The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-12-20
THE RED LOCK

~ iis4t AtHs buAhct. h~t iAe"
soon | amt. Went OF Z M'souri OWN
me dollar and thirty-four cents. ans
never did git IL"
Jaw. well. zeke don't worry none,
Uncle Nick rejoined ''y'u've wormed II
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 nsherman's frisky eye
twinkled and he swore merrily.
Zeke said never a word. but the ex-
preston In his little raj eyes might
have meant any number OF things.
"Biamedest feller-'nat Jim Rum
midge.~ Uncle Nick went on 'Ther'
werdnt nothln' bot what him an that
brother 81 o his'n wus up 10 when
they wus youngsters. Rlcollect one
Sund'y Jim tuck Il into is head L yoke
up n couple o calves oil man Rum
nudge was calc'latin' Z save rr oxen.
an e coaxed 81 Z play OF sick with
I'm SOS they wouldn't haf L 20 {
church. Well. the OF folks werdnt
more'n out O. sight when up jumps
Jim. an 81 right after I'm. an they
breaks rr the barn-iot e yoke up them
yearlin's.
"Sh-h-h-w warned zeke. ''hyur
comes the parson."
Almost with the words. the dapper.
nervously alert young preacher en-
tered the door In sp's~ OF his stud-
Gus air OF ripper years he couldn't have
been more than six or seven and
twenty. The trademark OF sis call
ing was hung all over him. His shiny
boots. elaborate frock coat. neck stock.
high hat and enormous specta, es
fairly shrieked schoolmaster
And yet one could not help wonder
ing why fate had set such a man as
the Rev. Caleb Hopkins 10 the busi-
ness OF keeping school. Dissoclated
from all suggestion OF theology and
chalk. his figure was about all that
could be desired In a man-helght
trihe above medium: well set up 1.-THE
and graceful--and his face-nothing
short OF handsome. only for certain
air Of peering severity.
~ fOOh ut bAin NJ nc tnltItU iiit
door-six feet OF 1.-THE young man.
hood smothering under It's ascetic. not
10 say somber. investure-one- would
never have guessed that there was
anything wrong with hts health. and
yet that was precisely what had
brought him 20 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 tho point OF re
sentlng the look. when the Reverend
Caleb quickly turned away. and with
nod passed the group around Uncle
Nick and went on 10 the post Office
window at the rear OF the room.
'what d y'u say we ask I'm e
4 long" whispered Al Counterman |
TO Uncle Nick as The young minister
stood waiting for zeke Pollok to ad-
just his dirty specfacles on his thin
nose. turn up the smoky lamp and
laboriously sort over the meager bunch
OF letters and postcards
"Y'u da'sn't." Uncle Nick answered
guardedly.
watch me. an yum see whuther
I da'st. ! amt a-feared OF no parson.
''Mr Hopkins" he called a moment
later. stepping IN front OF the young
preacher as he passed toward the
door. "a passel OF US fellers is goln'
a-seInin' uR around Alpine island IN
the mornin'. reckon y'u wouldn't
like L go long. mr. nothin'. would y'uf"
"who are going. did you sayg"
'Oh. me an Uncle Nick. thar. an
Big Jack warhope"
Il have promised 10 be NJ the social
tomorrow evening at the schoolhouse.
which. am Informed. is always held
n celebration Of the last day OF school
Do you expect to return In time for
hatr
"Aw. well be back by noon. easy"
Let me see pondered the preach
r. not willing 10 compromise his dig
iity by appearing overanxlous. This
> Wednesday: tomorrow n Thursday
i believe may safely allow myself
HIS recreation shall be most happy
o avail myself OF your kind invita-
ion"
The fisherman stood lingering his ,
Iat and staring al the door long after
he minister had passed out. the
winkie gone from his puckered one ,
ye. a puzzled look on his smoked ba-
on rind Of face.
well. I'll be dernedi Wouldn't
hat SINCE y'ur whiskersi dunno ylf
rhufher he said ed come r not"
Uncle Nick threw lis head back and. !
airy roared. while the postmaster
IMPLIED up his dry counfenance Into a .
aif begrudged grin.
Course he said ed come whar
rus you brung up ~. anyhowf Didn't /
u hyur I'm say he'd vail himself Of :
'ur kind inFyiaflonf Course he's 4
alcisting . come zeke. we'll haf ,
git Al new spellin' book an start \
m Z school next fan