One More Sunrise by Al Lacy Page A

to Breanna. “There was something else this husband of yours did that day he saved my life, ma’am.”
    “Mm-hmm?”
    “Right after Wichita’s sheriff and two of his deputies carried Hatch Wasserman’s body away, this John Stranger fella asked mewhere I’d be right then if Wasserman had killed me—heaven or hell. I told him I hoped I’d be in heaven, but I didn’t know for sure. He told me I could know for sure I was going to heaven when I die, and he would show me from the Bible if I’d let him. I said I would. He went and got his Bible from his saddlebag, sat me down on a bench in front of the general store, and led me to Jesus. I can tell you right now, ma’am, I know for sure and positive when I take my last breath in this world, I’ll be in heaven with my Saviour.”
    “Wonderful, isn’t it?” said Breanna.
    “It sure is.”
    John spoke up. “Wally told me just before you and the children arrived, Breanna, that he got baptized in the church I recommended there in Wichita, met the lady who is now his wife in that church, and all three of their children are Christians.”
    Breanna nodded with a wide smile. “Praise the Lord!”
    John’s brow furrowed slightly. “I’m curious, Wally. What brought you here to Denver?”
    “I have a friend named Bill Altman from Wichita who now lives up there in the mountains some thirty miles west of Denver in Central City. You know where it is?”
    “Oh yes. I’ve been there several times.”
    “Well, my friend Bill is dying with consumption, Chief. We knew each other as boys in Kansas, and have kept in touch by mail since Bill moved to Central City about twenty years ago. I’ve been witnessing to him in my letters the past twelve years, giving him Scripture and trying to get him to open his heart to Jesus, but he hadn’t done it yet when I received the letter about his consumption. He’s had it for about four years, but hadn’t told me about it until recently. So I came last week to talk to him, and I had the joy of leading both Bill and his wife to the Lord.”
    “That’s great!”
    “Yes, sir. Do you know Central City’s physician, Chief?”
    “Sure do. Dr. Robert Fraser. He and his wife are both fine Christians.”
    “For sure. Well, Dr. Fraser told me that Bill won’t live more than a few weeks. So—so the next time Bill and I meet, it will be in heaven.”
    “Well, praise the Lord, Wally. You and Bill will have all eternity together in heaven—no more parting.”
    “Yes, we talked about that. And just think, Chief …”
    “Mm-hmm?”
    “Since you cared enough about me to lead me to the Lord twelve years ago in Wichita, you have a hand in Bill and Darlene Altman’s salvation.”
    “Hallelujah!” said John.
    Paul looked up at the man from Wichita. “Mr. Talbot, how did you know Papa was now a lawman here in Denver?”
    “Well, Paul, about a year ago Wichita’s sheriff told me that the man they called John Stranger was now Chief U.S. Marshal here in Denver, and that his real name was John Brockman. I wasn’t sure your papa would remember me, but since I was planning to come to see Bill Altman, I decided to also see the man who saved my life and led me to the Lord.”
    “I’m very glad you did, Wally,” said John.
    “The children and I are too,” said Breanna.
    “We sure are, Mr. Talbot,” spoke up Paul. “I always like to meet people my papa helped out back when he was known as ‘The Stranger.’ ”
    Breanna asked, “When are you leaving for home?”
    “I’m scheduled on the eastbound train that leaves Denver at nine-thirty tomorrow morning, ma’am.”
    “So you’ll be here in town till tomorrow morning.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    “Good. Since you’re going to be here this evening, I would like to have you come for supper and be an added guest.”
    John nodded. “Yes. We’d love to have you, Wally.”
    Paul jumped up and down. “Yes! Then we could tell Mr. and Mrs. Tabor and Miss Tharyn about Papa taking out that