West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-02-04

thesis was beat FFtcc
ing bucket with gourd and emitting
strange cries with each thump. The
noise and shouts confused the minis
ter. AS he was blundering among the
dancers they fell upon him with war
whoops, slapping him on the back and
crushing his straw hat over his ears.
Slim was the first to recognize the
minister. He dashed into the group
and, swinging several aside. cried to
the others to deslst.
Pardon me, but do lntrude upon n
scalp dancer" smilingly asked the par
son.
You sure have, Mr.. Price" laughed
Slim. I'VE hain't got to the scalpin'
part yet. but we're fxln' to dance off
Payson's scalp tonight"
Peering at him with nearsighted
eyes, Mr.. Price extended his hand, say
Ing, 'Ah. Mr.. Hoover. our sheriff, is
IL notT'
slim wrung the parsons hand until
the preacher WINGED Hiding his dis
comfort, he slowly Strengthened out
his fingers with painful grin. Slim
had not noticed that he had hurt the
ing. With a gesture he lined up the
cowboys for Introduction
Yes. sir. the boys call me Slim be-
cause i amt" Pointing to the first
one in the group, he exclaimed. "This
IS Parenthesis"
Mr.. Price looked at the awlIwardIy
bowling cowboy I'm amazement. The
name was a puzzle to him. He could
not grasp the application. "The editor
of the Kicker" explained Slim. called
him that because of his legs bein' built
that way" MIR. Price was forced TO
smile in spite of his efforts to be DO
lite. The editor had grasped the most
striking feature of the punchers phys
ical characteristics for label
Parenthesis beamed on the minister.
II was born on horseback" he replied.
''That fellow there with n front tooth
is Show Low" began Slim, speaking
like lecturer I'm freak show. "The
one without front tooth IS Fresno.
California product This here chan
with the water dob hair is Sagebrush
Charley. IL makes him sore when you
call him plain Charles"
Charley bein' a Chink name" sup
plemented It's owner.
Silence fell over the group. for they
did not know what was the proper
thing to do next. minister was 90
be respected and not TO be made one
OF them. lie must take the lead I'm
the conversation. Mr. Price was at
loss 10 begin. He had not recovered
fully from the roughness Of his wei
come, so Slim took the lead again.
81 heard You preach once mp 20 Flor
ence," he announced to the profound
astonishment OF his hearers
Indeed" politely responded Mr.
Price, feeling the futllity OF making
any further observation. He feared to
fall into some trap The answers made
by the boys did not seem to fit par
ticularly well with what he expected
and was accustomed to. The parson
could not make out whether the boys
were joking with him or whether their
replies were unconscious humor on
their part.
yep; lost an election bet an had
20 go 10 church" answered slim I'm all
Jeriousness.
The cowboys laughed. ana Mr. Price
iamely replied. ooh, yes. / see"
1T was a good show" continued
Slim, doing his best 90 appear at ease.
The frantic corrections Of his compon-
ions only made him founder about the
more Excuse me- he apologized. II
mean that I enjoyed &C."
do you recall the subject OF my
discourse" inquired Mr Price. coming
TO his assistance
your what courscW asked slim.
MY sermOn3' answered the parson.
well. ! should say yes" replied the
sheriff, greatly relieved TO think that
he was once more out Of deep water
1T was about some Shorthorn that
jumped the home corral 20 maverick
around loose I'm the alfalfa with n
bunch Of wild ones"
The explanation was too much FOR
Mr.. Price. Great student Of the Bible
that he had been, here was one lesson
which he had not studied AS told by
slim, he could not recall any text or
series Of texts from which hc might
have drawn SMILES fitted for his cow
boy congregation, when he had one
Really, r. he began.
Slim, however, was not TO be inter
rupted. II he stopped he never could
begin again, be felt. Waving 20 tho
ureachcr to be silent he continued his