ordained minister. I love to listen to 'im. He tells a lot o' tales
an' makes a body laugh an' feel sad at the same time."

"I certainly would like to hear him," the banker declared, and with
Webb he turned toward the gate.

"Are you a member of any church?" he inquired, when they were in the
road.

"No, I never jined one," Webb drawled out. "I'm the only feller I know
of in this country that don't affiliate with _some_ denomination or
other."

"That is rather odd," Mostyn remarked, tentatively. "How did you
manage to stay out of the fold among so many religious people?"

"I don't exactly know." Webb's freckled face held a reflective look.
"I
kept puttin' it off from year to year, thinkin' I would jine,
especially as everybody was constantly naggin me about it. Seems to me
that I was the chief subject at every revival they held. It bothered
me considerable, I tell you. The old folks talked so much about my
case that little boys an' gals would sluff away from me in the public
road. But I wasn't to blame. The truth is, Mr. Mostyn, I wanted to
give 'em all--Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians--a fair show.
You see, each denomination declared that it had the only real correct
plan, an' I'll swear I liked one as well as t'other. When I'd make up
my mind to tie to the Methodists, some Baptist or Presbyterian would
ax me what I had agin _his_ religion, an' in all the stew an' muddle
they got me so balled up that I begun to be afeard I wasn't worth