Newspaper Page Text
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Lambert
Mystery.
By MRS. ALEXANDER. ;
-rr*r. CHAPTEn V. .
> Continued.
Little was said, except to urge the
driver to greater speed, until they
reached the Rue de Jerusalem, where,
after a short parley with one or two
lower official*, they were admitted
to the presence of the chief of the de
tectives, a quiet, slmple-looklng. Iron
gray man, with watchful eyes, and a
dear, penetrating voice. He listened
With profound attention to Lambert’s
Statement, scarcely putting a ques
tion, only occasionally restraining the
details. Lambert had evidently made
a supreme effort to master his terri
ble emotion, the vital necessity for
dearness giving him a force beyond
himself.
While Clynn listened with ago
nized keenness to the recital, he alsi
heard the whispered terrors of his
own heart. What horror had be
fallen the tender, delicate darling
Whom he had hoped to call his prom
ised wife that day? To what hid
eous plot had she fallen a victim?
He scarcely knew how to restrain the
wild impulse to rush forth In hope
less blind pursuit.
Having heard all particulars, M.
Claude (the chief) took a Hheet of
paper and demanded a description of
the young lady. This was furnished
by both Lambert and Glynn, the lat
ter eagerly adding some character
istic details of which even the father
did not think. Claude then touched
a bell and ordered the subordinate
wfcp gnaw or ed It to telegraph the de-
Bcrlption at once to every seaport
and frontier town In France, warning
the police de surete In each place to
arrest gny person answering to It, no
matter who accompanied.
"Time has been lost already," said
the Immovable chief. "Still, things
are always discovered. Have the
goodness to answer my questions.”
"Will you say," broke In Deerlng
with his superior air, addressing
himself to Glynn, "that I shall be
happy to guarantee expenses.”
"Damn your money!” cried Lam
bert, turning on him fiercely; "not a
penny of It Bhall pay for the recovery
of my child.”
"Ho doesn’t know what he Is say
ing, poor beggar," said Deerlng, In
an undertone, with contemptuous
pity, and an ovll look on his face.
"As I don’t understand what. Is go
ing on. I'll loavo you." lie left the
bureau, and Glynn gave his undivided
attention to the Interrogatories, not
ing with despair, which increased
every moment, the hopelessness of
the search In face of nearly twenty
four hours' start.
The distinct queries of the astute
detective established that Lambert
had risen at his usual hour; that on
receiving his cotteo from the bonne
ho askod if mademoiselle had re
turned. and, finding she had not, re
marked that doubtless she had dauced
well and late, ao It was better for
her to stay at Madame Daytalers’ for
the night. He also Inquired If Celes
tlno, tho bonno, had taken her young
lady's morning dress to Madame Da
ytalers', to which she replied In tho
affirmative.
The concierge had heard the boll
at about 2 or half-past, had pulled
the cordon, heard tho door shut —It
was a heavy door —and recognUed
Mademoiselle Lambert's voice; after
that there was no trace,
"Have you uny suspicion? Had
your daughter any admirer to whom
you were averse?”
“No: certainly not.”
"Certain you cannot be whore a
youug lady is In question," Bald M.
Claude with perfect cynicism. "But
Is there no one toward whom your
suspicion points? You spokesungrlly
to the gentleman who has just gono
put."
"There Is one man respecting whom
I ha** some doubts, and that gentle
man Is his associate." Lambert pro
ceeded to describe Vincent with con
siderable accuracy, adding that he
had more than once demanded the
hand of his daughter; but that the
young fcdy herself was strougly op
posed to him.
Here Glyi\n. who had been listen
ing with painful, feverish Interest to
the dialogue, volunteered an account
of hla appearance at the ball on the
previous night; of his endeavor to
persuade Mademoiselle Lambert to
dance with him, and his avowed In
tention of leaving early that morning
for Bordeaux. These details were all
carefully noted down.
Then M. Claude, rising, said, “Now
to view the house." He struck a hell
which stood beside hts desk, and
while he gave some Instructions to
the officer who answered his sum
mons he put on his gloves, locked his
desk and directed that a certain com
mlssalrc should accompany hltu to M.
