Cheraw chronicle. (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, January 26, 1922, Image 7
1
4 Chapter I.
Y DEAR SIR, would you
4* m^r 8 soiue clothes to wear ai
I thing tu ent, free of al
JL I "I wouldn't mind It,"
' I the little ragged, unsha1
and bungary wonderer
% "Well then," said
slim gentlemen with I
forhead and sharp
"come uiong with me. I will show you w!
get your moneys worth and someth
nothing."
They started off at a lively walk and
a large house with out a light In it by
door.
"This," said the tall man, "Is my r
Are you very hungary?"
"Quite right," replied the little man I <
most anything If it didn't cost me anythl
"It will cost you not one cent and y
have nil you can eat and drink if you will
enough to take of your coat and roll yoi
up."
"Why such trouble?" replied the smr
low, "that's an odd thing to do to earn
I should think you would ask somethii
ks<5 <v?m rsss mm ssssss mnn RSSS SSSS."
"What's this on my arm?" uttered the
Mow did it come to be there? Have
asleep?"
"You sure was asleep. That which you i
your arm Is my name. Here In this ho
know not no other name. That V//u)n y
binds you to my services. You can not es<
town and maybe not this house, alive. 1
that you will live happily If you will ti
contented."
"Umph," prunted the wanderer lookln
rlpht arm, "so your name Is Black Foot,
stand?"
"By the way what Is your name?"
"My name." replied the smaller of the
John Lester Bruce."
"Well Mr. Bruce." said Black Foot u h
later, "you may eat now."
John Immediately went to the tahle a
before him was a meal, to his estlmatioi
a klnp. He did not look up from the tal
he had devoured Ills share'and more to of
potatoes, roasted meats, gravy, sweets i
dishes of various kinds.
The monotonous, continuous pourlnp
In the principal orpan of dipestion. wh
call the stomach, if lie had one. was kep
thirty minutes.
The room appeared as if the owner
Immense sum of money.
What was the idea of brlnplnp a raj
shaved tramp In a house like this? Wh;
call himself Black Foot at home Instea
real name? Why did lie put Ids odd nair
arm and tell me that my life was .In <1
I attempted escape?, was the thouphts J
In mind Just as Black Foot came In am
him a turkish 4&arette with a cork tip.
"Well," he said, as he eume In, "are y<
to co up your room."
Blnclc Foot turned and led him throuc
way and up a stairs; both heinc paded i
ly thick with carets which made no noi
ever when t redded upon.
After they had left the stairs and \v
on their way through another hall a bell
heard which was near by.
It was ringing continuously therefor
Itself that It was no telephone, but sor
* electrical device.
Black Foot led the way Into a room
left.
"This," he said, as he pressed a butt<
Immediately stopped the hell from rlngln
highth of glory in a corner on the wall. "
traders alarm."
"This Is my room here. We will go
now."
They went Into a room which was una
and large as to width and length. It was
up to an extent somewhat like the room
he ate regarding the style. In one cornt
' large wooden bed.
"This button here when pressed." sa
L Foot." Is what I would call a private hell.
H only when sonic one is in this mom hcsiih
hed. You press the same button to turn
you do to turn-it off. The other one is I
as you seen mo press in my room."
"Now I wish to have you chit litre your
You'll find plenty in the wardrobe. \Y
? have finished Just open your door. I \
you."
John went to the wardrobe and pulh
blue serpe suite, looked it over and re]
with another >?f different volar which hi
with n silk shirt that he picked out froi
t others.
He also adopted n rolled luneon-colar
tie, silk stockings and brown English
shoes. Hat, gloves and overcoat he in
chair.
He then went to the door and opera
* Instructed.
T> l..1. (mmmlliitolv n r i r\n to / >? ar\
DltlCh ruui IIIIUiriKUV^-.f U|r|Mi'uvil<i|
sented him with a Colt Automatic 31! Cj
volver and cartridges.
"Put these In your pocket or keep tl
by you. You may need them sometime."
Hard Tasks of <
An orchid hunter, M. Hamelin. v
seeking rarities In Madagascar, found h
* that his only possible life insurance c
was to become "blood brother" to a h
native chieftain. Incidentally, this n
process involved the risk, if the blood- n
brother died, of the other having to p
marry the dead man's wife and ,ake
charge of his entire family. t
To find the plants Is one thing, to ji
carry them another. The plants are r
?
not like *Of medium hitfhf wi
id someII
cost?"
