in a neighboring +city. Finally Dick himself was forced to give up the search; but though +baffled for a time, he declared to Udell and his pastor, that he would +yet bring Amy home as he had promised her father. And while he went +about his work as usual, it was with a heavy heart, and a look on his +face that caused his friends who knew him best to pity. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +The summer passed and again the catalpa trees shed their broad leaves, +while the prairie grass took on the reddish brown of early fall. Jim +Whitley suddenly returned to Boyd City and Dick met him in the +post-office. "Not a word passed between them, but an hour later a note +was put into Jim's hand by a ragged boot-black. + +"George," said Dick, that afternoon as they were locking up, "if you +don't mind I believe I'll sleep in my old bed in the office to-night." + +Udell looked at his helper in astonishment. "What in the world?" he +began; then stopped. + +"I can't explain now, but please let me have my way and say nothing +about it to anyone; not even Clara." + +"Why sure, old man," said the other heartily; "only I don't know why." +He paused again; then in. an anxious tone, "Dickie, I know it's hard, +and you've been putting up a great fight, but you're not going to let +go now?" + +"No, no, it's not that, old man: I'll explain some day." And something +in his face assured his friend that whatever it was that prompted his +strange request, Dick was still master of himself. + +Late that night as Udell passed the office on his way home, after +spending the evening with Miss Wilson, he was astonished to see Jim +Whitley entering the building. He stood watching for a moment; then +fearing possible danger for Dick, he ran lightly up the stairs. But +as he reached out to lay his hand on the door latch, he heard a key +turn in the lock and his friend's voice saying, "I thought you would +come." George paused, and then with a shrug of his shoulder, and a +queer smile on his rugged face, turned and went softly down to the +street again. + +Dick and his visitor faced each other in the dimly lighted office. + +"Well," said Whitley, with an oath, "what do you want?" + +"I want you to take your hand out of your pocket first," flashed Dick; +"that gun won't help you any tonight," and a heavy revolver in his own +hand covered Whitley's heart. + +His request was granted instantly. + +"Now walk into the other room." + +They passed into the stock room, which was well lighted. The windows +were covered with heavy paper; the long table was cleared and moved +out from its place near the wall. + +Dick closed the door and pointed to the table. "Lay your gun there. +Be careful," as Whitley drew his revolver. Jim glanced once at the +determined eyes and steady hand of his master and sullenly obeyed. + +"Now sit down." + +Crossing the room, he seated himself in the chair indicated, which +placed him in the full glare of the light. Dick took the other chair +facing him, with the long table between them. Placing his weapon beside +the other, within easy reach of his hand, he rested his elbows on the +table and looked long and steadily at the man before him. + +Whitley was uneasy. "Well," he said at last, when he could bear the +silence no longer. "I hope you like my looks." + +"Your figure is somewhat heavier, but shaving off your beard has made +you look some years younger," replied Dick, dryly. + +The other started to his feet. + +"Don't be uneasy," said Dick, softly resting his hand on one of the +revolvers; "keep your seat please." + +"I never wore a beard," said the other, as he dropped back on his +chair. "You are mistaken." + +"Then how did you know the meaning of my note, and why did you answer +it in person. You should have sent the right man." + +Whitley saw that he had betrayed himself but made one more effort. + +"I came out of curiosity," he muttered. + +Dick laughed--a laugh that was not good to hear. "I can easily satisfy +you," he said; "permit me to tell you a little story." + +"The story begins in a little manufacturing town a few miles from +Liverpool, England, just three years ago today." Beneath the unwavering +eyes of the man leaning on the table Whitley's face grew ghastly and +he writhed in his chair. + +"An old man and his wife, with their two orphaned grand-sons, lived +in a little cottage on the outskirts of the town. The older of the +boys was a strong man of twenty; the other a sickly lad of eight. The +old people earned a slender income by cultivating small fruits. This +was helped out by the wages of the older brother, who was a machinist +in one of the big factories. They were a quiet and unpretentious little +family, devout Christians, and very much attached to each other. + +"One afternoon a wealthy American, who was stopping at a large resort +a few miles from the village, went for a drive along the road leading +past their home. As his carriage was passing, the little boy, who was +playing just outside the yard, unintentionally frightened the horses +and they shied quickly. At the same moment, the American's silk hat +fell in the dust. The driver stopped the team and the lad, frightened, +picked up the hat and ran with it toward the carriage, stammering an +apology for what he had done. + +"Instead of accepting the boy's excuse, the man, beside himself with +anger, and slightly under the influence of wine, sprang from the +carriage, and seizing the lad, kicked him brutally. + +"The grandfather, who was working in his garden, saw the incident, and +hurried as fast as he could to the rescue. At the same time, the driver +jumped from his seat to protect the child, but before they could reach +the spot, the boy was lying bruised and senseless in the dust. + +"The old man rushed at the American in impotent rage, and the driver, +fearing for his safety, caught him by the arm and tried to separate +them, saying, 'You look after the boy. Let me settle with him.' But +the old man was deaf and could not understand, and thought that the +driver, also an American, was assisting his employer. In the struggle, +the American suddenly drew a knife, and in spite of the driver's +efforts, struck twice at his feeble opponent, who fell back in the +arms of his would-be protector, just as the older brother rushed upon +the scene. The American leaped into the carriage and snatched up the +lines. The mechanic sprang after him, and as he caught hold of the +seat in his attempt to climb in, the knife flashed again, cutting a +long gash in his arm and hand, severing the little finger. With the +other hand, he caught the wrist of the American, but a heavy blow in +the face knocked him beneath the wheels, and the horses dashed away +down the road. + +"The driver was bending over the old man trying to staunch the flow +of blood, when several workmen, attracted by the cries of the helpless +grandmother, who had witnessed the scene from the porch, came running +up. ''E's one on 'em--'e's one on 'em,' cried the old lady. ''E 'eld +my man while 'tother 'it 'im.' + +"The driver saw her mistake instantly, and realizing his danger as the +man passed into the house with the body of the old man, he ran down +the street and escaped. Two days later, he read in a Liverpool paper +that the grandfather and boy were both dead, and that the dying +statement of the old man, the testimony of the grandmother and the +brother, was that both the strangers were guilty. + +"How the wealthy American made his escape from the country you know +best. The driver shipped aboard a vessel bound for Australia, and +later, made his way home." + +When Dick had finished his story, Whitley's face was drawn and haggard. +He leaped to his feet again, but the revolver motioned him back. "What +fiend told you all this?" he gasped hoarsely. "Who are you?" + +"I am the driver." + +Whitley sank back in his chair; then suddenly broke into a harsh laugh. +"You are a crazy fool. Who would believe you? You have no proof." + +"Wait a bit," replied Dick, calmly. "There is another chapter to my +story. Less than a year after the tragedy, the invalid grandmother +died and the young machinist was free to enter upon the great work of +his life, the bringing to justice of his brother's murderer, or as +_he_ believed, murderers. He could find no clue as to the identity of +the obscure driver of the carriage, but with the wealthy American it +was different, and he succeeded at last in tracing him to his home in +this city. Unfortunately though, the long search had left the young +mechanic without means, and he arrived in Boyd City in a penniless and +starving condition, the night of the great storm winter before last. +You are familiar with the finding of his body by George Udell." + +Again Whitley sprang to his feet, and with an awful oath exclaimed, +"How do you know this?" + +Dick drew forth a long leather pocket-book, and opening it, took out +a package of papers, which he laid on the table between the two +revolvers. + +"There is the story, written by his own hand, together with the +testimony of his grandfather and grandmother, his own sworn statement, +and all the evidence he had so carefully gathered." + +Whitley sprang forward; but before he could cross the room, both +revolvers covered his breast. + +"Stop!" + +The voice was calm and steady, but full of deadly menace. + +Whitley crouched like an animal at bay. The hands that held the weapons +never trembled; the gray eyes that looked along the shining barrels +never wavered. Slowly he drew back. "Name your price," he said sullenly. + +"You have not money enough to buy." + +"I am a wealthy man." + +"I know it." + +He went back to his seat. "For God's sake, put down those guns and +tell me what you want." + +"I want to know where you left Miss Goodrich." + +"What if I refuse to tell?" + +Dick laid a pair of handcuffs upon the table. + +A cunning gleam crept into Whitley's eyes. "You'll put them on yourself +at the same time. The evidence is just as strong against you." + +"If it were not, I would have turned you over to the law long ago." + +"But you fool, they'll hang you." + +"That won't save you, and you'll answer to God for another murder." + +"You would not dare." + +"I am innocent; you are the coward." + +Then Whitley gave up and told how he had met Amy in Jonesville, and +had taken her east to Buffalo, New York, where he had left her just +before returning to Boyd City. + +"Did you marry her?" asked Dick. + +Whitley shrugged his shoulders. "I am not looking for a wife," he said. + +"But was there no form of a ceremony?" persisted Dick. + +Again Jim shrugged his shoulders. "It was not necessary." + +It was Dick's turn to be agitated now; his hand played nervously on +the handle of his revolver. But the other did not notice. + +"Why did you leave her so soon?" + +"I had business of importance at home," with a sneer. + +Slowly the man behind the table rose to his feet, his form trembling +violently, his strong hands clinching and unclinching in his agitation. +Slowly he reached out and lifted the weapons of death from the table; +slowly he raised them. The criminal sat as though fascinated; his face +livid with fear. For a full minute the revolver covered the cowering +victim; then suddenly Dick's hand fell. + +"Jim Whitley," he said, in a voice that was strangely quiet. "If I +were not a Christian, you could not live a moment. Now go!" He followed +him from the room and watched him down the stairs; then returning, +locked the door again, and throwing himself on the floor, wept as only +a strong man can weep, with great shuddering sobs, until utterly +exhausted, he fell into a stupor, where George found him in the morning. + +Dick told his employer the whole story, and took the first train east. +The same day, Whitley left the city. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +Whitley's sudden return to Boyd City, and his departure so soon after, +revived some whispering gossip about Amy's strange disappearance. And +of course the matter was mentioned at the Ministerial Association, +which still held its regular Monday morning meetings. Then, as was +natural, the talk drifted to the much discussed topic, the low standard +of morality in Boyd City. Old Father Beason said, "Brethren, I tell +you the condition of things in this town is just awful. I walked down +Broadway last Saturday night, and I declare I could hardly get along. +I actually had to walk out in the street, there was such a crowd, and +nearly all of them young men and young women. I never saw anything +like it; and there are all of these dives always open, and always full. +Candidly, Brethren, what are we doing? I just tell you we are not doing +one thing. We are not beginning to touch the problem. It costs just +all we can scrape and dig to keep the churches, running, and so far +as I know, only Brother Cameron here has even attempted any aggressive +work. Brethren, I wish we could put our heads together and formulate +some plan that would stir this town and save our boys and girls, who +are growing up in utter disrespect for Christianity and the teaching +of Christ." + +"What we want here is a Young Men's Christian Association," exclaimed +Rev. Hugh Cockrell. "An Association is the very thing for a town like +this. You all know how it operates. It don't conflict with the work +of the churches in the least. It furnishes parlor, sitting room, +libraries, gymnasium, bath rooms, and all such things, at a very nominal +cost to young men. As I have said in our meetings before, I think we +ought to write to the State Secretary and get him to come here and +look over the situation." + +"That's all right, Brother Cockrell," said the big Brother Howell, +rising to his feet and pushing his hands deep into his pockets; for +the big minister was lots more of a man than he was a preacher, and +put his hands into his pockets when he chose, without any closely +buttoned, clerical cut coat to prevent him. "That's all right about +the Young Men's Christian Association. It's a good thing; a splendid +thing; and I'd like to see one started here in Boyd City, but a dozen +Associations won't meet the needs of this place. Those who could afford +to pay the fee would enjoy the parlors and baths; those who could read +might enjoy the books; and those who had worked in the mines digging +coal all day, might exercise in the gymnasium, but what about the +hundreds of young men who can't afford the fees, and don't want a +parlor so much as a bite to eat, or a gymnasium so much as a bed, or +a reading room so much as a job of work? We need something in this +town that will reach out for the ignorant, fallen, hard-up, debauched, +degraded men and women." + +Father Beason nodded emphatic approval. + +"I don't know, I'm sure," said the Rev. Jeremiah Wilks, "what you +Brethren are going to do. If you hit on any plan to raise the money +for all this, I'd like to know what it is. I'm going night and day +now, trying to raise the debt on our new organ, and I've got to raise +our benevolences yet; and besides this, my own salary is behind. I'm +doing more work than any three preachers in the city. I tell you, the +men who have got the money are going to hang on to it. There's Mr. +Richman; I met him on the street yesterday; he was talking with a +friend; and I stopped and said: Good morning, Brother Richman--he's +not a member of any church you know. I only called him Brother to make +him feel good you know. He said: Good morning, Reverend; kind of short; +and then deliberately turned his back on me and went on talking with +his friend. I didn't like to leave him like that, you know, for he's +got a lot of money, I'm told. And you know we preachers never would +get anything if we always quit like that; so I said, Brother Richman, +I don't like to interrupt you, but can't you give me a little something +this morning? I'm behind on our new organ, and on our benevolences and +some other things, and my own salary is not all paid yet. I thought +maybe you would help me a little. He looked at me a minute, then said +with a sneer: 'I always like to know what returns I may expect for the +money I invest. I'm no church member, that I have money to throw away. +What do I get for it if I give you five dollars?' Why, I said, you +might be a Christian some day. Brother Richman, I'd like mighty well +to have you join my church. We'll all pray for you if you'd like to +have us. And do you believe it, he just stood there and laughed and +laughed; and the other fellow, he laughed too. Yes, he did. Well, I +didn't know what to do you know, but I wanted that five dollars, so +I said: But won't you help us a little, Brother Richman? It will be +very acceptable. 'I tell you, Mr. Wilks,' he said; 'when you can show +me that my money is doing some actual good among the poor people in +this city, or that it's saving the young folks from the degrading +influences here, I'll invest; and until then, I'll keep my money, and +you can keep your prayers.' And do you know, he wouldn't give me a +cent." The Rev. Jeremiah sat down with an air of mingled triumph and +suffering, as much as to say, "See how gladly I bear persecution for +the Lord." + +"I understand that Mr. Richman gave to Cameron's institution though," +the big preacher remarked. "How is it Brother Cameron?" + +"Yes," replied Cameron, "he gave a hundred dollars unsolicited, and +promised more if it were needed." + +There was silence for a moment; then the president said, "Brother +Cameron, would you mind telling the Association just how your work is +conducted? I for one, would like to know more about it, and perhaps +we could all adopt a similar plan. What would you suggest as a remedy +for the existing conditions in this city?" + +"As far as our work goes, we have hardly touched the matter yet," +replied Cameron. "There is room for every church In the place; but +what we need, I feel sure, is a united effort, and--" + +"Brethren," interrupted the Rev. Dr. Frederick Hartzel, "I must beg +that this useless discussion be stopped. So far as I can see, all of +this is of no profit whatever. My time is altogether too valuable to +waste in such foolish talk as this. I endeavor to put some thought +into _my_ sermons, and I cannot take this valuable time from my studies. +If the Association persists in taking up the meetings with such +subjects, instead of discussing some of the recent theological themes +that are attracting the attention of the clergy everywhere, I must beg +that I be given optional attendance. These new-fangled notions of +uneducated young men may be all right for some, but you can't expect +such men as myself to listen to them. I move that we adjourn." + +"Brother Cameron has the floor and I think the Brethren would like to +hear him," suggested the president. + +"Brother President," said Cameron, calmly, before the others could +speak, for he saw the light of righteous indignation creeping into the +eye of the big Rev. Howells; "if the Brethren wish to talk with me of +our work, they know that they are always welcome at my home; and I +will be glad to discuss any plan for reaching those for whom our Saviour +died. I second Rev. Hartzell's motion to adjourn." And the meeting +dismissed with prayer as usual, that God would fill their hearts with +love, and help them to do their Master's work, as He would have it +done, and that many souls might be added to their number. + +That evening, lost in troubled thought, the young pastor of the +Jerusalem Church sat alone before the fire, in his little study. Once +his wife knocked timidly and opening the door, said, "James, dear, +it's time you're going to bed." + +"Not now, Fanny," he answered; and she, knowing well what that tone +of voice meant, retired to her room, after seeing everything snug for +the night. + +The cocks were crowing midnight; the fire burned lower and lower. Once +he impatiently hitched his chair a little closer, but made no other +move, until, just as the clock chimed three, he arose stiffly to his +feet and stood shivering with cold, looking at the blackened embers. +Then he made his way to his chamber, where he fell asleep like a man +tired out with a hard day's work. + +All the next day he said nothing, but was silent and moody, and the +following night sat once more alone in his study, thinking, thinking, +thinking, until again the fire went out and he was cold. + +"Fanny," he said, the following afternoon, entering the kitchen and +putting his arm about his wife, as she stood at the table busy with +her baking. "Fanny, what can we do for the young people of Boyd City? +Amy is only one of many. It is all the result of the do-nothing policy +of the church, and of the Goodrich type of Christians, who think more +of their social position than they do of the souls of their children, +or the purity of their characters." + +"Oh, James, you oughtn't to say that. Mr. Goodrich may not look at +those things as you do perhaps, but we ought to remember his early +training." + +"Early training, bosh," answered the minister, losing his patience as +even ministers will sometimes do. "You'd better say his lack of early +training. I tell you, Fanny, the true gentleman, whether he be Christian +or not, values character more than position, while the sham aristocrat +is a sham in everything, and doesn't even know the real article when +he sees it." + +"Oh, here, here," cried Mrs. Cameron, "that's not the way for a preacher +to talk." + +"Preacher or no preacher, it's the truth," he replied excitedly. "Let +me forget that I belong to the class that has produced such a thing +as this kind of religion, and remember that I am only a man. If the +ministers in this city cared half as much for the salvation of souls +and the teaching of Christ, as they do for their own little theories +and doctrines, the world could not hold such a churchified hypocrite +as Adam Goodrich, and girls would not go wrong as that poor child did. +The Rev. Hartzell, D. D., is the cause; and if you go down on Fourth +Street, or East Third you can see the effect; egotism, bigotry, +selfishness, man-made doctrines and creeds in the pulpit; saloons and +brothels on the street; church doors closed over a mawkish +sentimentality, and men and women dying without shelter and without +God. Truly we need a preacher, with a wilderness training like John +the Baptist who will show us the way of the Lord, rather than a thousand +theological, hot-house posies, who will show us only the opinions of +the authorities." And the Rev. James tramped up and down the kitchen, +speaking with all the vehemence of a political spellbinder, until his +wife caught him by the coat and insisted that she wanted to be kissed. +When that operation was successfully performed, she said, "Now run +away to your study, dear, and don't bother about this just now. You're +excited." And the preacher went, of course. + +Though expressing themselves as very much alarmed over the situation, +and the condition of the churches, the members of the Ministerial +Association went no farther in the matter than the discussions at their +regular meetings and private talks from time to time. It would be hard +to give a reason why this was so if Cameron's criticism were not true; +but so it certainly was. Cameron, however, was much wrought up. He did +not in the least mind the Rev. Hartzell's opinion of himself or his +work, and cared not one whit that he had been prevented from expressing +himself to his brethren. He did care, however, for the work itself, +regardless of the preachers, and the train of thought which he had so +often followed was stirred afresh in his mind by the incident. With +his heart so full of the matter it was not at all strange that he +should preach another of his characteristic sermons on what he called +"Applied Christianity." His house was crowded, as it always was on +Sunday evenings, largely with young men and women, though many business +men were in attendance. + +He introduced his subject by showing the purpose and duty of the church: +that it was not a social club, not simply a place to see and be seen, +not a musical organization, and not an intellectual battlefield; but +that it was a place to build Christ-like characters, and that the +church had no excuse for living, save as it preached Christ's gospel +and did His work. Then he asked, "Is the church doing this?" and called +attention to the magnificent buildings, expensive organs, paid choirs, +large-salaried preachers, and in the same city hundreds and thousands +of men and women who were going to eternal ruin. "Did Christ make a +mistake when he said, 'And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men +unto myself?' Or was it that men were lifting up themselves instead +of the Master?" + +He showed that the reason why more laborers and business men were not +Christians was because Christianity had become, not a work, but a +belief; that it had grown to be, not a life, but a sentiment; and that +laborers and business men had not much place for beliefs and sentiments. +"The church," said Cameron, "must prove herself by her works as did +Christ, and her work must be the same as Christ's." + +It caused a great deal of talk, of course. No preacher can branch out +from the old, well-beaten paths, without creating talk. He was roundly +scored by his Brethren in the ministry, and accused of all sorts of +sensationalism, but bore it all without a word, except to say, "I am +glad if I can even stir you up enough that you will condemn me; though +I cannot help but think that if you would spend the same energy in +remedying the evils you well know exist, you would do more for Christ +and your fellow men." But to his wife he said, "Fanny, I am convinced +that if we ever have a practical working plan for helping the poor and +needy, and for the protection of the boys and girls in this city, on +a scale sufficient to at all meet the needs, it will come from the +citizens and not from the preachers. The world really believes in +Christ, but has lost confidence in the church. And if some plan could +be started, independent of the churches, but on a Christian basis, I +believe it would succeed." + +"Well," said his wife, with a smile, "I think I know one preacher who +will have a hand in it anyway, and I know you do not include the Young +People's Society with the church." + +Cameron jumped to his feet and walked rapidly up and down the room. +"Fanny," he said at last, facing his companion. And as he stood, with +both hands in the side pockets of his short coat, and his feet braced +wide apart, he looked so much a boy that the good wife laughed before +she answered, "Yes sir, please, what have I done?" + +"Do you know that I am to speak at the regular union meeting of the +Young People next Sunday night?" + +"Yes sir," meekly. + +"And you know that the subject of the evening is 'Beaching the Masses.'" + +She nodded. + +"And do you know what I am going to do?" + +"No sir." + +"Well, just wait and see," and planting a kiss on the upturned lips, +he ran off to shut himself up in his study. + +The practical Christian work of the home established by the young +people of the Jerusalem Church, and the remarkable success of the +reading rooms, was proving a great educational factor in the life of +Boyd