Lambert's residence. "I suppose you
will wish to assist in tho examination
of the premises?" eald M. Claude;
"you may help to throw light on the
ease."
"Of course I will go with you."
"And you will allow me to assist
so far as I can." urged Glynn.
"But can nothing more be done?
No more rapid action taken?” cried
the fevered, agitated father, letting
his closed hand fall heavily on the
table. The chef took out his watch,
glanced at it and remarked dramatic-
ally, "It Is forty minutes since I noted
down your description of your daugh
ter, and all egress from France Is
closed to her.”
Lambert uttered a low moan.
"We mult let them work their own
way. They know what they arc
about; but the suspense Is almost In
tolerable,” said Glynn, whose heart
was bursting with despair and re
morse. Why had he not accepted
Lambert's proposition? Had he been
Elsie's betrothed, this might not have
happened!
The drive to the Rue de L’Eveque
seemed endless; Lambert sat immov
able and speechless. Arrived, the
chef de la surete proceeded to ex
amine the house carefully, and to
question the concierge as to the ten
ants. In the rez-de-chaussee was the
magasin of a Patent Polish Stove
Company; on the first etago an old
lady with her son and daughter-in
law resided. "Persons of high con
sideration," said the tearful con
cierge. The second etage was vacant;
M. Lambert occupied the third. Then
came a professor of music. Monsieur
le Capttafn Galllard, Maltre d'Armes
and others.
Both Lambert and Glynn watched
with quivering interest the deliberate
minuteness of the examination, first
of the concierge, then of the house it-
Belf. The professor of music and the
maltre d’armes were out,so M. Claude
contented himself for the present by
asking some leading questions about
them.
Then he and his attendant coramls
salre ascended to Lambert's apart
ment, and questioned Madame Weber
and the bonne as to the smallest de
tails concerning the missing girl; her
character, her habits of life, her
friends, her pursuits and finally asked
for her last photograph. 1) sent n
sharp dart of angry pain through
Glynn's heart to see the chef de lu
surete and his aide-de-camp coolly
examlning„the portrait which to him
had a certain sanctity, to observe the
unmoved composure of the practiced
detectives In face of tho father's de
spairing anxiety, the professional In
stinct which subordinated human In
terest to the koen perception of possi
ble crime, the sleuth-hound scent for
a legitimate prey.
From Lambert's abode they pro
ceeded to the vacant etage, which the
concierge, In all the tearful yet de
lightful excitement of such an extra
ordinary occurrence, threw open with
oager zeal.
It was almost tho same as the
dwelling above, and after looking
carefully through tho empty rooms
they reached the kitchen. The door
was fastened.
"Tlens!" cried the concierge, look
ing rapidly through tho keys she car
ried, "this Is strange, I do not re
member locking tho door, and I have
not been In hero more than twice
slnco the day you looked at tho
apartment, Monsieur Lambert, for
some friends who thought of coming
to Paris."
While she spoko the commissaire
had thrust the blade of his penknife
into tho keyhole. "The key Is in
side,” be said.
“It is Impossible,” cried the con
cierge.
"Go round by l'escalalre de service
(back stair) with madame," said M.
Claude to his subordinate. "There Is
a door leading thence to the kitchen,
Is there not?”
"But, yes; certainly that will also
be locked; I have a passkey, how
ever, for these outer doors." A few
minutes of silence waiting, and voices
wero heard within; then the door was
opened by the concierge, whose us
ually rosy face looked a yellowish
white. "Bon IMeu!" she whispered,
"the outside door was unlocked, and
hero Is the key which opens both, In
this lock. I swear that the day be
fore yesterday I locked the outside
door carefully; nor have I ascended
this stair since.”
"Let us examine this room careful
ly,” said the chef, with a shade of ad
ditional gravity.
Tho search was most thorough;
every little cupboard, every nook,
the stove, the oven, an old box, every
Inch* of the dingy empty kitchen was
minutely scrutinized —all present as
sisting, Suddenly n speck of white
in a dark corner attracted Glynn's
eye. He picked It up. It was a mor
sel of fine lace entangled with a knot
of the narrowest black velvet ribbon,
from which dangled a Broken end.