' replied "I will call in niy\uss
ved, cold over, then their will be
one of your friends."
the tall In came a tall slim gen
:he high thing like Black Foot. T
features, ers. The first mans nam
here you Next was Russel Tow
Ing for years of age and 5 feet I
plextion but clean shave
entered I noticed that he walked
the rear like. In my mind I called
Dnrthy Carter was the
esldence. This was the tirst tlm
at first sight. You could
ould eat and open his eyes as he (
Ing." She was a young lad:
ou shall was of medium highth v
be kind and light hair, beautiful
ir sleave well.
"Those people," snid I
iller fel- was gazing after Miss <
a meal. with the other two assi
ng more help to me. The lady Isn
I class her as my daught
smaller? "Now 1 think I will lea
I been fast at eight o'clock."
After John was once i
see upon sat down In a chair to
use they from five o'clock until no
our arm the future might be. "Wli
'ape this Black Foot an escaped
( means some crooked trust com]
ha trvin? to hide his ldelltit
lie was down town tills
g at his me up."
I under- "Well I am polnp to i
said John after every tl
night, "111 try anything (
two, "is He lay abed until twc
without sleepinp a wink,
alf hour Presently he turned lib
tor table and saw n bool
nd there rose to read, llowbeit hi
l. fit for the second chapter when
hie until "Hello! some night wal
' mashed house,
tind side "O o o o o o o hm"
"My Cod! what can
of food killed a ready?"
ich they John went over and j>
it up for stopped the hell from r
volver and started in s<
had an In the upper floor he <
started down sty Irs and 1
Etged un- the house when he couli
V did he ing about. Then a light c
d of his to the left. John tiptoed
le on my about to turn the light or
longer if "Bang!" a flash of fir
ohn had heavy thump was heard.
J offered "P?n you ! I'll learn
t' catch me," said a lar
r?u ready with a red bandanna li
face." If veVl a inlnd yer
h a hall na' been a corpse."
mmense- The yegg picked up hi
se what- and started out but who
he dropped his gun whic
ere well up.
could be "Hands up, you foot,"
you lllllib l vim U,*t UO *
told for lower them one hit. I'll si
ne other there and keep front of i
"Here! sit In thnt chni
i on the were In Black Foot's roor
up too."
>11 which "Here he comes now. p
ip at its' up."
Is an In- "Ila ! Ila ! It's you ap
stairs and out of the ho
to yours If you come hack here
trouble." suggested Black
isnly low room, "I see you have r
! finished Tell me about what you <
in which shoot."
r was a "Well I couldn't sleep
to read a book. My bell
Id Black over and shut it off.
It rings and then I heard a groai
?s on the "What! You heard a p
it on as "Yes"
the same "Follow me."
They went across the
clothes. room, from there Into i
hen you through a room about t<
vill hear into a small hall like ei
There upon the floor u
>d out a Itussel Towers laying d(
placed it Just under the left arm.
e put on "Help me carry him t(
in fifteen was asked.
Black Foot then went
and silk ten which caused the
walking through a trap door but
ild on a he was laying.
"You shall except the
?d It, as man bad once occupied."
"Me! and get stabbed
and pro- John, "I should guess not
iliber re- "You shall. Iteiiieinlier
"Oh! Well." said John
lem near right."
"Well." said Black F
Drchid Hunter
id red to sticks and packed in boxes to
e carried to the coast. The worst risk
oines when the precious cargo has j
een put aboard ship. If stowed too :
iear the boilers or to sunlight, or if
mt provided with sufficient air, every
limit will probably die.
N'or do the plants fetch as much In
he wholesale market as might he expected.
unless definitely known to be
arities. The price, for Instance, of the [
'ihgjilly comjolextion'' /ffij!) '*~SFt
istauce for you to look A /\ L\
less danger of shooting
tlemnn. He looked some- \ :||
hey must of been broth- ' x?
e was Jimmy Wells. s
ers a man of about 45 /Ui
3 Inches tall. Dark com- v rffff
d. When he approached iZSjj
very lightly and panther /nrfj
him the punther. ry-fjJj
next to couiq In. jrxU-lf
e that John fell In love
see him catch his breath Hi
greeted her with a smile. rr/
7 of about twenty. She fT|
rlth a silky coniplextion H~j
blue eyes and dressed iTj
tlack Foot to John who Y\\
L'arter as she went out "mil. /)
stance, "are very much UOrl
t realy a helper because
er." ? no?" and If
ve you to retire. Break- the door o
anyone In
more left to himself he now and do
think of his adventure be about si
w and to think of what don't refuse
at did It all mean? Was "Just as
convict or president of standing g?
pnny? Was Black Foot utesy?
