The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-12-26
THE RED LOCK

| go'n' Z fright I'm, nuther. not right
soon amt. Went off L M'souri OWN
me a dollar and thirty-fcur cents. and
never did git It,"
Jaw, well. Zeke. don't worry nome
Uncle Nick rejoined. "y'u've wormed 1t
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 fisherman's frisky eye
twinkled and he swore merrIly.
Zeke said never word but the ex-
preston in his little rat eyes might
have meant any number Of things.
"Blamedest feller-tAat Jim Rum
midge." Uncle Mich went on. Their
werdn't nothin' but what him an that
brother ST o. his'n wus up to when
they wus youngsters. Ricoliect one
Sund'y Jim tuck ii into is head [ yoke
up a couple o calves oil man Rum
nudge was calc'latin t save fr oxen.
I'm SOS they wouldn't hat L go +
church. Well. the Of folks werdnt
more'n out O. sight when up jumps
Jim. an 81 right after i'm, an they
breaks f'r the barn-lot Z yoke up them
yearIin's.
"Sh-h-h-r warned Zeke, ''hyur
comes the pafson."
Almost with the words. the dapper.
nervously alert young preacher en-
tered the door. In sr'a4 of his studi-
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 man as
the Rev Caleb Hopkins to the busi-
ness of keeping school. Dissociated
from all suggestion of theology and
chalk, his figure was about all that
could be desired in man-height
trifie above medium; well set up; 1.-THE
and graceful-and his face-nothing
short of handsome, only for 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 ascetic, not
to say somber. investure-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 tho point of re
senting the look, when the Reverend
Caleb quickly turned away, and with
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.
G. 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
laborously sort over the meager bunch
Of letters and postcards. 49,
"Y'u da'sn't." Uncle Nick answered
guardedly.
Watch me. an y'u'll see whuther
l last. l amt a-feared of 40 parson.
Mr.. Hopkins" he called a moment
later, stepping In front of the young
preacher as he passed toward the
door, "a passed. of US fellers is goin'
a-seinin' up around Alpine island In
the mornin'. l reckon y'u wouldn't
like t go long. mr. nothin'. would y'u?"
"Who are going did you say?"
"Oh, me an Uncle Nick, thar, an
Big Jack Warhope."
Il have promised to be at the social
tomorrow evening at the schoolhouse,
which, l am informed. is always held
In celebration of the last day of school.
Do you 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 overanxious. This
is Wednesday; tomorrow is Thursday
i believe l may safely allow myself
this recreation. 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, the
twinkle gone from his puckered one
eye, a puzzled look on his smoked ba
con rind of face.
"Well, I'll be derned Wouldn't
that since y,33r wi 81 - p =