THE KING’S BUSINESS
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deputies with every change of sheriff or of party control. But Burke stayed through administrations of both parties, not because vigorous efforts were not made to dislodge him, but because he was honest and conscientious in the discharge of his duties, and spent no time loafing in bar-rooms. The lawyers of the city were, almost to a man, his friends, and they knew that he would attend to their busi ness when entrusted to him. BEATS THE POLITICIANS Finally Burke was made an issue in an election, and the sheriff who was elected had promised the “boys” that if they elected him he would put Burke out. Burke kn^w that only a combination of faith and works would save him, so he got up a petition for his retention in office, which was signed by nearly all the leading law yers and ministers, and by many of the business men of St. Louis, among them the Congressman of his district. When he presented the petition to the newly- elected sheriff, it was read with contempt at first, for he had thoroughly purposed to let him go, but, as he read on, his contempt changed to amazement, for he found the names of great men of his own party as well as of others. He dared not disregard their wishes. Turning to Burke in wonder he said: “Who the -------- are you that you can get such men to sign your peti tion? I’d be a proud man today if I could get them to indorse me like that!” And so, by the grace'of God and the power of righteousness, he was reappointed. BURKE AND D. L. MOODY . One of the chief desires of Burke had long been to meet the man through whose ministry he had been converted. The opportunity did not occur until years after his conversion. He read one day in the paper that Mr. Moody was to pass through the city. After his arrival, Burke called at the hotel and made himself known, Mr. Moody having long before heard of this fruit of his labors. After a long conver sation, which must have been anticipatory of such as will obtain in heaven when
with him. He was as simple as a child and his language was without offence, though he had been addicted to profanity all his life before his conversion. Further more, he had given up entirely the use of alcoholic liquor and did not use tobacco in any form. I took him to the leading busi ness men of Kansas City, with whom I was in touch because of my office, and there was not one of them who was not per suaded, after a few moments’ conversation with him, of the reality of his conversion. But none of them could give him work because he was so well known as a crook, and their employees, they said, would not stand for it. Finally I secured him a place in a large boarding house, where his duties were to go to market at 3 o’clock in the morning, and to do any odd chores that might be required of him. And this for his bare board! BACK ON HIS OLD BEAT Soon after I returned to St. Louis to live I* received a letter from Burke, ask ing me to see Capt. Mason, who was then sheriff of St. Louis and an earnest Chris tian man—knew Burke and his history and was interested in him. From the time of his conversion, Burke had been ambitious, as previously stated, to witness to the reality of God’s power to save and keep even a criminal, by getting into a place of public trust where, as he expressed it, the thugs and thieves who had formerly known him might be convinced of Christ’s power to save. He wanted to be appointed as a deputy sheriff. When I presented the case to Capt. Mason he said, after con sideration : “I know that I will ,be severely criticized for it, but you may write Burke to come here and I will give him temporary work as a watchman of seized property, ■ and as soon as possible I will make him a deputy.” . And so Valentine Burke entered upon this public trust, which he held for over fifteen years, or until the day of his death, breaking all records for length of service. This bffice is usually awarded in return for political service, resulting in a change of
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