With a sickening sensation of horror
and dread Glynn picked up this in
finitesimal yet eloquent suggestion of
a struggle and silently handed it to
M. Claude.
"Ha!” exclaimed that functionary,
gazing at It with some earnestness:
theh he added; "Mademoiselle
changed her toilet too hastily.”
"Good God!” cried Lambert, "she
wore Just such a velvet string as this
through the lace of her dress; I no
ticed It!" —and so had Glynn. With
what bitterness he recalled his ad
miration ef the creamy whiteness of
her neck contrasted with the black
line surrouudtug it. "Do you—do
you think she is murdered?” con
tinued Lambert in an agonized whis
per, staring wildly at the lace.
"No. I do hot." said M. Claude, ap
parently somewhat moved by the
father’s intense misery. "I do not
suppose her life would be attempted
by any one, unless Indeed there are
■one circumstance* In her or your
history with which I am unacquaint
ed. But l believe what may be as
bitter as her death to you—that she
has gone with her own free consent."
"And that I can never believe,”
cried I,ambert. "She —the swoetest,
most loving, obedient child man ever
had!"
"Even so,” said the detective, with
a tinge of sadness.
"The affair might have occurred
under chloroform," said the commls
salre In a low, submissive tone. “A
resolute, practiced villain meets her
ascending the stairs; a handkerchief
saturated with chloroform suddenly
wrapped round her face renders her
helpless. She is carried through this
empty apartment, her dress changed
while she Is still insensible.” An Ir
repressible groan from Glynn made
the chef de la surete look at him.
"They carry her downstairs,” con
tinued the commlssaire.
"And then,” interrupted the con
cierge shrilly, "they are caught! How
can any one get out without calling
me?”
"Silence'” said M. Claude Impres
sively. "Feel along the floor In that
corner beyond the window."
His subordinate obeyed, and dis
covered a small square of chocolate,
a few crumbs of bread, and two pins.
These last were, most carefully ex
amined.
"They are English,” said the de
tective. "But that Is easily account
ed for; the person or persons engaged
In the abduction evidently partook
of refreshment; nor is there any sign
leading to the supposition of violence.
The difficulty Is to discover how they
managed to leave the house. At what
hour did you lock the door and put
out your light last night?” to the
cd'Jjcferge.
In t-efriy to his questions she stated
that the entrance door was always
locked at 10 o'clock, hut that she
herself often sat up till 11. Last
night, feeling weary, she went to bed
at half-paßt 10. Before she slept the
bell rang and she pulled the cordon.
M. Lambert’s voice said who was
there and bid her good-night. Twice
after, entrance was demanded by dif
ferent Inmates; then, after what
seemed to her a long time, someone
rang the bell, and waking completely,
she distinctly heard Miss Lambert's
voice. She did not sleep again for
what seemed to her more than an
hour, during which all was profound
ly quiet. She always rose before 6,
and after lighting her fire to prepare
the coffee of monsieur her husband,
she unlocked the great door and went
to fill her pall with water at a pump,
which was In a court on which the
entrance opened at the far side of the
street, in order to wash the passage.
"Can you see the chief entrance
from this court?”
"But yes, certainly.”
"And the pump, how is It
atod?”
"About tho centre."
"I shall Inspect it,” said M. Claudo.
Having carefully wrapped up tho
morsel of lace and ribbon, the square
of chocolate and the two pinß, and
placed them in an Inner pocket. M.
Claude led the way downstairs to the
court mentioned by the concierge, fol
lowed by her, Lambert and Olynn.
Tho court, which was like a well,
being surrounded by lofty houses,
was exactly opposite the entrance;
and the pump, ns stated, was in the
centre, but with Its back toward tho
doorway, so that any one using the
handle to raise the water would nat
urally turn his or her face from it,
especially as It was necessary to
watch the filling of whatever vessel
was placed below tho spout. After
looking carqfully at the relative po
sitions ot the door and the pump, M.
Claude requested the concierge to fill
a pall of water as she was in the habit
ot doing. She obeyed; he stood be
hind her during the operation, and at
tho end observed, “The fugitives
walked through the open door while
you wero pumping; no force or chlor
oform could have been used." The
concierge burst Into tears. "Gentle
men." continued the chef de la surete,
"I shall now proceed to Madame Da
villters'. and the remainder of my in
quiries I wish to prosecute alone. 14.