No that couldn't be. Hp was r
evening when he picked broken,
"I'f I'm
make use of that bed," there will
tiing was still for the crack?erne
mce." cause your
? o'clock a. m. however "crack?era
John left
? head towards the cen- little room
k which he immediately through the
e read to the middle of There befi
hur r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r. a sound w!
ker has stepped into the whip in on<
"Black F
with that w
that be? Is some one "lou get
It."
ressed the button which "Nothing
inging. took up his te- Tl,e furn1
?rch of the Ihtrwler. torc "P wi
ould find nothing so he paged In a
was .In the front, part of across the
il hear some one move- ?*id Johns
ould he seen In the room laying on
up to the door and was to slip whe
i.
e could b^ seen and a* Up town
three .men,
ye t' sneak up an' try Mr. Henerj
ge black wlskered yegg an(j ,, (jete<
inndkerchlef across his -Mr. Col
own business ye would- guised as s
mores resid
Is treasure and revolver more make!
n right In the door way resons to I
.h caused John to wake you have c<
with him la
John commanded, "do "\'n" rei
isy as all of tliat. If yon ness with a
hoot. Turn to your right "Well Mr.
my light It would h
r." John Raid. after they before Wes
u," and keep them hands rant?"
"You bet
rlsoner. Keep them hands They wer
fore detect!
:ain Is It. you get down "By the t
use as fast as you cAn. of your dat
again there will he "So I hn
Foot ns he entered the "Listen,"
nade good so far, John. front porch
done. I heard some body noise?"
"Sounds
so I got up and started replied Cog
began to ring so I went "They nr
picked up mv revolver tlve. as he
i so upon Investign " There he
roan." hand still ?
stopped st i
Carter sha!
hall and Into a large "What's ?
i smaller one and then "Westmore
im feet by ten feet and your poses!
aclosure. John was
as the panther like man "Why thl
ad with a knife wound j struggling
rnrter or n
i that little room," John floor."
"While >
back and pressed n but- might as w
dead man to dlssnponr se] Towers
left the carpet on which "Have yo
"This tra
position that the dead "Oh! My
daughter.'*
In the ribs," answered "Papa! n
little while
that mark on your ana." "Hello! n
. "If you Insist why nl- "Are-you
walked wit
'oot, "It's three o'clock other throu
beautiful Odontoglossum Crlspum,
which comes from New Granada, is
only about ?80 per thousand.
The value of this orchid depends entirely
upon the markings on its petals.
While a common white Crlspum is
worth n shilling or two only, sis much
as 800 guineas tins been paid for n
plant with elaborately marked flowers.
It Is on record that a private collector
bought an orchid from a Ann of
growers for half a crown and when It
flowered and showed itself to he a
new variety sold it back for ?400.
\
dvtfavd m
CoU!5 .
/
lhyj arm through his "
yuu can't sleep, you may stand guard
IT these rooms at the hall donll let
with out notifying me. You do this
/n't leave until I tc'l you to which will
ix thirty In the morning. Remember:
; to obey instructions."
you say," answered John and was
urd at the door In less than two tnlu n
gaurd but an hour when the silence
Interupted many more times to-night
he n few more dye before morning."
k?crack?"don't you yell or 1 will
heart to stop beating with this knife,"
ck."
the post and went to the door of the
ten feet by ten feet. He peeked
i key hole.
rtre his eyes was Dorthy Carter takelng
ipping from Black Foot whom had a
? hand and a knife in the other.
out," pii 10 jonn as ne oniereu, my on
hip and drop that knife.'*
to hell out o here and be quick about
doing."
iture was upsetting and the rugs were
thin five minutes after they had enstruggle.
Back and forth they went
room. Black Foot with knife In hand
hand clasped on his wrist the whip
the floor. John's hold was beginning
n bur-r-r-r-r-r the liell started ringing.
Chapter II.
