Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1923-11-22

Could the others have glImpsed hack
Of that scanned and weather-beaten
mask, they might have read there the
deep craven memory Of day that was
dead-a dream and an awakening. q
romance and q tragedy-that had
driven him, as the storm drives the
driftwood, with what the world calls
q crime slated against him. to bury
his life here with his dog and fishing
gear. alone In his bachelor cabin on
the river shore.
-Yes. them's mighty fine senti
ments." cut the thin edged voice of
the postmaster across the silence-and
the dream dissolved In the fsherman's
eye-''an' mostly agrees with 'em an
says amen to 'em. an the new parsoD
may be all 'e's cracked up to be. but
still amt takin' back nothin'"
Zeke's thin voice ceased. lost some
where In the cavernous labyrinth Of
his sharp, inquisitive nose.
Uncle Nick prodded down the con-
tents Of his pipe with his finger and
smoked a while In silence. Taking the
ohNh AhOui OttWNth uAo ups dhtCf
time. he blew the smoke away. slowly.
as II to get the full taste Of II, and
waved the pipe across toward the
postmaster-a well understood prelimi
nary to a renewal of the argument.
At the moment Loge Belden took
gulp from his bottle of squirrel" put
the cork In. slapped II tight and
slouched up along the counter.
Say. I'd just like e put one e that.
This evenin' as come up the River
road past this hyur warhope home
stead an Slime Collins house, I stopped
a little bit on the bridge acrost Eagle
run an happened Z look over in the
orchid b'twixt OIL Shines an the par
sonage. Y'u know Tiers a spring
along the criek thar under the edge o.
the hill. an theirs bench Z set on
under the maple tree by the spring.
swell. as come a-past. thar set this
hyur new parson an that Texie gal
on that bench, an as near as I could
make out. bein' purity well along
tow'rds dark. he had Is arm around
'er. You fellers r wastin' a lot o.
breath on that gal. low the par
son"
The room suddenly was deadly STILL
with every eye turned toward the door.
Belden felt the stiffness: hesitated
turned
In the open door. framed In sharp
outline against the dark background
Of the nightfall. stood the tall form
Of Jack warhope.
Belden grlnned oddly: muttered q
word or two; leaned against the coun
ter and looked down at the door.
With the reach and spring that only
the woods and hills can give. warhope
walked Into the room.
II low y'u must a. been mistook
about that-arm."
"Not q d--n bit"
Like lightning came the sharp
smack OF an open hand that famed
Belden's head back. He leaped away
from the counter and struck-a good
smashing swing. clean from the hip
but II didn't land.
II was apparent that Belden had a
high opinion OF his ability as q rough
and tumble fighter, for he stepped
right In and mixed II fast and furi
ous-the whirlwind give and take OF
the mountains. The man he faced
ducked or sidestepped or dashed aside
everything Belden had. and came back
with an occasional jab that was mad
denlng
Belden lost his temperate mistake
Of many better man-and iunged
viclously. He ran into an uppercut to
barrel Of salt. He whirled up. and
his right hand clawed the butt Of
pistol out Of his pocket
The pistol came out. but that was
all A heavy six-gun leaped from the
woodsman's side. a bullet crashed into
the pistol butt. gashed Belden's hand
slightly and tore on into the salt
barrel.
The woodsman stuck the six-gun
back into the holster az his hip. hid
den by his hunting blouse. snatched
Belden by the collar and jerked him
out into the middle of the door.
Il Tow y'u must a ben mistook
about that arm"
Belden's small beady eyes burned
like hot copper as he wrung his hand.
He cursed the pain; swallowed hard !;
finally muStered
The light werdn't none too dern'
good Tow I must a.
The woodsman dropped the others
collar. talked q moment or % with
Uncle Nick and Counterman about the
SEEMING trip next day-the matter that
had brought him into the store-sni
passed out at the door. The crowd
gathered around Relden.
Uncle Nick picked up the broken
pistol and stuck II back. muttering a.
he examined the gashed hand
-Y'u ort a had more sense than Z
pun on him. He amt no ways spry
on talk. but he can pick hiek'ry nuts
with a six-gun"