The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-12-05

old man blew hole In his ribs the
size Of an open hand with q sawed
off shotgun he always kept near his
bed.
The old banker had just closed his
desk. picked up the rusty satchel, and
come out on the porch of the store
when his daughter and the big woods
man Joined the crowd around the post
ofiice-a crowd doubly large, gathered
for the doubly suspicious occasion.
The girl ran to her father and
slipped an arm about his waist. He
looked down at her and grunted 1t
was the only sign he gave that he knew
she was there.
Up beyond the Warhope farmstead
wheels. a clatter of iron-shod hoofs,
and the Milford stage dashed into
sight; roared across the wooden
bridge where the River road crossed
Eagle run; rumbIed past the church
into the village and pulled up in front
of the post office.
The crowd focked around It The
guard threw off the mall sack. Zeke
Pollok picked it up and carried 1t In,
and the numbering stage ratified away
down the river.
One passenger had alighted, tall
young man wearing full beard, neatly
cropped and pointed-the new preach
er, without a doubt-quite the oldest
array of satchels and umbrella, patent
leather boots and high hat, stiff neck
stock and enormous spectacles, that
had ever invaded the Flatwoods.
He seemed nervous as he stood at
the side Of the road peering through
his enormous spectacles, slightly amber
tinted, upon the crowd.
The old banker. with his daughter a
step behind him, advanced, touched his
faded black hat and extended his hand.
1.-The Rev. Caleb Hopkins, 'low?"
The eyes behind the huge spectacles
lighted. The young preacher dropped
one of his satchels and met the out
stretched hand.
"Ah-Mr.-COlin, l take itT'
"All but the mister. Pm jist plain
Sine Colin"
The old man grinned, as broadly as
the pinched shrewdness of his dry face
would allow.
81 want y'u t. meet my daughter"
He half turned; jerked his thumb
toward the girl; Jerked 1t back toward
the preacher. tickle, Mr.. Hopkins"
The young preacher touched his tall
hat; dropped his other satchel, grasped
the girls hand in both his own and
pressed 1t closer than the occasion
could possibly warrant.
1t may have been merely the e1.
preston Of a genial nature touched
with the fervency Of his profession
the outflowing Of a benevolence that |
embraced all humanity-but even 80,
1t brought a quick flush to the girls
face, and drove her eyes to the ground. |
The old banker had turned to the |
crowd.
"Step up, step up" he called, "and |
shake hands with the new parson. The |
way y'u hang back, he'll think he's
trapped off amongst a pack o. pub
leans and sinners"
The crowd had evidently been wait
ng for just such an invitation. Stolid
aces raveled into grins, and the
quaint vernacular of the Flatwoods
lad an airing Odd bits of philosophy,
lncient jokes, that nobody would have
Jared to spring on his neighbor, were
RELY sprung on the hapless and help
ess sojourner from the polite East.
The informal reception was over and
most of the crowd gone when TeIie ,
loticed Jack Warhope still leaning
Igainst the porch post where she had
eft him. She ran back, caught his
rm and dragged him forward.
"Mr Hopkins, meet Ja-Mr. War
lope."
"Glad to meet you, Mr. Warhope."
The young preacher stretched forth
is hand the other grasped it. The
eering eyes behind the heavy glasses
tudied him with curious intentness,
ut the woodsman, only mildly inter-
sted, missed the inquisitive look.
The old banker had taken step up
be road.
"Well," he said, II low that list
bout winds up the how-d'-y'-doin'.
exile, run in and git the mail, and
'e'll be moseyin'."
He half turned and glanced back
yer his shoulder at the preacher.
1--WE dickered the use Of our OIL
reacher's study FIR y'u at the parson.
ge. Sister Mason-the wilder, y'u
now-she lows she'll be right glad
have y'u come over and use the
.udy, she's that lonely sencs the par
N died. Well stop as we go a-past, and
gu can take a look at the study, and
eet Sister Mason. But, as l writ y'u,
m amin f'r y'u t put up with me,
least FIR few days"-the brisk,
lspy voice softened-"Pm honein' t
i've talk with y'u about-the boy"
He glared down at the road; the
eacher studied him curiousIy.
So long had the old money-lender
en- accustomed to dominate every
,dy about him that 1t did not once {
cur to him to inquire what the s
eacher's wishes might be. He strobe s