Lambert, do mo the favor to call at
my office to-morrow morning about
10, and come unaccompanied.”
"And you can do no more to-day?"
asked poor Lambert.
"I consider that we have secured
a clue. I feel sure of finding your
daughter; if not Immediately, ot no
distant date.”
"At no distant date,” repeated the
father, as the chef de la surete left
the house, followed by the commts
salre. “But in the meantime! —Oh,
God, Glynn, how can I live on such a
rack, and I don't know where to
turn!”
"It is almost unbearable. Can you
remember nothing that might serve
as a clue to her extraordinary disap
pearance?"
"Nothing. If I don't find her I
have done with life.”
"I feel for you, Lambert, from the
bottom ot my soul. I'd give all I
possess to know that Elsie Is safe!
you'll have an awful night of It.
Shall I stay with you?"
"I am best alone," returned Lam
bert, looking sharply at him. "I
didn't think you eared so much.
Thank ye—l am best alone."
To be Continued. .t , A
Infinity of Truth. ' ’ '
I do not know what I may appear
to the world; but to myself I seem
to have been only a boy playing on
tho sea shore, and diverting myself
In now and then finding a smoother
pebble or a pretier shell than ordi
nary', whilst the great ocean of truth
lay all undiscovered before me.—Sir
Isaac Newton. ——<
ANOTWHITECONVICTS
Prison Cc omission Does Not
Know What To Do With Them.
COUNTIES DO NOT WANT THEM
Lmiui Utad White Prisoner* for Book
keepers, Etc.—State Will Put Them
On Farm.
Atlanta, Ga. When the convict
leaee system goes out of vuslneau In
Georgia, as It will on April 1, that
class of white convicts which has
been able to do mental and profes
sional work, and for whose talents
the lessees found use, may have to
pick up a hoe or take hold of a plow
and go to work in the field.
There has always been a number
of white convicts skilled in business
or certain trades —such as bookkeep
ers, engineers and the like, for whom
the lessees have found office work lu
such lines or employment at those
callings In which they were expert.
Almost every one of the lessees got
hold of a bookeeper, accountant, of
fice man, engineer or some other
among the convicts allotted to him,
and they were kept employed In these
lines.
The state will have no use for these
now. The counties will not want them,
as they do not propose to take any
white convicts. It is the purpose ot
the slate to place all of the white con
victs on a central farm, soon to be
purchased. On this farm the state
may Jiave occasion to use or or two
office'men, but scarcely more, and It
looks as if the balance will have to
take to the field and do farm work.
The prison commission has had this
feature under consideration, but has
not been able to arrive at any defi
nite solution, other than the employ
ment pf practically all of the white
convicts at farm work.
Another opportunity which the con
victs will lose is that of accumulating
money by extra work, as they have
been able to do in many Instances un
der the lease system. Usually in the
lessee camps each convict had so
much work to do, and all he did In
excess of the. amount required be waß
paid for at a certain fixed rate. In
this way many of them have been able
to leave the penitentiary with com
fortable sums to their credit. One
negro recently' left the penitentiaiy,
after fourteen years’ service, with
*BOO cash in his pocket.
The state, of course, will not es
tablish any such custom as this. The
law does not contemplate that a con
vict shall earn anything, nor could the
opportunity be given in doing road
work under state direction. Ttie only
thing the prison commission could do,
should It deal In any way with this
phase of the problem, would be to
(Shorten to a certain extent the terms
of those who give their best service
to the state.
Present indications are that after
each county which has called for con
victs has been supplied with Its legal
pro rata share, there will remain only
about 200 "overs” for distribution
qntong the counties that want con
victs in excess of their legal num
ber.
This number would supply scarcely
more than one-tenth of the demand.
There are applications now on file for
something like 1,600, overs or more.
Each county calling for overs would,
therefore, get from one to five, or
something like that.
Inasmuch as the large counties will
get a sufficient number of convicts
from their regular pro rata to consti
tute a good-sized working gang, Sec
retary Goodloe Yancey oi the prison
commission, has suggested that the
smaller counties be permitted to di
vide the "overs” among themselves
so that they may secure gangs of
sufficient size to accomplish some
thing.
