Father Snoop and Holy Smoke — Mary Lu Warstler

Bernard William Snoop was born to be different. From the time he was a toddler, or maybe even before, he loved people, snooping and the outdoors, not necessarily in that order. Bernie never had much success in dating and soon lost interest in girls. Following seminary and ordination his peers referred to him as Father Bernard Snoop, a single, homely with a Jimmy Durante nose, six feet three inches tall, thin frame, and a vegetarian who loved small rural churches. Except for the occasional helping local authorities solve a few mysteries, murder and mayhem, he restricted his snooping to nature and the workings of God and His church. His first Sunday at a new appointment, the most beautiful girl he had ever seen walked into the church. Since she went into the college class, Bernie thought must be about twenty, maybe twenty-one years old. She was much too young for him, even if she hadn't been a member of his congregation. No matter the arguments, January, following her college graduation, Miriam became Mrs. Bernard W. Snoop. For ten years, she served as his wife and helpmate in that college town. Then early in December, Bernie received a call, a summons, actually, from this friend, Bishop John Murray. January, they moved to Metropolis. Two days later, their 10th Wedding Anniversary, Bernie returned from a church meeting and found the front door ajar. He stopped in the open doorway. For a single heartbeat, time stood still. His beautiful wife, lay crumpled beside the telephone stand, her sightless green eyes staring in death. A wet, stormy night weeks later, someone set fire to the church. Bernie escaped because a rain-soaked, gray cat warned him of danger. Holy Smoke then became his constant companion