City. The people were beginning to realize the value of such work, +and the time was ripe for larger things. As has been said, Cameron's +sermon caused no little talk, while the preachers did not hesitate to +help the matter along, and to keep the pot boiling by the fire of their +criticism. + +It was a custom of the Young People's Societies in the city, to meet +for union services once each month, at which time one of the pastors +would speak on some topic of particular interest to young Christians, +dealing with social, civil, or political questions, from the standpoint +of Christianity, and this happened to be Cameron's turn to deliver the +address. The young pastor was a favorite generally, in spite of his +somewhat questionable standing with the theologians; so when it was +announced that he would speak, and that the subject was one upon which +he was known to have strong ideas, the public looked forward to the +meeting with more than usual interest. When the time came, the Zion +Church, which was the largest in the city, was crowded to its utmost +capacity. + +Cameron began by reading from the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew, +"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my +Brethren, ye have lone it unto me." + +Then he said that as his talk was in no way to be a sermon, he felt +free to give himself more liberty perhaps, than if he were in the +pulpit; and that he would discuss the question not simply from the +standpoint of Christianity, but of good citizenship, and the best +interests of the people as well. + +The audience settled itself at these words and waited breathlessly. + +The speaker then laid down the proposition, that the question of +reaching the masses, did not have to do simply with those who called +themselves Christians, but with all society, all business, all +government; in fact, with all that touched mankind. He showed how the +conditions of the least of these gave rise to bad conditions everywhere, +and bred crime, anarchy and animalism; and how that the physical, moral +and intellectual life of all men is concerned. Then he took his hearers +from street to street in their own city, bidding them to look at the +young men and women on the corners, in the saloons and wine rooms, and +asked, without any reference to Christianity in any way, "What will +be the legitimate fruit of such sowing? What influence are we throwing +about our boys and girls, and upon what foundation are we building our +social, business and municipal life?" + +Then turning to Christians, he reviewed the grand work that the church +had done in the past, in moulding the lives of men and nations; and +plead that she prove true to the past by rising to the present and +meeting the problems of to-day. He called upon them in the name of +their common Master, to put their minds to this question and to rest +not from their study until a practical solution had been found. He +urged, too, that those standing outside the church with idle hands, +content to criticize and condemn, were not doing even so much as the +institution with which they refused to stand identified. "I can see +no difference," he said, "and before God, I believe there is none, +between an idle church member and a do-nothing man of the world. They +both stand on the same plane, and that plane is the plane of death." + +Then, after an earnest appeal that the teaching of Jesus be applied, +that the worth of souls be judged by the price paid on Calvary, and +that all men, within and without the church, unite for the common +cause, humanity; he turned suddenly to the chairman and said: "Mr. +President, because of these things regarding the church, which all men +know to be true; because of these things regarding our city, which all +men know to be true; for the sake of Christ and His gospel, for the +sake of our country and our laws, for the love of our boys and girls, +I suggest that each society in this union appoint a committee of three +from their membership, each of these committees to add to itself one +good business man who believes in the teaching of Christ, but who is +not connected with any church; the joint committee to meet in council +for the purpose of formulating some plan to meet the needs of this +city along the lines of our subject this evening." + +At this strange and unexpected ending of Cameron's address, the audience +sat astonished. Then, from all over the house, voices were heard +murmuring approval of the plan. + +Rev. Jeremiah Wilks was the first to speak. "I'm heartily in favor of +the suggestion," he said. "I think it's a good thing. It will get some +of our moneyed men interested in the church and it will do them good. +I've often told our people that something like this ought to be done, +and I know the preachers of the city will be glad to take hold of the +matter and help to push it along. I'll bring it before our Ministerial +Association. You can count on me every time." + +"But, Mr. President," said a strange gentleman, when Rev. Wilks had +resumed his seat, "Is it the idea of the gentleman who suggests this +plan, that the movement be under the control of or managed by the +ministers?" + +A painful hush fell over the audience. The president turned to Cameron, +who answered, "It is certainly _not_ my idea that this matter be placed +in the hands of the ministers; whatever part they have in the movement +must be simply as Christian citizens of this community, without regard +to their profession." + +The audience smiled. Rev. Frederick Hartzel was on his feet instantly: +"Ladies and gentlemen, I must protest. I do not doubt but that your +young brother here means well, but perhaps some of us, with more +experience, and with more mature thought, are better able to handle +this great question. Such a plan as he has proposed is preposterous. +A committee without an ordained minister on it, thinking to start any +movement in harmony with the teaching of Christ is utter folly. It is +a direct insult to the clergy, who, as you know, compose the finest +body of men, intellectually and morally, in the country. I must insist +that the regularly ordained ministers of the city be recognized on +this committee." + +Rev. Hugh Cockrell agreed with Hartzel, in a short speech, and then +Uncle Bobbie Wicks obtained a hearing. + +"I don't reckon that there's much danger of Brother Hartzel's amendment +goin' through, but I just want a word anyhow. To-be-sure, you all know +me, and that I'm a pretty good friend to preachers." The audience +laughed. "I aint got a thing in the world agin 'em. To-be-sure, I +reckon a preacher is as good as any other feller, so long as he behaves +himself; but seein' as they've been tryin' fer 'bout two thousand years +to fix this business, an' aint done nothin' yet, I think it's a mighty +good ide' to give the poor fellers a rest, and let the Christians try +it fer a spell." + +"You've got to recognize the church, sir," cried Hartzel; and Uncle +Bobbie retorted: "Well, if we recognize Christ, the church will come +in all right, I reckon;" which sentiment so pleased the people that +Cameron's suggestion was acted upon. + +And thus began the movement that revolutionized Boyd City and made it +an example to all the world, for honest manhood, civic pride and +municipal virtue. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + + +When Amy Goodrich went to her room after the scene with her brutal +father, wounded pride, anger at his injustice, and reckless defiance +filled her heart. Mrs. Goodrich had heard the harsh words and quietly +followed her daughter, but the door was locked. When she called softly +for admittance, Amy only answered between her sobs, "No, no, mamma; +please go away. I want to be alone." But the girl did not spend much +time in weeping. With a look of determination upon her tear-stained +face, she caught up a daily paper that was lying where she had dropped +it that morning, and carefully studied time-cards. Then removing as +far as possible the evidence of her grief, she changed her dress for +a more simple and serviceable gown, and gathering together a few +necessary articles, packed them, with her jewelry, in a small satchel. +She had finished her simple preparations and was just writing the last +word of her brief farewell message, when Mrs. Goodrich came quietly +to the door again. + +Amy started to her feet in alarm when she heard the low knock, and +then as she listened to her mother's voice softly calling her name, +the hot tears filled her eyes once more, and she moved as though to +destroy the note in her hand. But as she hesitated, her father's words +came back: "You may have your tramp, but don't call me father. You are +no daughter of mine," and a cruel something seemed to arrest her better +impulse and force her to remain silent. + +Mrs. Goodrich, when she received no answer to her call, thought that +her daughter was sleeping, and with a sigh of relief, went to her own +room. A little later, the father came upstairs and retired. Then Frank +returned home, and the trembling listener heard the servants locking +up the house. When all was still, and her watch told her that it was +a few minutes past midnight, she carefully opened the door, and with +her satchel in her hand, stole cautiously down the stairs and out of +the house. Hurrying as fast as she could to Broadway, she found a cab, +and was driven to the depot on the east side. + +As Amy stepped from the vehicle beneath the electric light and paused +a moment to give the driver his fare, a man came out of a saloon on +the corner near by. It was Mr. Whitley. He recognized the girl +instantly, and springing to one side, drew back into the shadow of the +building, where he waited until she went to the ticket office. Then +going quickly to the open window of the waiting room, he heard her ask +for a ticket to Jonesville. After the train had pulled in and he had +watched her aboard, he entered the cab that had brought her to the +station, and was driven to his hotel. + +The next morning Whitley was the first to learn from Frank Goodrich, +of Amy's quarrel with her father, and the reason. Without a word of +what he had seen, he made hurried preparation and followed her on the +next train. + +At Jonesville, he easily made the rounds of the hotels and carefully +examined the registers, but Amy's name was on none of them. Concluding +that she must be at the home of some friend, he had placed his own +name on the last book he examined, and seated himself to think over +the situation, when he heard a bell-boy say: "That girl in number +sixteen wants a 'Frisco' time-table." + +Whitley lounged carelessly up to the counter and again glanced over +the register. Number sixteen was occupied by a Miss Anderson. Catching +the eye of the clerk, he placed his finger on the name and winked. +"When did she get in?" he asked, in a low tone, at the same time +slipping a gold-piece beneath the open page. + +"On the one-thirty from the west, last night," the fellow replied, in +the same cautious manner, as he whirled the book toward him and deftly +transferred the coin to his own pocket, without attracting the attention +of the landlord who stood near by. + +"I believe I'll go to my room and clean up," said Whitley, a moment +later. + +"Show this gentleman to number fifteen," promptly called the clerk, +and Whitley followed the boy who had answered Miss Anderson's call +upstairs. + +When he had placed the heavy grip on the floor, the boy turned to see +Whitley holding out a dollar bill. + +"Did you get a look at the lady in number sixteen, when you went up +with that time-card?" + +"Course I did." + +"Can you describe her?" + +"You bet, mister; she's a daisy too." And as he folded the bill and +carefully placed it in his vest pocket, he gave an accurate description +of Amy. + +Whitley, dismissed the boy and seated himself to watch through the +half-closed door, the room across the hall. He had not long to wait. +Amy stepped out into the corridor and started toward the stairway. In +an instant Whitley was by her side. The girl gave a start of surprise +and uttered a frightened exclamation. + +"Don't be frightened, Miss Goodrich, I have very important news for +you from home. Step into the parlor please." + +Too bewildered to do other than obey, she followed him. + +"I have been searching for you all day," he said, as he conducted her +to a seat in the far corner of the empty room. + +Amy tried to look indignant and started to reply when he interrupted +her. + +"Wait a moment, please, Miss Goodrich, and hear me, before you condemn. +When your father discovered this morning, that you had left home, he +came at once to me and told me the whole story. I tried to explain to +him that it was I, and not Falkner, who had been with you, but he would +not listen; and in spite of my pleading, declared that you should never +enter his home again. I am sorry, but he is very angry and I fear will +keep his word, for a time at least. He even accused me of telling +falsehoods to shield you, and insisted that I should forget you forever +and never mention your name in his hearing again. I learned at the +depot that you had purchased a ticket to this city, and took the first +train, hoping to find and offer you any assistance that might be in +my power to give. A girl in your position needs a friend, for you +cannot go home just now." + +In spite of herself, Amy was touched by the words spoken with such +seeming truth and earnestness, but her heart was filled with anger at +her father, and her face was hard and set as she replied coldly: "I +thank you, but you might have saved yourself the trouble. I have no +wish to go home." + +"Indeed, I do not see how you can feel differently under the +circumstances," admitted the other with apparent reluctance; "but have +you thought of the future? What can you do? You have never been +dependent upon yourself. You know nothing of the world." + +Amy's face grew white. Seeing his advantage, Whitley continued, drawing +a dark picture of a young woman without friends or means of support. +At last, as he talked, Amy began to cry. Then his voice grew tender. +"Miss Goodrich--Amy--come to me. Be my wife. I have long loved you. +I will teach you to love me. Let me comfort and protect you." + +The girl lifted her head. "You dare ask that after what happened the +other night?" + +"God knows how I regret that awful mistake," he replied earnestly. +"But you know I was not myself. I am no worse than other men, and--" +He hesitated--"you must remember that it was through you that I drank +too much. I could not refuse when you gave me the glass. I never was +intoxicated before. Won't you forgive me this once and let me devote +my life to righting the wrong?" + +Amy's eyes fell. The seeming justice and truth of his words impressed +her. + +Again the man saw his advantage and talked to her of the life his +wealth would help her to live. She would be free from every care. They +would travel abroad until her father had forgotten his wrath, and could +she doubt that all would be well when she returned as his wife? + +Amy hesitated, and again he pointed out the awful danger of her trying +to live alone. As he talked, the girl's utter helplessness overcame +her, and rising to her feet she faltered, "Give me time to think; I +will come to you here in an hour." + +When she returned she said: "Mr. Whitley, I will marry you; but my +people must not know until later." + +Whitley started toward her eagerly, but she stepped back. "Not now. +Wait. We will go east on the evening train and will take every +precaution to hide our course. We will travel in separate cars as +strangers, and while stopping at hotels will register under assumed +names, and will not even recognize each other. When we reach New York, +I will become your wife." + +Whitley could scarcely conceal his triumph; that she should so fully +play into his hand was to him the greatest good luck. With every +expression of love he agreed to everything; but when he would embrace +her she put him away--"Not until we are married;" and lie was compelled +to be satisfied. + +For a while longer they talked, completing their plans. Then drawing +out his pocket-book he said: "By-the-way, you will need money." But +she shook her head: "Not until I have the right. Here are my jewels; +sell them for me." + +He protested and laughed at her scruples. But she insisted. And at +last, he took the valuables and left the hotel. Going to a bank where +he was known, he drew a large sum of money, and returning, placed a +roll of bills in her hand. Thinking that it was the price of her rings, +she accepted it without the slightest question. + +That night, he bought a ticket for Chicago, over the Wabash from St. +Louis, taking a chair car, while she purchased one for a little town +on the Alton, and traveled in a sleeper. But at St. Louis, they remained +two days, stopping at a hotel agreed upon, but as strangers. Then they +again took tickets for different stations, over another road, but +stopped at Detroit. It was here that Amy's suspicions were aroused. + +She was sitting at dinner, when Whitley entered the dining room with +two traveling men who seemed to be well acquainted with him. The trio, +laughing and talking boisterously, seated themselves at a table behind +her. Recognizing Whitley's voice, she lifted her eyes to a mirror +opposite, and to her horror, distinctly saw him point her out to his +friends. + +Amy's dinner remained untasted, and hiding her confusion as best she +could, she rose to leave the room. As she passed the table where Whitley +and the men were eating, the two drummers looked at her in such a way +that the color rushed to her pale cheeks in a crimson flame. Later, +at the depot, she saw them again, and was sure, from Whitley's manner, +that he had been drinking. + +Once more aboard the train, the girl gave herself up to troubled +thought. Worn out by the long journey under such trying circumstances, +and the lonely hours among strangers at the hotels, and now thoroughly +frightened at the possible outcome when they reached New York, the +poor child worried herself into such a state that when they left the +cars at Buffalo, Whitley became frightened, and in spite of her. +protests, registered at the hotel as her brother and called in a +physician. + +The doctor at once insisted that she be removed to a boarding place, +where she could have perfect rest and quiet, and with his help, such +a place was found; Whitley, as her brother, making all arrangements. + +For three weeks the poor girl lay between life and death, and strangely +enough, in her delirium, called not once for father or mother or +brother, but always for Dick, and always begged him to save her from +some great danger. Whitley was at the house every day, and procured +her every attention that money could buy. But when at last she began +to mend, something in her eyes as she looked at him, made him curse +beneath his breath. + +Day after day she put him off when he urged marriage, saying "When we +get to New York." But at last the time came when she could offer no +excuse for longer delay, and in a few firm words she told him that she +could not keep her promise, telling him why and begging his forgiveness +if she wronged him. + +Then the man's true nature showed itself and he cursed her for being +a fool; taunted her with using his money, and swore that he would force +her to come to him. + +That afternoon, the landlady came to her room, and placing a letter +in her hand, asked, "Will you please be kind enough to explain that?" + +Amy read the note, which informed the lady of the house that her boarder +was a woman of questionable character, and that the man who was paying +her bills was not her brother. With a sinking heart, Amy saw that the +writing was Jim Whitley's. Her face flushed painfully. "I did not know +that he was paying my bills," she said, slowly. + +"Then it is true," exclaimed the woman. "He is not your brother?" + +Amy was silent. She could find no words to explain. + +"You must leave this house instantly. If it were not for the publicity +I would hand you over to the police." + +She went to a cheap, but respectable hotel, and the next morning, +Whitley, who had not lost sight of her, managed to force an interview. + +"Will you come to me now?" he asked. "You see what you may expect from +the world." + +Her only reply was, "I will take my own life before I would trust it +in your hands." And he, knowing that she spoke the truth, left her to +return to Boyd City. + +A few days later, when Dick Falkner stepped from the cars at Buffalo, +and hurried through the depot toward the hack that bore the name of +the hotel where Whitley had left Amy, he did not notice that the girl +he had come so far to find, was standing at the window of the ticket +office, and while the proprietor of the hotel was explaining why Miss +Wheeler had left his house, the west-bound train was carrying Amy +toward Cleveland. + +Whitley had written a letter to the landlord, explaining the character +of the woman calling herself Miss Wheeler, and had just dropped it in +the box, when Dick met him in the post office on the day of Jim's +arrival home. + +With the aid of the Buffalo police, Dick searched long and carefully +for the missing girl, but with no results, and at last, his small +savings nearly exhausted, he was forced to return to Boyd City, where +he arrived just in time to take an active part in the new movement +inaugurated by Rev. Cameron and the Young People's Union. + +In Cleveland, Amy sought out a cheap lodging house, for she realized +that her means were limited, and began a weary search for employment. + +Day after day she went from place to place answering advertisements +for positions which she thought she could fill. Walking all she could +she took a car only when her strength failed, but always met with the +same result; a cold dismissal because she could give no references; +not a kind look; not an encouraging word; not a helpful smile. As the +days went by, her face grew hard and her eyes had a hopeless, defiant +look, that still lessened her chances of success, and gave some cause +for the suspicious glances she encountered on every hand, though her +features showed that under better circumstances she would be beautiful. + +One evening as she stood on the street corner, tired out, shivering +in the sharp wind, confused by the rush and roar of the city, and in +doubt as to the car she should take, a tall, beautifully dressed woman +stopped by her side, waiting also for a car. + +Amy, trembling, asked if she would direct her. The lady looked at her +keenly as she gave the needed information, and then added kindly, "You +are evidently not acquainted in Cleveland." + +Amy admitted that she was a stranger. + +"And where is your home?" + +"I have none," was the sad reply. + +"You are stopping with friends, I suppose?" + +Amy shook her head and faltered, "No, I know no one in the city." + +The woman grew very kind. "You poor child," she said, "you look as +though you were in distress. Can't I help you?" + +Tears filled the brown eyes that were lifted pleadingly to the face +of the questioner, and a dry sob was the only answer. + +"Come with me, dear," said the woman, taking her kindly by the arm. +"This is my car. Come and let me help you." + +They boarded the car, and after a long ride, entered a finely furnished +house in a part of the city far from Amy's boarding place. The woman +took Amy to her own apartments, and after giving her a clean bath and +a warm supper, sat with her before the fire, while the girl poured out +her story to the only sympathetic listener she had met. + +When she had finished, the woman said, "You have not told me your +name." + +"You may call me Amy. I have no other name." + +Again the woman spoke slowly: "You cannot find work. No one will receive +you. But why should you care? You are beautiful." + +Amy looked at her in wonder, and the woman explained how she had many +girls in her home, who with fine dresses and jewels, lived a life of +ease and luxury. + +At last the girl understood and with a shudder, rose to her feet. +"Madam, I thank you for your kindness; for you _have_ been kind; but +I cannot stop here." She started toward the door, but the woman stopped +her. + +"My dear child; you cannot go out at this time of night again, and you +could never find your way back to your lodging place. Stay here. You +need not leave this room, and you may bolt the door on this side. +Tomorrow you may go if you will." + +Amy could do nothing but stay. As she laid her tired head on the clean +pillow that night, and nestling in the warm blankets watched the +firelight as the flames leaped and played, she heard the sound of music +and merry voices, and thought of the cold, poorly-furnished bed-room, +with coarse sheets and soiled pillows, at her lodging place, and of +the weary tramp about the streets, and the unkind faces that refused +her a chance for life. What would the end be when her money was gone, +she wondered; and after all, why not this? + +The next morning, when she awoke, she could not for a moment, remember +where she was; then it all came back, just as a knock sounded on the +door. + +"Who is it?" she called. + +"Your coffee, miss," came the answer, and she unlocked the door, +admitting an old negro woman with a neat tray, on which was set a +dainty breakfast. + +Later, when she was dressed, Madam came. "And do you still feel that +you must go?" she asked. + +"Yes, yes, I must. Don't tempt me." + +The woman handed her a card with her name and address. "Well, go, my +dear; and when you are driven to the street, because you have no money +and are cold and hungry, come to me if you will, and earn food and +clothing, warmth and ease, by the only means open to you." Then she +went with her to the street and saw that she took the right car. + +As Amy said good-bye, the tears filled her eyes again, and oh, how +lonely and desolate the poor girl felt, as she shivered in the sharp +air, and how hopelessly she again took up her fight against the awful +odds. + +But the end came at last as Madam had said it would. Without money, +Amy was turned from her boarding place. One awful night she spent on +the street, and the next day she found her way, half frozen, and weak +from hunger, to Madam's place. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + +That Frank Goodrich had managed to keep himself free from all appearance +of evil since the night he so nearly became a thief, was not because +of any real change in his character. He gambled no more. Not from a +matter of principle, but because he feared the results, and he accepted +Whitley's sarcastic advice about religious services, not because there +was any desire in his heart for a right life, but because he felt it +was good policy. Like many others, he was as bad as he dared to be; +and while using the church as a cloak to hide his real nature, was +satisfied if he could keep the appearance of respectability. In short, +he was a splendid example of what that old Satanic copy-book proverb, +"Honesty is the best policy" will do for a life if it be lived up to +in earnest. + +He was not a little alarmed over his sister's conduct, because he +feared that Whitley, in a spirit of revenge, would demand payment of +the notes; which could only mean his open disgrace and ruin. And his +feelings reached a climax two weeks after Dick's return when he received +a curt note from Jim saying: + +"You will remember that I promised to surrender those notes of yours +upon certain conditions. Those conditions now can never be met, and +it becomes necessary for us to make other arrangements. You will meet +me with a horse and buggy at Freeman Station tomorrow night, ten-thirty. +Wait for me at the crossroads south of the depot. If anyone learns of +our meeting it will be all up with you." + +Freeman Station was a little cluster of houses near the great hay farms +twelve miles from Boyd City, and the drive was not one to be made with +pleasure; but there was no help for it, and about dusk Frank set out. +It had been raining steadily for several days and the mud was hub deep, +while in many places the road was under water. Once he was obliged to +get out, and by the flickering light of his lantern, to pick his way +around a dangerous washout. Several times he was on the point of giving +up and turning back, but thoughts of Whitley's anger drove him on, and +he at last reached the place, several minutes after the train had +passed on its way across the dark prairie. As he stopped at the corner, +Whitley appeared by the side of the buggy, and clambered in without +a word. Taking the lines from Frank, he lashed the tired horse with +the whip and they plunged forward into the night. + +Once or twice Frank tried to open a conversation with his companion, +but received such short replies that he gave up and shrank back in the +corner of the seat in miserable silence. + +After nearly an hour, Whitley brought the horse to a standstill, and +jumping out of the buggy, began to unhitch. Against the dark sky, Frank +could see the shadowy outlines of a house and barn. + +"Where are we?" he asked. + +"At my place, nine miles south of town," Whitley answered. "Help me +put up the horse, can't you?" + +Frank obeyed. + +"No, don't take the harness off," said Jim again; "you'll want him +before long." And then he led the way to the house. + +Taking a key from its hiding place beneath one corner of the step, he +unlocked the door and entered; and while Frank stood shivering with +the cold and wet, found a lamp and made a light. The room where they +stood was well carpeted and furnished, and upon the table were the +remains of a meal, together with empty bottles and glasses, and lying +on the chair was a woman's glove. + +Frank looked around curiously. He had heard rumors of Whitley's place +in the country, but this was his first visit. + +"Well," said Jim shortly, "sit down while I build a fire and get +something to drink; things are not very gay here to-night, but we'll +do the best we can." + +When the room was warm and they had removed their wraps and outer +clothing, and Jim had partaken freely from a supply of liquor on the +sideboard, he stretched himself in an easy chair and spoke more +pleasantly. "Well, I suppose you are ready to pay those notes, with +the interest." + +Frank moved uneasily. "You know I can't," he muttered. "I thought from +your letter, that we might make other arrangements. Amy, you know, +might come.--" + +"Oh, cut that out," interrupted Whitley, with an oath; "your esteemed +sister is out of this deal for good." Then, as he lit his cigar, "We +might fix things in another way though, if you only had the nerve." + +"How?" asked Frank, eagerly. + +"That printer of Udell's has some papers in his possession that I want. +Get them for me and I'll turn over your notes and call it square." + +Frank looked at his companion in wonder. "What do you mean?" he said +at last. + +"Just what I say. Can't you hear?" + +"But how does that tramp happen to have any papers of value to you?" + +"That is, most emphatically, none of your business, my friend. +All you have to do is to get them, or--" he paused significantly. + +"But will he give them up?" + +Whitley looked at him a few minutes in amused contempt, then said, +mockingly, "Oh yes; of course he will be glad to favor us. All you +need to do is to put on your best Sunday School manners and say sweetly: +'Mr. Falkner, Mr. Whitley would like those papers that you have in the +long leather pocket-book tied with a shoe-string.' He'll hand them +over instantly. The only reason I have taken all this trouble to meet +you out here to-night is because I am naturally easily embarrassed and +don't like to ask him for them myself." + +Frank was confused and made no reply, until Whitley asked: "Where does +the fellow live now?" + +"I don't know, but he's in old man Wicks' office every evening; has +a desk there, and works on some fool Association work." + +Whitley nodded. "Then you will find the papers in Uncle Bobbie's safe." + +"But how am I to get them?" + +"I don't know; you can't buy them. You can't bluff him. And he won't +scare. There's only one other way I know." + +"You mean that I must steal them?" gasped Frank. + +Whitley looked at him with an evil smile. "That's rather a hard word +for a good Christian, isn't it? Let's say, obtain possession of the +documents without Mr. Falkner's knowledge. It sounds better." + +"I'm no thief," snapped Frank. + +Jim lifted his eyebrows as he skillfully flipped the ashes from his +cigar. "Oh, I see; you did not rob the old gentleman's safe that night. +I saved you from committing murder. You only negotiated a trifling +loan with your loving parent. You'll be telling me next that you didn't +gamble, but only whiled away a leisure hour or two in a social game +of cards. But, joking aside, I honestly believe, Frank Goodrich, that +you are more kinds of a fool than any man I have ever had the pleasure +to know. The case in a nutshell is this: I must have those papers. I +can't go after them myself. You've got to get them for me." + +"I won't," said Frank, sullenly. "I can't." + +"You can, and you will," retorted the other, firmly; "or I'll turn +those notes over to my lawyer for collection, inside of twenty-four +hours, and the little story of your life will be told to all the world. +My young Christian friend, you can't afford to tell _me_ that you +won't." + +For another hour they sat before the fire, talking and planning, and +then Frank drove alone, through the mud and rain, back to the city, +reaching his home just before day. + +A few nights later, as Dick sat at his work in Mr. Wicks' office, a +rubber-tired buggy drove slowly past close to the curbing. Through the +big front window, Dick could be seen plainly as he bent over his desk, +just inside an inner room, his back toward the door, which stood open. +A burly negro leaped to the sidewalk without stopping the carriage. +So absorbed was Dick with the task before him, that he did not hear +the outer door of the office open and close again; and so quickly did +the negro move that he stood within the room where Dick sat before the +latter was aware of his presence. + +When Dick did raise his head, he looked straight into the muzzle of +a big revolver. + +"Don't move er ye'r a goner," growled the black giant; and reaching +out with his free hand he swung to the door between the rooms, thus +cutting off the view from the street. + +Dick smiled pleasantly as though his visitor had called in the ordinary +way. "What can I do for you?" he asked, politely. + +"Yo jest move 'way from dat 'ar desk fust; den we kin talk. I don' +'spect you's got a gun handy, an' we don' want no foolin'." + +Dick laughed aloud as though the other had made a good joke. "All +right, boss; just as you say." And leaving his chair he seated himself +on the edge of a table in the center of the room. But the negro did +not notice that he had placed himself so that a heavy glass paper-weight +was just hidden by his right leg. + +"Better take a seat yourself," continued Dick cordially. "Might as +well be comfortable. How are the wife and babies?" + +The negro showed his teeth in a broad grin as he dropped into the +revolving chair Dick had just vacated. "Dey's well, tank yo' kindly +sah." Then as he looked at the young man's careless attitude and smiling +face, he burst forth, admiringly: "Dey done tole me as how yo' wor' +a cool cuss an' mighty bad to han'le; but fo' God I nebber seed nothin' +like hit. Aint yo' skeered'?" + +Dick threw up his head and laughed heartily. "Sure I'm scared," he +said. "Don't you see how I'm shaking? I expect I'll faint in a minute +if you don't put up that gun." + +The negro scowled fiercely. "No yo' don't. Yo' kan't come dat on dis +chile. Dat gun stay pinted jus' lak she is; an' hit goes off too ef +yo' don' do what I says, mighty sudden." + +"Just as you say," replied Dick, cheerfully. "But what do you want me +to do?" + +"I wants yo' to unlock dat air safe." + +"Can't do it. I don't know the combination." + +"Huh," the negro grunted. "Yo' kan't gib me no such guff es dat. +Move sudden now." + +"You're making a mistake," said Dick, earnestly. "I have only desk +room here. I don't work for Mr. Wicks, and have no business with the +safe. Besides, they don't keep money there anyway." + +"Taint money I'm after dis trip, mistah; hit's papers. Dey's in a big +leather pocket-book, tied with er sho' string." + +Like a flash, Dick understood. The papers were in the safe, but as he +said, he did not know the combination. "Papers?" he said, in a tone +of surprise, in order to gain time. + +"Yes sah, papers; dat yo' keeps in dar." He nodded toward the safe. +"I wants em quick." The hand that held the revolver came slowly to a +level with the dark face. + +"Shoot if you want to," said Dick, easily, "but I'm telling you the +truth. I don't know how to open the safe." + +The negro looked puzzled, and Dick, seeing his advantage instantly, +let his hand fall easily on his leg, close to the paper weight. +"Besides," he said carelessly, "if its my papers you want, that's my +desk behind--" He checked himself suddenly as though he had said more +than he intended. + +The negro's face lighted at what he thought was Dick's mistake, and +forgetting himself, half turned in the revolving chair, while the +muzzle of the revolver was shifted for just the fraction of a second. +It was enough. With the quickness of a serpent, Dick's hand shot out, +and the heavy weight caught the negro above the right ear, and with +a groan he slid from the chair to the floor. + +When the black ruffian regained consciousness, Dick was still sitting +on the edge of the table, calmly swinging his feet, but in his hand +was his visitor's weapon. + +"Well," he said, quietly, "you've had quite a nap. Do you feel better? +Or do you think one of these pills would help you?" He slowly cocked +and raised the revolver. + +"Don't shoot. Don't shoot, sah." + +"Why not?" said Dick, coldly, but with the smile still on his face. + +That smile did the business. Oaths and threats the black man could +understand; but a man who looked deliberately along a cocked revolver, +with a smile on his face, was too much for him. He begged and pleaded +for his life. + +"Tell me who sent you here?" + +"Mistah Goodrich." + +Dick was startled, though his face showed no surprise. + +"The old gentleman?" + +"'No sah, Mistah Frank." + +"How did he know that I had any papers?" + +"I don' know sah; he only said as how he wanted dem; an' he's er waitin' +'round de cornah in de kerrige." + +This was a new feature in the situation. Dick was puzzled. At last he +stepped to the phone and, still covering the negro with the revolver, +he rang up central and called for Mr. Wicks' residence. When the answer +came, he said easily, "Excuse me for disturbing you, Mr. Wicks, but +I have a man here in the office who wants to get into your safe, and +I need you badly. You had better come in the back way." + +"I'll be with you in a shake," was the reply; "hold him down till I +get there." And a few minutes later the old gentleman knocked at the +door. Dick admitted him and then burst into a hearty laugh at his +strange appearance; for in his haste, Uncle Bobbie had simply pulled +on a pair of rubber boots and donned an overcoat. With the exception +of these articles, he was in his nightshirt and cap. In his hand, he +carried a pistol half as long as his arm; but he was as calm as Dick +himself, though breathing hard. "To-be-sure," he puffed, +"I'm--so--plagey--fat--can't hurry--worth cent--wind's no good--have +to take--to smokin' agin--sure." + +Dick explained the situation in a few words; "I wouldn't have called +you sir, if young Goodrich were not in it. But--but--you see--I don't +know what to do," he finished, lamely. + +"To-be-sure," said Uncle Bobbie, "I know. To-be-sure. Sometimes a bad +feller like him gets tangled up with good people in such a way you +jist got t'er let 'em alone; tares an' wheat you know; tares and wheat. +To-be-sure Christianity aint 'rithmetic, and you can't save souls like +you'd do problems in long division, ner count results like you'd figger +interest. What'd ye say?--Suppose you skip down to the corner and fetch +him up here." + +Dick glanced at the negro. "Never you mind him," said the old gentleman, +with a fierce scowl. "Your uncle'll shoot the blamed head off him if +he so much as bats an eye; he knows it too." And he trained the long +gun on the trembling black. + +Dick slipped out of the back door and soon returned holding Frank +firmly by the collar. As they entered, Uncle Bobbie said to the negro, +"Now's yer chance, Bill; git out quick 'fore we change our minds." And +the astonished darkey bolted. + +"Now Frank," said the old gentleman kindly, when Dick had placed his +prisoner in a chair, "tell us all about it." And young Goodrich, too +frightened almost to speak above a whisper, told the whole miserable +story. + +"Too bad; too bad," muttered Uncle Bobbie, when Frank had finished. +"To-be-sure, taint no more'n I expected; gamblin' church members ain't +got no call to kick if their children play cards fer money. What'll +we do, Dick?" + +Dick was silent, but unseen by Frank, he motioned toward the door. + +[Illustration: "Too bad, too bad, muttered Uncle Bobbie."] + +Uncle Bobbie understood. "I reckon yer right," he said, slowly, "tares +an' wheat--tares an' wheat. But what about them notes?" + +"I'll fix Whitley," replied Dick. + +Frank looked at him in wonder. + +"Air you sure you can do it?" asked Uncle Bobbie; "'cause if you +can't--" + +"Sure," replied Dick; "I'll write him a line tonight." Then to Frank: +"You can go now, sir, and don't worry about Jim Whitley; he will never +trouble you by collecting the notes." + +Frank, stammering some unintelligible reply, rose to his feet. + +"Wait a bit young man," said Uncle Bobbie, "I want to tell ye somethin' +before ye go. To-be-sure, I don't think ye'll ever be a very _bad_ +citizen, but you've shown pretty clearly that ye can be a mighty mean +one. An' I'm afraid ye'll never be much credit to the church, 'cause +a feller's got to be a _man_ before he can be much of a Christian. +Pieces of men like you don't count much on either side; they just sort +o' fill in. But what ye want to do is to quit tryin' so blamed hard +to be respectable and be _decent_. Now run on home to yer maw and don't +tell nobody where ye've been to-night. Mr. Falkner he will look after +yer friend Whitley." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + +The sun was nearly three hours high above the western hilltops in the +mountain district of Arkansas, as a solitary horseman stopped in the +shadow of the timber that fringed the edge of a deep ravine. It was +evident from the man's dress, that he was not a native of that region; +and from the puzzled expression on his face, as he looked anxiously +about, it was clear that he had lost his way. Standing in the stirrups +he turned and glanced back over the bridle path along which he had +come, and then peered carefully through the trees to the right and +left; then with an impatient oath, he dropped to the saddle and sat +staring straight ahead at a lone pine upon the top of a high hill a +few miles away. + +"There's the hill with the signal tree beyond Simpson's all right," +he said, "but how in thunder am I to get there; this path don't go any +farther, that's sure," and from the distant mountain he turned his +gaze to the deep gulch that lay at his feet. + +Suddenly he leaned forward with another exclamation. He had caught +sight of a log cabin in the bottom of the ravine, half hidden by the +bushes and low trees that grew upon the steep banks. Turning his horse, +he rode slowly up and down for some distance, searching for an easy +place to descend, coming back at last to the spot where he had first +halted. "It's no go, Salem," he said; "we've got to slide for it," and +dismounting, he took the bridle rein in his hand and began to pick his +way as best he could, down the steep incline, while his four-footed +companion reluctantly followed. After some twenty minutes of stumbling +and swearing on the part of the man, and slipping and groaning on the +part of the horse, they stood panting at the bottom. After a short +rest, the man clambered into the saddle again, and fording a little +mountain brook that laughed and sang and roared among the boulders, +rode up to the clearing in which the cabin stood. + +"Hello!" he shouted. + +There was no answer, and but for the thread of smoke that curled lazily +from the mud and stick chimney, the place seemed deserted. + +"Hello!" he called again. + +A gaunt hound came rushing from the underbrush beyond the house, and +with hair bristling in anger, howled his defiance and threats. + +Again the horseman shouted, and this time the cabin door opened +cautiously and a dirty-faced urchin thrust forth a tousled head. + +"Where's your father?" + +The head was withdrawn, and a moment later put forth again. +"He's done gone ter th' corners." + +"Well, can you tell me the way to Simpson's? I don't know how to get +out of this infernal hole." + +Again the head disappeared for a few seconds, and then the door was +thrown wide open and a slovenly woman, with a snuff stick in one corner +of her mouth, came out, followed by four children. The youngest three +clung to her skirts and stared, with fearful eyes, at the man on the +horse, while he of the tousled head threw stones at the dog and +commanded him, in a shrill voice, to "shet up, dad burn ye Kinney, +shet up. He's all right." + +"Wanter go ter Simpson's at the corners, do ye?" said the woman. +"Wal, yer right smart offen yer road." + +"I know that," replied the stranger, impatiently; "I've been hunting +turkeys and lost my way. But can't I get to the corners from here?" + +"Sure ye kin. Jes' foller on down the branch 'bout three mile till ye +come out on the big road; hit'll take ye straight ter th' ford below +ol' Ball whar' the lone tree is. Simpson's is 'bout half a quarter on +yon side the creek." + +The man thanked her gruffly, and turning his horse, started away. + +"Be you'ns the feller what's stoppin' at Sim's ter hunt?" she called +after him. + +"Yes, I'm the man," he answered, "Good-evening." And he rode into the +bushes. + +Catching the oldest urchin by the arm, the woman gave him a vigorous +cuff on the side of the head and then whispered a few words in his +attentive ear. The lad started off down the opposite side of the ravine +at a run, bending low and dodging here and there, unseen by the +stranger. + +The hunter pushed on his way down the narrow valley as fast as he could +go, for he had no time to spare if he would reach his stopping-place +before night, and he knew that there was small chance of finding the +way back after dark; but his course was so rough and obstructed by +heavy undergrowth, fallen trees and boulders, that his progress was +slow and the shadow of the mountain was over the trail while he was +still a mile from the road at the end of the ravine. As he looked +anxiously ahead, hoping every moment to see the broader valley where +the road lay, he caught a glimpse of two men coming toward him, one +behind the other, winding in and out through the low timber. While +still some distance away, they turned sharply to the left, and as it +seemed to him, rode straight into the side of the mountain and were +lost to sight. + +Checking his horse, he watched for them to come into view again, and +while he waited, wondering at their strange disappearance, the men +urged their mules up a narrow gulley that was so hidden by the +undergrowth and fallen timber as to escape an eye untrained to the +woods and hills. After riding a short distance, they dismounted, and +leaving the animals, quickly scaled the steep sides of the little cut +and came out in an open space about two hundred yards above the trail +along which the solitary horseman must pass. Dropping behind the trunk +of a big tree that lay on the mountain side, uprooted by some gale and +blackened by forest fires, they searched the valley below with the +keen glance of those whose eyes are never dimmed by printed page or +city lights. Dressed in the rude garb of those to whom clothes are a +necessity, not a means of display, tall and lean with hard muscles, +tough sinews and cruel stony faces, they seemed a part of the wild +life about them; and yet withal, there was a touch of the mountain +grandeur in their manner, and in the unconscious air of freedom and +self-reliance, as there always is about everything that remains +untouched by the conventionality of the weaker world of men. + +"'Bout time he showed up, aint it, Jake?" said one as he +carefully rested his rifle against the log and bit off a big piece +of long green twist tobacco. + +"Hit's a right smart piece ter ol' Josh's shack an' th' kid done come +in a whoop," returned the other, following his companion's example. +"He can't make much time down that branch on hoss back an' with them +fine clothes of his, but he orten ter be fur off." + +"D'ye reckon he's a durned revenoo sure, Jake?" + +"Dunno, best be safe," with an ugly scowl. "Simpson 'lows he's jes' +layin' low hisself, but ye can't tell." + +"What'd Sim say his name war?" + +"Jim Whitley," returned the other, taking a long careful look up the +valley. + +"An' whar' from?" + +"Sim say St. Louie, or some place like that. Sh--thar' he comes." + +They half rose and crouching behind the log, pushed the cocked rifles +through the leaves of a little bush, covering the horseman below. + +"If he's a revenoo he'll sure see th' path ter th' still," whispered +the one called Jake; "an' if he turns ter foller hit into th' cut drap +him. If he goes on down th' branch, all right." + +All unconscious of the rifles that wanted only the touch of an outlaw's +finger to speak his death, the stranger pushed on his way past the +unseen danger point toward the end of the valley where lay the road. + +The lean mountaineers looked at each other. "Never seed hit," said +one, showing his yellow teeth in a mirthless grin; "an' I done tole +Cap las' night, hit was es plain es er main traveled road an' orter +be kivered." + +"Mebbe so," replied the other; "an' then agin he mighter ketched on +an' 'lows ter fool us." + +The other sprang up with an oath. "We uns aint got no call ter take +chances," he growled; "best make sure." And with his rifle half raised, +he looked anxiously along the trail, but the stranger had passed from +view. + +A few minutes longer they waited and watched, discussing the situation; +then returning to the mules, they rode out of the little gully and on +down the branch in the direction the object of their suspicion had +taken. + +Just across the road from the mouth of the ravine down which the hunter +had come, was a little log cabin, and in the low doorway an old woman +sat smoking a cob pipe. "Howdy Liz," said one of the men, "Seed +anythin'?" + +"Yep," returned the woman. "He done ast th' way ter Simpson's. 