The Sky Pilot

mined to try to have the baseball match postponed. There could be no difficulty. One day was as much of a holiday as another to the

all sorts of destruction upon himself if he was going to change h

surprise, doubt and pain. He was readjusting himself. He was so made as to be extremely sensitive to his surroundings. He took on color quickly. The utter indifference to the audacious disregard of all he had hitherto considered sacred and essential was disconcerting. They were all so dead sure. How did he know they were wrong? It was his first near view

t the champions of "Home" had "to stand The Painkiller," their defeat be

n and blue, as if he were in pain. A silence fell on the men as he walked in through the crowd and up to the bar. He stood a moment hesitating, looking round upon the faces flush

oom you said w

hrugged his sho

s not an

ng a pile of hymn books he had near him on the counter, he said in

u will all join," and immediately he handed a book to Bronco Bill, who, surprised, took it as if he did not k

ant it; I've n

ly, as if unconsciously, The Duke, who was standing near, stretched out his

lves upon the bench that ran round the room, or leaned up against the counter, and mos

e was on his feet, an

oks in their hands held him fast at the door. He gazed in an amazed, helpless way upon the men, then at the missionary, then back at the men, and stood speechless. Suddenly there was a high, shrill, boyish laugh, and the men turned to see the missionary in a fit of laughter. It certainly was a shock to any lingering ideas of religious propriety they migh

offering him his book. But the missionary was before him, and, with very

y a defeat. The first hymn was sung chiefly by the missionary and Mrs. Muir, whose voice was very high, with one or two of the men softly whistling an accompaniment. The second hym

think I'll cal

on!" said the st

uite a song and dan

stand," was th

in the crowd?" asked B

thou

ow muc

fishes," answered Bru

ed a conclusion, "that's a little too unusual for me. Why

said Bruce, with a laugh.

ics, the origin of evil and the freedom of the will, till the missionary, as Bill said, "was rattled worse nor a rooster in the dark." Poor little Mrs. Muir

d jaw, and you, Bruce, give the m

n!" were the cries that cam

embling and much troubled, gav

modesty, and his respectful, courteous manner gained the sympathy of the men, so that all joined heartily in singing, "Sun of My Soul." In the prayer that followed his voice grew steady and his nerve came back to him. The words wer

Bill steadily maintained his position that "the story of that there picnic was a little too unusual" for him. Bruce was trying meanwhile to beguile The Duke into a discussion of the physics and metaphysics of the case. But The Duke refused with quiet contempt to be drawn in

's presence seemed to irritate him, and he played even more recklessly than usual, swearing deeply at every loss. At the door the missionary stood looking up into

"this isn't any blanke

king at Bruce, said quietly: "Wel

don't see what hymn-singing

ot on to your nerves." And coolly sweeping his pile into his pocket, he gave up the game. With an oath Bruce left the table, took another drink, and

white with horror. It was

ely home?" he as

said The Duke, in his loftie

rew hard and bright as they

rry; but you oug

ently upon the bright, stern young face lifted up to

eplied the missionary, quickly, "I sh

ut after a moment's steady look into the missionary's eyes he nodde

ry turned ea

wrong and I am right! I don't understand! I can't see my way through! But I a

eyes and heard the triumphant cry: "I feel it's true! Men can't live without Him, and be men