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Show THE MORMON LION obedient ·saints take his advice even with regard to moving from Zion to one of the States of the Kingdom." "This is a Territory of the United States" I said. " What if we should ignore the wishes of Brigham ? " "Apostates and troublesome Gentiles often are led over the rim of the Basin," he answered. " You mean, sent back to the world ? " "No, sent out of the world." "Good God! You cannot mean it!" " The Lion of the Lo~,d rules ~ver the Kingdom," stated the merchant. Accordmg to the teaching of Joseph, the Church.of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints ts the only legal Government on earth, and ab~olute obedtence must be given to its President. Bngham has made fact of the doctrine. Against his will no one can leave Deseret." "Then-- But I cannot believe it! I--" A sharp rattling of the doorlatch, followed by a heavy knock c':'t short my angry protest. With an agthty astomslung m so stout a man, Mr. Sen by flung out a number of suits from a curtained recess and stripped off my coat. He leaped to the door and opened it with a deliberation well in keeping with his bland smile. ;; If you will kin~y wait--" he began. Watt, wtll I? Chtlcott pushed m and fixed his keen eyes upon me. " What you doing in here, Dave Ford? " he growled- " Locked in here with this apostate cuss! " "No! no, Brother Chilcott!" vehemently remonstrated the merchant. "Not that! I pay my !tthes and have always obeyed counsel- with the one exception." "Shut up! I'm talking to Dave Ford" commanded Chilcott. "Out with it, boy! What yo~ doing here?" " You're not blind, are you? " I asked, pointing to the scattered smts. " The door was locked," he accused. THE MORMON LION 79 "Yes, I heard you try it. Consider my mode~ty, Brother Chilcott. When I came here to relieve myself of your over-generous clothes, Sister Cora wa.~ buying her ball sltppers. She has a very shapely ankle. He stepped close up to me, his big fist clenched to strike. " You whelp! I'll teach you to speak respectfully of mywoman." " " Are you not rather touchy, Brother Chilcott? I asked. " At least I had enough respect fo~ the ladies in the store to save them the posstble morttfication of coming in here when I was clisrobed." " Why should they come in here? " "My best silks are on these shelves, as you see, Brother Chilcott," plausibly explained Mr. Sen by. Chilcott's fist relaxed and the deep furrows between his eyes smoothed out. But he continued to eye me keenly as he said : " If it really was owmg to that I 'll excuse you this time. I counsel yon, though, to have no more secret confabs with this- h'mwith Brother Sen by." " It seems to me, Bishop, you might be a little more genial to your wife's cousin," 1 complained. " Amanda wrote that you wished me to visit your house. Do you counsel me to ask the ~?vice of Brigham as to movmg mto another ward? . "You're a lawyer, Dave!" he conceded wtth genuine admiration. " It's not many that're smart enough to put me in the wro':'g. I apologize for speaking rough. Of course you re to vtstt wtth us as long as you've a mind to. You'll not shame my hospitality by going anywhere else. ~ ou m~stn't kick over the traces, boy, JUSt because I m trymg to keep you in the road." In turn I feigned to be mollified. " All right, Brother William. But you should remember l'm not yet used to being driven. Perhaps if the Prophet would honour me with his counsel-Do you think I might ask it? " |