'Low'd +he'd been huntin' turkey an' lost hisself. I done tole him he orter +git someone ter tromp 'roun' with him er he might git killed." + +She laughed shrilly and the two men joined in with low guffaws. "Reckon +yer right, Liz," said one. "Jake, why don't ye hire out ter him." + +Jake slapped his leg. "By gum," he exclaimed, "that thar's a good ide'. +I shor' do hit. An' I'll see that he don't find nothin' bigger'n turkey +too; less'n he's too durned inquisitive; then I'll be--." He finished +with an evil grin. "You all tell Cap I've done gone ter hunt with +Mistah Whitley ef I don't show up." And beating his mule's ribs +vigorously with his heels, he jogged away down the road, while his +companion turned and rode back up the little valley. + +Jim Whitley, enraged at Frank's failure to rescue the papers held by +Dick, and alarmed by the latter's letter telling him of young Goodrich's +confession, had come into the wild backwoods district to await +developments. He was more determined now than ever, to gain possession +of the evidence of his crime, and in his heart was a fast-growing +desire to silence, once for all, the man whose steady purpose and +integrity was such an obstacle in his life. But he could see no way +to accomplish his purpose without great danger to himself; and with +the memory of the gray eyes that had looked so calmly along the shining +revolvers that night in the printing office, was a wholesome respect +for the determined character of the man who had coolly proposed to die +with him if he did not grant his demands. He feared that should Dick +find Amy and learn the truth, he would risk his own life rather than +permit him to go unpunished, and so he resolved to bury himself in the +mountains until chance should reveal a safe way out of the difficulty, +or time change the situation. + +The afternoon of the day following his adventure in the little valley, +Whitley sat on the porch of the post office and store kept by his host, +telling his experience to a group of loafers, when the long mountaineer +called Jake, rode up to the blacksmith shop across the street. Leaving +his mule to be shod, the native joined the circle just in time to hear +the latter part of Whitley's story. + +"Lookin' fer turkey, war ye Mister?" asked Jake, with a wink at the +bystanders. + +"Yes, have you seen any?" replied Jim. + +"Sure, the bresh's full of 'em ef ye know whar' ter hunt." + +The company grinned and he continued: "I seed signs this mo'nin' in +th' holler on yon side ol' Ball, when I war' huntin' my mule. An' +thar's a big roost down by th' spring back of my place in th' bottoms." + +Whitley was interested. "Will you show me where they are?" he asked. + +"Might ef I could spar' th' time," replied Jake slowly; "but +I've got my craps ter tend." + +Another grin went the rounds. "Jake's sure pushed with his craps," +remarked one; "Raises mo' corn, 'n 'ary three men in Arkansaw," remarked +another, and with this they all fired a volley of tobacco juice at a +tumble bug rolling his ball in the dust near by. + +Needless to say, the conversation resulted in Whitley's engaging the +moonshiner for seventy-five cents a day, to hunt with him; and for the +next two weeks they were always together. + +All day long the native led the way over the hills and through the +deep ravines and valleys, taking a different course each day, but +always the chase led them away from the little ravine that opened on +the big road. When Whitley suggested that they try the country where +he had lost his way, his guide only laughed contemptuously, "Ain't ye +killin' turkey every trip. Ye jist foller me an' I'll sure find 'em +fer ye. Ain't nothin' over in that holler. I done tromped all over +thar' huntin' that dad burned ol' mule o'mine, an' didn't see nary +sign. Thay's usen' 'round th' south side th' ridge. Ye jist lemme take +ye 'round." And Jim was forced to admit that he was having good luck +and no cause to complain of lack of sport. But he was growing tired +of the hills and impatient to return to the city, while his hatred of +the man whom he feared, grew hourly. + +Jake, seeing that his employer was fast growing tired of the hunt, and +guessing shrewdly, from his preoccupied manner, that hunting was not +the real object of his stay in the mountains, became more and more +suspicious. His careless, good-natured ways and talk changed to a +sullen silence and he watched Whitley constantly. + +One morning, just at daybreak, as they were walking briskly along the +big road on their way to a place where the guide said the game was to +be found, Take stopped suddenly, and motioning Jim to be silent, stood +in a listening attitude. + +Whitley followed his companion's example, but for a minute could hear +nothing but the faint rustle of the dead leaves as a gray lizard darted +to his hiding place, and the shrill scream of a blue-jay calling his +sleepy mates to breakfast. Then the faint thud, thud, thud, of a +galloping horse came louder and louder through the morning mist. +Evidently someone was riding rapidly toward them. + +"Whitley was about to speak, when the other, with a fierce oath and +a threatening gesture, stopped him. + +"Git inter th' bresh thar' quick an' do's I tell ye. Don't stop t' +plaver. Git! An' gimme yer gun." + +Too astonished to do anything else, Jim obeyed, and hastily thrusting +the rifle under a pile of leaves by a log near by, the moonshiner +forced his companion before him through the underbrush to a big rock +some distance from the road. The sound of the galloping horse came +louder and louder. + +"Stand thar' behin' that rock 'n if ye stir I'll kill ye," whispered +Jake; and taking a position behind a tree where he could watch Jim as +well as the road, he waited with rifle cocked and murder written in +every line of his hard face. + +Nearer and nearer came the galloping horse. Whitley was fascinated and +moved slightly so that he could peep over the rock. A low hiss from +Jake fell upon his ear like the warning hiss of a serpent, and half +turning, he saw the rifle pointing full at him. He nodded his head, +and placing his finger upon his lips to indicate that he understood, +turned his face toward the road again, just as the horse and his rider +came into view. + +The animal, though going freely, was covered with dust and dripping +with sweat, which showed a creamy lather on his flanks, and where the +bridle reins touched his neck. The rider wore a blue flannel shirt, +open at the throat, corduroy trousers, tucked in long boots, and a +black slouch hat, with the brim turned up in front. At his belt hung +two heavy revolvers, and across the saddle he held a Winchester ready +for instant use. He sat his horse easily as one accustomed to much +riding, but like the animal, he showed the strain of a hard race. + +Whitley was so wrought up that all these details impressed themselves +upon his mind in an instant, and it seemed hours from the moment the +horseman appeared until he was opposite the rock, though it could have +been but a few seconds. + +The watcher caught one glimpse of the rider's face, square jawed, keen +eyed, determined, alert, stained by wind and weather. + +"Crack!" went the rifle behind Whitley. + +Like a flash the weapon of the rider flew to his shoulder. "Crack!" +and the bark flew from the tree within an inch of Jake's face. + +Whitley saw the spurs strike and the rider lean forward in his saddle +to meet the spring of his horse. "Crack!" Jake's rifle spoke again. +A mocking laugh came back from the road as the flying horseman passed +from sight. Then, "I'll see you later," came in ringing tones, and the +thud, thud, thud, of the galloping horse died away in the distance. + +The mountaineer delivered himself of a volley of oaths, while Whitley +stood quietly looking at him, his mind filled with strange thoughts. +The man who could deliberately fire from ambush with intent to kill +was the man for his purpose. + +"Who is he?" Jim asked at last, when the other stopped swearing long +enough to fill his mouth with fresh tobacco. + +"A revenoo, an' I done missed him clean." He began to curse again. + +"He came near getting you though," said the other, pointing to the +mark of the horseman's bullet. + +"Yas, hit war' Bill Davis. Aint nary other man in the hull dad burned +outfit could er done hit." He looked with admiration at the fresh scar +on the tree. + +"But what is he doing?" asked Whitley. + +Jake looked at him with that ugly, mirthless grin. "Mebbe he's huntin' +turkey too." + +Whitley laughed, "I guess he was goin' too fast for that," he said; +but his companion's reply changed his laughter to fear. + +"Thar's them that better be a follerin' of him mighty sudden." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean you, Mister. The boys has had ther' eye on ye fer sometime. +We know yer huntin's all a blind, an' now Bill Davis he's come in. I +aint right shor' myself er I'd a kep' mum an' he'pped 'em take ye." + +Whitley turned pale. "Do you mean that the people here think I'm a +revenue agent looking for moonshiners?" + +"That's about hit, Mister, an' they'll be fer takin' ye out ter night +shor'." + +The fellow's meaning was too clear to be mistaken, and for some time +Whitley remained silent. He was thinking hard. At last he said: "Jake, +I'll tell you something. The boys are mistaken. I'm not here to get +anybody into trouble, but because I'm in a hole myself." + +"As how?" asked Jake, moving nearer and speaking in a lower tone. + +"I won't tell you how unless you'll help me; and if you will, I'll pay +you more money than you can make in this business in a thousand years." + +The moonshiner's eyes gleamed. "Bill Davis is sure after us an' that +thar' means trouble every time," he said slowly. "Ye heard him say as +how he'd see me agin, an' I never knowed him ter miss befo'." He looked +at the bullet mark on the tree again. "Tell ye what, Mister Whitley, +I'll chance her; but we ain't got no time ter talk now. We gotter git +away from here, fer some er the boys 'll be along purty quick. We'll +just mosey 'round fer a spell an' then go back ter th' corners. I'll +send th' boys off on er hot chase en' fix Sim so's ye kin git erway +t'-night, an' ye come ter my shack; hit's on th' river below that hill +with the lone tree on top, jes' seven mile from th' corners. Ye can't +miss hit. I'll be thar an' have things fixed so's we kin light out +befo' th' boys git back." + +They reached Simpson's in time for dinner and Jake held a long whispered +conversation with that worthy, while Jim sat on the porch after the +meal. + +As Jake passed him on his way to the mule that stood hitched in front +of the blacksmith shop as usual, he said, in the hearing of those near: +"Hit's all right fer to-morrow, is hit, Mister Whitley? An' we'll go +over tother side Sandy Ridge?" + +The words "all right" were accompanied by a wink that Whitley +understood. + +"Yes," he answered carelessly, "I'll be ready. I want to rest this +afternoon and get a good sleep tonight. I'll be with you in the +morning." + +Jake rode off, and all the rest of the day Whitley felt that he was +the mark for many scowling glances, while many whispered words were +passed between the gaunt natives as they slouched in and out of the +post office. Later, when the loafers had seemingly disappeared, Simpson +came, and leaning carelessly against the door post within a few feet +of Whitley, said, in a low voice: "They's a watchin' ye from th' shop +yonder; be keerful an' don't let on. Yer hoss is tied in th' bresh +down th' road a piece. Ride easy fer th' first mile." + +Jim rose slowly to his feet, and stretching his arms above his head, +yawned noisily. "Guess I'll turn in," he said. And then as he passed +Simpson, he put a roll of bills into his hand. The landlord stepped +out on the porch and took the chair Whitley had just left, while that +gentleman slipped quietly out by the back door and crept away to his +horse. + +An hour later, Whitley knocked at the door of the cabin on the river +bank and was admitted by Jake. + +"Did ye make hit all right?" the mountaineer asked, as Jim entered. + +The other nodded. "Simpson is sitting on the front porch and I'm +supposed to be in bed." + +Jake chuckled. "Cap an' th' boys air way up th' holler after Bill +Davis, an' I'm in the bresh er watchin' you. Now let's git down ter +biz right sharp." + +Whitley soon told enough of his story, omitting names and places, to +let his companion understand the situation. + +When he had finished, Jake took a long pull from a bottle, and then +said slowly: "An' ye want me ter put that feller what holds th' papers +out o' yer' way?" + +Whitley nodded. "It'll pay you a lot better than shooting government +agents, and not half the risk." + +"What'll ye give me?" + +"You can name your own price?" + +The outlaw's face glittered and he answered in a hoarse whisper, "I'll +do hit. What's his name, an' whar'll I find him?" + +"Richard Falkner. He lives in Boyd City--" + +Slowly the man who had just agreed to commit a murder for money rose +to his feet and stepped backward until half the width of the room was +between them. + +The other, alarmed at the expression in his companion's face, rose +also, and for several minutes the silence was only broken by the +crackling of the burning wood in the fireplace, the shrill chirp of +a cricket and the plaintive call of a whip-poor-will from without. +Then with a look of superstitious awe and terror upon his thin face, +the moonshiner gasped, in a choking voice, "Boyd City--Richard +Falkner--Mister, aint yo' mistaken? Say, ar' ye right shor'?" + +Whitley replied, with an oath, "What's the matter with you? You look +as though you had seen a ghost." + +The ignorant villain started and glanced over his shoulder to the dark +corner of the cabin; "Thar' might be a ha'nt here, shor' 'nough," he +whispered hoarsely. "Do yo' know whar' ye air, Mister?" + +Then as Whitley remained silent, he continued: "This here's th' house +whar' Dickie Falkner war' borned; an' whar' his mammy died; an'--an' +I'm Jake Tompkins; me 'n his daddy war' pards." + +Whitley was dazed. He looked around the room as though in a dream; +then slowly he realized his situation and a desperate resolve crept +into his heart. Carefully his hand moved beneath his coat until he +felt the handle of a long knife, while he edged closer to his companion. + +The other seemed not to notice, and continued, as though talking to +himself: "Little Dickie Falkner. Him what fed me when I war' starvin', +an' gimme his last nickel when he war' hungry hisself; an' yo' want +me ter kill him."--He drew a long shuddering breath. "Mister, yo' shor' +made 'er bad mistake this time." + +"I'll fix it though," cried Whitley; and with an awful oath he leaped +forward, the knife uplifted. + +But the keen eye of the man used to danger, had seen his stealthy +preparation, and his wrist was caught in a grasp of iron. + +The city-bred villain was no match for his mountain-trained companion +and the struggle was short. + +Keeping his hold upon Whitley's wrist, Jake threw his long right arm +around his antagonist and drew him close, in a crushing embrace. Then, +while he looked straight into his victim's fear-lighted eyes, he slowly +forced the uplifted hand down and back. + +Whitley struggled desperately, but his left arm was pinned to his side +and he was held as in a circle of steel. In vain he writhed and twisted; +he was helpless in the powerful grasp of the mountaineer. Slowly the +hand that held the knife was forced behind him. He screamed in pain. +The glittering eyes that looked into his never wavered. Jake's right +hand behind his back, touched the knife, and Whitley saw that evil, +mirthless grin come on the cruel face, so close to his own. The grip +on his wrist tightened. Slowly his arm was twisted until his fingers +loosened the hold of the weapon, and the handle of the knife was +transferred to the grasp of the man who held him. Then there were two +quick, strong thrusts, a shuddering, choking cry, and the arms were +loosed as the stricken man fell in a heap on the cabin floor, on the +very spot where years before, the dying mother had prayed: "Oh Lord, +take ker' o' Dick." + +"You--have--killed--me--" + +"I reckon that's about hit, Mister." + +"Tell--Falkner--I--lied--Amy--is--pure--and tell--" + +But the sentence was never finished. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + + +After several weeks of careful investigation and study of the conditions +and needs of Boyd City, along the lines suggested by Rev. Cameron in +his address before the Young People's Union, a plan to meet these +conditions was at last fixed upon, the main points of which were as +follows: That a society or company be organized and incorporated to +furnish places of recreation and education for young men and women; +the place to be fitted with gymnasium, library, reading rooms, social +parlors, a large auditorium and smaller class-rooms for work along +special lines. There should also be a department where men out of +employment might earn something to eat and a place to sleep, by working +in wood-yards, coal mines, factories, or farms connected with the +institution; and a similar place for women. It also provided for a +medical dispensary and hospital for the care of the sick. The whole +institution was to be under the charge of some Christian man who should +deliver an address on the teachings of Christ every Sunday afternoon +in the large auditorium. + +Besides this, Bible classes could be organized by different workers +as they chose, with this restriction, that no teaching of any particular +sect or denomination should be allowed, and only the life and laws of +Jesus Christ should be studied. Classes in other studies, such as +pertain to the welfare or the government of the people, could be +organized for those who wished, all educational work being under the +supervision of directors elected by the society. + +Every department of the institution was to be free to the public at +all hours. To make this possible, the funds of the Society would be +raised from the sale of shares, for which the holder was to pay annually +twenty-five dollars. Members of the Association were entitled to one +vote in the society for every four shares. It was expected that the +department for the needy would be self-supporting. + +The purpose and plans of the society were to be fully set forth in a +little pamphlet, and placed in the hands of every citizen. The people +were to be urged to co-operate with the institution by refusing +absolutely to give any man, able to work, either food, clothing or +lodging, on the ground that he could obtain the needed help by paying +for it in labor at the institution; and that they further assist the +work by contributing clothing, by employing laborers, and using the +products of the institution as far as possible. + +The office of the Superintendent was to be in direct communication +with the police station, and anyone applying for help and refusing to +work, when it was offered, would be turned over to the authorities to +be dealt with for vagrancy. The hope was expressed that the city would +co-operate with the institution by contributing liberally for the +building fund, and by using the workers in their street-cleaning +department. + +When the time came to hear the committee's report, the opera house was +crowded as it seldom was for any political speech or theatrical display. +The young people from the various societies occupied the front seats +on the floor of the house; and back of them, in the dress circles and +galleries, were the general public, while on the rostrum were the +leading business men, bankers, merchants, and the city officials, +together with the committee. + +"Look there, Bill," said a saloon keeper, who had come to watch his +interest, "look at that. Blast me if there aint Banker Lindsley; and +see them reporters. And there's the editor of the Whistler. Say, this +aint no bloody church meeting; there aint a preacher on the stage. +Them fellers mean business. We've got to watch out if they keep on +this tack. And would you look at the people?" + +"Come on out of here," growled his companion, a gambler; "we don't +want any truck with this outfit." + +"I'm going to stay and see what they propose doing," said the other. +"Get a grip on yourself and wait." + +Just then the assembly was called to order, and the two men dropped +into seats near the rear entrance. + +The president stated the object of the meeting and reviewed the action +of the previous one at the Zion Church, where Cameron had spoken, +strongly emphasizing the fact that this was not a meeting of the young +people's societies only, but that every one present was to have a share +in it, and all should feel free to express themselves either by voice +or ballot. "Mr. Richard Falkner, the chairman of the committee, will +make the report, and at their request, will speak for a few moments +on the subject." + +As Dick arose from his place in the rear of the stage and stepped +forward, the saloon keeper turned to his companion, and in a loud +whisper said, "Say, aint he that bum printer of Udell's?" + +The other nodded and then replied, as his companion began to speak +again, "Shut up, let's hear what he is going to say." + +As Dick came slowly forward to the front of the rostrum, and stood for +a moment as though collecting himself, the audience, to a man almost, +echoed the thought that the saloon keeper had so roughly expressed. +"Could it be possible that this was the poor tramp who had once gone +from door to door seeking a chance to earn a crust of bread?" And then +as they looked at the calm, clear-cut, determined features, and the +tall, well-built figure, neatly clothed in a business suit of brown, +they burst into involuntary applause. A smile crept over Dick's face +as he bowed his handsome head in grateful acknowledgment. And then he +held up his hand for silence. + +Instantly a hush fell over the audience, and in a moment they were +listening, with intense interest, to the voice of the once tramp +printer. + +"Our president has already detailed to you an account of the meeting +preceding this. You understand that I am but the mouthpiece of the +council appointed at that time, and that I do but speak their will, +their thoughts, their aims, as they have voiced them in our meetings." + +He then told of the methods adopted by the committee, of the help they +had received, and how they had at last decided upon the report which +he was about to submit; then carefully detailed the plan, enlarging +upon the outlines as he proceeded. Drawing upon the mass of information +gathered in the few weeks, he painted the city in its true colors, as +shown in the light of their investigation; and then held out the +wonderful promises of the plan for the future. + +As he talked, Dick forgot himself, and forgot his audience. He saw +only the figure of the Christ, and heard Him say, "Inasmuch as ye did +it unto one of the least of these, my Brethren, ye did it unto me." +While his hearers sat lost to the surroundings under the magic spell +of his eloquence; an eloquence that even his most intimate friends +never dreamed that he possessed. + +Charlie Bowen was enraptured. Clara Wilson wept and laughed and wept +again. Uncle Bobbie could only say, "I jing," and "To-be-sure," while +George Udell sat in wonder. Could this splendid man who, with his +flashing eye and glowing face, with burning words and graceful gestures, +was holding that immense audience subject to his will, could this be +the wretched creature who once fell at his feet fainting with hunger? +"Truly," he thought, "the possibilities of life are infinite. The power +of the human soul cannot be measured, and no man guesses the real +strength of his closest friend." + +As Dick finished and turned to resume his seat by the side of Mr. +Wicks, a perfect furor of applause came from the people. In vain the +chairman rapped for order; they would not stop; while on the rostrum +men were crowding about the young orator, standing on chairs and +reaching over each other's shoulders to grasp his hand. At last, the +president turned to Dick. "Mr. Falkner, can you stop them?" + +Dick, with face now as pale as death, and lips trembling with emotion, +came back to the front of the stage. "I thank you again and again, for +your kindness and the honor you show me, but may I further trespass +upon that kindness by reminding you that this matter will never be met +by clapping hands or applauding voices. Too long in the past have we +applauded when our hearts were touched, and allowed the sentiment to +die away with the echo of our enthusiasm. Shall it be so this time? +Men and women, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ who died +on Calvary, what will you do for the least of these, His Brethren?" + +As he again took his seat, the gambler, who with his friend had been +sitting drinking in every word of Dick's speech, sprang to his feet +and cried, in a loud, clear voice, "Mr. President." + +Upon being recognized by the chair, who knew him and called him by +name, every head turned, for all knew of Chris Chambers, the most +notorious gambler in the city. + +Said Chambers, "I came here to-night out of curiosity, to see if this +movement in any way threatened my business as a professional gambler. +I have, as most of you know, for the last five years, been conducting +my place in your city, in open violation of your laws. To-night, for +the first time, I see myself in the true light, and as a testimony of +my good faith, and as evidence of the truth of my statement, when I +say that I will never again take money from my fellow men but in honest +business, I wish to make the motion that the report of this committee +be accepted, that the plan be approved, and that the committee be +discharged with the hearty thanks of the citizens of Boyd City." + +The motion was seconded and carried. Then came the critical moment. +For a full minute there was a pause. "What is the will of the meeting?" +said the chairman, calmly, but with a silent prayer. There was a buzz +of conversation all over the house. Every man was asking his neighbor, +"What next?" + +For a short time it looked as if things were at a standstill, but upon +the stage men were putting their heads together, and soon Banker +Lindsley shouted: "Mr. Chairman." + +Instantly the people became quiet and all turned toward Boyd City's +leading financier. + +"I am requested to ask all those who wish to become charter members +of an association as suggested in the report of the council, to meet +here on the stage at once, and I move that we adjourn." + +The president, after calling attention of the audience to the importance +of answering Mr. Lindsley's request, immediately put the question, and +the assembly was dismissed. + +Among the first to push his way to the front was the stalwart form of +the gambler, Chambers, and the stage was soon crowded with business +men and not a few women. Mr. Lindsley looked around. "Where's Falkner?" +he said. No one knew. And when Dick could not be found, Mr. Lindsley +called the company to order. + +The editor of the Whistler was chosen to preside, with Mr. Conklin the +express agent, for secretary. Then a committee on constitution and +by-laws was appointed, and the company adjourned to meet in the +Commercial Club rooms the next Wednesday night. + +But where was Dick? Unnoticed by the audience while their attention +was diverted toward Mr. Lindsley, he had slipped from the rear of the +stage and had made his way by the back stairs to the street. A half +hour later, some of the people, on their way home from the meeting, +noticed a tall figure, dressed in a business suit of brown, standing +in the shadow of the catalpa trees on the avenue, looking upward at +a church spire, built in the form of a giant hand, and at the darkened +stained-glass window, in which was wrought the figure of the Christ +holding a lamb in his arms. Later, they might have seen the same figure +walking slowly past a beautiful residence a few blocks farther up the +street, and when opposite a corner window, pausing a moment to stand +with bared head, while the lips moved softly as though whispering a +benediction upon one whose memory filled the place with pleasure and +with pain. + +About one o'clock on the following Wednesday, Uncle Bobbie Wicks dropped +into the printing office. Udell had not returned from dinner. "Good +afternoon, Mr. Wicks," said Dick, looking up from his work, "take a +seat. You want to see a proof of those letter-heads, I suppose. Jack, +take a proof of that stuff of Mr. Wicks'." + +Uncle Bobbie sank, puffing, into a chair. "I jing. Wish't I didn't get +so fat. Quit smokin' about a month ago. Wife, she wanted me to. +To-be-sure, I don't care nothin' fer it nohow. Mighty mean habit too. +Where's your pipe?" + +Dick smiled. "Oh, I haven't any now." + +"Uh! took to smokin' segars, I reckon." + +"No," said Dick, "I don't smoke at all." + +"Oh." Uncle Bobbie looked long and thoughtfully at his young friend. +"To-be-sure, I don't, _much_.