The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-11-29
CHAPTER CONTINUED.

She glanced away along the distant
windings of the road.
when men Of the woods ride out
yonder, they don't come back. Ken
didn't"
The mans eyes searched her face
for some hidden meaning In her words;
apparently did not find It.
81 amt aimin' t let the big wor
out yonder swuller me up like Ii did
Ken, Some fatboatmen told me yes
terd'y there's a wagon train maxim
up in h city for the gold diggin's
in California. Y'u know. when a bound
: boys times out, the man he's bound
TO Most gener'ly starts i'm off with
a boss and saddle and bride. Pap
Simon said he hg'r'd IN givin' me
Graylock.
81 low wen jine that wagon train
Graylock and me. And when we fIfu
gold, we're-comin' back"
He stole a shy look at her. She
dropped her eyes.
You'll f'rget the Flatwoods when
you've f~Ound-gold.'
: He seemed to search her words
again for some meaning that he wished
much to ind. But her face was very
thoughtful and turned aside.
'F'rget the Flatwoods! Where else
in the world Is there a sight like that?
The minute I've got money enough I'm
comm. back. III buy the homestead
back f'om Pap simon; finish tbs
house; and then"
An arm unconsciously reached to-
ward her. The movement brought the
? red-roofed cottage into his line of Wis
ion-the red-roofed cottage, where lay
, a paper that bound him to servitude.
He drew his arm back crushed his
hat rim In his powerful fingers.
Down by the rivulet in the barn lot
the geese honked and clappsd their
wings. The sound aroused the man
from the half bitter mood and he
glanced at his companion, to find her
eyes upon him.
Jack" she hesitated; do y'u
s'pose Il could be the red lock that
made Ken act like e did,"
J. The question vas so at variance
with the mans trend of thought that
he was a long time considering it.
at amt the red lock-" he finally
answered In his slow way, its the
drop Of blood that come along with 1t.
FIR that matter, though. every man
gifts a bad drop r W out of the past.
But them bad drops can be overcome,
If a man bucks ag'in 'em. The trouble
with Ken was 1t didn't pear like he
wanted { buck ag'in' his"
1.-THE curse of Collin" was the
girls musing comment. "F'r hundreds
:: OF years-ever sence the days of Red
Colin the old sea pirate-it's ben
; breakin' out In the family every few
generations. 1t alw'ys worried Ken
=, that II broke out on him. I've some
times thought 1t would "a ben better
II he'd never "a found out the mean
I" in' of that red lock-that II was the
curse of Colin"
That's It," he commented. Il low
:! Ken ig'r'd the curse had I'M anyhow,
= and so 1t wasn't wo'th while t buck
ag'in It,"
Mother KEEP the lock cut of, y'u
know, till Ken was big enough t notice
II himself. After that he alw'ys KEEP
II combed under SOS II didn't show.
i don't reckon anybody In the flat
woods. but you and me and father
know'd e had it."
Yes" the Soodsman interrupted,
:. col Uncle Nick Whites knows. But
that's as good as sayin' us dead and
buried. Nothin' ever gifts a-past Uncle
:. Nick's jaw"
He grinned, pushed up the mop OF
4, tousied hair that fell over his brow
, and pointed 10 a scar.
. That's where Ken struck me with
is whip han'le the day | found out e
Ind It,"
q: The girl ran her slim fingers over
the seal.
And he cut me with the whip
Because | iew at i'm when e done H."
"And then I hit i'm with \ rock
Because e cut you"
1.-THE girl sh!vered.
Il thought he'd kill y'u that 6ay."
she said. His hat fell of. his hair
was mussed, aud y'u know how awful
IL made I'm look when that red lock
worked out and fell down over lis
eyes-wild and savage and terrible;
like Oh Red Colin must "a looked.
He jerked y'u up and drawed the butt
of 10 whlp-mercyl II makes me
shiver L think about il. But he only
~laughed--hsrd ami wna-and let yu
GO"
A smile crawled across the bold
eatures of the woodsman. narrowed
his eyes and pinched out two queer
little wisps of friendly frunkness.
sThis ANT Fourth o July. mr.
Christmas, mr. nobody's weddin'. How
come the cener q he reached Out