Lou Hill was saved. There could be no doubt of it! Boldly he proclaimed to all his old friends in gangland his conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as he had once gone "all out" in the service of Satan, his whole soul turned to following his Savior. Lou Hill's one object now was to glorify God and honor His dear Son.
Only one tie still bound Lou to his gangster pals. Hardened criminals though he knew them to be, he still longed for their salvation. But to those who had watched with suspicion and jealousy as he climbed the long ladder of success in the rackets, anything Lou Hill did could only be a scheme for his personal gain. They could not believe that a trusted associate of the most notorious gangster in America should give up that coveted place to "become a nobody."
Lou thought of all this one morning as he drove his car toward the cathedral. The papers had announced the funeral of one of Lou's former associates, and he knew that many of the underworld would attend. Perhaps even his old boss would be among them. As the converted gangster's car drew near the Cathedral, the crowd increased so that traffic was practically blocked. Pulling into an opening near the curb, Lou stepped out and looked around. He was near enough to the entrance to see those now coming out, but his view was hindered by the moving crowd. Climbing onto the hood of his car, he was in a better position to see and be seen.
The massive bronze casket was being borne slowly and carefully down the steps to the walk and then was slipped into the waiting hearse. As Lou's eyes left that solemn scene, they traveled up the steps again to the entrance. Just then two strong, silent men stepped out and stood looking over the crowd. Almost imperceptibly one nodded, and Lou's old boss joined them.
Quickly Lou's hands formed a megaphone around his mouth and his strong voice called out, "Hi, Al!"
Startled, Al's eyes followed the sound. As they rested on Lou, he smiled and shouted back: "Hi, Lou! How's the 'Jesus racket'?"
Instantly the answer was trumpeted: "Fine, Al! I don't need a bodyguard, for my life is hid with Christ in God. And all my treasure is laid up in the safety vaults of heaven!"
The throng was moving more rapidly now from the area. Al and his bodyguards stepped into a waiting limousine, and Lou scrambled off his perch and into his car. As he moved out into the stream of traffic, the ex-gangster's heart overflowed with thanksgiving to God for the wonderful change in his life. No longer a gangster—no longer a hunted criminal—he was a new man in Christ Jesus.