Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1923-11-02

Tor some hidden meaning In her WORDS;
apparently did not find 1t. ;,
II aint amin t let the big worl
out yonder swaller me up like it did.
Ken. Some fatboatmen told me yes
terdy there's wagon train maxim,
up in the city for the gold diggins
In California. Y'u know, when bound
boys times out, the man he's bound
to most gener'ly starts i'm off with
q hoss and saddle and bride. Pap
Simon said he fgr'd on givin' me
Graylock.
II low Wen jine that wagon train
Graylock and me. And when we find
gold, we're-comin' back"
He stole a shy look at her. She
dropped her eyes.
You'll frget the Flatwoods when
you've found-gold."
He seemed to search her words
again for some meaning that he wished
much to fnd. But her face was very
thoughtful and turned aside.
"F'rget the F1atwoods Where else
In the world is there sight like that?
The minute I've got money enough I'm
comm back. I'll buy the homestead
back f'om Pap Simon; finish the
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
q paper that bound him to servitude.
He drew his arm back; crushed his
hat rim In his powerful fingers.
Down by the rvulet in the barn lot
the geese honked and clapped 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 yu
s'pose 1t could be the red lock that
made Ken act like e did7"
The question was SO at variance
with the mans trend Of thought that
he was long time considering it.
1T amt the red lock-" he finally
answered in his slow way, "it's the
drop of blood that come along with 1t.
FIR that matter, though, every man
gifts a bad drop r two out Of the past.
But them bad drops can be overcome
If man bucks ag'ln 'em. The trouble
with Ken was 1t didn't pear like hs
wanted t. buck ag'in' his"
1.-THE curse of Colin,'" was the
girls musing comment. "F'r hundreds
of years-ever sence the days Of Red
Colin the old sea pirate-it's ben
generations. 1t alw'ys worried Ken
that 1t broke out on him. I've some
times thought it would a ben better
If he'd never a found out the mean
in Of that red lock-that 1t was the
curse Of Colin"
"That's it," he commented. Il low
Ken ng'r'd the curse had i'm anyhow,
and SO it wasn't wo'th while t buck
ag'in It."
Mother KEEP the lock cut off, y'u
know, till Ken was big enough t notice
1t himself. After that he alw'ys KEEP
1t combed under SOS 1t didn't show.
! don't reckon anybody In the Flat
woods but you and me and father
know'd e had t."
Yes" the woodsman interrupted,
"op Uncle Nick Whites knows. But
that's as good al sayin' it's dead and
buried. Nothin' ever gtts a-past Uncle
Nick's jaw"
He grinned. pushed up the mop OF
tousled hair that fell over his brow
and pointed to q scar.
That's where Ken struck me with
Is whip hanls tns day l found out q
had It,"
The girl ran her slim fingers over
the scar.
And he cut me with the whip
b'cause few Al i'm when e done it."
And then 1 hit I'm with q rock
b'causa q cut you"
The gin shiversd.
Il thought he'd kill y'u that day"
she said. "H1s hat fell OF, his hair
was mussed, and y'u know how awful
1t made Inn look when that red lock
worked out and fell down over Is
eyes-w1ld and savage and terrible;
like OIL Red Colin must a looked
He Jerked y'u up and drawed the butt
Of ID whip-mercy 1t makes me
shiver T. think about It. But he only
laughed-hard and wid-and let y'u
CO."
A smile crawled across the bold
features OF the woodsman. narrowed
his eyes and pinched out TWO queer
little wisps Of friendly frankness.
This amt Fourth o July, mr.
Chris'mas, mr. nobody's weddin'. How
come the scenery He reached out
his big hand and touched the smart
bow of ribbon at her waist.
IVY, didn't y'u know. the new
preachers a-comin' on the Milford
stage this evenln'. and we're ali goin'
t meet im-you, too"
The twinkle at the corners OF the
mans eyes deepened.
Continued Nsxt Week