i *
*
By REV. CHARLES M. SHELDON ,
Author of "In His Stops : What Would Jesus DoP" "Malcom
Kirk , " "Eobcrt Hardy's Seven Days , " Etc. *
Copyright , 1890 , by Tlie Advance Publisliino G > .
< >
*
" " " " " '
Shr"\Vab"just"Jn"lh"c poKIt' 6 shutting
the door as he started down the side-
valk when n sharp report rang out
close by. She screamed and flung the
door open again , as by the light of the
street lamp she saw Philip stagger and
then leap Into the street toward an elm
tree which grew almost opposite the
parsonage. When he was about In the
middle of the street , she was horrified
to see a man step out boldly from be
hind the tree , raise a gun and delib
erately flre at Philip again. This time
Plillip fell and did not rise. His tall
form lay where the rays of the street
lamp shone on it , and he had fallen so
that as his arms stretched out there
-he made the of and
figure a huge pros
trate cross.
CHAPTER V.
As people waked up In Milton the
Wednesday morning after the shootIng -
Ing of Philip Strong they grew con
scious of the fact , as the news came to
their knowledge , that they had been
nursing for 50 years one of the most
brutal and cowardly Institutions on
earth and licensing It to do the very
thing -which at last it had done. For
the time being Milton suffered a genu
ine shock. Long pent up feeling against
the whisky power burst out , and pub
lic sentiment for once condemned the
source of the cowardly attempt to mur
der.
der.Various
Various rumors were flying about. It
was said that Mr. Strong had been
stabbed in the back while out making
parish calls in company with his wife
and that she had been wounded by a
pistol shot herself. It was also said
that he had been shot through the
heart and Instantly killed. But all
these confused reports were finally set
at rest when those calling at the par
sonage brought away the exact truth.
The first shot fired by the man from
behind the-tree struck Philip in the
knee , but the ball glanced off. He felt
the blow and staggered , but his next
impulse was to rush in the direction of
the sound and disarm his assailant.
That was the reason he had leaped into
the street But the second shot was
better aimed , and the bullet crashed in
to his upper arm and shoulder , shatter
ing the bone and producing an exceed
ingly painful , though not fatal , wound.
The shock caused Philip to fall , and
he fainted away , but not before the
face of the man who had shot him was
clearly stamped on his mind. He knew
that he was one of the saloon proprie
tors whose establishment Philip had
visited the week before. He was a man
with a harelip , and there was no mis
taking his countenance.
When the people of Milton learned
that Philip was not fatally wounded ,
their excitement cooled a little. A
wave of indignation , however , swept
over the town when it was learned that
the would be murderer was recognized
by the minister , and it was rumored
that he had openly threatened that he
would "fix the cursed preacher so that
he would not be able to preach again. "
Philip , however , felt more full of
fight against the rum devil than ever.
As he lay on the bed the morning after
the shooting he had nothing to regret
or fear. The surgeon had been called
at once , as soon as his wife and the
alarmed neighbors had been able to
carry him into the parsonage. The ball
had been removed and the wounds
dressed. By noon he had recovered
- somewhat from the effects of the operation -
' eration and was resting , although very
weak from the shock and suffering
considerable pain.
"What is that stain on the floor ,
Sarah ? " he asked as his wife came in
with some article for his comfort
Philip lay where he could see into the
other room.
"It is your blood , Philip , " replied his
wife , with a shudder. "It dripped like
a stream from your shoulder as we
carried you in last night Oh , Philip ,
it is dreadful ! It seems to me like an
awful nightmare. Let us move away
from this terrible place. You will be
killed if we stay here. "
"There isn't much danger if the rest
of 'em are as poor shots as this fel
low , " replied Philip. "Now , little wo
man , " he went on cheerfully , "don't
worry. I don't believe they'll try it
again. "
Mrs. Strong controlled herself. She
did not want to break down while Phil
ip was in his present condition.
"You must not talk , " she said as she
smoothed his hair back from the pale
forehead.