FIIUIT NOT HUKT.
Blooms Appear Only in Sheltered or
Diseased Trees.
Atlanta, Ga. —Despite rumors of
damage to peach orchards from the
unseasonably warm weather of the
week, and the appearance here and
there of blooms, President H. C. Bag
leg of the Georgia Fruit Exchange
says that the orchards have not been
damaged. He has recently returned
from Fort Valley, and that territory,
and says that he not only saw no pre
mature blooms himself, but that none
were reported to him by growers,
whom he met in large numbers.
Mr. Bagley says that the peach
blooms one sees on trees In and
around Atlanta are npt dangerous In
dications. These trees, he says, are
either sheltered by houses, or are dis
eased. The warm weather has not
been prolonged sufficiently to cause
swelling of the buds in orchards.
Mr. Bagley added that reports of
Injury to the crop are very damaging
to the growers, and while made in
good faith are none tho less damag
ing to fruit Interests.
FINDS FOH UFiUKUiA KIYFBS.
Estimates for River and Harbor Im
provements in Georgia.
Washington, D. C.—Following are
United States' engineers' estimates
for river and harbor improvements In
Georgia this year, which will be car
ried in "lump sum" rivers and har
bors bill to be reported:
Savannah river above Augusta, $25,-
000; Altamaha, Oconee and Ocmulgee
rivers, $40,000; waterway Savannah
to Fernaudlna, $25,000; Flint river,
$25,000; Chattahoochee river, $115,-
000; Coosa river, $40,000.
The appropriations will carry work
already under way.
BIG OATGROP EXPECTED.
Columbia Other Counties Have
Large Acreage.
Appling, Ga.—The prospect for an
oat crop in Columbia and adjoining
counties is the best in years. The
largest acreage in the past twenty
years is sown in ots, and the acreage
in cotton will be materially reduced.
Farm labor is more plentiful than
in several years past, and farmers are
pushing their winter work very ener
getically, endeavoring to make a rec
ord crop of every kind,
THBODGHOUT THE STATE.
The seven hundred and fifty dele
gates In attendance upon the annual
meeting at Atlanta of the Georgia
Farmers' Educational and Co-opera
tive union pledged themselves not
only to wear clothing made of cot
ton while engaged in their farming
operations, but pledged themselves
to produce this year all the corn,
meat and other snpplies necessary to
carry them through the year. It was
decided to consolidate all of the
farmers’ cetton warehouses In tho
state under the management of a cen
tral organization. Four lecturers will
be sent to all sections of the state
during the next few months to appeal
to farmers generally to raise their
supplies and to wear cotton clothing
on their farms.
Anew south Georgia has
been chartered by Secretary of State
Phil Cook. Its promoters plan to
build a line from Abbeville to Fort
Valley, and thence to Montezuma.
The company is designated as the
'Abbeville and Northwestern Rati
road Company." The line is to be
seventy-five miles in length, fifty
eight miles of main line and eighteen
of branch. The latter will comprise
the extension from Fort Valley to
Montezuma, The counties of Wilcox,
Pulaski, Dooley, Houston and Macon
will be passed through. The capital
stock Is to be SIOO,OOO.
It Is probable that there will be no
agricultural college-on-wheels as has
been planned by Dr, A. M. Soule, and
the professors of the State College of
Agriculture for the coming spring.
Indications now are that the train
will he abandoned for the present
year, because of the probable inabil
ity of tho dean and other attaches of
the state agricultural college to ac
company It on its rounds.
Judge Kimsey mhde a sensational
charge to the grand jury ot Gaines
ville. He said that If reports were
correct there ought to be an investi
gation of the affairs of the county.
“1 am told," he said, “that there is
not enough money in the treasury of
the county to pay the expenses of
this court, the tax levy last year
made a specific levy for court pur
poses, If the money has been divert
ed to use Illegally, the matter should
be found out and published, if there
has been graft in the purchase of
the road machinery It ought to be
made known. If bridge* have been
built contrary to the law about ad
vertising for bids, It ought to be un
earthed, If what Is rumored In this
county is true then the officers should
be handled by prosecution.” He also
touched upon what, in his opinion,
constituted disturbing religious wor
ship and spoke of the right of offi
cers to carry concealed weapons.