In the police station at 4:20 am were
a millionaire dealer In real estate,
' Coglan: cheif of police, Mr. King;
ctive, Mr. Cole.
e, last night." said mr King, "dlsi
burglar and I went into Mr. Westlence
and got evidence as to Mr Westing
counterfeit money, therfor we have
lelelve Hint that is where the money
jme from. Have you had any business
itely?"
[died Coglan, "hut I have had busli
close friend of his."
Cole." said King, "don't you think that
e advisable for us three to he going
ttnore gets away? Have you the war
I have."
e half way to Westmore's residence beve
Cole broke the silence.
vay Mr. Coglan did you ever get track
jgliter?"
ven't Mr. Cole."
cried King as they stepped on the
of the Westmores house, "what's that
like somehony is navemg a qunrrei.
Inn.
0 in thin rnoin here." said the detecfollowed
tin* noise from the hell,
fore them was John Bruce wltj) his
>n Westmores wrist Just as they hntl
niggling. In the corner was Dorthy
king with fright.
ill this noise about." demanded Klnp.
you are under arrest for hnveinp in
ion eounterefit money."
1 the first to speak.
s noise was caused by Black Foot and
; to see wheather be should whip Miss'
ot, with the whip you see laying on the
-our at It ofllcer." said John. "You
ell arrest him for the murder of Busearly
this morning."
u any proof."
p door here." ,
daughter! My daughter! My dear
loot Mr. Bruce. He saved my life a
ago."
ny son! Hello!" >
conielnp Black Foot," cried John as he
h Dorthys arm through his and her
gh Heuery Coglons, her father.
Sport and Unsport.
"What do you do when a professed
friend double-crosses you?"
"Nothing," replied Senator Sor
Khuin. "i.?nui)ie-cni?sincj?-iiKe prize
fighting. Sooner orhjlt'rthe most confident
performer fWtfls that he lias met
more than his Jfintch."
Tire Firms in Country.
In the United States there are approximately
1.000 firms manufacturing (
annually 35,000,000 tires, valued at $1,0(*)7000,000.
t
?The ?. Mwm.
LEGION ,
(Copy (or Thl? Department Supplied fcy '
the American Leelnn Newa Service.)
IN ARMY AT THE AGE OF 14
Stephen S. Tillman of Washington
Now Sergeant-at-Arms of George
Washington Post. 4
Stephen S. Tillman, Washington, D.
C., served as a private In the army dur- y,
ing the World p
a war at the mature
age of fourteen jn
years. He was c|
regularly enlisted h
and sworn In and ct
| ' didn't have to lie ni
about his age. to
V "*** Ly Just before he ni
vl went to the re- ti
: m f eruitlng office he g<
1*221KSpl, cut tin- numerals V(
^ "i8" ?ut ?f *cai*
' , ?'iidar and pasted vi
& them in the heels |o
of his shoes. When the recruiting of- f
fleer asked him how old he was, Till- c<
man replied: "I'm over eighteen."
They swore him in. Q
Being a trifle smaller than a regulation
army rifle, he was, detailed as a g
bugler. He went to the Mexican border
with his company, "B" of the Third
D. C. infantry. Coming back from the
border as the United States entered
the World war, he did guard duty ?
along Conduct road, Washington. ,
where several hundred attractive
young women were taking an intensive f|
training course. But he w^s only six- ^
teen years old then. g
Now he ia sergeant-at-arms of ^
George Washington I'ost No. 1 of the j
American Legion, Washington, the s
first Legion post organized. His fa- n
rtier is a retired cavalry officer. r
THE TRAYLOR FAMILY HELPED I
c
Father, Mother, Four Sons and Two t
. Daughters In Uniform During
the World War. w
tl
When the old question of "who won a
the war?" comes up, the Traylor fam- ti
ily of Trenton, s<
helped. The com- jam P
inanding officer of
the family that IfjW T
was 100 per cent \
in active service V r- ^nT "
was the father, \
his wife, four "> si
s o n s a n d t w o a
daughters were all in uniform. When t<
war was declared, Mr. Traylor closed p
up his general store, donned the unl- ii
form of a buck private in the quarter- u
master corps and did his bit well, de- si
spite his fifty-three years. Mother and
the sisters were on active duty with n
the Bed Cross. b
l.n cono f'hoidoc wue. wlfh f
the Eighty-ninth division and was li
wounded, Frank was an aviator. Orville
served with the adjutant pen- a
eral's department and Itoy was with tl
the Thirty-first railway engineers. I<
Y
JUMPING BEANS FOR GIRLS !'
il
Sick and Wounded Veterans in New *
Mexico Hospitals Are Hungry
for Cheer Letters.
a
S<
Trained to leap through hoops and
stand unhitched, thousands of genuine ^
Mexican jumping beans are awaiting &
girls of the United States \tho will SS
write a little letter of cheer to a dis- fi
abled soldier. The exchange of letters ?
for jumping beans is being made &
through Herman O. P.aca, Santa Fe.