--But I told wife this mornin' I'd have +to begin agin if I don't quit gettin' so plaguey fat. D' ye reckon +it'd make me sick?" + +Dick laughed. "You look rather fleshy," he said, encouragingly. + +"Well, you're a good deal fatter yourself, than you were when I first +seen you," said Uncle Bobbie, looking him over with a critical eye. + +"Yes," admitted Dick, "I guess I am; these are my fat years you know. +I'm getting to look at those lean ones as a very bad dream." + +Dick's young helper handed them a proof-sheet, and after looking over +the work for a few moments, Mr. Wicks said: "That new Association meets +t'-night, don't it?" Dick nodded; and the old gentleman continued +carelessly, as he arose to go, "Stop fer me when you go by, will you? +An' we'll go down t'gether." + +"But I'm not going," said Dick, quickly. Uncle Bobbie dropped back in +his seat with a jar and grasped the arms of his chair, as though about +to be thrown bodily to the ceiling. "Not goin'," he gasped; "Why, +what's the matter with you?" And he glared wildly at the young man. + +"Nothing particularly new is the matter," said Dick, smiling at the +old gentleman's astonishment. "My reason is that I cannot become a +member of the Association when it is organized, and so have no right +to attend the meeting to-night. I may go in after a time, but I cannot +now." + +"Why not?" said Mr. Wicks, still glaring. + +"Because I haven't the money." + +Uncle Bobbie settled back in his chair with a sigh of relief. "Oh, is +that all? To-be-sure, I thought mebbe you'd got your back up 'bout +somthin'." + +"Yes, that's all," said Dick quietly, and did not explain how he had +spent everything in his search for the wealthy hardware merchant's +daughter. But perhaps Uncle Bobbie needed no explanation. + +"Well, let me tell you, you're goin' anyhow; and you're goin' t' have +votin' power too. Be a pretty kettle o' fish if after that speech of +your'n, you weren't in the company. Be like tryin' to make a cheese +'thout any milk." + +"But I haven't the money and that's all there is about it. I will go +in as soon as I can." + +"Well, ye can borrow it, can't you?" + +"Borrow. What security can I give?" + +"Aint ye'r Christianity security enough?" + +Dick laughed at him. "Is that the way men do business in Boyd +City?" + +"Well, ye kin laugh if you want to, but that's 'bout th' best security +a feller can have in th' long run. Anyhow, it's good 'nough fer me. +I'll lend you a hundred fer a year. To-be-sure," he added hastily, as +he saw Dick's face, "You'll have to pay me th' same interest I can git +from the other fellers. I've got th' money to loan, and its all th' +same to me whether I loan it to you or some other man." + +"Suppose I die, then what?" asked Dick. + +"Well, if Christ goes on yer note I reckon it'll be good sometime," +muttered Uncle Bobbie, half to himself, as he took a check-book from +his pocket and filled it out. "I'll fix up th' papers this afternoon. +Don't forget t' stop fer me." + +When Dick and Uncle Bobbie reached the rooms of the Commercial Club +that evening, they found them filled with a large company of interested +citizens, and when the opportunity was given, over two hundred enrolled +as members of the Association. + +Mr. Lindsley, the banker, was elected president, with Mr. Wallace, a +merchant, for vice president. Then, with great enthusiasm, the unanimous +ballot of the Association was cast for Mr. Richard Falkner as secretary, +while to Dick's great delight, Uncle Bobbie was given the place of +treasurer. + +The papers of the city gave a full and enthusiastic account of the new +movement, and when the citizens saw that the Association was really +a fact, with men at its head who were so well qualified to fill their +respective positions, they had confidence in the plan, and began +straightway to express that confidence by becoming members. + +A prospectus setting forth the object of the Association, together +with its plans and constitution, was gotten out by the secretary, and +sent to the citizens. The papers continued to speak well of the plan, +and finally, through the influence of the strong business men +interested, the Commercial Club endorsed the movement, and through the +influence of that body, the city appropriated five thousand dollars +to the building fund, and one thousand a year, for five years. + +With such backing as it now had, the Association began preparation for +active work. A fine building site was purchased and Dick was sent to +study different plans and institutions that were in operation for +similar work in several of the large cities. + +"Well, good-bye old man," said Udell, when Dick ran into the office +on his way to the depot. "I can see right now that I'll lose a mighty +good printer one of these days." + +Dick shook his head as he grasped his employer's hand, and with hope +shining in his eyes, replied: "You know why I am glad for this chance +to go east again, George." + +And his friend answered, "Right as usual, Dickie; God bless you. If +Clara was somewhere way out there in the big world without a friend, +I-I reckon I'd go too." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + + +Amy was kindly received by Madam when she reached her house after that +terrible night on the streets of Cleveland, and under the woman's +skillful treatment, rapidly regained her strength and beauty. Never +doubting that Whitley had made it impossible for her ever to return +to Boyd City, she felt that she was dead to the kindly world she had +once known, and looked upon the life she was entering as her only +refuge from the cruel world she had learned to know. Several of the +girls proved very pleasant and sympathetic companions. Little by little +she grew accustomed to her surroundings and learned to look upon the +life they led from their point of view; and when the time came for her +to join the company in the parlor she accepted her lot with calm +resignation. + +When she had carefully dressed in a silken evening gown provided by +Madam, she made her way alone down to the wine rooms. The scene that +met her eye was beautiful and fascinating. The apartment was large and +brilliantly lighted; the furniture, appointments and pictures were of +the finest, with rare bits of statuary half-hidden in banks of choicest +flowers. Upon the floor were carpets and rugs, in which the foot sank +as in beds of moss; and luxurious chairs and couches invited the visitor +to ease and indolence. From behind silken curtains came soft strains +of music, and deft waiters glided here and there, bearing trays of +expensive wines and liquors. + +Seated at the card tables, drinking, laughing and playing, were the +wealthy patrons of the place, and mingling with them, the girls, all +of exceptional grace and beauty, dressed in glittering evening costume; +but not one eclipsed the radiant creature who stood with flushed cheeks +and shining eyes hesitating on the threshold. + +Madam, moving here and there among her guests, saw Amy as she stood +in the doorway, and went to her at once. Leading the girl to a little +alcove at one end of the room, she presented her to a middle-aged man +who was seated by himself and seemed to be waiting for someone. Amy +did not know that he was waiting for her. As the three stood there +chatting, a servant came quietly to Madam's side and whispered in her +jeweled ear. + +"Certainly," she answered, "Tell them to come in." Then turning, she +stepped to a table and rapping with her fan to attract attention, +cried, "The Salvation Army people want to hold a prayer meeting here, +what do you say?" + +There was a babble of voices, shrieks of feminine laughter, and an +oath or two from the men. Some shouted, "Let them come." Others +protested until Madam stopped the clamor by saying sharply: "Of course +they shall come in. You know it is my custom never to refuse these +people. I respect and admire them. They believe in their own teaching +and live what they preach; and I want it understood that they shall +not be insulted in this house. Jake--" A huge ex-prize fighter stepped +into the room from a side door. "You all know Jake, gentlemen," +continued Madam, with a smile; "and if you are not acquainted with him +you can easily obtain an introduction by making some slighting remark, +or offering an insult to these Salvation Soldiers. Here they come; +remember." + +As the little band of men and women filed slowly in, everybody rose +at a sign from Madam, and gathered about the soldiers, who took their +position in the center of the room; all except the girl in the alcove, +who turned her back to the group and stood partly screened by the lace +drapery of the archway. + +The visitors opened their service with a song, rendered with much good +taste and feeling. Not loud and martial as on the street, but soft, +low and pleading. Many eyes glistened and many lips trembled when the +song came to a close; and as the singers dropped to their knees, not +a few heads involuntarily bowed. + +One after another, the little band prayed, pleading with God to be +kind and merciful to the erring; asking the Father, in the name of +Jesus, to pity and forgive. Truly it was a picture of great +contrasts--of brightest lights and deepest shadows--almost as when the +Son of God prayed for his enemies, and wept because they were his +enemies. + +Three out of the six had offered their prayers and the fourth began +to speak: "Our Father and our God,"--At the first word, uttered in a +clear, manly, but subdued tone, the girl behind the curtain started +violently; and as the prayer continued slowly, in that voice so full +of manly truth and vigor, she raised her head and the rich blood colored +neck and cheek. Little by little the hard look in her eyes gave way +to mingled wonder, doubt and awe; then the blood fled back to the +trembling heart again, leaving her face as white as the marble figure +near which she stood; and then, as though compelled by a power superior +to her own will, she turned slowly, and stepped from her hiding place +into full view. As if stricken dumb, she stood until the prayer was +finished. The captain gave the signal and the little company rose to +their feet. + +"O God!" The young soldier who had prayed last, sprang forward; but +he was not quick enough, for before he could cross the room, with a +moan of unutterable anguish, the girl sank to the floor. + +"God help us, she's dead," cried Dick. And dropping on one knee, he +supported the senseless girl in his arms. + +All was confusion in an instant. Men and women crowded about their +companion, and the Salvationists looked at one another in pity, surprise +and wonder. Then Madam spoke: "Girls be quiet. Gentlemen make way. Amy +is not dead. Bring her in here." The stalwart prize-fighter touched +Dick on the shoulder and the latter, with the lovely form still in his +arms, followed as in a dream, to Madam's own private apartments. A +doctor came, in answer to a hurried call, and after no little effort +the color slowly returned to the cheeks and the long, dark lashes began +to tremble. + +The physician turned to Dick. "Leave us now; she must not see you at +first." + +Dick looked at Madam. "May I have a few words privately with you?" + +The woman nodded; and with the Army captain, they retired to another +room, leaving Amy in charge of the doctor and one of the Salvation +lassies. + +Then Dick told Madam and the captain the whole story of Amy's life and +home, how she had gone away because of her father's mistake, how Whitley +had deceived her, and how they had searched for her in vain. Then as +he told of the mother's broken health, and the sorrowing friends, +though he made no mention of himself, they could not but read as he +spoke of others, something of his own trouble. + +Tears gathered in Madam's eyes, and when the tale was finished, she +said: "Somehow I have always felt that Amy would never remain with +us." And then she told of the poor girl's bitter experience alone in +the great city, and how as a last resort, she had accepted her present +situation. "She is more refined and gentle than the others," continued +Madam, "and in my heart, I have always hoped that she would leave here. +But what could she do? She had no friends; and we can't afford to have +any feelings in this wretched business. Oh sir, this life is a very +Hell on earth, and bad as I am, I would never lay a straw in any girl's +way who wanted to get out of it. I am glad, glad, that you came in +time. You know, captain, that I have never opposed your work; and have +seen you take several girls from my place without protest. But I can't +be expected to look after them myself." + +They discussed the situation for some time, and finally Madam said +again, "Mr.--; I don't know your name, and I don't want to; you wear +that uniform and that's enough for me--just let Amy remain here for +a day or two. One of the Salvation girls will stay with her, and can +do more for her than you. She shall have my own room and no one shall +see her. Then when she is strong enough, you may come and take her if +she will go; and I am sure she will. She will be as safe here as in +her father's home." + +The captain nodded. "Madam has passed her word, sir," he said. "You +come with me and arrange for the future while your friend is getting +strong again. Our Sarah will remain with her and keep us posted." + +Dick yielded; and after hearing from the doctor that Amy was resting +easier, they bade Madam goodnight and passed out into the room where +again the music played, jewels sparkled, wine flowed, and the careless +laugh and jest were heard. + +With a shudder of horror Dick muttered, "My God, Amy in such a place." +And yet--another thought flashed through his mind, that brought a flush +of shame to his cheek. "But Amy--" And again the strong man trembled, +weeping like a child. + +Never, though he lived to be an old man, could Dick look back upon +that night and the days following, without turning pale. How he lived +through it he never knew. Perhaps it was because he had suffered so +much in his checkered career that he was enabled to bear that which +otherwise would have been impossible. And the consciousness of the +great change in his own life led him to hope for Amy, when others would +have given up in despair. + +On his tour of study and investigation for the Association, he had +presented his letters to the Salvation Army people, and had been warmly +welcomed by them, as is everyone who manifests a desire to help +humanity. Every kindness and courtesy was shown him, and at the +invitation of the captain, he had gone with them on one of their regular +rescue trips. He had donned the uniform of the Army, for greater +convenience and safety; for the blue and red of these soldiers of the +cross is received and honored in places where no ordinary church member, +whatever be his professed purpose, would be admitted. + +While Dick and his friends planned for Amy's future, Sarah, the +Salvation girl, remained by her bedside caring for her as a sister. +Not one hint of reproach or censure fell from her lips; only words of +loving kindness, of hope and courage. At first the poor girl refused +to listen, but sobbing wildly, cried that her life was ruined, that +she could only go on as she had started, and begged that they leave +her alone in her disgrace and sin. + +But Sarah herself could say, "I know sister, I have been through it +all; and if Jesus could save me he can save you too." So at last love +and hope conquered; and as soon as she was strong enough, she left the +place and went with Sarah to the latter's humble home. There Dick +called to see her. + +"Mr. Falkner," she said, sadly, after the pain and embarrassment of +the first meeting had passed off a little. "I do not understand; what +makes you do these things?" + +And Dick answered, "Did I not tell you once that nothing could make +me change; that nothing you could do would make me less your friend? +You might, for the time being, make it impossible for me to help you, +but the desire, the wish, was there just the same, and sought only an +opportunity to express itself. And besides this," he added gently, +"you know I'm a Christian now." + +Amy hung her head. "Yes," she said slowly, "you are a Christian. These +Salvation soldiers are Christians too; and I--I--am--oh, Mr. Falkner, +help me now. Be indeed my friend. Tell me what to do. I cannot go back +home like this. I do believe in Christ and that He sent you to me. I'm +so tired of this world, for I know the awfulness of it now; and these +good people have taught me that one can live close to Christ, even in +the most unfavorable circumstances." + +Dick told her of their plan; how his friend, the captain, had arranged +for her to live with his brother on a farm in northern Missouri, and +that they only wanted her consent to start at once. Would she go? + +"But how can I? I have no money, and I have never been taught to work." + +"Miss Goodrich," answered Dick, "can you not trust me?" + +Amy was silent. + +"You must let me help you in this. Thank God, I can do it now. Prove +to me that you are still my friend, by letting me make this investment +for Christ. Will you?" + +The next day they bade good-bye to the sturdy soldiers of the cross +who had been so true to them, and started on their westward journey. + +Dick saw Amy safe in her new home, and then with a promise that she +would write to him regularly, and an agreement that he would send her +letters and papers addressed to the people with whom she lived, he +left her; satisfied that she was in kind hands, and that a new life +was open before her. + +But when Dick was once more aboard the train, alone with his thoughts, +without the anxiety for Amy's immediate welfare upon his mind, the +struggle of his life began. He loved Amy dearly; had loved her almost +from the moment she came into George Udell's printing office three +years ago; loved her in spite of the difference in their position, +when he was only a tramp and she was the favored daughter of wealth; +when he was an unbeliever and she was a worker in the church; loved +her when he saw her losing her hold on the higher life and drifting +with the current; loved her when she left home, and as he thought, +honor behind. And he was forced to confess, in his own heart, that he +loved her yet, in spite of the fact that their positions were reversed; +that he was an honored gentleman, respected and trusted by all, while +she, in the eyes of the world, was a fallen woman with no friend but +himself. + +But what of the future? Dick's dreams had always been that he would +win such a position in the world as would enable him, with confidence, +to ask her to share his life. But always there had been the feeling +that he never could be worthy. And with the dark picture of his own +past before him, he knew he had no right to think of her as his wife. +But now there was no question as to his position. But what of hers? +Could he think of taking for a wife, one whom he had seen in that house +at Cleveland? On the one hand, his love plead for her; on the other, +the horror of her life argued against it. Again his sense of justice +plead, and his own life came before him like a horrid vision as it had +done that morning when he learned of his father's death. He saw his +childhood home, smelt the odor of the fragrant pines upon the hills, +and heard the murmur of the river running past the cabin. Again he +heard his drunken father cursing in his sleep, and caught the whisper +of his mother's dying prayer; and again he crept stealthily out of the +cabin into the glory of the morning, with a lean hound his only +companion. + +Slowly and painfully he traced his way along the road of memory, +recalling every place where he had advanced; every place where he had +fallen; going step by step from the innocence of boyhood to the awful +knowledge of the man of the world. He had fought, had fallen, had +conquered and risen again; always advancing toward the light, but +always bearing on his garment the smell of the fire, and upon his hands +the stain of the pitch. And now, because he was safe at last and could +look back upon those things, should he condemn another? Would not Amy +also conquer, and when she _had_ conquered, by what right could he +demand in her that which he had not in himself? Christ would as freely +welcome her as He had welcomed him. Christianity held out as many +glorious hopes for her as for him. Her past might be past as well as +his. Why should he not shut the door upon it forever, and live only +in the present and future? And then his mind fell to picturing what +that future, with Amy by his side, might be. They were equals now, +before God and their own consciences. What should he care for the +world? + +And so the fight went on in the battle-ground of his inner life, until +the whistle blew a long blast for the station, and looking from the +window of the car, he saw the smelter smoke and dust of Boyd City. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + + +John Barton and his wife, Anna, with whom Amy was to make her home for +a while, could fully sympathize with the girl in her sad position, +though one would never dream that the quiet, reserved John knew more +of life than of his pigs and cattle, or that his jolly-faced, motherly +companion had ever been beyond the quiet fields that surrounded her +simple dwelling. Years before, they had been rescued from the world +in which Amy had so nearly perished, by the same kind hand that had +been stretched out to her, the Salvation Army; and now well on in +middle life, happy and prosperous, they showed scarce a trace of the +trouble that had driven them to labor on a farm. As hired help, they +had gained their experience, and by ceaseless industry and careful +economy, had at last come to own the place where they now lived. With +no child of her own, Mrs. Barton took a mother's place in Amy's life +from the first, and was very patient with the girl who had never been +taught to do the simplest household task. Amy returned the loving +kindness full measure, and, determined to be a help to those who so +much helped her, advanced rapidly in the knowledge of her homely duties. +Dressed in the plain working garb of a farm girl, with arms bare and +face flushed by the heat of the kitchen, one would scarcely have +recognized in her the beautiful young woman who moved with Boyd City's +society leaders, or the brilliant novice who stood hesitating at the +entrance to a life of sin in Madam's wine-rooms; and certainly, one +would never have classed the bright eyes, plump cheeks, and well-rounded +figure, with the frightened, starving, haggard thing that roamed about +the streets of Cleveland a few short months before. + +But great as was the change in Amy's outward appearance, the change +within was even greater. She was no longer the thoughtless, proud, +pleasure-loving belle that her parents had trained; nor was she the +hard, reckless, hopeless creature that the world had made. But she was +a woman now, with a true woman's interest and purpose in life. The +shallow brilliance of the society girl had given place to thoughtful +earnestness, and the dreary sadness of the outcast had changed to +bright hopefulness. + +One warm day in June, Mrs. Barton laid the last neatly ironed garment +on the big pile of clothes nearby, and noisily pushing her irons to +the back of the stove, cried, "Thank goodness, that's the last of that +for this week." And "Thank goodness, that's the last of that," exclaimed +Amy, mimicking the voice of her friend as she threw out the dishwater +and hung the empty pan in its place. + +Anna wiped the perspiration from her steaming face. "Come on; let's +get out of this Inferno for a while and do our patching in the shade. +I shall melt if I stay here a minute longer." And the two were soon +seated in their low chairs on the cool porch, with a big basket of +mending between them. + +"Hello, there's our man back from town already," suddenly exclaimed +Anna a few minutes later, as her husband drove into the barnyard; then +with a mischievous twinkle in her blue eyes, she called, "Hurry up, +John, Amy wants her letter." John smiled in his quiet way as he came +up to the porch and handed the girl an envelope with the Boyd City +postmark. Then the old people both laughed at the other's pretty +confusion when Anna, rising, said in her teasing voice, "Come on hubby, +I'll fix your dinner. We've kept it warm. Can't you see the selfish +thing wants to be alone with her treasure?" + +But when Mrs. Barton returned to her mending, after a long talk with +her husband, her jolly face wore an expression of seriousness that was +unusual, and she failed to notice that Amy's hands were idle and her +work was lying untouched in her lap as she sat looking wistfully far +away across the sunlit meadows and pastures. + +Both took up their tasks in silence and plied their needles with energy, +while their thoughts were far away; but one thought of a great city +in the far-away east; the other of a bustling mining town in the nearer +west. + +At last Anna spoke with a little sigh: "Amy dear, I suppose you will +be leaving us one of these days before long." + +The girl answered with a loving smile: "Are you so tired of me that +you are going to send me out into the world again?" + +"No, no, dear. You have a home with John and me as long as you live. +Surely you know that, don't you, Amy dear?" There was a wistful note +in the kind voice, and dropping the stocking she was darning, Anna +leaned forward and placed her hand on the arm of Amy's chair. + +A rush of tears was her answer, as the girl caught the toil-stained +hand and carried it passionately to her lips. "Of course I know. Mother +forgive me; I was only 'funnin' as little Jimmie Clark says." + +"But I am not 'funnin,'" replied the other. "I'm awfully in earnest." + +There seemed to be a hidden meaning in her words and Amy looked at her +anxiously. "I do not understand why you think that I should leave you," +she said earnestly. + +"Because--because--I--this life must be so degrading to you. You could +live so differently at home. You must feel this keenly." + +Amy looked at her steadily. "That is not your reason, Mother," she +said gently. "You know that a woman degrades herself when she does +nothing useful, and that I count my present place and work, far above +my old life at home. Why just think"--with a quiet smile--"John said +last night that he couldn't tell my biscuits from yours. And wasn't +the dinner all right to-day? And isn't that a beautiful patch?" She +held up her work for inspection. + +The other shook her head, while she smiled in answer. "I know, dear +girl, you do beautifully; but that's not it. There is your father and +mother and brother; you know you can't stay away from them always." + +Amy's face grew troubled, while her hand nervously sought the letter +hidden in her bosom. "You do not understand, mother," she replied +slowly; "My people do not want me to come home. My father said I should +not, until--until--" she hesitated. + +"But your father has surely forgotten his anger by this time, and when +he sees you he will be glad to forgive and take you back." + +The brown eyes looked at her in startled surprise. "When he sees me?" +But the other continued hurriedly, "And there are the letters you +know." + +Amy's face grew rosy. "Why the letters?" she murmured in a low voice. + +"Because he loves you, dear, don't you see?" + +"He has never told me so." + +"Not in words perhaps." + +Amy was silent. + +"He will come for you one of these days and then you will go with him." + +The girl sadly shook her head, and turning her face, looked away across +the fields again, where silent, patient John sturdily followed his +team. + +The shadow of the big sycamore was stretching across the barn lot +almost to the gate, where the cows stood watching for the boy to come +and let them in; a troop of droning bees were paying their last visit +for the day to the peach-tree, that flung its wealth of passionate +blossoms almost within reach of the porch, and over the blue distant +woods the last of the feathery banks of mist hung lazily, as though +tangled in the budding branches, reluctant to say good-night. + +Suddenly leaving her chair, Amy threw herself on the floor and burying +her face in the older woman's lap, burst into tears. Anna's own eyes +were wet as she softly smoothed the brown hair of the girl she had +taken to her mother's heart. "You do love him, don't you dear?" + +And Amy answered, between her sobs, "Because I love him so, I must +never see him again. He--he--is so strong and good and true --he must +not care for one who would only bring reproach