The Crucifixion of Philip Strong

een nursing for fifty 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 M

th 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 inst

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 wa

was clearly stamped on his mind. He knew that he was one of the saloon proprietors whose establishment P

on, however, swept over the town when it was learned that the would-be murderer was recognized by the minister, and it was

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 wou

s his wife came in with some article for his comfort

ur shoulder as we carried you in last night. O Philip, it is dreadful! It seems to me like an a

s this fellow," replied Philip. "Now, little woman," he went on

herself. She did not

n his presen

id as she smoothed his hair

r, don't you think, Sarah? My oc

wo. They say that mos

each for me

? No, thank you. I have half a mind to forbid you

o die with the armor on, fighting evil. Well, all right. I won't tal

can do. You just want to lie th

be devoted to teach saloon-keepers how to shoot straight.'" Philip was still somewhat under the influence of the doctor's anaesthetic, and as he faintly murmured this absurd sentence he fell into a slumber which lasted several hour

tity of the man who had done the shooting. Philip showed some reluctance to witness against his enemy. It was only when he remembered tha

n?" asked Philip.

iding, but I can find him. In fact, we have been hunting for

g something in sile

ould bring him here if it can be done wi

med: "Philip, you will not have that man come into the house! Bes

t wish to make any mistake in the matter. Before the man is really confined under a criminal charge o

hing he had never done before; he was not quite easy in his mind about it. Nevertheless, Philip exercised a winning influence over all s

been staying with Mr. Strong during the day went to the door. There stood two men. One of them was the chief of p

e the men come in. The officer with his man came into the bedroom where Philip la

n in the 'crow's nest' below the mills, and we popped him into a hack and drove right up here with him. And a pretty sweet specim

instant, he pulled off the man's hat, while Philip looked calmly at the features. Yes, it was the same hideous, brutal fac

ll me?" asked Philip, a

did you a

the cursed preachers," r

at you are the man who

me for? Take me to the lock-up if you're going to!"

with a gesture of appeal, "send them away

, 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. Som

he man, whose look fell be

arm me because I denounced your business? Do you not know in your heart of hearts that the saloon is so evil in its 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 continued, 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 me

lip said faintly: "Sarah, I cannot say more. Only tell the m

er to take his prisoner away, and with the help of her friend cared for the minister, who, after the first faintness, rallied

the sight of all callers, however, and insisted that he must keep quiet. His wounds were healing satis

y think it would set me ba

hurting people; I have generall

because my wife absolutely forbade it, and I was won

e to stand on one leg and do all his gesturing with his left hand; a man who can't preach without 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 deli

for two women, as she agreed to do, and that puts me in a hard

there a month," said

ed that time in my life

ical operation on him for that, wouldn't it

ves the worst you

I can't stay here a m

What will the churc

p. The church will

Milton occupied the pulpit, and Philip had a quiet, restful day. He started in the week determined to beat the doctor's time for recovery; and, having a remarkably strong constitution and a tremendous will, he bade fair to be limping about

g went to the door supposing it was one of the church people come to inquire about the minister. She found instead Alfred Burke, Philip's old college chum and Seminary classmate. Mrs. Strong welcomed him heartily, and in answ

e of heaven. How does it happen that you are alive he

I was a big man. But after the shooting I came

't shot through it, no matter where you were hit. But I

reach for me last Sunday?"

ir until last Saturday in my Western parish, and I was

mda

hbors. Mrs. Burke is up there now getting the ho

hurch? It's a splendid opening for a yo

a call to Elmdale, so I suppose they pitched on me for a second choice. Y

truthfully. "But how are you going to l

thout the excitement of dodging assassins and murderers every time you go o

st-iron and fire-brick in order to stand the wear and tear of these times in whic

he worst of

lately. But now, as we're going to be only fifty mile

condition, however, that you furnish me with a gun a

German universities together that summer after college, you know," he explained with the slightest possible blush, when Mrs. Strong came in and caught him in the act. It seemed to her, however, like an affecting thing