N. M.t adjutant of the American Legion
of the state.
Five thousand sick and wounded |
veterans of the World war. recuperating
In hospitals In New Mexico, have
trained the beans. The young men ^
are terribly lonesome, Mr. Racn writes; f|
and they will send a bean to every j
girl who will write a letter to them.
The jumping beans are dark brown,
somewhat larger than the ordinary p
bean. The animation of the vegetable ^
is caused by a liny worm that crawls
into the bean and consumes the edible
portion. After the worm Is dead, the
bean keeps on jumping.
h
Presidents as Military Men. n]
More than half of the presidents of 0]
the United States have held some military
rank, according to The American
Legion Weekly. Of the whole line of f,
twenty-eight presidents sixteen were vj
military men. and of the succession w
following the Civil war C.rant, Hayes, [)(
Oarfield, Arthur and Harrison were
generals; Roosevejt was a colonel and
McKinley was a major.
' ~~ si
Unto the End. |e
"How's this?" asked the lawyer. ti
"You've named six hankers in your b;
will to he pall-bearers. Of course, it's
nil right, hut wouldn't you rather
choose some friends with whom you m
ure on better terms?" bt
"No, judge, that's all right. Those hi
reilows nave carried im- mr mi mug ni
they might as well finish the Job."? ti
American Legion Weekly. w
City of Verdun Medal Approved. (>f
Approval of the medal to he pre- fp
seated the City of Verdun by the pi
I'nited States has been given by I'resi- ?
dent Harding. Designed by John of
Flanagan, New York, the obverse ,;e
shows two struggling giants iind the
reverse depicts the city as seen
through I'ort Chaussee. "lis ne passe- iKl
ront pas" is on the one side. "From hi
the People of the United States to the ex
City of Verdun" on the other. It was m
struck o(T at the Philadelphia mint re
where government coins are made. u
EGION WORKER IN CONGRESS
amilton Fish, Jr., One of Writers of
Preamble to Constitution, Seeks
Increase in Compensation.
The prenmble to the constitution of
e American Legion has been culled
one t*ie slm
Y* t'vf> ''""1 beautiful
''?& pronouncements in
JRk the Kngllsb lanW\
?ui,peThree
men
Louis, Mo.. In 1919
4 alu' It never has
^BP ?& been, nor probably
changed. The men
were John Greenwny
of Arizona,
udge Davis of Oregon and Humilton
Ish. Jr., of New York.
Mr. Fish is now in congress helpg
to put into effect the policies reted
by the preamble he helped write,
e has a bill pending to increase the
>mpensatlon from 520 to $">0 for the
jrsos of blind, legless, armless and
dally disabled ex-soldiers. He is an
rdent advocate of reclamation of land
trough irrigation, to encourage ex?rvice
men to take up farming as a
neation.
At Harvard he was captain of tho
irsity football team. In France he
(I a company of negro soldiers In the
ifteenth New York Infantry and re?ived
the Croix de Guerre for bravery.
iETS FUNDS FOR CLUBHOUSE
pokane (Wash.) Girl, Post Historian,
Successful in Procuring Cash for
Comrades' Headquarters.
When the Legion post of Spokane,
'ash,, needed help In raising funds
or a new clubt
turned to a girl |
loldlng the unlnpiring
job of jfiZT
' o s t historian. *jE|
illss Myrtle Wilon
there upon /"
nade and wrote F V
iost history by -1
ecurlng pledges Jfflf
imouhting to $S,'ix)
for the jn
In addition to
'rlting history, Miss Wilson is adver
sing manager of the post newspaper
nd was a delegute to the Legion na
onal convention. During the war slit
?rved in the navy at the government
ospital in Snn Diego, Cal. In a popu
ir contest in the Snn Diego Legior
ost she was chosen queen without op
osition.
