The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1923-12-27

In. Theirs nothin t bender y'u from
takin' a ride every day. reckon
we've still got my saddle an things,
amt We, d%aughter?'
Saddle and bride and ALL" she n
swered. And it will be such a pleas
ure," she went on, turning the
young preacher, ST show y'u ind
over our beautiful FlatWoods"
with such a guide, l am impatient
to go the earliest moment possible"
the preacher exclaimed effusively,
"this afternoon-now-if you WILL"
The girl glanced at her father.
why not?" he nodded.
Il don't like to leave-you."
The old man tossed up his hand and
laughed-a raspy sort of laugh-aH
that the years had left him.
The girl turned back to the preacher.
IVY, yes-if you WISH" she said
"only you must promise not t. run
away from me; Rex is ever s. much
faster than Brownie"
The preacher turned to look again
at the tall bay, standing a few feet
back from the gate, where he had
withdrawn step by step as the minis
ter advanced.
HE certainly appears to possess
great speed"
"Speed" the old banker repeated, q
note in his voice common to the throat
of every man In the Flatwoods when
speaking of his horse or dog, next t.
Jacks Graylock at the homestead yon-
dor hos thn foc+oot a; A.. MI
woods"
"Graylock = Warhope"- the tired
eyes pinched together thoughtfully-
"a remarkable young man"
Scarce as hens teeth, his breed"
the old man returned warmly. I'm
doubtin' if theirs anybody along the
Wabash that knows the woods like he
does, unless 1t might be OF Nick WIFI
fes. I've alw'ys ben glad he tuck to
'em the way e did, and I've encour-
aged i'm. Theirs nothin' like the
woods t make a man of a Teller"
"Some professors came up her f'om
down the river t. study what they
called Native Flora on the homestead
last year-y'u know, theirs two thou
san acres of it, most of it layin' list
as the Indians left It, and he keeps
coaxin' me not t. low an az laid to a
single sound tree. There'l be a for
tune in hat oak and walnut some day.
Jack, he'd ben writin' to- these
professors, and they'd ben sendin' i'm
books-anyhow, they come up and
tramped around FIR nigh a week.
zone day one of 'em was talkin' t.
me-, and he said Jack knowed more
about the woods than all the rest Of
'em put together. Well, that's him,
every time. l never did know i'm t.
try anything but what he got it down
about as fine as the next one"
The old banker glanced up at the
sun slipping down the west and turned
to his daughter:
"Well, If y'u're goin', y'u better be
startin'."
Long years of active business life
promptness and decision-had so
ground these traits into his nature
that they had come to function auto
matically.
Talking as volubly about the rela-
tive merits of Rex and Brownie as If
he were an agent trying to sell them,
and rubbing his bony hands in delight
at having his restless mind set once
more to a definite task, he led the
way to the lot n turned the horses
into the barn.
The saddle and bride were some
what stiffened from disuse whep he
them on Rex, but he had them
Limbered up and came leading out he
horse almost as soon as Texie had
Brownie ready.
In the driveway down the yard the
girl handed Brownies rein to her ia
n ran INTO the house. When
returned a moment later. she had
IN a short riding skirt, and was BUCK
ing around her waist as she walked
the holster of a small and very fancy
revolver.
The preacher allowed his eyes to
stray over the trim figure and rest on
the weapon
"a present from-Jack," the girl
answered to his look, at the same
lime dropping her fingers to the neat
1olster-'he trapped mink t. git the
money!"
DO they-girls, mean-carry such
things in the F~latwoods?"
'Sometimes-y'u see, Jack and
'ide t'gether, and shoot target g
much"
"Why. | nave one of those-things."
Have y'u-bring it along and wen
ihoot target"
The preacher handed Rex's bride
Elm to her and hurried into the house.
The old banker, grinning toward his
at the eccentric dominie's
step, suddenly seemed to re-
something, tapped the breast
rocket of his faded coat; drew out
he formidable letter addressed to
'ack Warhope and handed it to the
,irl, with the request that she deliver
{ at the first handy ODnOrtunitY