The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-11-15


from the city tried that one night. The
old man blew a hole in his ribs the
Size OF an open hand with sawed
on 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
of1ce--a crowd doubIy large. gathered
for the doubly suspicious occasion.
The girl ran 10 her father and
slipped an arm about his waist. He
looked down at her and grunted. II
was the only sign he gave that he knew
she was there.
Up beyond the Warhope farmstead
there came prodigious rattle Of
wheels. CHATTER OF lron-shod hoofs,
and the Milford stage dashed into
sight; roared across the wooden
bridge where the River road crossed
Eagle run; rumbled past the church
into the village and pulled up In front
Of the post Office.
The crowd fi0cked around II. The
guard threw or the mall sack. Zeke
Pollok picked II up and carried II 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 doubt-qulte the oldest
array Of satchels and umbrella. patent
leather boots and high hat, stifr 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
'"rhe Rev. Caleb Hopkins, 'low7"
The eyes behind the huge spectacles
lighted The young preacher dropped
one OF his satchels and met the out
stretched hand
"Ah-Mr.-Colin. take itY'
al Dut tho hiSter. IN Jist plain =
Slime Colin"
The old man grinned. as broadly as
he pinched shrewdness Of his dry face
would allow.
II want y'u Z meet my daughter"
lie half turned; Jerked his thumb
oward the girl; jerked II back toward n
he preacher. tickle. Mr.. Hopkins"
The young preacher touched his tall :
at; dropped his other satchel, grasped
he girls hand In both his own and |,
ressed II closer than the occasion 4
Duld possibly warrant. =
II may have been merely the ex. !,
ression OF genial nature touched n
It'll the feryency OF his profession ?
Ie outfiowlng OF benevolence that
nbraced all humanity-but even so.
brought quick flush to the girls
ce. and drove her eyes TO the ground.
The old banker had turned to the
ovid.
"Step up. step up" he called. "and
axe hands with the new parson. The
" y'u hang back. he'll think he's
appel or amongst a pack o. pub
ans and sinners"
The crowd had evidently been walt
, for just such an Invitation. Stolid
'es raveled into grins, and the
nint vernacular OF the Flatwoods
] an airing. odd bits OF philosophy.
'ient Jokes. that nobody would have
red TO spring on bis neighbor. were
ely sprung on the hapless and help
$ sojourner from the polite East.
The Informal reception was over and
81 OF the crowd gone when Texle
iced Jack Warhope still leaning
inst the porch post where she had
him. She ran back. caught his -
! and dragged him forward. So
Mr.. Hopkins. meet Ja-Mr. War Use
'e." lia
Glad 10 meet you. Mr. warhope"
he young preacher stretched forth n
hand; the other grasped IL. The =
ring eyes behind the heavy glasses H
He'd him with curious Intentness.
the woodsman, only mildly inter-
u. missed the lnquisitive look.
he old banker had taken a step up
road q
Well" he said. II low that fist
Ut winds up the how-d'-y dom.
ie. run In and git the mall. and
I be moseyln'."
9 half turned and glanced back
: hts shoulder at the preacher.
we dlckcred the use OF our oil
cher's study rr y'u at the parson.
Sister Mason-the wilder y'u
v-she lows she'll be right glad
ave y'u come over and use the
y, she's that lonely sence the par
lied. Wen stop as we go a-past. and
can take a look at the study. and
! Sister Mason. hut. as writ y'u.
amin rr y'u Z put up with me.
east CT few days--the brisk.
' voice softened-~rm honeln' &
a talk with y'u about--the boy
giared down at the road: the
her studied him cautiously.
long had the old money-lender
accustomed TO dominate every