d cane
in one hand and the other thrust in the breast of his buttoned coat, he
said in his blandest, forensic voice:--

"If I mistake not, sir, you are advising these ladies and gentlemen to
a free and public confession of their sins and a--er--denunciation
of their past life--previous to their conversion. If I am
mistaken I--er--ask your pardon, and theirs and--er--hold myself
responsible--er--personally responsible!"

The preacher glanced uneasily at the colonel, but replied, still in the
hysterical intonation of his exordium:--

"Yes! a complete searching of hearts--a casting out of the seven Devils
of Pride, Vain Glory"--

"Thank you--that is sufficient," said the colonel blandly. "But might
I--er--be permitted to suggest that you--er--er--SET THEM THE EXAMPLE!
The statement of the circumstances attending your own past life and
conversion would be singularly interesting and exemplary."

The preacher turned suddenly and glanced at the colonel with furious
eyes set in an ashy face.

"If this is the flouting and jeering of the Ungodly and Dissolute," he
screamed, "woe to you! I say--woe to you! What have such as YOU to do
with my previous state of unregeneracy?"

"Nothing," said the colonel blandly, "unless that state were also the
STATE OF ARKANSAS! Then, sir, as a former member of the Arkansas BAR--I
might be able to assist your memory--and--er--even corroborate your
confession."

But here the enthusiastic adherents of the preacher, vaguely conscious
of some danger to their idol, gathered threateningly round the platform
from which he had promptly leaped into their midst, leaving the colonel
alone, to face the sea of angry upturned faces. But that gallant warrior
never altered his characteristic pose. Behind him loomed the reputation
of the dozen duels he had fought, the gold-headed stick on which he
leaned was believed to contain eighteen inches of shining steel--and the
people of Laurel Spring had discretion.

He smiled suavely, stepped jauntily down, and made his way to the
entrance without molestation.

But here he was met by Blair and Slocum, and a dozen eager questions:--

"What was it?" "What had he done?" "WHO was he?"

"A blank shyster, who had swindled the widows and orphans in Arkansas
and escaped from jail."

"And his name isn't Brown?"

"No," said the colonel curtly.

"What is it?"

"That is a matter which concerns only myself and him, sir," said the
colonel loftily; "but for which