Produced by David Garcia and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Kentuckiana Digital Library) THE KENTUCKY RANGER By EDWARD T. CURNICK, A.M. Author of A Catechism on Christian Perfection. The Christian Witness Co. Chicago, Ill. AUTHOR'S NOTE The story, "The Kentucky Ranger," to a large extent is built around the life and character of one of the most famous early pioneer preachers of the West. Many of the incidents in his career are recorded, but have been treated as to time, place and authorship according to the demands of the work with the freedom belonging to the writer of fiction. A number of years ago some of the chapters in the narrative were printed in "The Epworth Era," of Nashville, Tennessee. Thanks are hereby extended to the paper for releasing the copyright. Copyright 1922 THE CHRISTIAN WITNESS CO. Transcriber's Note: The Table of Contents was not contained in the text. It has been generated for the convenience of the reader. CONTENTS CHAPTER I. The Ranger. CHAPTER II. An Old Time Camp Meeting. CHAPTER III. Swapping Stories. CHAPTER IV. The Trail of the Serpent. CHAPTER V. Rowdies in Camp. CHAPTER VI. Under the Pine Trees. CHAPTER VII. The Horse Race. CHAPTER VIII. Prayer In a Dance Hall. CHAPTER IX. Wanted, a Mission School. CHAPTER X. The Mission School Established. CHAPTER XI. A Kentucky Feud. CHAPTER XII. The Shameful Plot. CHAPTER XIII. Into a Pit (or Pitch). CHAPTER XIV. Returning Thanks. CHAPTER XV. Cupid's Chariot. CHAPTER XVI. Horse Thieves. CHAPTER XVII. Lynch Law or the Gospel. CHAPTER XVIII. Apple Blossoms. CHAPTER XIX. A Proposal Without Words. CHAPTER XX. Kidnapped. CHAPTER XXI. The Search. CHAPTER XXII. The Rescue. CHAPTER XXIII. A Battle With Moonshiners. CHAPTER XXIV. "I Thee Wed." THE KENTUCKY RANGER CHAPTER I. The Ranger. "Glory to God! another sinner's down! Glory! Hallelujah! Amen; Pray on, brother; you'll soon be through. Glory! Glory!" These words were shouted by two young men and a young woman who were returning through the Kentucky woods from a camp meeting. They were riding in a smart spring wagon drawn by two good horses. The young man who was not driving would fall into the wagon, crying for mercy, and the driver shouted: "Glory to God! another sinner's down!" and the young lady added: "Keep on praying, brother; you'll soon be saved. Glory! Glory to God!" Then the young men would change places, and the other would shout: "You'll soon get through, brother; pray on. Glory!" These persons acted thus to tantalize a camp meeting preacher who was riding on horseback ahead of them. He detected their mockery and tried to outride them; but his horse being somewhat lame he could not escape them.