upon his name." + +"I know, dear girl, and that is why you must go home; take your own +place in the world again and then the way is clear." + +Amy lifted her head. "Oh, if I only could--but you do not know--my +going home would only widen the distance between us. My father--" She +paused again, her quivering lips could not form the words. + +"Amy, I am sure you are mistaken; you must be. When you meet your +father it will all come right, I know." + +Again there seemed to be a hidden meaning in her words. "When I meet +my father?" Amy repeated slowly. + +Anna grew confused. "Yes--I--we--you know John has been trying to sell +for a long time; we want to go back to Cleveland; and to-day he learned +that a buyer was coming from Boyd City to--" + +Amy's face grew white as she rose, trembling, to her feet. "My father," +she gasped--"coming here?" + +Anna took the frightened girl in her arms--"There, there, dear, don't +be afraid. All will be for the best, I am sure. John and I will stand +by you and you shall go with us if you wish. But I am sure your father +will be glad to take you home with him; and you ought to go; you know +you ought; not for your family's sake alone, but for his, you know." + +And so they talked as the shadows grew, until in the twilight John +came from the field with his tired team, when they went into the house +to prepare the evening meal. + + * * * * * + +Adam Goodrich had by no means forgiven his beautiful daughter for the +blow dealt his pride, though one would not easily detect from his +manner that there was anything but supreme self-satisfaction in the +life of this worthy member of the Jerusalem Church. Mrs. Goodrich's +health was broken, but she still remained the same society-loving, +fashion-worshipping woman, who by her influence and teaching had ruined +her child. It never occurred to the mother that Amy's conduct was the +legitimate outcome of her training or associates, but she looked at +it always as a weakness in the girl; and Frank, true son of his father, +never mentioned his sister but with a curl of his lip, and lived his +life as though she had never existed. The family still attended church +once each week, still contributed the same amount to the cause, and +still found fault with Cameron for his low tastes and new-fangled +methods; while they laughed at the new Association as a dream of fools +and misguided enthusiasts. + +Adam had long wanted to add a good farm to his possessions, and after +some correspondence with the agent who had advertised the Barton +property, he boarded the train one bright day, to pay a visit of +inspection to his contemplated purchase. Reaching the little city of +Zanesville in the evening, he spent the night at a hotel. In the morning +he called upon the agent, and the two were soon whirling along the +road behind a pair of wiry little ponies. + +The drive of eight or ten miles passed very pleasantly between the +real estate man and his prospective customer in such conversation as +gentlemen whose lives are spent in the whirl of the money world indulge +in between moments of activity. + +At last they neared the farm, and bringing the ponies to a walk, the +agent began pointing out the most desirable features of the property: +the big barn, the fine timber land in the distance, the rich soil of +a field near by, the magnificent crop of corn, the stream of water +where cattle stood knee-deep lazily fighting the flies, and the fine +young orchard just across the road from the house. + +"Yes, the building is old"--as they drove up in front of the big gate; +"but it is good yet, and with just a little expense, can be converted +into a model of modern convenience and beauty." + +As they drove into the yard and got out to hitch the ponies, +Mrs. Barton came to the door. + +"Just come right in, Mr. Richards, John is over in the north field; +I'll go for him." + +"Oh No, Mrs. Barton, I'll go. This is Mr. Goodrich, who wishes to look +at the farm. Mr. Goodrich, just wait here in the shade and I'll go +after Mr. Barton." + +"I believe," said Adam, "if you don't mind, I'll walk through the +orchard until you return." + +"Certainly, certainly," said both the agent and the farmer's wife; and +the woman added, nervously, "just make yourself at home, Mr. Goodrich; +you'll find the girl out there somewhere. Dinner will be ready in about +an hour." + +Leisurely crossing the road, Adam paused at the orchard gate, to watch +some fine young shoats that were running about with their mother nearby. +From the pigs, his gaze wandered about the farm buildings, the fields, +and the garden. Turning at last to enter the orchard, he saw a young +woman, clad in the homely every-day dress of a country girl; her face +hidden beneath a large sun-bonnet of blue gingham. She was gathering +apple blossoms. Something in her manner or figure struck him as being +familiar, and with his hand on the gate, he paused again. As he stood +watching her all unconscious of his presence, she sprang lightly from +the ground in an effort to reach a tempting spray of blossoms, and at +her violent movement the sun-bonnet dropped from her head, while a +wealth of brown hair fell in a rippling mass to her waist. Then as she +half turned, he saw her face distinctly, and with a start of surprise +and astonishment, knew her as his daughter. + +Under the first impulse of a father's love at seeing his child again, +Adam stepped forward; but with the gate half open, he checked himself +and then drew back, while the old haughty pride, that dominant key in +his character, hardened his heart again; and when he at last pushed +open the gate once more, his love was fairly hidden. + +When Amy first caught sight of her father advancing slowly toward her +beneath the blossom-laden trees she forgot everything and started +quickly toward him, her face lighted with eager welcome, ready to throw +herself in his arms and there pour out her whole tearful story and beg +his love and forgiveness. But when she saw his face, she dared not, +and stood with downcast eyes, trembling and afraid. + +"So this is where you hide yourself, while your family faces your shame +at home," began Adam, coldly. "Tell me who brought you here and who +pays these people to keep you." + +The girl lifted her head proudly. "No one pays them sir; I am supporting +myself." + +The man looked at her in amazement. "Do you mean that your position +here is that of a common servant?" + +"There are worse positions," she replied sadly. "The people here are +very kind to me." + +"But think of your family; you are a disgrace to us all. What can I +tell them when I go back and say that I have seen you?" + +"Tell them that I am well, and as happy as I ever expect to be." +She pressed her hand to her bosom where a letter was hidden. + +"But what will people say when they know that my daughter is working +on a farm for a living?" + +"They need never know unless you tell them." + +Then the man lost all control of himself; that this girl who had always +yielded to his every wish, without so much as daring to have a thought +of her own, should so calmly, but firmly, face him in this manner, +enraged him beyond measure. He could not understand. He knew nothing +of her life since that night he had refused to listen to her +explanation, and in his anger taunted her with being the plaything of +Dick Falkner, and then, because her face flushed, thought that he had +hit on the truth and grew almost abusive in his language. + +But Amy only answered, "Sir, you are mistaken now, as you were when +you drove me from home; Mr. Falkner had nothing to do with my leaving +Boyd City." + +"You are my daughter still," stormed Adam, "and I will force you to +leave this low position and come home to us. You cannot deceive me +with your clever lie about supporting yourself. What do you know about +a servant's work? That cursed tramp printer is at the bottom of all +this, and I'll make him suffer for it as I live. I will force you to +come home." + +Amy's face grew pale, but she replied quietly, "Oh no, father, you +will not do that, because that would make public my position you know. +I have no fear of your proclaiming from the housetops that your daughter +is a hired girl on a farm." + +"But father," she said, in softer voice, as Adam stood speechless with +rage; "Father, forgive me for this, for I know that I am right. Let +me stay here and prove that I am not useless to the world, and then +perhaps I will go to you. In the meantime, keep my secret and no one +shall know that your claim on society has teen lessened because your +daughter is learning to do a woman's work." + +Just a shade of bitter sarcasm crept into her voice, but Adam did not +notice, for he saw the agent and the farmer coming. "Very well," he +said hurriedly, "you have chosen your path and must walk in it. But +you cannot expect me to acknowledge a servant as my daughter." And +turning his back, he went to meet the men, while Amy slipped off to +the house with her blossoms. + +Mrs. Barton needed no word to tell her of the result of the interview +from which she had expected so much, and with a kiss and a loving word, +permitted the girl to go upstairs, where she remained until Mr. Goodrich +had left the place. + +After completing the purchase of the farm, Adam wrote his daughter +from the office of the agent in Zanesville: "The place where you are +living now belongs to me, and the Bartons must give possession at once. +If you will promise never to speak to that man Falkner again, you may +come home and be received into your old place, but on no other terms +will I acknowledge you as my daughter. Refuse and you are thrown on +the charity of the world, for you cannot remain where you are." + +Amy carried the letter to her friends, together with her reply, and +they, by every argument of love, tried to induce her to go with them +back to Cleveland; but she refused in tears. And when she would not +be persuaded, they were compelled to leave her. With many expressions +of love, they said good-bye, and departed for their old home in the +eastern city; but before going, they arranged with a kind neighbor to +give her a place in their already crowded home until she could find +means of support. + +Upon Dick's return from his Cleveland trip, he had thrown himself into +his work with feverish energy, while in his heart the struggle between +love and prejudice continued. But as the weeks went by and Amy's letters +had come, telling of her life on the farm, and how she was learning +to be of use in the world; and as he had read between the lines, of +her new ideas and changed views of life, his love had grown stronger +and had almost won the fight. Then a letter came, bidding him good-bye, +and telling him that she was going away again, and that for her sake, +he must not try to find her; that she was deeply grateful for all that +he had done, but it was best that he forget that he had ever known her. + +Dick was hurt and dismayed. It seemed to him that she had given up, +and the devil, Doubt, ever ready to place a wrong construction upon +the words and deeds of mortals, sent him into the black depths of +despair again. + +"I never saw such a man," declared George Udell to Clara Wilson, one +evening, as they caught a glimpse of him bending over a desk in Mr. +Wicks' office, "he works like a fiend." + +"Like an angel, you'd better say," replied Clara. "Didn't I tell you +that he was no common tramp?" + +"Yes, dear, of course; and you never made a mistake in your life; that +is, never but once." + +"When was that?" asked Clara curiously. + +"When you said 'No' to me night before last. Won't you reconsider it, +and--" + +"Where do you suppose Amy Goodrich is now?" interrupted the young lady. +"Do you know, I have fancied at times, that Mr. Falkner learned +something on his trip last fall, that he has not told us?" + +George opened his eyes. "What makes you think that?" + +"Oh, because; somehow he seems so different since he returned." + +But George shook his head. "I thought so too for a while," he replied; +"but I talked with him just the other day, and I'm afraid he's given +up all hope. He works to hide the hurt. But I'll tell you one thing, +girlie, if anything could make a Christian of me, it would be Dick's +life. There's something more than human in the way he stands up against +this thing." + +Then Dick received another letter, from a post office in Texas. + + +"Dere Dikkie: I take my pen in hand to let u no that Ime wel an hoape +u ar the same. Jim Whitly is ded he don tried to nife me an i fixed +him. he wanted to hire me to kil u fer some papers an we was in you +ol caben kross the river from the still. He said ter tel u thet he +lied to u an that Amy is pure. I don't no what he means but thot u ort +ter no. I skipped--burn this. your daddys pard. + +"JAKE THOMPSON." + + +The Association building was finished at last, and the pastor of the +Jerusalem Church sat in his little den looking over the morning mail. +There were the usual number of magazines, papers, and sample copies +of religious periodicals, with catalogues and circulars from publishing +houses; an appeal to help a poor church in Nebraska whose place of +worship had been struck by lightning; a letter from a sister in +Missouri, asking for advice about a divorce case; one from a tinware +man in Arkansas, who inquired about the town with a view of locating; +and one that bore the mark of the Association, which informed him, +over the signature of the Secretary, that he had been unanimously +called to take charge of the new work. Cameron carried the letter, in +triumph, to the kitchen. + +"Well," said the little woman; "didn't I tell you that one preacher +would have a hand in whatever work was started here? Of course you'll +accept?" + +"I don't know," Cameron answered. "We must think about it." + +A day later he called for a consultation with Elder Wicks, and Uncle +Bobbie said: + +"To-be-sure, it's mighty hard for me to advise you in a thing like +this; for as a member of the church, I'm bound to say stay; and as a +member of the Association, I say, accept. I jing! I don't know what +to do." And for a few moments, the old gentleman thoughtfully stroked +his face; then suddenly grasping the arms of the chair fiercely, he +shouted: "As a Christian, I say, accept, an' I reckon that settles it." + +And so Cameron became the manager of the new work; and his first +recommendation to the directors was that they send their Secretary +away for a vacation. And indeed Dick, poor fellow, needed it, though +at first he flatly refused to go. But Dr. Jordan came down on him with +the cheerful information that he would die if he didn't, and Uncle +Bobbie finished matters by declaring that he had no more right to kill +himself by over work, than he had to take Rough on Eats, or blow his +head off with a gun; "and besides," added the old gentleman, "you aint +paid me that hundred dollars yet. To-be-sure, the note aint due for +sometime; but a fellow has got to look after his own interest, aint +he?" + +The first address delivered by Cameron in the auditorium of the +Association building, was from the text, "Ye shall know the truth, and +the truth shall make you free." The audience room was crowded, and the +young minister had never appeared to better advantage, or declared the +teaching of his Master with greater freedom, earnestness and vigor; +and to the astonishment of the people, who should come forward at the +close of the service, to declare his belief in, and acceptance of +Christ as the Son of God, but the so-called infidel printer, George +Udell. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + + +In Southwestern Missouri, in the White Oak district, there are many +beautiful glens and sheltered valleys, where a sturdy people have tamed +the wildness of nature and made it obedient to their will. The fields +lie fertile and fruitful on either bank of murmuring streams, clear +to the foot of the hills where the timber grows. Always a road winds +down the valley, generally skirting the forest, and the farmhouses are +nearly all built of logs, though more modern and finished dwellings +are fast taking the place of the primitive mansions. Every few miles, +one may see little school-houses, most often made of good lumber and +painted white, with heavy shutters and a high platform in front. For +the Ozark settler takes great pride in his school-house, which is also +a church and a political rallying point, and meeting-place for the +backwoods "Literary;" and though he may live in a rude log hovel +himself, his hall of education must be made of boards and carefully +painted. + +To this romantic region Dick Falkner went to spend his vacation, during +the latter part of October, the loveliest season of the year in that +section of the country. Mr. Cushman, who was a successful farmer living +in the White Oak district, and an old friend of Uncle Bobbie's, gladly +welcomed the young man, of whom his old partner, Wicks, had written +so highly. When Dick left the train at Armourdale, a little village +in the lead and zinc field, he was greeted at once by his host, a +bluff, pleasant-faced, elderly gentleman, whom he liked at first sight, +and who was completely captivated by his guest before they had been +together half an hour. + +Oak Springs Farm, which was to be Dick's home for the next month, took +in the whole of a beautiful little glen, and many acres of timber-land +on either side. Crane Creek had its source, or rather one of its +sources, within a hundred feet of the house, where a big spring bubbled +from beneath the roots of a giant oak, and the water went chattering +and laughing away to the south and east. + +Three-quarters of a mile from Oak Springs, just over the ridge in +another hollow, another stream gushed bright and clear, from beneath +another ancient oak and went rushing away to join its fellow brook a +mile distant, where the little glens broadened into a large valley, +through which the creek hurried onward to the great river, miles away +in the heart of the wilderness. + +It was all very beautiful and restful to the young man, wearied and +worn by the rush and whirl of the city, and stifled with the dust and +smoke from factory and furnace. The low hills, clothed with foliage, +richly stained by October's brush; the little valley lying warm in the +sunlight, was a welcome change to the dead monotony of the prairie, +where the sky shut down close to the dull brown earth, with no support +of leafy pillars. And the mother quail, with her full-grown family +scurrying to cover in the corner of the fence; the squirrel scolding +to his mate in the tree-tops, or leaping over the rustling leaves, and +all the rest of the forest life, was full of interest when compared +to the life of busy men or chattering sparrows in the bustling mining +town. + +Though Mr. Cushman and his wife had raised a large family of boys and +girls, only one, a daughter, remained with them on the farm. The others +had, one by one, taken their flight from the home nest, to build home +nests of their own in different parts of the great world wilderness. + +Kate was a hearty, robust, rosy-cheeked country lass of eighteen, the +youngest of the flock; her father's chum, with all his frank, open +ways; and her mother's companion, with all her loving thoughtfulness. +And, best of all, she possessed the charming freshness, innocence and +purity of one who had never come in touch with those who, taught by +the world she had never known, were content to sham her virtues as +they tried to imitate the color of her cheek. + +Dick sank to rest that night with a long sigh of relief, after meeting +the mother and daughter and enjoying such a supper as one only finds +on a prosperous farm. And strangely enough, the last picture on his +mind before he fell asleep, was of a little school-house which he had +seen just at sunset, scarcely a quarter of a mile up the valley; and +he drowsily wondered who taught the children there; while a great owl, +perched in an old apple-tree back of the chicken house, echoed his +sleepy thoughts with its "Whoo! Whoo!" + +With a whoop and hallo and whistle, the noisy troop of boys and girls +came tumbling out of the doorway of the White Oak School, their dinner +pails and baskets on their arms, homeward bound from the irksome duties +of the day. The young teacher, after standing a few moments in the +doorway, watching her charges down the road and out of sight in the +timber across the valley, turned wearily back, and seating herself at +a rude desk in the rear of the room, began her task of looking over +the copybooks left by the rollicking youngsters. Had she remained a +moment longer in the door-way she would have seen a tall, well-dressed +gentleman coming leisurely up the hill. It was Dick. He had been roaming +all the afternoon over the fields and through the brown woods. + +He came slowly up the road, and crossing the yard, stood hesitating +at the threshold of the building. The teacher, bending low, did not +see him for a moment; but when she raised her head, she looked straight +into his eyes. + +Dick would have been dull indeed had he failed to interpret that look; +and Amy would have been more than dull had she failed to see the love +that shone in his glance of astonishment and pleasure. + +For an instant, neither spoke; then, "I have found you again," said +Dick, simply. "I hope you will forgive me, Miss Goodrich; I assure you +the meeting is entirely by accident. I stopped for a drink of water." + +"Please help yourself, Mr. Falkner," said the girl, with a little choke +in her voice. "There it is." And she pointed to a wooden pail and tin +dipper near the door. + +"I am spending my vacation in the Ozarks; or rather, I came here to +rest." He paused awkwardly. "I--I did not dream of your being here, +or of course I should not have come, after your letter. Forgive me and +I will go away again." + +He turned to leave the room, but with his foot on the threshold, paused, +and then walked back to the desk where the girl sat, leaning forward +with her face buried in her arms. + +"There's just one thing though, that I must say before I go. Are you +in need of any help? If so, let me be of use to you; I am still your +friend." + +The brown head was raised and two glistening eyes proudly pleading +looked at Dick. + +Through a mist in his own eyes he saw two hands outstretched and heard +a voice say, "I do need your help. Don't go. That is--I mean--leave +me here now and to-morrow call, and I will tell you all. Only trust +me this once." + +Dick took the outstretched hands in his and stood for a moment with +bowed head; then whispered softly, "Of course I will stay. Shall I +come at this hour to-morrow?" Amy nodded, and he passed out of the +building. + +Had Dick looked back as he strode swiftly toward the timber, he would +have seen a girlish form in the door holding out her hands; and had +he listened as he climbed the fence, he might have heard a sweet voice +falter, "Oh Dick, I love you. I love you." And just as he vanished at +the edge of the woods, the girl who was more than all the world to +him, fell for the second time in her life, fainting on the floor. + +All the forenoon of the next day, Dick wandered aimlessly about the +farm, but somehow he never got beyond sight of the little white +school-house. He spent an hour watching the colts that frolicked in +the upper pasture, beyond which lay the children's playground; then +going through the field, he climbed the little hill beyond and saw the +white building through the screen of leaves and branches. Once Amy +came to the door, but only for a moment, when she called the shouting +youngsters from their short recess. Then recrossing the valley half +a mile above, he walked slowly home to dinner along the road leading +past the building. How he envied the boys and girls whose droning +voices reached his ears through the open windows. + +While Dick was chatting with his kind host after dinner, as they sat +on the porch facing the great oak, the latter talked about the spring +and the history of the place; how it used to be a favorite camping +ground for the Indians in winter; and pointed out the field below the +barn, where they had found arrowheads by the hundreds. Then he told +of the other spring just over the ridge, and how the two streams came +together and flowed on, larger and larger, to the river. And then with +a farmer's fondness for a harmless jest, he suggested that Dick might +find it worth his while to visit the other spring; "for," said he "the +school-marm lives there; and she's a right pretty girl. Sensible too, +I reckon, though she aint been here only since the first of September." + +When the farmer had gone to his work, Dick walked down to the +spring-house, and sitting on the twisted roots of the old oak, looked +into the crystal water. + +"And so Amy lives by a spring just like this," he thought, "and often +sits beneath that other oak, perhaps, looking into the water as I am +looking now." + +A blue-jay, perched on a bough above, screamed in mocking laughter at +the dreamer beneath; an old drake, leading his family in a waddling +row to the open stream below the little house, solemnly quacked his +protest against such a willful waste of time; and a spotted calf thrust +its head through the barn-yard fence to gaze at him in mild reproach. + +In his revery, Dick compared the little stream of water to his life, +running fretted and troubled, from the very edge of its birthplace; +and he followed it with his eye down through the pasture lot, until +it was lost in the distance; then looking into the blue vista of the +hills, he followed on, in his mind, where the stream grew deeper and +broader. Suddenly, he sprang to his feet and walked hastily away along +the bank of the creek. In a little while, he stood at the point of +land where the two valleys became one, and the two streams were united, +and with a long breath of relief, found that the course of the larger +stream, as far as he could see, was smooth and untroubled, while the +valley through which it flowed was broad and beautiful. + +At the appointed time, Dick went to the school-house, and with Amy, +walked through the woods toward the farm where she lived, while she +told him of her life since last they met; of her father's visit and +his threats, and of her fear that he would force her to go home. The +farm had been sold the day after Adam was there, and how through her +friends, she had obtained her present position in the school. She told +of her pride and desire to wipe out alone, the disgrace, as alone she +had fallen. She longed to be of use in the world. + +As she talked, Dick's face grew bright. "This is good news indeed," +he said. "I'm so glad for your sake." Then, with a smile, "I see you +do not need my help now that you can be of so much help to others." + +"But won't you help me plan for the future?" said Amy, trying to hide +the slight tremble in her voice. "Won't you tell me what is best to +do? I have thought and thought, but can get no farther than I am now." + +"Let us say nothing about that for a time," replied Dick. "We will +talk that over later." + +And so it came about that the farmer's advice, spoken in