"That's pretty hard on a preacher ,
don't you think , Sarah ? My occupa
tion is gone if I can't talk. "
"Then I'll talk for two. They say
that most women can do that"
"Will you preach for me next Sun
day ? "
"What , and make myself a target for
saloon keepers ? : No , thank you. I have
half a mind to forbid you ever preach
ing again. It will be the death of
you. "
"It is the life of me , Sarah. I would
not ask anything better than to die
with the armor on , fighting evil. Well ,
all right. I won't talk any.more. . I
suppose there's no objection to my
thinking a little ? "
"Thinking is the worst thing yon
can do. You just want to lie there
and do nothing but get well. "
"All right I'll quit everything ex
cept eating and sleeping. Put up a lit-
on. Urn Lnatl.cf thft liefl .sav
: T5ga-'sP"cufTu rty Tu 'Milton1. A
live minister who has stopped think
ing and talking ! Admission 10 cents !
Proceeds to be devoted to teach sa
loon keepers how to shoot straight ! ' "
Philip was still somewhat under the
influence of the doctor's anaesthetic ,
and as he faintly murmured this ab
surd sentence he fell Into a slumber
Which lasted several hours , from
which he awoke very feeble and realiz
lug that he would be confined to the
house sonic time , but feeling In good
spirits and thankful out of the depths
of his vigorous nature that he was still
spared to do God's will on earth.
The next day he felt strong enough
to receive a few visitors. Among them
was the chief of police , who came to
inquire concerning the Identity of the
man who had done the shooting. Phil
ip showed some reluctance to witness
against his enemy. It was only when
he remembered that he owed a duty
to society as well as to himself ijat he
described the man and related minute
ly the entire affair exactly as it oc
curred.
"Is the man in town ? " asked Philip.
"Has he not fled ? "
"I think I know where he Is , " replied -
plied the officer. "He's in hiding , but
[ can find him. In fact , we have been
muting for him since the shooting ,
tie Is wanted on several other
charges. "
Philip was pondering something in
silence. At last he said :
When you have arrested him , 1
wish you would bring him here if it
can be done without violating any or
dinance or statute. "
The officer stared at the request , and
the minister's wife exclaimed : "Philip ,
you will not have that man come into
the house ! Besides , you are not well
enough to endure a meeting with the
wretch ! "
"Sarah , I have a good reason for it.
Really , I am well enough. You will
bring him , won't you ? I do not wish
to make any mistake in the matter.
Before the man Is really confined un
der a criminal charge of attempt to
murder I would like to confront him
here. There can be no objection to
that , can there ? "
The officer finally promised that , if
he could do so without attracting too
much attention , he would comply with
the request. It was a thing he had
never done before. He was not quite
easy in his mind about It. Neverthe
less Philip exercised a winning influ
ence over all sorts and conditions of
men , and he felt quite sure that if the
officer could arrest his man quietly he
would bring him to the parsonage.
This was Thursday night. The next
evening , just after dark , the bell rang ,
and one of the church members who
had been staying with Mr. Strong dur
ing the day went to the door. There
stood two men. One of them was the
chief of police. He inquired how the
minister was and said that he had a
man .with him whom the minister was
anxious to see.
Philip heard them talking and guess
ed who they were. He sent his wife
out to have the men come in. The of
ficer \vith his man came into the bed
room where Philip lay , still weak and
suffering , but at his request propped
up a little with pillows.
"Well , Mr. Strong , I have got the
man , and here he Is , " said the officer ,
wondering what Philip could want of
him. "I ran him down in the 'crow's
nest' below the mills , and we popped
him. Into a hack and drove right up
herewith him. And a pretty sweet
specimen he is , I can tell you ! Take
off your hat and let the gentleman
have another look at the brave chap
who fired at him In ambush. "
The officer spoke almost brutally ,
forgetting for a moment that the pris
oner's hands were manacled. Remem
bering it the next instant , he pulled off
the man's hat , while Philip looked
calmly at the features. Yes , it was the
same .hideous , brutal face , with the
harelip , which had shone up in the
rays of the street lamp that night
There was no mistaking it for any
other.
