Page:Randall Parrish - The Red Mist.djvu/196

 180 human fiend by force. I am a minister of the Gospel."

"You!" the lieutenant burst into a laugh. "By Jove, you fit the part. Whitlock, did you ever hear of the fellow?"

The captain rubbed his glasses.

"Are you the Baptist preacher at Cane Ridge?" he asked doubtfully.

"For twenty years I have ministered to that congregation; the young woman can vouch for my labor."

"Then, I presume you are also acquainted with this fellow?" questioned Raymond impatiently.

Nichols turned his glance again in my direction, but his gray face was devoid of interest.

"I have no knowledge of the young man," he asserted solemnly, "but I knew the old Judge well. The resemblance is strong, and I have no doubt but he is a son. The father was a Christian, and a gentleman."

"And a rebel, I presume?"

"Judge Wyatt died before the breaking out of the war, sir, but was known throughout these parts as a Unionist."

There was a silent pause, Whitlock fumbling at his eye-glasses, Raymond, a perplexed frown on his face, staring first at Nichols, and then at me, as