Part 54 (2/2)
”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 n.o.body 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.”
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