"Why did you want to kill me ? " ask
ed Philip after a significant pause. "I
never did you any harm. "
"I would like to kill all the cursed
preachers , " replied the man hoarsely.
"You confess , then , that you are the
man who fired at me , do you ? "
"I don't confess anything. What are
you talking to me for ? Take me to
the lockup if you're going to ! " the man
exclaimed fiercely , turning to the offi
cer.
"Philip , " cried his wife , turning to
him with a gesture of appeal , "send
them away ! It will do no good to talk
to this man ! "
Philip raised his hand in a gesture
toward the man that made every one
in the room feel a little awed. The
officer , in speaking of It afterward ,
said : "I tell you , boys , I never felt
quite the same except once , when the
old Catholic priest stepped up on the
platform with old man Gower time he
was hanged at Millville. Somehow
then I felt as if , when the priest rais
ed his hand and began to pray , maybe
we might all be glad to have some one
pray for us if we get Into a tight
place. "
Philip spoke directly to the man ,
whose look fell beneath that of the
minister.
gel ] pfinnrrb t1'.p > von
the mad 'WE3' sHot me' TiieSUay mgnt.
I know you are the man , for I saw
your face very plainly by the light of
the street lamp. Now , all that I want
ed to see you here for before you were
taken to Jail was to let you know that
I do not bear any hatred toward you.
The thing you have done Is against the
law of God and man. The injury you
have inflicted upon me Is very slight
compared with that against your own
soul. Oh. my brother man , why should
you try to harm me because I denounc
ed your business ? Do you not know
In your heart of hearts that the saloon
Is so evil in it * effects that a man who
loves his home and his country must
speak out against It ? And yet I love
you. That is possible because you are
human. Oh , my Father , " Philip con
tinued , changing his appeal to the
man by an almost natural manner into
a petition to the Infinite , "make this
soul dear to thee , to behold thy love
for ; him , and make him see that it is not
against me , a mere man , that he has
sinned , but against thyself against
the purity and holiness and affection !
Oh , my God , thou who didst come in
the likeness of sinful men to seek and
save that which was lost , stretch out
the arms of thy salvation now to this
child and save him from himself , from
his own disbelief , his hatred of me or
of what I have said ! Thou art all
merciful and all loving. We leave all
souls of men In the protecting , infold
ing embrace of thy boundless compas
sion and infinite mercy. "
There was a moment of entire , quiet
in the room , and then Philip said faint
ly : "Sarah , I cannot say more. Only
tell the man I bear him no hatred and
commend him to the love of God. "
Mrs. Strong was alarmed at Philip's
appearance. The scene had been too
much for his strength. She hastily
commanded ( the officer to take his pris
oner ( away and with the help of her
friend cared for the minister , who ,
after the first faintness , rallied and
then gradually sank into sleep that
proved more refreshing than any lie
had yet enjoyed since the night of the
shooting.
The next day found Pliilip improv
ing more rapidly than Mrs. Strong had
thought possible. She forbade him the
sight of all callers , however , and in
sisted that he must keep quiet His
wounds were healing satisfactorily ,
and when the surgeon called he ex
pressed himself much pleased with his
patient's appearance.
"Say , doctor , do you really think it
would set me back any to think a lit
tle ? "
"No. I never heard of thinking hurtIng -
Ing people. I have generally consider
ed It a healthy habit. "
"The reason I asked , " continued Phil
ip gravely , "was because my wife ab
solutely forbade it , and I was wonder-
t
ing how long I could keep it up and
fool anybody. "
"That's a specimen of his stubbornness -
ness , doctor , " said the minister's wife ,
smiling. "Why , only a few minutes
before you came in he was insisting
that he could preach tomorrow. Think
of it , a man with a shattered shoulder ,
who would have to stand on one leg
and do all his gesturing with his left
hand ; a man who can't preach with
out the use of seven or eight arms and
as many pockets and has to walk up
and down the platform like a lion
when he gets started on his delivery ! t
And yet he wants to preach tomorrow !