Following closely upon the pledges
of President-elect Taft to recognize
Georgia as a unit worthy of national
consideration in the councils of the
republic, the announcement has
reached’ Atlanta from Washington
that his committee on arrangements
for the inaugural procession on
March 4 has assigned Georgia fourth
place in that conspicuous line so that
she may have an opportunity to de
monstrate her interest the gov
ernment’s executive affairs. In addi
tion to this signal honor of Georgia,
It is understood that in Augusta,
where Mr. Taft is making up his cab
inet and other high official appoint
ments, the names of two distinguish
ed jGeorgians are under serious con
sideration, those of Colonel Robert J.
Lowry of Atlanta, in connection with
tho national treasury portfolio, and
Judge Joseph Lamar of Augusta, in
connection with the supreme court
bench. ••
The “Living Like Christ" move
ment which is attracting much atten
tion in Cleveland, Ohio, may he start
ed in Atlanta . Several pastors
are considering the idea of suggest
ing that members of their flocks make
an experiment along that line, be
lieving that such would be of great
moral benefit to the community.
The first skirmish in the battle be
tween the Muscogee County Medical
Society and certain of Columbus
druggists resulted in a vlcte ry for the
drug store folks In Muscogee superior
court when Shepherd Brinson, a
prominent young pharmacist, charged
with practicing medicine without a li
cense, was found not guilty by tho
jury. Two other cases of a similar
character were continued until the
next term of court.
Mrs. Hoke Smith, wife of the gov
ernor, is seriously ill at the execu
tive mansion in Atlanta, and her con
dition has aroused considerable un
easiness on the part of the family and
friends. Mrs. Smith's health has nat
been good for several months, and It
was the purpose of the governor to
take hsr to Florida for a rest, but
unless hor condition improves it will
be necessary to postpone the trip.
Under the guard of a squad of p
trolmen, the cash, bonds and securi
ties. making a total of probably more
than six millions of dollars, of the
Citizens' and Southern bank of Sa
vannah were moved into Its new
home in that city.
Macon members of the Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
have forgarded a petition to Presi
dent 'Theodore Roosevelt asking him
not to kill any animals on his Afri
can hunt. The announced intention
of tbe president to bag big game has
brought forth a protest from the Na
tional Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals, and by its direc
tion blanks have been sent to each
local organization, to be filled' out hy
school teachers and others. Presi
dent Hugh V. Washington is in re
ceipt of these blanks and a strong
protest will go up from the Macon
branch. ' ..
The work of grading on the north
ern extension of the Georgia, Florida
aud Alabama railroad, from Cuthbert
to Kimbrough, on the fSeaborad Air
Line railroad, by the four or five
camps. Is progressing, and these
graders hope to have everything
ready for track laying, within the
next sixty or ninety days. The work
on this northern extension has
brought an extraordinary good feel
ing over Cuthbert, and her prospects
seem brighter than ever in all her
history.
Sunbau-fecfoof
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM*
MENTS FOR JANUARY 31. j
Subject: The Trial of Peter and John,
Arts 4:1-51—Golden Text, Acts
4:3l—Commit Verses 11,12
Exposition of the Lesson.
TIME.—A. D. 30. PLACE.—
Jerusalem.
EXPOSITION.—I. Peter's First
Answer to the Sanhedrim, 5-12. The
Jewish Sanhedrin was the great court
of Jewish law. composed of seventy
one leading men of the nation. Caia
phas, the nominal high priest by Ro
man appointment; Annas, the real
high priest, according to the Jewish
way of looking at things, were both
there. It was a very august assem
bly. composed for the most part of
Sadducees. Peter and John’s being
brought before it, and their treat
ment by it was an exact literal ful
fillment of the prediction of Jesus
(Matt. 10:17). Their attempt to
hinder the preaching of the gospel
really gave wings to the gospel. Pet
er had seen this body together once
before when Jesus was tried and con
demned. On that occasion he was
thoroughly frightened and cowed and
played the poitroon, but now )ie is
calm and fearless. The resurrection
of Jesus from the dead and his own
baptism with the Spirit has wrought
this great change. The Jewish and
other wonder workers were accus
tomed to perform their marvels by;
the power of some nanrh (as e. g.,
the name of one of the Patriarchs, or
the name of Solomon, or the unspeak
able name of Jehovah), so the coun
cil very naturally aaked Peter and
John "in whacname" they had healed
the lame mffr The real object of the
questionNvas to trap them Into an an
swer that would be the basis of accu
sation and condemnation. Just at
that moment the Holy Spirit came
upoa Peter and took possession of
him and "filled” him. Jesus’ ever
gracious promise for such an emer
gency as this was fulfilled (Matt. 10:
19. 20; cf. Lu. 12:11, 12; Acts 13:i
8. 9). This promise Is for us In any.
