ay anything about bein' fit. You said if anyone
was willin' to take it up, to stay with the game, to come on."

"Yes, yes, I know, Ike. I did say that, and I meant that," said Shock.
"But, Ike, you know that the Apostle calls those who belong to the
church 'saints of God.'"

"Saints, eh? Well, I aint no saint, I can tell you that. Guess I'm out
of this combination. No, sir, I aint no paradox--paragon, I mean." Ike
remembered the Kid's correction.

His disappointment and perplexity were quite evident. After hearing
Shock's invitation from the pulpit it had seemed so plain, so simple.

His answer rendered Shock desperate.

"Look here, Ike, I am going to be plain with you. You won't mind that?"

"Wade right in."

"Well, you sometimes swear, don't you?"

"Yes, that's so. But I've pretty much quit, unless there's some
extraordinary occasion."

"Well, you drink, don't you?"

"Why, sure. When I can git it, and git it good, which aint easy in this
country now."

"And you sometimes fight?"

"Well," in a tone almost of disappointment, "there aint nobody wantin'
to experiment with me in these parts any longer."

"And you gamble? Play poker for money, I mean?"

"Oh, well, I don't profess to be the real thing," replied Ike modestly,
as if disclaiming an excellence he could hardly hope to attain, "but I
ginerally kin stay some with the game."

"Now, Ike, listen to me. I'm going to give it to you straight."

Ike faced his minister squarely, looking him fair in the eyes.

"You have been doing pretty much as you like all along. Now, if you
join the church you are swearing solemnly to do only what Jesus Christ
likes. You give your word you will do only what you think He wants. You
see? He is to be your Master."

"Yes," said Ike. "Yes, that's so. That's right."

"In everything, remember."

"Why, sure." That seemed quite simple to Ike.

"Swearing, drinking, fighting, gambling," Shock continued.

Ike hesitated.

"Why, you don't suppose He would mind a little thing like a smile with
the boys now and then, or a quiet game of poker, do you?"

"What I say, Ike, is this--if you thought He did mind, would you quit?"

"Why, sure. You just bet! I said so."

"Well, Ike, supposing some--one of those chaps from the Pass, say
Hickey, should walk up and hit you right the face, what would you do?"

"What? Proceed to eddicate him. Preject him into next week. That is, if
there was anything left."

Shock opened his Bible