He's that stubborn that I don't know
that I can keep him at home. You -would
better leave some powders to put him
to sleep , and we will -keep him in a
state of unconsciousness until Monday
morning. "
"Now. doctor , just listen to me
awhile. Mrs. Strong is talking for
two women , as she agreed to do , and
that puts me in a hard position. But 1
want to know how soon I can get to
work again. "
"You will have to lie there a month , "
said the doctor bluntly.
"Impossible ! I never lied that time
in my life ! " said Philip soberly.
"It would serve him right to per
form a surgical operation on him for
that , wouldn't it , Mrs. Strong ? " the
surgeon appealed to her.
"I think he deserves the worst you
can do , doctor. "
"But say , dear people , I can't stay
here a month. I must be about my
Master's business. What will the
church do for supplies ? "
"Don't worry , Philip. The church
will take care of that. "
But Philip was already eager to get
to work. Only the assurance of the sur
geon that he might possibly get out in
a little over three weeks satisfied him
Sunday came and passed. Some one
from a neighboring town who happen
ed to be visiting in Milton occupied the
pulpit , and Philip had a quiet , restfu
day. He started in the week determin
ed to beat the doctor's time for recovery -
ery , and , having a remarkably strongc
constitution and a tremendous will , he
bade fair to be limping about the
house in two weeks. His shoulder
wound healed very fast. His knee
bolhered him , and it seemed likely tha
he would go lame for a long time. But
he was not concerned about that if on
ly he could go about in any sort of
fashion once more.
Wednesday of that week he w'as sur
prised in an unexpected manner by an
event which did more than anything
else to hasten his recovery. He was
still confined to bed down stairs when
in the afternoon the bellrang _ , and Mrs
Strong went to the door , supposing i
\vas one of the church people come to
Inquire about the minister. She found
instead Alfred Burke , Philip's old col
lege chum and seminary classmate
Mrs. Strong welcomed him heartily
and in answer to his eager inquiry con
cerning Philip's condition she brougln
him into the room , knowing her pa
tient quite well and feeling sure the
sight of his old chum would do him
more good than harm. The first thin
Alfred said was :
"Old man , I hardly expected to see
you again this side of heaven. How
dops it JianDoiL Umt..rnu..are. alive .here
r
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j yield 5 it is too deep ;
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For Homeless Children.
Secretary Quivey of the Nebraska
Children's Home society , from Omaha ,
was in the cit } ' , close of last week , to
take charge of the two little Hill hoys ,
Edwin and Ernest , who were given into
the ] charge of the society by Judge Norris -
ris of the district court at the session of
the court , last week. On Sunday morn
ing , Secretary Quivey occupied the Con
gregational pulpit and made an earnest
plea for the society , setting forth its
noble , Christ-like work , and its financial
needs. His address touched every heart.
A collection was taken up , which
amounted to $8 ; besides nine life mem
berships were secured for the society ,
making in all $49 raised. This makes
about forty .life memberships held by
at
the ] people of McCook. Mr. Quivey de
parted , Monday morning , for the eastern
part of the state , where he will place the
Hill boys in good Christian homes. In
the past few years the society lias placed
about 400 children in good homes.
A Special Aide.
Captain Justin A. Wilcox of our city
has been appointed by State Commander
J. E. Evans of the Grand Army of the
Republic a special aic'e for Red Willow
county for the dissemination and pro
mulgation of patriotic education among
the school children of the county. This
plan is being carried out by the state
commander in the various counties of
the state , and is a commendable one.
The tree man is in town. We mean ,
of course. Mr. Cullen , whose annual visits
always brfng pleasure and profit to those
who delight in foliage , fruit and flowers.
Mr. Cullen is well known as the repre
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