RIES TO TRACE ARMY SLANG
Doughboy," "I'll Tell the World" anc
"Out of Luck," "OlS Stuff," New
Yorker Says.
If the American "doughboy" wh(
tarted "I'll tell the world" as a char
cteristic expression of the A. E. F
jok pride in having coined a new ex
ression he was "out of luck," accord
lg to Henry Dwight, Yonkers, N. Y.
ho has been trying to trace arm}
lang to Its source.
In relating his uncertain success ant
sking the assistance of the demobll
ted world at largo. Mr. Dwight de
lures iJim eucu 01 me mree aupiiusei
inovntlons is time-worn.
Referring to the expressions quotet
hove, lie claims that General Custer
lie Indian fighter, used "doughboy" ir
?tters to his wife, and that Arthui
oung, writer and traveler, announcet
imseif as being "out of luck" whet
unting for mail at Dijon, France, ir
780.
Til tell the world" remains un
raced. It is thought to be very oh
nd verification of this belief is now
ought.
j
Carrying On With the 1
American Legion
I , , i
,^ataigfh:?iSix vsfcSH g?ggig|g!ggg<ia
Government controlled Institution:
re schooling 00,000 former service
ion and are directed by the veterans
ureau.
%
"Legion I'ark," named after tht
)cnl post in Bucyrus, O., contains r
ree in memory of the unknown deac
i the war.
? c W
Abraham Krotoshlnsky, the "Lnsi
;attaIion" messenger who was citeri
)r his deed, lias gone to Palestine tc
ccept an offered farm.
A buihjing worth ?2.ri.000 and n
ledge for $10,000 for its renovation
nve been given Lee C. Prentice post
P the American Legion by the people
f Fairmont, Minn.
* * *
Twenty-four lodgers were rescued
oin the burning V. M. C. A. at SomerIle,
Mass., by the American Legion,
lilcli clothed and lodged them in the
rat's club.
*
The success of the Centralla (III.)
rat of the American Legion last
immer in giving outdoor dances has
d to a series of indoor dances for
le winter. The scries Is sponsored
!/ the post.
A year elapsed after Georgp Reld,
on te video, Minn., was discharged
?fore his friends discovered that he
id the D. S C. Iteid, an artilleryan
of the Rainbow division, conmin.l
f,\ fii-n liiu nipco nffpr hpinc
ounded and routed the Germans.
*
A pulmotor has been added to the
inlptnent of the MrMinnville, Ore.,
e department. The department had
edged itself as security for a loan
hen the American Lesion post heard
It. They turned over half their pro>eds
from the Armistice Day show.
* * ?
Of the 138,000 men in the army, IS,10
are officers, the American Legion
is learned. But the War department
.plains that the reason is that we
ust have an tinny which will mushiom
overnight. In other words, there
e sevctj^men to each officer extant.
IMPROVED INIFORM INTERNATIONAL
StmdaySthool
Lesson'
(By Rl.\. r. B. F1TZ WATER, D. D..
Teacher of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago.)
Copyright, 1922, Western Newspaper Union.
LESSON FOR JANUARY 29
ELIJAH IN NABOTH'S VINEYARD
% 1
LESSON TEXT.?I Kings 21:1-2S.
GOLDEN TEXT-Be sure your sin will
find you out.?Num. 32:23.
REFERENCE MATERIAL?Lev. 25:23-28;
Amos 8:1-10; Mlcah 3:1-1.
PRIMARY TOPIC?The Sin of Selfishness.
JUNIOR TOPIC-*-EllJah Denounces a
Selfish King.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC *
?Jehovah's Champion Feared.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
?Respecting me Rights of Others,
I. Ahab Covets Naboth's Vineyard
(vv. 1-0).
1. Location qf the vineyard (v. 1).
It Joined Allan s summer uuwe iu ?coreel.
He wanted to transform It into
un herb garden and thus round out
his property.
2. Ahub's proposal (v. 2). He offered
to buy It outright for money, or
give In exchange a better one. Ahab's
wish for It wus a selfish whim. He
did not at nil need it.
3. Naboth's refusal (v. 3). It was
for a twofold reason: (1) regard for
the paternal estate; (2) obedience to
God's law (Lev. 25:23-28, cf. Num. 36:
7-9). His refusul was on conscientious
grounds. A king, even, has no right
to ask of his subject that he violate
his conscience.