emergency of Christian service and
testimony. Peter had already been
filled with the Spirit at Pentecost (ch.
2:4). and will be again a little fur
ther on (v. 31). It was very clear
then that the filling with the Spirit is
not something that occurs once for
ail, but needs to be repeated with
each new emergency of service. Here
in lies the need of continual prayer
for that which we already possess.
Peter’B answer Is wonderfully skill
ful. But its wisdom was not due to
Peter's natural endowments, but to
the Spirit. Left to himself Peter
was a famous blanderer. Peter was
extremely deferential and courteous.
He acknowledges the high position
and authority of his interrogators.
The Holy Spirit does not make the
men He controls rude and overbear
ing, but gentle and courteous (Gal.
5;22, 23; cf. Jude 8,9). Yet Peter
was bold, fearless, frank and outspo
ken. There was no compromising ot
tbe truth, no glossing over of their
guilt. The council had spoken eva
sively of the thing done as simple
"this.” It Is a keen and discomfort
ing thrust of Peter in his reply to
say, “If you refer to a good deed done
to a strengthless (impotent) man"
(cf. Jno. 10:32). The council doubt
less winced. Then without hesitation
Peter tells them that It was In the
name of Jesus Christ, the one whom
they had crucified, the one whom God,
on the other hand, had raised from
the dead. But before he closes hls
one tremendous overwhelming sen
tence, he points at the man standing
right there, a living testimony to the
power of Jesus’ name, and adds "this
man stands here before you whole.”
The geene has changed—Peter, the
accused, has become the accuser; the
council bad become the culprit at the
bar. Indicted and condemned. Peter
follows up his advantage and drives
hls charge home with a swinging blow
of God’s hammer, the Scriptures (v.
11; cf. Ps. 118:22). If the Acts of
the Apostles Is fiction its author is a
master hand; but this cannot be fic
tion, it Is plainly the record of the
deft utterances of a Spirit-filled man.
Peter closes with an appeal (v. 12).
There Is salvation for any one In that
name, salvation for no one outside of
It.
11. The Council Were in a Dilem
ma, 13-80. Peter and John declared
that it was in the name of Jesus that
the deed had been done. Rnd there
the man stood right before their eyes
and they could say nothing against ft.
They marveled at the fearless frank
ness of men who had never enjoyed
the teaching of the rabbinical schools
and naturally would be overawed In
so august and learned an assembly as
their own. Holy Ghost boldness in
untutored men is always a perplexity,
to mere scholastics. Peter’s sermon
and bearing probably led ultimately,
to the conversion of some of hts bear
ers (chs. 6,7). The only solution
they could give of the puzzle was that
“these men have been with Jesus.’’
That is the solution of many myste
ries. Companionship with Jesus
makes ordinary men extraordinary.
They were just like the average mod
ern skeptic who, when he comes up
against facts he cannot explain away,
dodges the question. They asked,
“What shall we do with these men?”
They should have put the question a
trifle differently. “What shall we do
to be saved?” As they could not deny
the fact of the power of Jesus’ name
and were unwilling to admit it, they
hit upon the expedience of trying to
silence all repert of the fact,
'I have discharged my Philadelphia
chaufTeur. I was arrested on his ac
count."
“For speeding?"
“Xo; for blocking the traffic.” —
Life.
Customer (who has ordered a
steak) —Well done, waiter.
Frenchman (not to be outdone) —
Bravo, garcon, bravo!—The Bystan
der.