jest, was +received in earnest; and for four happy weeks the two lived, +unrestrained by false pride or foolish prejudice; walking home together +through the woods, or wandering beside the little brooks, talking of +the beauties they saw on every hand, or silently listening to the +voices of nature, But at last the time came when they must part, and +Dick gave his answer to her question. + +"You must go home," he said. + +"But you know what that means," answered Amy. "I will be forced to +give up my church work and be a useless butterfly again; and besides, +the conditions father insists upon--." She blushed and hesitated. + +"Yes," said Dick, "I know what it means for me, your going home. But +you need not again be a useless butterfly as you say. Write your father +and tell him of your desire; that you cannot be content as a useless +woman of society. He will ask you to come home, I am sure. And when +your present term of school is finished, you can take your old place +in the world again. You will find many ways to be of use to others, +and I know that your father will learn to give you more liberty." + +"And the past?" asked Amy, with a blush of shame. + +"Is past," said Dick, emphatically. "No one in Boyd City knows your +story, nor need they ever know." + +"One man there can tell them," answered the girl, with averted face. + +"You are mistaken," said Dick, quietly. And then, as gently as he +could, he told her of Whitley's death. But of his connection with him +and the real cause of the fight in the cabin, he said nothing. + +It was hard for Dick to advise Amy to go home, for as she was then, +they were equals. If she went back to Boyd City, all would be changed. +But he had fought over the question in his own mind and the right had +conquered. + +Amy agreed with him that it was best, and added, "I have felt all along +that I ought to do this after a while, but I wished to see you again +first, and had you not happened to find me, I should have written to +you later." + +And so it was settled. No word of love was spoken between them. Dick +would not permit himself to speak then, because he felt that she ought +not to be influenced by her present surroundings; and even had he +spoken, Amy would not have listened, because she felt her work could +only be complete when she had returned to her old position and had +proved herself by her life there. + +And so they parted, with only a silent clasping of hands, as they stood +beside the brook that chattered on its way to join the other; though +there was a world of love in both the gray eyes and the brown; a love +none the less strong because unspoken. + +Upon Dick's return to the city, he took up his work again with so light +a heart that his many friends declared that he had entirely recovered +his health, and their congratulations were numerous and hearty. + +During the holidays, there was some gossip among the citizens when it +was announced in the Daily Whistler, that Miss Goodrich would soon +return to her home. The article stated that she had been living with +some friends in the east, finishing her education, and the public +accepted the polite lie with a nod and a wink. + +Mrs. Goodrich, though her mother heart was glad at the return of her +child, received the girl with many tearful reproaches; and while Amy +was hungering for a parent's loving sympathy and encouragement, she +could not open her heart to the woman who mourned only the blow dealt +her family pride and social ambition. + +Adam was formal, cold and uncompromising, while Frank paid no more +attention to his sister than if she were a hired servant in the house. +Only the girl's firm determination, awakened womanhood, patience and +Christian fortitude enabled her to accept her lot. But in spite of the +daily reproaches, stern coldness and studied contempt, she went steadily +forward in her purpose to regain the place she had lost; and somehow, +as the weeks went by, all noticed a change in Amy. Her father dared +not check her in her work, for something in the clear eyes, that looked +at him so sadly, but withal so fearlessly, made him hesitate. It was +as though she had spoken, "I have been through the fire and have come +out pure gold. It is not for you to question me." And though she +attended to her social duties, her influence was always for the good, +and no one dared to speak slightingly of religious things in her +presence; while the poor people at the Mission learned to love the +beautiful young woman who visited their homes and talked to them of +a better life, and never failed to greet them with a kindly word when +they met her on the street. + +Of course Dick could not call at her home. He knew well that it would +only provoke a storm; nor did Amy ask him to. They met only at church +or at the Mission; and nothing but the common greetings passed between +them. No one ever dreamed that they were more than mere acquaintances. +But they each felt that the other understood, and so were happy; content +to wait until God, in his own way, should unite the streams of their +lives. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + + +It was about nine o'clock in the evening, and Dick was in his office +at the Association building, writing some letters pertaining to the +work, when the door opened, and to his great astonishment, Amy entered +hurriedly, out of breath and very much excited. + +"I beg your pardon for interrupting you, Mr. Falkner," she began, as +soon as she could speak; "but I must tell you." And then she broke +down, sinking into a chair and crying bitterly. + +Dick's face was very grave, and stepping to the window he drew the +curtain, then turned the key in the door. + +"Now what is it, Miss Goodrich? Please be calm. You know you have +nothing to fear from me." + +Amy brushed away her tears, and looking up into his face, "I'm not +afraid of you," she said. "But--but--, our secret is out." + +Dick nodded that he understood, and she continued: "You know that Frank +has been at Armourdale the last few weeks, looking after papa's +interests in the mines there, and--and he came home this afternoon?" + +"Yes, I know," said Dick calmly. + +"I was in the sitting-room and he and father were in the library. I--I +did not mean to listen, but the door was open and I heard them speak +your name." + +"Yes," said Dick again. + +"Frank met Mr. Cushman and spent several days at the farm where they +are prospecting, and--and of course learned that we were together +there. Father believes the awfullest things and threatens to kill you; +he is so angry. I--I'm afraid for you--and--and I slipped away because +I--I thought you ought to know." The poor girl finished with a sob and +buried her face in her hands. + +Dick thought rapidly for a few moments. He remembered that he had never +told Amy how her father had accused him of taking her away at first, +and he saw now how that belief would be strengthened by her brother's +story. Then as his heart bitterly rebelled at the thought of such a +misunderstanding, and of the danger to Amy, his mind was made up +instantly. + +"Miss Goodrich," he said; "can you let me talk to you plainly?" + +She nodded and grew quiet. + +"I have known all along that these things would come out sooner or +later. I have foreseen that the whole story must be told, and have +prayed that the time might be put off until your life could give the +lie to the thought that the past was not passed forever, and now I +thank God that my prayers have been answered. No harm can come to you +now for your Christianity is no vain trifle, but a living power that +will help you to bear the reproach that must come. Had this happened +before you were strong, it would have driven you back again. But now +you can bear it. But Miss Goodrich --Amy--I don't want you to bear +this alone. Won't you let me help you? You know that I love you. I +have told you so a thousand times, though no word has been spoken. And +I know that you return my love. I have seen it in your eyes, and I +have waited and waited until the time should come for me to speak. +That time is here now. Amy, dearest, tell me that you love me and will +be my wife. Give me the right to protect you. Let us go to your father +together and tell him all. He dare not refuse us then." + +The beautiful girl trembled with emotion. "You must not. Oh, you must +not," she said. "Don't, don't tempt me." She buried her face in her +hands again. "You--you cannot take for your wife one who has been what +I have." + +"Amy dear, listen," said Dick. "You and I are Christians. We each have +fallen; but Christ has forgiven and accepted both. God has only one +love for each, one Saviour for each, one forgiveness for each. There +is only one promise, one help, one Heaven for us both. Darling, don't +you see that we are equal? I cannot reproach you for your past, because +I too, have been guilty. You, in your heart of hearts, must recognize +this great truth. Won't you forget it all with me?" + +The girl lifted her face and looked into his eyes long and searchingly, +as though reading his very soul. + +Had there been anything but love in Dick Falkner's heart then, he would +have argued in vain. But he returned the look unflinchingly, then-- + +"Amy listen. On the soul that has been pardoned in the name of Jesus +Christ, there is no spot. Won't you put your past beneath your feet +as I put mine in the dust, and come to me upon the common ground of +Christ's love and forgiveness? Come, because we love each other, and +for the good we can do." + +The brown eyes filled with tears again; the sweet lips trembled, as +holding out her hand she replied, "Oh Dick, I do love you. Help me to +be strong and true and worthy of your love. I--I--have no one in all +the world but you." + +A few minutes later, Dick said, "I must take you home now." + +"No, no," she answered, hurriedly; "the folks will think that I am +calling on some of the neighbors, even if they miss me at all. I often +run out of an evening that way. It is not late and I'm not afraid." + +"Listen to me, dearest," he answered. "You must not see your father +alone until I have told him everything. I will go up to the house with +you now, and we will settle this matter once for--" A loud knock at +the door interrupted him. Amy trembled in alarm. "Don't be frightened +dear. No harm can come to you from this visit now. Thank God you have +given me the right to speak for you." + +The knock was repeated. "Step in here," he said, leading her to a chair +in the next room, "and be a brave girl now. It's just some fellow on +business. He'll be gone in a moment." And leaving her with the door +partly closed, he stepped across the room just as the knock came the +third time. + +Dick threw open the door, and without waiting for an invitation, Adam +Goodrich stepped across the threshold. To say that Dick was astonished +but faintly expressed his feelings, though not a muscle of his face +quivered, as he said: + +"Good evening, sir, what can I do for you?" + +"You can do a good deal," said Adam. "But first lock that door; we +want no visitors here to-night." + +Without a word, Dick turned the key again. + +"Now sir, I want to know first, is it true that you were with my +daughter in the Ozark Mountains this summer? Don't try to lie to me +this time. I'll have the truth or kill you." + +"I have never lied to you, sir," answered Dick; "and have no desire +to do so now. It is perfectly true I did meet you daughter last summer +while on my vacation." + +"I knew I was right," raved Adam. "I knew you led her away from home. +Oh, why did you ever come to this city? Why did I ever see you? Here." +And he frantically tore a check-book from his pocket. "Fill this out +for any amount you choose and go away again. Oh, I could kill you if +I dared. You have ruined me forever--you--" + +"Stop sir," said Dick; and when Adam looked into his face, he saw again +that nameless something which compelled him to obey. + +"You have said quite enough," continued Dick, calmly, "and you are +going to listen to me now. But first, I want to beg your pardon for +the language I used when you called on me before."--He heard a slight +rustle in the next room--"when you accused me of taking your daughter +from her home; I told you that you were a liar. I beg your pardon now. +I was excited. I know that you were only mistaken. You would not have +listened to me then, nor believed me, had I told you what I knew. But +the time has come when you _shall_ listen, and be forced to know that +I speak the truth." + +Adam sat as though fascinated. Once he attempted to answer, but a quick +"Silence, sir, you _shall_ hear me," kept him still, while Dick detailed +the whole story, omitting nothing from the evening when he had rescued +Amy from her drunken escort, to the day he had said good-bye in the +Ozark Mountains. When he had finished, the old gentleman sat silent +for a moment. + +"Can it be possible," thought Dick, "that I have misjudged this man, +and that he is grateful for the help that I have given Amy?" + +But no; Dick had not misjudged him. There was not a thought of gratitude +in Adam Goodrich's heart. Thankfulness for his daughter's salvation +from a life of sin had no part in his feelings; only blind rage, that +his pride should be so humbled. Leaping to his feet, he shouted, "The +proof, you miserable scoundrel; the proof, or I'll have your life for +this." + +Dick remained perfectly calm. "You shall have the proof," he said, +quietly, and turning, stepped to the next room, coming back an instant +later with his arm encircling Amy's waist. + +Adam sprang forward. "You here at this hour alone? Go home at once. +Drop her, you ruffian," turning to Dick. + +The latter stood without moving a muscle, and Goodrich started toward +him. + +"Stop," said Dick, still without moving; and again the older man was +forced to obey that stronger will. + +"Father," said Amy. "I am going to marry Mr. Falkner. I heard you and +Frank talking in the library, and when you said that you would kill +him I came to warn him, and--and--his story is every word true. Oh +papa, don't you see what a friend he has been to me? You forced me to +the society that ruined me, and he saved me from an awful life. I love +him and will be his wife, but I can't be happy as I ought, without +your forgiveness. Won't you forgive us papa?" + +Never in his life had it been Dick's lot to see a face express so much, +or so many conflicting emotions, love, hate, pride, passion, remorse, +gratitude, all followed each other in quick succession. But finally, +pride and anger triumphed and the answer came; but in the expression +of the man's face rather than in his words, Dick found the clue to his +course. + +"You are no longer a daughter of mine," said Adam. "I disown you. If +you marry that man who came to this town a common tramp, I will never +recognize you again. You have disgraced me. You have dragged my honor +in the dust." He turned toward the door. But again Dick's voice, clear +and cold, forced him to stop. "Sir," he said; "Before God, you and not +this poor child, are to blame. By your teaching, you crippled her +character and made it too weak to stand temptation, and then drove her +from home by your brutal unbelief." + +Adam hung his head for a moment, then raised it haughtily. "Are you +through?" he said with a sneer. + +"Not quite," answered Dick. "Listen; you value most of all in this +world, pride and your family position. Can't you see that by the course +you are taking, you yourself proclaim your disgrace, and forfeit your +place in society. No one now but we three, knows the story I have just +related to you; but if you persist in this course the whole world will +know it." + +He paused, and Adam's face changed; for while his nature could not +forgive, pity, or feel gratitude, such reasoning as this forced its +way upon his mind, a mind ever ready to cheat the opinions of men. +"What would you suggest?" he asked coldly. + +"Simply this," answered Dick. "Do you and Amy go home together. No one +shall ever know of this incident. Live your life as usual, except that +you shall permit me to call at the house occasionally. Gradually the +people will become accustomed to my visits, and when the time comes, +the marriage will not be thought so strange. But remember, this woman +is to be my wife, and you shall answer to me if you make her life +hard." + +"Very well," answered Adam, after a moment's pause; "I can only submit. +I will do anything rather than have this awful disgrace made public. +But understand me sir; while you may come to the house occasionally, +and while you force me to consent to this marriage by the story of my +daughter's disgrace, I do not accept you as my son, or receive the +girl as my daughter; for my honor's sake, I will appear to do both, +but I shall not forget; and now come home." + +"Good-night, dearest, be brave," whispered Dick. And then as he unlocked +and opened the door, he could not forbear smiling at Adam and wishing +him a good-night, with pleasant dreams. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + + +Mother Gray and her husband were sitting before a cheery fire in their +little parlor, at the Institution for Helping the Unemployed. The cold +November rain without came beating against the window panes in heavy +gusts, and the wind sighed and moaned about the corners of the house +and down the chimney. + +"Winter's coming, wife," said Mr. Gray, as he aroused himself and +stirred the fire. "We'll not be having such an easy time as we did +this summer. When cold weather gets here in earnest the poor will begin +calling on us." + +"Yes, but that's the time people need kindling wood the worst, so there +will be enough to feed them," answered the good wife brightly, as she +too aroused and began knitting with great vigor. + +"I fear we are going to have a hard winter this year, mother; my old +bones begin to complain a little now; but thank God, we're sure of a +comfortable home and enough to eat. What we'd a done without this place +is more than I know, with Joe away and me not able to do heavy work +in the mines. If Maggie were only with us." And the old man wiped a +tear from his eyes. + +"Yes, father, but Maggie is better off than we. It's Joe that hurts +my heart. To think that he may be hungry and cold like some of the +poor fellows we fed here last spring. Hark. Isn't that someone knocking +at the door?" She dropped her knitting to listen. + +The old man arose and stepped into the next apartment, which was used +as a kind of reception hall and office. A faint rapping sounded more +clearly from there; and crossing the room, he opened the door, and in +the light streaming out, saw a woman. "Come in," he cried, reaching +forth and taking her by the arm. "Come in out of the rain. Why, you're +soaked through." + +"Oh please sir, can I stay here all night? They told me this was a +place for people to stop. I'm so hungry and tired." + +And indeed she looked it, poor thing. Her dress, though of good material +and nicely made, was soiled with mud and rain. Beneath the sailor hat, +from which the water ran in sparkling drops, her hair hung wet and +disheveled; her eyes were wild and pleading; her cheeks sunken and +ashy pale; while the delicately turned nostrils and finely curved, +trembling lips, were blue with cold. Beyond all doubt, she had once +been beautiful. + +Mr. Gray, old in experience, noted more than all this, as he said, "We +are not allowed to keep women here, but it's a little different in +your case, and I'll see my wife. Sit down and wait a minute." + +He gave her a chair and went back to the sitting-room, returning a +moment later with Mother Gray at his heels. + +"My poor dear," said the good woman, "of course you must stay here. +I know, I know," as the girl looked at her in a questioning manner. +"Anyone can see your condition; but bless your heart, our Master +befriended a poor woman, and why should not we?" + +And soon the girl was in the other room and Mrs. Gray was removing her +hat and loosening her clothing. + +"Father," whispered the old lady, "I think you had better go for Dr. +Jordan. He'll be needed here before morning." + +When the doctor returned with Mr. Gray, the patient, dry and clean, +was wrapped in the soft blankets of Mother Gray's own bed, with one +of Maggie's old night-dresses on, and hot bricks at her tired feet. +But warmth and kindness had come too late. The long, weary tramp about +the streets of the city, in the rain; the friendless shutting of doors +in her face; the consciousness that she was a mark for all eyes; and +the horror of what was to come, with the cold and hunger, had done +their work. When the morning sun, which has chased away the storm +clouds, peeped in at the little chamber window, Dr. Jordan straightened +up with a long breath, "She will suffer no more pain now, mother, until +the end." + +"And when will that be, Doctor?" + +"In a few hours, at most; I cannot tell exactly." + +"And there is no hope?" asked Mrs. Gray, smoothing the marble brow on +the pillow, as she would have touched her Maggie. + +"Absolutely no hope, Mother," said the physician, who knew her well. + +"Ah well, tis better so," murmured the old lady. "This world is not +the place for such as she. Christ may forgive, but men won't. The man +alone can go free. And the little one too--surely God is good to take +them both together. Will she come to, do you think, Doctor, before she +goes?" + +"Yes, it is probable that she will rally for a little while, and you +may find out her name perhaps. There was no mark on her clothing, you +say?" + +"Not the sign of a mark, and she would tell me nothing; and see, there +is no wedding ring." + +They were silent for some time, and then: "She is awakening," said the +doctor. + +The blue eyes opened slowly and looked wonderingly about the room. +"Mother," she said, in a weak voice, "Mother--who are you?--" looking +at the doctor and Mrs. Gray. "Where am I?" and she tried to raise her +head. + +"There, there, dear; lie still now and rest. You have been sick you +know. We are your friends and this is the doctor. Your mother shall +come when you tell us where to send for her." + +The poor creature looked for a full minute into the kind old face above +her, and then slowly the look of wonder in her eyes gave place to one +of firmness, pain and sorrow, and the lips closed tightly, as though +in fear that her secret would get out. + +"Oh honey, don't look like that, don't. Tell us who you are. Have you +no mother? I know you have. Let us send for her at once, that she may +come to you." + +The lips parted in a sweet, sad smile. "I'm going to die then? +You would not look so if I were not. Oh, I am so glad, so glad." +And in a moment she was sleeping like a child. + +"Poor girl," muttered Doctor Jordan, wiping his own eyes. Very sharp +professional eyes they were too. "I fear you will have to take her +mother's place. I must go now, but I will look in again during the +day. Don't have any false hopes; there is nothing to be done, save to +make the end easy." + +For an hour the stranger slept, with a smile on her lips; and then +opened her eyes again. But there was no pain, no fear in them now; +only just a shadow of trouble, as she asked in a whisper, "Where is +it?" + +The woman, with one hand smoothed back the hair from the forehead of +her patient, and with the other pointed upward; the troubled shadow +passed from the eyes of the young mother, and she slept again. Later +in the day, the doctor called, and once more she awoke. + +"I thank you, doctor," she said, in a weak voice; but shook her head +when he offered her medicine. + +"But, dear child, it is only to relieve you from any pain." + +She answered, "you said I must go; let me go as I am. Oh, this world +is cold and harsh. God knows that I do not fear to die. Christ, who +welcomed little children, has my babe, and he knows that in my heart +I am innocent." + +"But won't you tell us of your friends?" + +"No, no," she whispered. "I have no friends but you and God; and I +have doubted even his love until you told me that he would take me." + +Nor could any argument prevail upon her to change her mind; her only +answer was a shake of the head. + +That evening, just after dusk, she whispered to her kind nurse, who +sat by the bedside, "Won't you tell me your name, please?" + +"They call me Mother Gray." + +"And may I call you that too?" + +"Yes honey, of course you may," answered the old woman. "Of course you +may." + +"And why do you cry, mother?" as the tears rolled down the wrinkled +face. "Are you not glad that God is good to me? Oh, I forgot, you are +afraid for me. You don't understand." And she turned her face away. + +"Is there anything I can do for you, dear? Brother Cameron is coming +to see you just as soon as he gets home. Would you like to talk to +him?" + +"Brother Cameron--Brother Cameron--I have no brother," she answered, +turning to Mother Gray again. "Who is he?" + +"Brother Cameron is our pastor; a minister you know." + +The lips parted in a scornful smile, and the eyes flashed with a spark +of fire that must have once been in them. "Oh, a church member; no, +I beg of you, don't let him come here; I want nothing to do with him." + +"But, my dear, he is a good man." + +"Yes I know," said the girl. "I have met these good church people +before." + +"But honey, I'm a church member." + +"You are a _Christian_, mother; I love Christ and his people; but a +man can't prove himself a Christian simply by being a church member. +But I am tired. Forgive me if I pain you, mother, but I cannot see the +minister. He is a good man, a Christian perhaps, but he can do me no +good now; and I would rather die alone with you. The church has driven +me from its doors so many, many times. It was always so cold and +unfeeling. They bestow their pity on the dead bodies of people, and +by their manner, freeze the souls of men." + +Exhausted with the effort of so long a speech, she dropped into a +stupor again. + +Later, after Rev. Cameron had come and gone without seeing her, she +suddenly opened her eyes and whispered, "mother, I have been thinking; +would you be happier in knowing that I'm not afraid to die?" + +The good old woman tightened her grasp on the white hand she held, and +made no other answer but to bow her gray head and press her lips to +the forehead of the girl. + +"I know you would; and I'll tell you." + +"I lived--" She was interrupted by a low knock at the door and a sweet +voice calling gently: "May I come in, Mother Gray?" + +It was Amy, who had come at Cameron's request. + +The sufferer half rose in her bed. "Who is it?" she gasped. "I--I--know +that voice." + +"There, there, dearie," returned the nurse, gently pushing her back +on the pillows. "There, there, lie down again; it's only Miss Amy." + +"Yes, come in," she called; and Miss Goodrich softly pushed open the +door and entered. + +"I thought perhaps I could help you, Mother Gray," she said, as she +removed her hat and arranged a beautiful bunch of flowers on a little +stand in the center of the room. Then turning to the sufferer, she was +about to speak again when she paused and her face grew as white as the +colorless face upon the pillow. + +The wide eyes of the dying girl stared back at her in doubting wonder, +while the trembling lips tried to whisper her name. + +The next instant, Amy had thrown herself on her knees, her arms about +the wasted form upon the bed. "Oh Kate; Kate;" she cried. "How did +this happen? How came you here?" + +It was Kate Cushman, from Oak Springs Farm. + +Mother Gray quickly recovered from her surprise, and with the instinct +of a true nurse, calmed Amy and soothed the patient. + +"There, there, my dears," she said. "God is good--God is good. Let us +thank Him that He has brought you together. You must be brave and +strong, Miss Amy. This poor dear needs our help. Yes, yes, dear, be +brave and strong." + +Amy controlled herself with an effort, and rising from her knees, sat +down on the edge of the bed, still holding Kate's hand, while she +assisted Mother Gray to soothe her. + +When she grew more quiet, Amy said, "We must send for your father and +mother at once; they can--" + +"No, no, you must not--you shall not--they do not know--in mercy, don't +tell them--it would kill them. Promise; oh promise me you will never +tell them how I died. In pity for them, promise me." + +Mother Gray bowed her gray head, while the tears streamed down her +wrinkled cheeks. "Yes, yes, dearie, we'll promise. It's better that +they do not know until it's all over; and they need never know all." +And whispering to Amy, she added, "The poor child can't last but a +little longer." + +Reassured, the sufferer sank back again with a long sigh, and closed +her eyes wearily, but a moment later, opened them once more to look +at Amy. + +"I'm so glad you're here," she said feebly; "but I can't bear to have +you think that I am all bad." And then in whispered, halting words, +with many a break and pause, she told her story; a story all too common. +And Amy, listening with white horror-stricken face, guessed that which +Mother Gray could not know, and which the sufferer tried to conceal, +the name of her betrayer. + +"And so we were married in secret, or I thought we were," she concluded. +"I know now that it was only a farce. He came to visit me twice after +the sham ceremony that betrayed me, and I never saw him again until +last night. Oh God, forgive him; forgive him, I--I loved him so." + +The poor wronged creature burst into a fit of passionate sobbing that +could not be controlled. In vain did Mother Gray try to soothe her. +It was of no use. Until at last, exhausted, she sank again into a +stupor, from which she roused only once near morning, and then she +whispered simply, "Good-bye Mother; Goodbye Miss Amy. Don't let father +know." And just as the day dawned in all its glory, her soul, pure and +unstained as that of her babe, took its flight, and the smile of +innocent girlhood was upon her lips. + +When Amy reached home early in the forenoon, she met her brother in +the hallway, just going out. + +"You look like you'd been making a night of it," he said, with a +contemptuous sneer. "Been consoling some wanderer I suppose." + +The young woman made no reply, but stood with her back to the door, +her eyes fixed on his face. + +"Well, get out of my way," he said roughly; "can't you see I want to +go out?" + +Amy spoke--"I have been at the Institution all night. Kate +Cushman and the baby are both dead. Go look at your work." + +Frank started as though she had struck him; and then as she stepped +aside, he fairly ran from the house as though in fear of his life. