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God has not given is a spirit of fear
A chapter in the book Ben Paul Persons
Ben Paul Persons, Ch. 25
by Wayne Fowler
The author has placed a warning on this post for violence.
In the last part Ben Paul and Sylvia were guarded while in Skagway after being threatened by the killer. He and Sylvia were escorted to Juneau by Deputy Dorsey. Ben Paul read a newspaper article that made him believe the man was a serial killer. One chapter remaining.
Chapter 25
Still in Juneau, after a long talk Ben Paul and Sylvia agreed on a few things – namely: that Ben Paul was going on 83 years of age. They also agreed that it was unlikely that the killer brought a gun to Alaska, having to fly from Seattle, and even less likely if he flew from Vancouver, Canada. They also agreed that he should be stopped.
Sylvia agreed with herself that she would neither go back to Creede alone… nor bury Ben Paul beside his father, or anywhere else, at least just yet.
“How do we find Deputy Dorsey?” Sylvia asked.
“I suppose the best way would be to call Sheriff Owens. He’d know where he’s staying.”
It took convincing, something Ben Paul was loathe to do over long-distance telephone, but Owens gave the name of the hotel. Ben Paul resolved to reimburse Skagway for Dorsey’s travel expenses. Moving into the same hotel as Dorsey made good sense, evidence of a sound mind, Sylvia agreed. Not that they wanted to put Dorsey in danger, but that with his help, odds were more in their favor to catch the killer. After sharing the newspaper article with him, Dorsey understood.
They were all four on the next ferry to Skagway. Only this time, the killer packed away his blade after purchasing a Colt 1911 .45 and a box of cartridges.
+++
The killer did not know that his trench coat had saved him from detection. Twice he’d passed on perfect opportunities against the old man, his escape plan in serious doubt.
With the gun, his chance would present itself. It would also get him away by private plane. He just needed a place to stay since he was certain that all new Skagway hotel occupants would be given the eye.
+++
As happenstance had it, or as Ben Paul preferred, the Holy Spirit directed, Pastor Helmsley exited the Arctic Brotherhood Hall two doors down, just as Ben Paul and Sylvia were about to enter the Golden Hotel. It was Helmsley's first time inside the unique, driftwood-adorned structure. The occasion was to meet with a committee who’d asked if he would be the keynote speaker at a wild game dinner they were planning.
Confusion and surprise were quickly replaced by concern for Ben Paul and Sylvia’s safety. Convinced it was God’s will, the three loaded into the pastor’s car, and headed for the parsonage where Ben Paul and Sylvia would be more than welcome to stay in the house’s only bedroom while the hosts used a sofa bed. It took convincing, but the Helmsleys prevailed. “You would insist on as much for us” was the turning argument.
“Now, Sylvie. The whole point, or at least half the point, is to expose the killer, to ferret him out. And I just don’t see how that can be done with us holed up in here. I have to…”
“Get shot?” Sylvia asked.
The Helmsleys were trying their best to act invisible as Ben Paul and Sylvia worked it out. They both knew that this was their decision.
“The sheriff is seeing to it that the house is safe at night. The suspect knows that by now.” Ben Paul was careful not to say killer. “We have to coordinate with Owens to set up a scene that looks natural, endangering as few people as possible.”
At the sheriff’s office, there was a woman, a fire department volunteer, waiting inside, expecting to exchange coats with Sylvia.
“Uh-uh. No way. If Ben Paul is going to be shot, it’s going to be me holding on to him.”
There was no arguing with her logic.
The plan was for them to walk across the same footbridge they’d walked a few days before. Deputy Dorsey would let them out of his Jeep and proceed to the airport. Others would be in place. Except for the light snow, it was as good a plan as they could put together. From there, the two would walk to Third Street unless it was too cold, so Ben Paul would only need to raise his arm and a vehicle would come to their aid.
It was a bust. There’d been no sign of bloody shoe man.
The next morning, breakfast fixings being slim, Ben Paul and Sylvia talked the Helmsleys into accepting the reciprocity of taking them to breakfast, even calling the town’s only taxi service. Ben Paul thought to call the sheriff to inform him of the plan.
Piling into the car, it worked out best for the pastor to get into the front seat. He didn’t notice that the driver was a man unknown to him, a stranger wearing cotton pants. As he was about to ask the man’s name, his attention was drawn into conversation from the back seat.
The real taxi driver, the reluctant host of the killer in his own home, was tied, gagged, and knocked unconscious. The killer did not need to employ any of his prepared excuses to decline business. He waited in case Ben Paul called. And if he never did, inside the taxi was good cover, allowing him to roam the town. Besides, he needed a place to stay that was not a hotel where he would be reported and checked on. He considered himself brilliant. What he was wary of was nosey neighbors.
The opportunity did not manifest. Ben Paul was directly behind him in the backseat. He could not hope to shoot the man beside him and then get to Ben Paul. When they exited the car, Ben Paul stepped behind the vehicle toward the sidewalk. No shot there. Driving away, he rethought the plan, surprised that he hadn’t before considered that there was no vehicular escape from Skagway. There were no roads leading out of town. All stopped at the bay or at a mountain. He would need a new plan, and quick. Eventually, someone would check on the real taxi driver. And he would run out of food.
Fire was not going to work. He saw that immediately with obvious guards about the block. Catching Ben Paul to shoot him down in the street turned out to be unworkable, as well.
On the third morning, he scouted the parsonage and devised a plan. He could break into the church away from the guards’ line of sight. From there, he could sneak into the house. With his Bowie knife, he would deal with whoever he had to until the old man was dead.
+++
That night, Ben Paul had trouble sleeping. Not intending to, he woke Sylvia as he got out of bed and began getting dressed. “I’m going to the church to pray,” Ben Paul explained. Sylvia, only minutes from having fallen asleep, collapsed back into slumber. Ben Paul quietly tip-toed past his hosts, making it into the sanctuary, where he kneeled at the altar.
He heard the lock being jimmied. He rose, thanking God for keeping him awake, for leading him to the church, for allowing him to hear the door. He quietly edged to behind the door when it opened.
The Bowie knife was first inside the doorway. As quickly as the hand bearing it appeared, Ben Paul threw all his weight into the door. The knife had not even clattered to the hardwood floor before an ear-piercing scream woke the town. Ben Paul maintained his pressure on the door, straining himself to the limit as the man tried to pull himself free. Had the wrist not been so severely broken, every bone involved snapped or crushed, he might have freed himself. Ben Paul dug in his heels, forcing his shoulder into the heavy door.
Finally, over the screams that had turned into sobs, Ben Paul heard his name called from outside. “Ben! You can let up, Ben! We got him!”
Ben Persons: young man called of God (1861-1890)
Ben Paul Persons: 82-year-old son of Ben Persons (1891-)
Sylvia Adams Persons: grand-daughter of Livvy (1904-)
Deputy Dorsey: Skagway deputy
Pastor Helmsley: Skagway Pastor
2 Tim. 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline. (KJV - ... and of a sound mind)
One chapter remaining
Pays
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and 2 member cents. Ben Paul Persons: 82-year-old son of Ben Persons (1891-)
Sylvia Adams Persons: grand-daughter of Livvy (1904-)
Deputy Dorsey: Skagway deputy
Pastor Helmsley: Skagway Pastor
2 Tim. 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline. (KJV - ... and of a sound mind)
One chapter remaining
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