Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1923-11-08
CHAPTER u
East Meets West.

tIOin up tne rlVer--frOm the city tWeu-
~ miles above--was by far the most
important. Its arrival was the one
big event Of the day. Half the village
was usually gathered about the broken
porch Of Zeke Pollck's general store
20 see II come In.
The Buckeye post Office shifted back
and forth across the River road about
rs often as the nation changed presi.
dents. Zeke Pollok was Whig. and
the man In the White House In far-off
Washington happened TO be a Wing.
That's why the post Office was In
store on the north side OF the road In
the year OF grace, iS4o. instead Of In
a store on the south side.
The River road was a bigger insti.
tuition than the town. II not only
halved the town; II well-nigh halved
It's political faith. From the warhope
farmstead at the east edge to the
school house at the west edge. Il
formed, In political years. sort OF
devils lane" between the north sid.
ers and the south siders. The farm
stead and the red-roofed cottage
which ls TO say Jack Warhope and
the Collns--were both on the north
side Of the road.
Simon Colin had once been Zeke
Polick's partner. but had dissolved the
partnership years before TO follow the
more lucrative business of lending
money and collecting rents-mostiy
his own. A banker without bank. 80
shrewd was his judgment and 80 hard
the bargains he drove. that half the
Flatwoods was under mortgage to him.
He still kept q sort OF Office In the
store--a desk by the dusty window; a
narrow shelf nailed along the tops OF
the pallngs at the longer side; a chair;
a table against the wall. on Il three or
four law books that were never
opened. There was no safe. That
was nj the red.roofed cottage.
Not q very imposing ofiice--but the
commerce Of the Flatwoods passed
across those time-faded, implanted
pailngs. Even Zeke Pollok, Simon's
closest business associate, would
have been astonlshed TO know the ac-
tual wealth that journeyed In an old
satchel back and forth every day be
tween house and store.
Dangerous twice the attempt had
been made 10 see inside that satchel
and q man had died each time. The
old banker carried q huge doublebar-
relied horse pistol. loaded half TO the
muxEle with buckshot. and he Knew
the way to Its light trigger ms the
weasel knows the way to Its den.
And the safe at home-a cracksman
from the city tried that one night. The
old man blew hole In his ribs the
sine OF an open hand with a sawed
OF shotgun he always kept near his
bed.
The old banker had Just closed his
desk, picked up the rusty satchel, and
come out on the porch OF the store
when his daughter and the big woods
man joined the crowd around the post
otiice--a crowd doubly large, gathered
for the doubly suspicious occasion.
The girl ran 10 her father and
slipped an arm about his waist. He
looked down at her and grunted. II
was the only sign he gave that he knew
she was there
Up beyond the warhope farmstead
there came prodlgious rattle Of
wheels, clatter OF iron shod hoofs,
and the Milford stage dashed into
sight; reared across the wooden
bridge where the River road crossed
Eagle run; rumbled past the church
into the village and pulled up In front
OF the post Office.
The crowd fiocked around II. The
guard threw or the mail sack. Zeke
Pollok picked II up and carried II In,
and the numbering stage ratified away
down the river.
One passenger had allghted, a tall
young man wearing a full beard. neatly
cropped and pointed-the new preach
er, without a doubt-Quitc the oldest
array Of satchels and umbrella. paten,
leather boots and high hat. stiff neck
stock and enormous spectacles, that
had ever invaded the Fiatwoods
He seemed nervous as he stood Al
the side OF the road peering through
his enormous spectacles, slightly amber
tinted. upon the crowd.
The old banker. with his daughter q
step behind him. advanced. touched his
faded black hat and extended his hand
'sThe Rev. Caleb Hopkins, lowr"
The eyes behind the huge spectacies
lighted The young preacher dropped
one OF his satchels and met the out
stretched hand.
.Ah-Mr.-Colin. take itr'
.All but the mister. I'm jist plain
Sine Colin"
The. old man grinned. as broadly NJ
the pinched shrewdness Of his dry fscs
would allow.
Il want y'u e meet my daughter
He half turned; jerked his thumb
toward the girl; jerked Il back toward
che n=earher. Tickle Mr. p""s'~- .