"Here comes Steve Nuckles on his old mare with a lion following him," said Berry.
Abe closed his book and rose and looked at the approaching minister and his big dog.
"If we ain't careful we'll git prayed for plenty," said Berry.
"If the customers don't come faster I reckon we'll need it," said Abe.
"Howdy," said the minister as he stopped at the hitching bar, dismounted and tied his mare. "Don't be skeered o' this 'ere dog. He were tied when I left home but he chawed his rope an' come a'ter me. I reckon if nobody feeds him he'll patter back to-night."
"He's a whopper!" said Abe.
"He's the masteris' dog I ever did see," said the minister, a tall, lank, brawny, dark-skinned man with gray eyes, sandy whiskers on the point of his chin, and clothes worn and faded. "Any plug tobaccer?"
"A back load of it," said Berry, going into the store to wait on the minister.
When they came out the latter carved off a corner of the plug with his jack-knife, put it into his mouth and sat down on the door-step.
"Mr. Nuckles, how did you happen to become a minister?" Abe asked.