, 4. Ahab's behavior (v. 4). He came
Into his house, lay down upon his bed
and refused to eut. The king was
sulking like a spoiled child. This* is
a picture of what a fool even n king,
may make of himself. Let us learn
| that "godliness with contentment is
I great gain" (I Tim. 6:61.
' 5. Jezebel's Inquiry (vv.^5,^3). Apparently
she came yith the sympathy
of a wife, inquiring as to the
| cause of his behavior. But when she
' knew of Naboth's refusal she was violently
angry. That a humble subject
should refuse to conform to tho
desire of the king was an insult which
. she would not brook.
II. Ahab Taking Possession of Naboth's
Vineyard (vv. 7-16).
, 1. Jezebel's treachery (vv. 7-15).
. (1) Her contemptuous question (v.
. 7). She taunted him for his coward,
Ice. The fear of being thought weak
. moves a weak man quickly. Scorn Is
a powerful weapon In the hands of
unscrupulous persons. Many persons,
especially boys and young men, are
1 turned from the pathway of" right
through the sneers of godless companions.
(2) Her-'tthortatlon to Ahab
(v. 7). "Arise, eat bread, and let
thine heart be merry." A wife has
great influence over her husband.
Many a man has been saved from discouragement
and therefore defeat,
through his wife's influence. Unfortunately
in this case the influence of
the wife is bad. Bad women are in
' many instances the devil's angels,
leading men from the path of virtue,
j We should thank God for the uplifting
Influence of good women, but
should beware of evil women. (3)
j Her promise to Ahab (v. 7). "I will
give thee the vineyard of Naboth."
j She took matters into her own hands.
If Ahab was too weak to be king, she
j would rule for him. (4) Her wicked
scheme (vv. 8-15). She wrote letters
j In Ahab's name,-sealed them with his
j seal and sent them to the elders and
1 n on ICS wnn were uneiung m uic ?.nj
with Nnboth, asking thcin to proclaim
a fast, ns though some great calamity
j had befallen the nation, and place Na- ""
both before the public ns the one who
was the cans"? of it all. They were
instructed to find two false witnesses
q who would testify against Naboth.
0 The charge they brought according to
H the wicked device of Jezebel was
| blasphemy against God and the king,
j) Naboth's only offense was his refusal
u to sell his estate, contrary to -the law
5 of God. When they hfed stoned to
, death Naboth and his sons (II Kings
< 0:20), they came and told Jezebel,
who In turn came to Ahab with the
information and directed iiim to take
? possession of the vineyard.
1 2. Ahah goes to Jezreel to take posI
session of Naboth's vineyard (v. 10).
Ahah had not killed Nnboth, but lie
eagerly accepted the prize without in:
quiring as to how it was secured.
I III. Elijah in Naboth's Vineyard
? Announcing Doom Upon Ahab <vv. 1720).
1. Doom upon Ahab (vv. 17-22).
Elijah told him the dogs should lick
1 his blood In the place where they
licked the blood of Naboth. Evil was
to fall upon Ahab and his posterity,
even wipe out his seed and name. He
\i->w L'nllfv of conspiracy, murder, rob
I?ery, perjury, blasphemy, though he
had been silent ami inactive. God
hold him responsible for Jezebel's nets,
for he was king and head of the nation.
The day of reckoning did come
to Ahab (I Kings 22:38).
2. Doom upon Jezebel (vv. 23-20).
She likewise should be eaten by dogs
by the wall of Jezreel. This was literally
fulfilled (II Kings 9:33-37).
"Be sure your sin will find you out."
IV. Ahab's Repentance (vv. 27-29).
Because of this, God promised to
withhold judgment during his lifetime.
God's Standard of Measurement.
Let us lay to heart God's standard
of measurement. He measures the
worshiper not by inches, for then prizefighters
might he the most important
persons in the kingdom of God; not
by rank, for then heaven would be
full of kings and princes and lucking
in the common people to whom Jesus
belonged; not in wealth, for the poor
would Indeed be miserable In this
world and the/next. But lie measures
the Christian by Ids likeness to
Jesus Christ. .Meusured by tills high
standard, how smali are even the most
spiritual of us. And yet, let us praise
Cod for the lofty ideal and the pereet
life He hath given unto the world
n Ills beloved Son.