The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1923-11-15

WeItU IOlIllu u " I&A ~ -
brother ST O. his'n wus up to when
they wus youngsters. Ricollect one
Sund'y Jim tuck it into lis head t yoke
up a couple o. calves OF man Rum
nudge was calc'latin' t save FIR oxen
an e coaxed 81 t play off sick with
i'm SOS they wouldn't hat t go t
church. Well, the oil folks werdn't
more'n out O. sight when up jumps
jim, an 81 right after i'm, an they
breaks FIR the barrplot t. yoke up them
yearlin's.
"Sh-h-h-!" warnea Zeke, "hyur
comes the parson."
Almost with the words, the dapper,
nervously alert young preacher en-
tered the door. In spite Of his studi-
air of ripper years. he couldn't have
been more than six or seven and
twenty. The trademark of his call
ing was hung all over him. His shiny
boots. elaborate frock coat, neck stock,
high hat and enormous spectacles
fairly shrieked scho0lmaster.
And yet could not help wonder
ing why fate had set such a man as
the Rev. Caleb Hopkins to the bus1-
ness of keeping school. Dissociated
from all suggestion of theology and
chalk, his figure wa about all that
could be desired in a man-height a
trife above medium; well set up 1.-the
and graceful-and his face-nothing
short of handsome, only for a 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 hat there was
anything wrong with his health, and
vet 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 the point of re-
senting the look, when the Reverend
Caleb quickly turned away, and with
a nod passed the group around Uncle
Nick and went on to the post office
window at the rear Of the room.
"What d yu say we ask i'm t
q long" whispered AL Counterman
to Uncle Nick as the young minister
stood waiting for Zeke Pollok to adj
Just his dirty s%pectacles on his thin
nose, turn up the smoky lamp and
l"aboriously sort over the meager bunch
Of letters and postcards.
"Y'u da'sn't," Uncle Nick answered
~guardedly.
watch me, an y'u'n see whuther
da'st. l amt a-feared of no parson.
"1Ir. 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 mnrnin'. | reckon yu wouldn't
like t 90 long mr. noalin, would y'u?
"Who are coins. 'Nl vn" a'r?'
ooh, 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, wen be back by noon, easy"
LET me see" pondered the preach
err, not willing to compromise his dig
nifty by appearing overanxious. "This
is Wednesday tomorrow is Thursday
II believe l may safely allow myself
this recreation. l 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 n
eye. a puzzled look on his smoked ba-
con rind Of a face.
well, I'll be derned Wouldn't
that SINCE y'ur whiskers! dunno yft.
whuther he said ED come r not"
Uncle Nick threw his head back and
fairly roared, while the postmaster
rumpled up his dry countenance into a
half b%egrudged grin.
Course he said ed come. Whar
wus you brung up at, anyhow? Didn't
y'u hyur i'm say he'd vail himself of
y'ur kind invitation? Course he's
calculating t come. zeke, Wen hat
t git AL a new spellin' book an start
i'm t. school next fall"
"Well,' muttered the fisherman, as
his face cleared and the twinkle came
back to his waggish one eye, "all 1 got
t say is: he can use up more diction-
airy a'sayin' yes than any man 1 ever
heard. But amt e some locker
barrin' that KILN rig he's hobbled up
in?'
"Most too ~good-lookin'," piped Zeke.
cav, dunno, Zeke," Uncle Nick OBJ
served, "'tain't go'n' t hurt i'm none.
Only drawback l can see is: it's a pity
t. waste all them good looks on a
preacher"
anyhow" put in AL, his rakish eye
dancing at Uncle Nick's remark, 'if
he wus ugly enough t tree the devil