Thenthecongregationhadathrill。InthebackseatroseHarryHobbs。
\"I’mnearfortyyearsold，\"hecried，inahighnasaltonethatindicatedastateofextremenervoustension，\"andIneverspokeinmeetin’before。Iain’thadnouseforchurchesandpreachers，andIguesstheyhadn’tnouseforme。Youfolksallknowme。I’vebeeninthisburgforneareightyears，andIwasadrinkin’，swearin’，fightin’cuss。ThispreachercameintothebarnonedaywhenIwasfreezin’todeathafterabigspree。Hetukmehomewithhimandkep’metherefortwoweeks，settin’upnightswithme，too。Letmebe，\"hesaidimpatientlytoBarry，whowastryingtopullhimdowntohisseat。\"I’magoin’tospeakthistimeifitkillsme。ManyatimeIdonehimdirtsencethen，buthestucktome，andneverquittillhegotmeturned’round。Iwasgoin’
straighttohell；hesaysI’mgoin’toheavennow。\"Herehelaughedwithatouchofscorn。\"Idunno。But，bygum！ifyoufirehimanddohimdirt，Idon’tknowwhat’llbecomeofme，butIguessI’llgostraighttohellagain。\"
\"No，Harry，noyouwon’t。You’llkeeprighton，Harry，straighttoheaven。\"Itwasthepreacher’svoice，fullofcheeryconfidence。
Mrs。Inneswasaudiblysniffling；Mrs。StewartDuffwipinghereyes。Itwasdoubtlessthissightthatbroughtherhusbandtohisfeet。