Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1923-11-01

apparently did not find IL
II amt amin Z let the big Wort
out yonder swallsr me up like II did
Ken. Some natboatmen told me yes
terd'y there's q wagon train maxim
up In the city for the gold diggin's
In California. Y'u know. when q bound
boys times out, the man he's bound
to most gener'ly starts I'm on with
q boss and saddle and bride Pap
Simon said he fgr'd on givin' me
Graylock-
II Tow wen Jine that wagon train
Graylock and me. And when We find
gold, we're-comin' back"
He stole . shy look At her. She
dropped her eyes.
You'll frget the F1atwoods when
you've fsund-gold."
He seemed to search her words
again for some meaning that he wished
much to And. But her face was very
thoughtful and turned aside.
''Frget The Flatwoodsl Where else
In the world Is there q sight like that
The minute I've got money enough I'm
comm back. I'll buy the homestead
back rom 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
O 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 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 ~
s'pose II could be the red lock that
made Ken act like e didr'
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, ats the
drop Of blood that come along with IL
FIR that matter, though. every man
gifts q bad drop r two out Of the past.
But them bad drops can be overcome,
II a man bucks ag'in en- The trouble
with Ken was It didn't pear like he
wanted Z buck ag'in' his"
The curse of Colin was the
girls musing comment FIT hundreds
Of years-ever sence the days of Red
Colin the old sea pirate-it's ben
breakin' out In the family every few
that IL broke out on him. I've some
times thought II would "a ben better
II he'd never a found out the mean
In Of that red lock-that Il was the
curse OF Colin"
that's It." he commented = Tow
Ken fg'rd the curse had I'm anyhow,
and % n wasn't wo'th while e buck
ag'in IL
Mother KEEP the lock cut OF. y'u
know. till Ken was big enough { notice
Il himself. After that he alw'ys KEEP
Il combed under SOS II didn't show
! don't reckon anybody In the Flat
woods but you and me and father
know'd e had It."
yea" the woodsman interrupted
-or Uncle Nick Whites knows. But
that's rs good AZ sayin' It's dead and
buried Nothin' ever gifts a-past Uncle
Nick's jaw"
He grinned, pushed up the mop OF
tousled hair that fell over his brow
and pointed to scar.
That's where Ken struck me with
In whip hanle the day found out q
had It,
The girl ran her slim fingers over
the scar.
"And he cut me with the whip
because dew at i'm when e done 1t.
"And then hit i'm with rock
b'cause e cut YOU"
The girl shivered.
Il thought he'd Kill y'u that day.
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 Is
eyes-wild and savage and terrible
like oil. Red Colin must "a looked.
He Jerked y'u up and drawed the butt
of is whip-mercy Ii makes me
SILVER Z think about II. But he only
laughed-hard and wild-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. nj
Christmas, 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 evenin'. and we're all goin
Z meet im-you. too"
The twinkle at the corners OF the
mans eyes deepened.
Am II"
Fathers already fixed II f'r I'm Z
have the use Of oil preacher Masonls
study at the parsonage-Mls' Mason's
terrible lonesome sence the oil preach.
or died. and he'll be company. Hell
do Is writin' and maxim. up Is ser,
mons there. Hell board with us-he
amt married. y'u know
she paused and laid q hand on the
rnanss arm He t>oyered IN with his