The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-12-13
CHAPTER III--contInued.

49, 80 Y ~ 40 "
little to tell. Your brother was the
ah-most puzzling psychological prob.
lem that I ever tried to solve. He
could Dave been one Of the most bril-.
liant scholars the institution ever
turned out. He literally drank up ev-
erything the college had to give, and
that Without apparent effort-as the
desert drinks the dew. His penman-
ship; his drawing; his command Of
Engllsh--very remarkable. | was his
roommate and classmate. and yet |
v saw him apply himself seri-
And that was probably his limitation
learning anne too easy to him. 1t
ean, you know"
He stopped, as II he had no more TO
say stared at his napkin and folded
II with careful precision.
THE presidents letter said that
that-T"
The girl seemed unable TO finish the
question. but the preacher guessed
what she wanted to know. He again
fumbIed his napkin, ,nfolded 1t. and
looked around the table. IL vas an
embarrassing moment.
with all due respect TO you. his
family"-he glanced at Mrs. Curry and
the wo0dsman-"and friends. though ]
would rather not speak of II at all.
n should 20 do so. only that II Is
my duty as your minister to tell you
the truth-Kenwood Colin was a very
severe trial to the college authorities.
His talent for learning was equaled
only by his talent for mischief. Yet,
wild as he was known to be, nobody
thought that he would ever have
forged his fathers name. He was
deeply in debt before his very clever
forgeries were even suspected, much
less detected.
''Then came his sensational killing
Of a gambler over a card game, and his
>reat underworld Of the city. Since
"a. nothing more seems to have been
card OF him."
There was a moments silence. The
girl teamed forward: her lips apart
her eyes wide.
pore Ken-w she said softly. "He
couldn't hep bein' what e was. II
was the-red lock-"
The preacher raised his specialized
eyes up from his plate and stared at
the girl c~uriously.
RED lock-r'
didn't you know e had ltr'
The preacher looked his bewilder-
ment.
Then please, please. don't mention
that you know Il! Please. don't ever
Z lowed you knowed. bein' his room
mate. or I wouldn't "a told. He was
that 'shamed e had Il. and alw'ys
yep II combed under SOS II didn't
Show
The banker had been staring at the
tableclotn. tie lifted ms faes.
.sThe curse Of Colin" he com
mented thoughtfully. HE was u sea
pirate In the days OF Queen Elizabeth.
He'd Colin they called i'm. Looks
like his blood would "a run out b. this
fine, but II hain't. Every three r four
generations II shows up, generly n
child In a family with q lock o. hair
Ms red as IRE. Nobody would think a
lock o. hair and a drop O. blood could
set 4 child back hundreds o. genera.
fIons T. what oil Red Colin must IA
hem. but II does.
The minute | saw that red lock on
Ken I knowed e was doomed. I've
clicked I'm and reasoned with I'm and
nrayed over lm--but I knowed all the
time II wouldn't do no good. That's
the main reason 4 sent I'm on Z the
sxlnd OF a. college I did-where ther'
eint nobody much hut preachers a
runnin' II. He didn't like I 60 Z thai
kInd. but Il hoped bein' throwed
amongst men Ike THAT might head OF
what / kuowed was In I'M"
The preacher leaned back In his
ceair cropped Ms hands IN tts lap.
SPerroit me to say" he observed In
~ ierky fashion. 'sthat was as grave
! mistake a. you could possio'y have
uadoIs
.lfebhe 81 ths old man answered.