The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-12-20
THE RED LOCK


Uncle Nick rejolned. "y'u've wormed Il
outen some other pore devil b this
time. more'n likely"
The blacksmith slapped his heavy
hand down on his thigh, the others
laughed. the isherman's frisky eye
twinkled and he Swore merrily.
Ieke said never a word. but the ex-
preston In his little rat eyes might
have meant any number Of things.
"Blamedest feller-that Jim Rum
nudge" Uncle Nick went on. Their
werdn't nothin' but what him an that
brother 81 O. his'n wus up to when
they wus youngsters. RiCOllect one
Sund'y Jim tuck It into is head t yoke
up a couple O. calves Of man Rum
nudge was calC'latin' L save fr oxen,
an e coaxed 81 t play of sick with
i'm SOS they wouldn't hat [ 60 Z
church. Well, the Of folks werdn't
more'n out o. sight when up jumps
Jim. an 81 right after i'm, an they
breaks fr the barn-lot T. yoke up them
yearlin's.
"Sh-h-h-" warned Zeke, "hyur
comes the parson."
Almost with the words, the dapper,
%nervously alert young preacher en-
tered the door. In spite of his studi-
Gus air Of ripper years, he couldn't have
been more than six or seven and
twenty. The trademark OF his call
ing was hung all over him. His shiny
| hnntp nl,hN.t, f,,,1. ,,,t no.I. .,,,t.
high hat and enormous spectacles
fairly shrieked sChOOlmaster.
And yet n could not help wonder
ing why fate had set such a man as
the Rev. Caleb Hopkins to the busl-
ness Of keeping school. DissoClated
from all suggestion of theology and
chalk. his figure was about all that
could be desired in a man--height a
trifle above medium we'll set up: 1.-the
and graceful-and his face-nothing
short Of handsome, only for a certain
air OF peering severity.
To look at him as he entered the
door-six feet of 1.-the young man
hood ~smOthering under its ascatic. no
TO say sOmber, inyesture-One would
never have guessed that there was
anything wrong with his health, and
yet that was precisely what had
brought him to the Flatwoods.
And now as he walked past Loge
Belden slouched against the counter.
he stopped and stood staring curl
ously at him.
Belden seemed on the point Of re-
senting the look, when the Reverend
Caleb quickly turned away, and with
a nod passed the group around Uncle
Nick and went on to the post office
window at the rear of the room.
What d y'u say we ask I'm T.
e long" whispered Al Counterman
to Uncle Nick as the young minister
stood waiting for Zeke Pollok to adj
just his dirty spectacles on his thin
nose. turn up the smoky lamp and
laboriously sort yer the meager bunch
Of letters and postcards.
"Y'u d~a'sn't," Uncle Nick answered
guardedly.
Watch me, IN y'u'li see whuther
! da'st. amt a-feared of no parson.
Mr.. Hopkins" he called a m
later. stepping in front Of the young
preacher as he passed toward the
door, "a passed. Of us fellers is goin'
up around Alpine island in
the mornin'. reckon y'u wouldn't
like { go long, mr. nothin', would y'u?"
who are going, did you say2'
"Oh, me an Uncle Nick. thar, an
Big Jack Warhope."
Il have promised to he nj the social
evening at the schoolhouse.
which, | am informed, is always held
In celebration Of the last day of school.
DO Nu expect to return In time for
that?"
Jaw, We'll be back by noon easy"
Let me see pondered the preach
er, not willing TO compromise his dig
nifty by appearing o~veranxious. This
Is Wednesday tomorrow is Thursday
Il believe | may safely allow myself
this recreation. l shall be most happy |
to avail myself of your kind invita- !
ton"
The fisherman stood lingering his
hat and staring at the door long after
the minister had passed out, ahe
twinkle gone from his puckered one
eye, a puzzled look on his smoked ba-
con rind Of a face.
well. I'll be dernedi Wouldn't |
that SINCE y'ur whiskers! dunno yit
whuther he said ed come r not"
Uncle Nick III, ew Lis head back and
fairly roared. ..nile the postmaster
rumpled up his dry c~ountenance into a
half b~egrudged grin.
Course he said ed come. whar
wus ycu brnng up at, anyhow? Didn't
y'u hyur i'm say he'd vail himself OF
y'ur kind invitation? Course he's
calculating L come. Zeke, well haf
Z git Al a new spellin' book an start
I'm L school next fall"
WELL" muttered the fisherman. as
his face cleared and the twinkle came
back to his waggish one eye, all I got
Z say is: he can use up more diction-
airy a'sayin' yes than any man I ever
heard. But amt e some locker
barrin' that KILN rig he's hobbled up
INF"
Most too good-lookin'." piped Zeke.
Jaw. dunno. Zeke," Uncle Nick OBJ
served. faint go'n' Z hurt i'm none.
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