Picture-Play Weekly (Apr-Oct 1915)

20 PICTURE-PLAY WEEKLY Austin's face and his tone became grave. "Is there a liell?" he repeated slow!}-. "Yes, I beheve that, Texas. Eternal torment for those whose sins have damned tliem, must await us in the future. God himself gives us the warning of it in the mental anguish we suffer here on earth for our evildoing. It is a foretaste much surprised at the other's confession, that he was suffering remorse for some guilty deed he had committed, to do more than wait in silence to see whether Texas w^ould choose to go on and make a clean breast of what his sin was. "You told riie, the other da}'," Texas continued slowlj', with his eyes fixed on the ground before him as they walked The parson had saved Texas Smith's life, even if lie had won the girl lie loved — and Texas accepted his hand and with it his proffered friendship. of what is in store after death, unless we mend our ways in life." Texas nodded with grim conviction. "That's it," said he. "I'xt been warned, I guess, of what's comin' to me. For I've certainly been goin' through a little hell on earth, up here in my mind for the past year and more." Austin said nothing. He was too along, "that the Good Book says, "Confess, and sin no more,' and a sinner's saved from hell right off. It seems a big thing for the Lord to do, for so little— to wipe the slate clean, just for a person's admittin' what they'xe done. Only that ain't a little thing!" he declared with sudden fierceness. "It's hard ! I've been tryin' to screw up my courage all these weeks to tell you what I've been. I'm goin' to do it now. But, I tell you, it ain't easy." Austin spoke sympathetically: "You can trust me, Texas, you know. Whatever your secret is, I'll promise to keep it so. But you are doing right — get it off your conscience. Tell me everything." The words came from Texas in a rush. "I ain't lit to be your friend !" he blurted. "I ain't fit to shake the hand of 110 man that's honest in this town. You've all of you wondered where my money comes from. W ell, I'll tell you — I'm a road agent. I've been holding up the stages around this locality right along, for the past five }ears. I hate the business. I want to cut it out and go straight. Do you s'pose there's a chance that I can win forgiveness from God, so He won't send me to hell, if I do live on the square from now on?'' Austin halted and took him by the shoulders, searching his face with the shocked expression on his own countenance gi\ing way before a look of earnest reassurance for Texas' benefit. "I am sure of it,'' he answered. "You are already half forgiven. Now, take the vow to sin no more, and 3"ou have wholly made your peace with Him in heaven." Texas gripped the parson's hand. "I give you my promise." he said fer\ently. "that I'll never hold up another stage as long as I live." The months passed. Six had gone by, when one day Texas set out for Austin's house in the late afternoon. Texas had not seen the parson for two days. The latter had been away to look after a sick miner who lived in the far-off mountains. But he ought to have got back by this time, Texas thought. Opening the door of the parsonage, Texas stepped into the living room to find Belle sitting there alone. Her head was bowed in her arms on top of the table, and she was weeping. "W hat's the matter?" Texas demanded anxiously, striding quickly to her side to lay a hand on her heaving shoulders. "Has anything happened to him " Belle shook her head, and cried the harder. Looking down at her, Texas stroked his chin thoughtfully. He looked toward the hatrack on the wall, to see