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + + +In the little country village of Anderson, where the southern branch +of the "Memphis" joins the main line, a group of excited citizens were +standing in front of the doctor's office. "You're right sure it's +small-pox, are you, Doc?" + +"There's no doubt of it," answered the physician. + +"Who is he?" + +"He won't tell his name, but Jack Lane says it's Frank Goodrich. He +came in day before yesterday on the 'Memphis,' from Boyd City, where +they have just lost a case or two of the worst form." + +An angry murmur arose from the little group of men. "What you goin' +to do, Doc?" asked the spokesman. + +"I've sent to Pleasantville for that nigger who has had the disease, +and he'll be in as soon as he can get here. We must find some place +out of town for the fellow to stay, and let old Jake take care of him." + +Jim Boles spoke up. "Thar's a cabin on my west forty, that's in purty +good shape. A couple of us could fix her up in an hour or two; it's +way back from the road, a good bit over a mile I reckon --in heavy +timber too." + +"I know the place," said another. "We run a fox past there last winter, +and found him denned in that ledge of rocks 'bout half a quarter on +yon side." + +"That's it," said another. "It's sure out of the way all right." + +"Well," said the doctor, "three or four of you go over there and fix +up the cabin as comfortable as possible, and I'll have the negro take +him out as soon as he comes." + +The cabin, which was built by some early settler, had long ago been +abandoned, and was partly fallen into decay. Tall weeds grew up through +the ruins where the pole stable had stood; the roof and one side of +the smoke-house had fallen in; and the chinking had crumbled from +between the logs of the house; while the yard was overgrown with brush +and a tangle of last season's dead grass and leaves, now wet and sodden +with the late heavy rain. Deep timber hid the place from view, and a +hundred yards in front of the hovel a spring bubbled from beneath a +ledge of rock, sending a tiny stream trickling away through the forest. + +Jim Boles and his helpers had just finished patching up the cabin roof +and floor, after first building a huge fire in the long unused +fireplace, when they heard the rattle of a wagon, and between the +trees, caught a glimpse of a scrawny old horse, harnessed with bits +of strap and string, to a rickety wagon, that seemed about to fall to +pieces at every turn of the wheel. Upon the board, used for a seat, +sat an old negro, urging his steed through the patches of light and +shadow with many a jerk of the rope lines, accompanied by an occasional +whack from the long slender pole. Behind the negro was a long object +wrapped in blankets and comforters. + +"Hullo!" shouted the colored man, catching sight of the cabin and the +men. "Am dis yar de horspital fer de small-pox diseases? Dey dun tol' +me ter foller de road; but fo' Gawd, all de's yar roads look erlike +ter me in dis yer place. Nevah seed sich er lonsom ol' hole in all ma' +bo'n days. Reckon dars any hants in dat air ol' shack?" + +"No, this cabin is all right," shouted one of the men; "but you stay +where you are till we get away." And they began gathering up their +tools and garments. + +"All right, sah; all right, sah," grinned the negro. "You'uns jes clar +out ob de way fer de amblance am er comin'. We dun got de right ob way +dis trip, shor'." + +And so Frank Goodrich was established in the old log house, with the +colored man to nurse him. A place was fixed upon where the doctor and +citizens would leave such things as were needed, and Jake could go and +get them. + +Three days passed, and then by bribes and threats and prayers, Frank +persuaded the negro to walk to Pleasantville in the night and post a +letter to Rev. Cameron, begging the minister to come to him, telling +him only that he was in trouble and warning him to keep his journey +secret. + +What fiend prompted young Goodrich to take such a course cannot be +imagined. But let us, in charity, try to think that he was driven to +it by the fright and horrors of his condition. + +Mrs. Cameron was away in the far east visiting her parents, and when +the minister received the letter, he made hurried preparations, and +telling Dick that he might be gone several days, left the city that +evening. At a little way-station named in the letter, he found the +negro, with his poor old horse and rickety wagon waiting him. + +"Is you de parson?" asked the colored man. + +"Yes, I am a minister," Cameron answered, wondering much at the +appearance of the darkey and his strange turn-out. And as he climbed +up to the board seat, he questioned his guide rather sharply, but the +only answer he could get was: "Mistah Goodrich dun tol' me ter hol' +ma tongue er he'd hant me, an' I'm shor goin' t' do hit. Golly, dis +yere chile don't want no ghostes chasin' ob him 'roun'. No sah. I'se +done fotch yo' t' Mistah Goodrich en he kin tell yo' what he's er mind +ter." + +Needless to say, all this did not add to Cameron's peace of mind, and +the moments seemed hours as the poor old horse stumbled on through the +darkness of the night. At last they entered the timber, and how the +negro ever guided his crippled steed past the trees and fallen logs +and rocks was a mystery; but he did; and at last they saw the light +of the cabin. + +"Dar's de place, sah. Dis yere's de horspital. We dun got yere at +las'." And the colored Jehu brought the horse to a stand-still near +the tumbled down smoke-house. + +"Go right in, s'ah; go right in. Nobody dar but Mistah Goodrich. I put +eway ol' Mose." And he began fumbling at the ropes and strings that +made the harness. + +Cameron, burning with impatience and curiosity, stepped to the door +of the cabin and pushed it open. By the dim light of a dirty kerosene +lantern, he could see nothing at first; but a moaning voice from one +end of the room, drew his attention in the right direction. "Is that +you, Brother Cameron?" + +He stepped to the side of the cot. "Why Frank, what are you doing here; +and what is the matter?" + +"I'm sick," answered the young man, in a feeble voice. "I wanted to +see you so bad. I'm awful glad you came." + +"But why are you here in this miserable place? I do not understand." + +"Small-pox," muttered the sick man. "Folks in town are afraid. +The nigger takes care of me. He has had it." + +The minister involuntarily started back. + +"Oh Brother Cameron, don't leave me here alone," cried Frank. "I can't +die like this." + +For one brief moment Cameron trembled. He saw his danger and the trap +into which he had fallen. He thought of his work and of his wife, and +took one step toward the door; then stopped. + +"Oh, I can't die alone," said the voice again. + +Then with a prayer to his God for help, the minister made up his mind. + +"Why of course I'll not leave you, Frank," he said cheerily, resuming +his seat. "You know that surely." + +And so this man of God wrote his friends in the city that he would be +detained a few days, and stayed by the side of the wretched sufferer +in the old cabin in the lonely woods. + +The disease was not slow in its work, and before many hours had passed, +it was clear to Cameron that the end was approaching. Frank also +realized that death was not far distant, and his awful fear was pitiful. + +"Brother Cameron," he whispered hoarsely, as he held his pastor's hand, +while the old negro crouched by the fire-place smoking his cob pipe. +"I must tell you--I've lived an awful life--people think that I'm a +Christian--but I've lived a lie--" + +Then with a look that made Cameron shudder, and in a voice strong with +terror, he screamed, "O God, I shall go to Hell. I shall go to Hell. +Save me, Brother Cameron, save me. I always said that you were a good +fellow. Why do you let me die here like a dog? Don't you know that I +want to live? Here you cursed nigger, go fetch a doctor. I'll haunt +you if you don't. Do as I say." + +The colored man chattering in fright, dropped his pipe in the ashes, +and half rose as though to leave the room, but sank back again with +his eyes fixed on Rev. Cameron, who was bending forward, his hand on +the forehead of the dying man. + +"God knows all, Frank," said the minister. + +"Yes," muttered the other, "God knows all--all--all." Then in a scream +of anguish again, "He has been watching me all the time. He has seen +me everywhere I went. He is here now. Look! don't you see his eyes? +Look! Brother Cameron; look you nigger!--Look there--" He pointed to +one corner of the cabin. "Oh, see those awful eyes, +watching--watching--I have fooled men but I couldn't fool God. _Don't. +Don't._--Oh, Christ, I want to live. Save me--save me--" And he prayed +and plead for Jesus to heal him. "You know you could if you wanted +to," he shouted, profanely; as though the Saviour of men was present +in the flesh. Then to Cameron again, "I must get out of here. Don't +you hear them coming? Let me go I say," as the minister held him back +on the bed. "Let me go. Don't you know that I can't look God in the +face? I tell you, I'm afraid." + +For a moment he struggled feebly and then sank back exhausted; but +soon began to talk again; and the minister heard with horror the dark +secrets of his life. + +Suddenly he ceased muttering, and with wide-open eyes, stared into the +darkness. "Look there, Brother Cameron," he cried, hoarse with emotion. +"Amy; don't you see her? She disgraced the family you know; ran away +with that low-down printer. But see! Look! Who is that with her? Oh +God, it's Kate--Kate--Yes, Kate, I'll marry you. It can't be wrong, +you know, for you love me. Only we must not marry now for father +would--Look Cameron--" His voice rose in a scream of fear. "She's got +smallpox. Drive her out, you nigger; take her away to that cabin in +the woods where you kept me. Sh'-- Don't tell anyone, Cameron, but she +wants me to go with her. She's come to get me. And there's--there's--My +God, look--Yes--Yes-- Kate, I'm coming--" And he sank back on the bed +again. + +The negro was on his knees trying to mumble a prayer, while the minister +sat with bowed head. The lantern cast flickering shadows in the corners +of the room, and the firelight danced and fell. A water bug crawled +over the floor; a spider dropped from the rude rafters; and from without +came the sound of the wind among the bare branches of the trees, and +the old horse feeding on the dead grass and mouldy leaves about the +cabin. + +Suddenly the sick man spoke once more. "No sir, I will never disgrace +you. I am as proud of our family as yourself. I am--home --day--" The +sentence trailed off into a few unintelligible words in which only +"Mother" and "Amy" could be distinguished. And then, with a last look +about the cabin, from eyes in which anguish and awful fear was pictured, +he gasped and was gone. + +The next day, the old negro dug a grave not far from the house, and +at evening, when the sun was casting the last long shadows through the +trees, the colored man and the minister lowered the body of the rich +man's son, with the help of the rope lines from the old harness, to +its last resting place. + +A few moments later, the darkey came around to the front of the house. + +"Ready to go, sah?" + +"Go where?" asked Cameron. + +"Why, go home ob course. I reckoned you'd be mighty glad ter get away +from dis yer place." + +"I'm not going anywhere," the minister answered. "You may unhitch the +horse again." + +The old man did as he was told; then scratching his woolly head, said +to himself, "I golly. Neber thought ob dat. I'll sure hab ter take +care ob him next." + +In the days which followed, Cameron wrote long letters to his wife, +preparing her, with many loving words, for what was, in all probability, +sure to come before she could reach home again. He also prepared an +article for the Whistler, telling of Frank's death, but omitting all +that would tend to injure the young man's character. To Adam Goodrich +only, he wrote the awful truth. Other letters containing requests in +regard to his business affairs, he addressed to Dick Falkner and Uncle +Bobbie Wicks, and one to the President of the Association, in which +he made several recommendations in regard to the work. All of these, +except the one to his wife, he placed in the hands of the negro to be +mailed after his death, if such should be the end. + +Then when the symptoms of the dread disease appeared, he calmly and +coolly began his fight for life. But his efforts were of no avail; and +one night, just before the break of day, he called the old colored man +to his bedside and whispered, with a smile, "It's almost over, Uncle +Jake; my Master bids me come up higher. Good-bye; you have been very +kind to me, and the good Father will not forget you." And so talking +calmly of the Master's goodness and love, he fell asleep, and the old +negro sat with a look of awe and reverence on his dusky face, as the +glorious sunlight filled the cabin and the chorus of the birds greeted +the coming of the day. + +Much that passed in the weeks following, cannot be written here. Mrs. +Cameron's grief and anguish were too keen, too sacred, to be rendered +in unsympathetic print. But sustained by that power which had ennobled +the life of her husband, and kept by the promises of the faith that +had strengthened him, she went on doing her part in the Master's work, +waiting in loving patience the call that would unite them again. + +A month after the news of Cameron's death reached Boyd City, the +president of the Association called on Dick and spent an hour with him +talking of the work. Before leaving, he said: "Mr. Falkner, in Rev. +Cameron's letter to me, he strongly recommended that you be called to +take the place left vacant as director of the Association. With your +consent, I will announce that recommendation at our next meeting. But +first, I would like to know what answer you would give." + +Dick asked for a week to think over the matter, which was granted. And +during that time he consulted Elder Wicks. + +Uncle Bobbie only said, as he grasped his young friend by the hand, +"Behold, I have set before you an open door." And Dick bowed his head +in silent assent. + +The same day, late in the afternoon, George Udell was bending over +some work that he was obliged to finish before going home. His helper +had gone to supper, and the boy, a new one in the office, was cleaning +up preparatory to closing for the night. "Don't clean that press, Jim," +said the printer, suddenly. + +"What's the matter; don't you know that it's time to quit?" asked the +tired youngster, a note of anxiety in his voice. + +"You can quit," replied George, "but I am going to run off some of +this stuff before I go." And he proceeded to lock up the form. + +With a look of supreme disgust on his ink-stained countenance, the +other removed his apron and vanished, as though fearing his employer +might change his mind. At the foot of the stairs, the apprentice met +Clara Wilson. "He's up there," he said with a grin, and hurried on out +of the building, while the young lady passed slowly to the upper floor. +The stamping of the press filled the room, and the printer, his eyes +on his work, did not hear the door close behind the girl; and only +when she stood at his elbow did he look up. The machine made three +impressions on one sheet before he came to his senses; then he turned +to the young lady inquiringly. + +"I--I--thought I'd stop and ask you to come over to the house this +evening; Mother wants to see you." + +"Hum--m--m, anything important?" asked George, leaning against the +press. "You see I'm pretty busy now." He shut off the power and stepped +across the room as the phone rang. "Hello--Yes, this is Udell's--I'm +sorry, but it will be impossible--We close at six you know. Come over +first thing in the morning--Can't do it; it's past six now, and I have +an important engagement to-night. All right. Good-bye." + +"Oh, if you have an engagement I will go," said Clara, moving toward +the door. + +"You needn't be in a hurry," said George, with one of his queer smiles. +"My engagement has been put off so many times it won't hurt to delay +it a few minutes longer. And besides," he added, "the other party has +done all the putting off so far, and I rather enjoy the novelty." + +The young lady blushed and hung her head, and then--but there--what +right have we to look? It is enough for us to know that Udell's +engagement was put off no longer, and that he spent the evening at the +Wilson home, where the heart of Clara's mother was made glad by the +announcement she had long wished to hear. + +"Law sakes," snapped the old lady; "I do hope you'll be happy. Goodness +knows you ought to be; you've waited long enough." And for just that +once, all parties interested were agreed. + +Charlie Bowen is in an eastern college fitting himself for the ministry. +His expenses are paid by Mr. Wicks. "To-be-sure," said Uncle Bobbie, +"I reckon a feller might as well invest in young men as any other kind +o' stock, an' the church needs preachers who know a little about the +business of this world, as well as the world what's comin'. I don't +know how my business will get along without the boy though, but I +reckon if we look after Christ's interests he won't let us go broke. +To-be-sure, college only puts the trimmins' on, but if you've got a +Christian business man, what's all _man_ to begin with, they sure do +put him in shape; an' I reckon the best 'aint none too good for God. +But after all, it's mighty comfortin' for such old, uneducated sticks +as me to know that 'taint the trimmings the good Father looks at. Ye +can't tell a preacher by the long words in his sermon, no more 'n you +can tell a church by the length of its steeple." + +Five years later, two traveling men, aboard the incoming "Frisco" +passenger, were discussing the business outlook, when one pointed out +of the window to the smoke-shrouded city. "That town is a wonder to +me," he said. + +"Why?" asked his fellow-drummer, who was making his first trip over +that part of the road. "What's the matter with it? Isn't it a good +business town?" + +"Good business town," ejaculated the other, "I should say it was. +There's not a better in this section of the country. But it's the +change in the character of the place that gets me. Five years ago, +there wasn't a tougher city in the whole west. Every other door on +Broadway was a joint, and now--" + +"Oh yes, I've heard that," interrupted the other, with a half sneer; +"struck by a church revival or something, wasn't they? And built some +sort of a Salvation Army Rescuing Home or Mission?" + +"I'm not sure about the church revival," returned the other slowly, +"though they do say there are more church members there now than in +any other city of its size in the country. But I'm sure of one thing; +they were struck by good, common-sense business Christianity. As for +the Rescue Home, I suppose you can call it that if you want to; but +it's the finest block in the business portion of the city; and almost +every man you meet owns a share in it. But here we are; you can see +for yourself; only take my advice, and if you want to do business in +Boyd City, don't try to sneer at the churches, or laugh at their +Association." + +And indeed the traveling man might well wonder at the change a few +years had brought to this city in the great coal fields of the middle +west. In place of the saloons that once lined the east side of Broadway +and the principal streets leading to it, there were substantial +buildings and respectable business firms. The gambling dens and brothels +had been forced to close their doors, and their occupants driven to +seek other fields for their degrading profession. Cheap variety and +vulgar burlesque troops had the city listed as no good, and passed it +by, while the best of musicians and lecturers were always sure of +crowded houses. The churches, of all denominations, had been forced +to increase their seating capacity; and the attendance at High School +and Business College had enlarged four-fold; the city streets and +public buildings, the lawns and fences even, by their clean and +well-kept appearance, showed an honest pride, and a purpose above mere +existence. But a stranger would notice, first of all, the absence of +loafers on the street corners, and the bright, interested expressions +and manners of the young men whom he chanced to meet. + +And does this all seem strange to you, reader, as to our friend, the +traveling man? Believe me, there is no mystery about it. It is just +the change that comes to the individual who applies Christ's teaching +to his daily life. High purpose, noble activity, virtue, honesty and +cleanliness. God has but one law for the corporation and the individual, +and the teaching that will transform the life of a citizen will change +the life of a city if only it be applied. + +The reading-room and institution established by the young people of +the Jerusalem Church had accomplished its mission, and was absorbed +into the larger one established by the citizens, where boys and girls, +men and women, could hear good music, uplifting talk, and helpful +entertainment; where good citizenship, good health, good morals, were +all taught in the name of Jesus. The institution was free in every +department; visitors were restricted only by wholesome rules that in +themselves were educational. Co-operating with the city officials, +it separated the vicious from the unfortunate, and removed not only +the influence of evil, but the last excuse for it, by making virtue +a pleasure, and tempting the public to live wholesomely. And as the +traveling man testified, it paid from a business standpoint; or as +Uncle Bobbie Wicks tells his customers from other towns, "Folks come +to Boyd City to live 'cause they 'aint 'fraid to have their boys 'n +girls walk down the street alone." And after all, that's about the +best recommendation a place can have. And perhaps the happiest couple +in all that happy, prosperous city, as well as the best-loved of her +citizens, is the young manager of the Association, Mr. Richard Falkner, +and his beautiful wife, Amy. + +But Dick will soon leave his present position to enter a field of wider +usefulness at the National Capitol. For the people declared, at the +last election, that their choice for representative was "That Printer +of Udell's." And before they leave for their Washington home, Dick and +Amy will pay still another visit to a lonely spot near the little +village of Anderson. There, where the oaks and hickorys cast their +flickering shadows on the fallen leaves and bushes, and the striped +ground-squirrel has his home in the rocks; where the redbird whistles +to his mate, and at night, the sly fox creeps forth to roam at will; +where nature, with vine of the wild grape, has builded a fantastic +arbor, and the atmosphere is sweet with woodland flowers and blossoms, +not far from the ruins of an old cabin, they will kneel before two +rough mounds of earth, each marked with a simple headstone, one bearing +no inscription save the name and date; the other this: "Inasmuch as +ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have +done it unto Me." + + + THE END. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's That Printer of Udell's, by Harold Bell Wright + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THAT PRINTER OF UDELL'S *** + +This file should be named prtll10.txt or prtll10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, prtll11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, prtll10a.txt + +Produced by Vital Debroey, Charles Aldarondo +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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