The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-12-27
CHAPTER lV-continued.

"Yes, them's mighty fine senti-
ments," cut the thin edged voice of
the postmaster across the sllence-and
the dream dissolved in the isherman's
eye-"an' | mostly agrees with 'em an
says amen no 'em, an the new parson
may be all 'e's cracked up to be, but
still ! amt takin' back nothln'."
Zeke's thin voice ceased. lost some
where in the c%avernous labyrinth Of
his sharp, %inquisitive nose.
Uncle Nick prodded down the con.
tents of his pipe with his finger and
smoked a while in silence. Taking the
stem from between his lips after a
time, he blew the smoke away. slowly.
ms II to get the full taste of ID. and
waved the pipe across toward the
postmaster-a well understood prelllni-
nary to a renewal Of the argument.
Al the moment Loge Belden took a
gulp from his bottle of squirrel" put
the cork in, slapped it tight and
slouched up along the counter.
Say, I'd just like L put one { that.
This evenln' as | come up the River
road past this hyur Warhope home
stead an Slime Collins house, | stopped
a little bit on the bridge acrost Eagle
run an happened T. look. over In the
orchid b'twixt oil Shines an the par
sonage. Y'u know Tiers n spring
along the crlck thar under the edge o.
the hill, an theirs a bench { set on
under the maple tree by the spring.
well MS come a-past, thar set this
hyur new parson n that Texie gal
on that bench, an as neal as | could
make out, beln' purity well along
tow'rds dark. he had is arm around
FER. You fellers r. wastin' a lot o.
breath on that gal. | low the par
SON"
The room suddenly was deadly still.
with every eye turned toward the door.
Belden felt the stiffness; hesitates
turned
In the open door. framed in sharp
outline against the dark background
of the nigbtfall, stood the tall form
OF Jack Warhope.
Belden grlnned oddly; muttered a
word or two; leaned against the coun-
ter and looked down at the floor.
With the reach and spring that only
the woods and hills can give, Wa-hope
walked into the room.
IL Tow y'u must IA been mlstook
about that-arm."
"Not a d-n bit"
Like lightning came the sharp
smack of an open hand that famed
Belden's head back. He leaped away
from the COUNTER and struck-a good
smashing swing, clean from the hip;
but 1t didn't land.
II was apparent that Belden had a
high opinion of his ability as a rough
and tumble fighter. for he stepped
right in and mixed II fast and furI.
ous--the whirlwind give and take OF
the mountains. The man he faced
ducked or sidestepped or dashed aside
everything Belden had. and came back
with an occasional Jab that was mad
dening.
Belden lost his temper-tha mistake
of many a better man-and lunged
tttiuhciy. hr lbn ihto tu ubDtFcut 10 |
the chin that doubled him back over a
harrel OF salt. He whirled up. and
his right hand clawed the butt Of a
pistol oui Of his pocket.
The pistol came out. hut that was
all. A heavy slx-gun leaped from the
wopdsman's side. a bullet crashed nto
the pistol butt, gashed BeIden's hand
slightly and tore on into the salt
baYrei.
The woodsman stuck the six-gun
back into the holster at his hip. hid
den by his hunting blouse, snatchcd
by the collar and jerked him
puf into the middle OF the floor.
II low y'u must a ben mlstook
lbouf that arm"
Belden's small beady ayes burned