Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-11-29

4
| And the safe at home-a craftsman
from the city tried that one night. The
| old man blew hole In his ribs the
size of an open hand with sawed
off 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
office--a crowd doubly large, gathered
for the doubly suspicious occasion.
| The girl ran to her father and
slipped an arm about his waist. He
looked down at her and grunted. 1t
was the only sign he gave that he knew
! she was there
Up beyond the Warhope farmstead
there came prodigious rattle Of
wheels. clatter of iron-shod hoofs
and the Milford stage dashed into
sight; roared 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 flocked around it. The
| guard threw off the mail sack. Zeke
Pollok picked it up and carried it in,
and the numbering stage ratified away
down the river.
One passenger had alighted, tall
young man wearing full beard, neatly
cropped and pointed-the new preach
er, without G.sbt-quite the oldest
array of satcLels and umbrella, patent
leather boots and high hat, stiff neck
stock and enormous spectacles, that
had ever invaded the Flatwoods.
He seemed nervous as he stood at
the side 9! the road peering through
his enormous spectacles, slightly amber
tinted, upon the crowd.
The old banker, with his daughter
step behind him, advanced, touched his
faded black hat and extended his hand.
''The Rev. Caleb Hopkins, / 'low?''
The eyes behind the huge spectacesl
lighted. The young preacher dropped
one Of his satchels and met the out
stretched hand
"Ah--Mr-COlin, / take it?'
"All but the mister. I'm jist plain
Slime Colin.''
The old man grinned as broadly as
the pinched shrewdness of his dry face
would allow.
II want y'u t. meet my daughter"
He half turned; jerked his thumb
toward the girl; jerked it back toward
the prea -her. Tickle, Mr. Hopkins"
The young preacher touched his tall
hat; dropped his other satchel, grasped
the girls hand in both his own and
pressed 1t closer than the occasion
could possibly warrant.
1t may have been merely the ex-
preston of genial nature touched
with the fervency of his profession
the outflowing of benevolence that
embraced all humanity-but even so,
1t brought quick flush to the girls
face, and drove her eyes to the ground.
The old banker had turned to the
crowd.
"Step up, step up" he called, land
shake hands with the new parson. The
way y'u hang back. he'll think he's
drapped off amongst pack O. pub
licans and sinners"
The crowd had evidently been wait
ing for just such an invitation. Stolid
faces raveled into grins, and the
quaint vernacular Of the Flatwoods
had an airing. Odd bits Of philosophy,
ancient jokes, that nobody would have
dared to spring on his neighbor, were
freely sprung on the hapless and help
less sojourper from the polite East.
The informal reception was over and
most of the crowd gone when Texie
noticed Jack Warhope still leaning
against tire porch post where she had
left him. She ran back, caught his
arm and dragged him forward
"Mr. Hopkins, meet Ja-Mr. War
hope"
"Glad to meet you, Mr.. Warhope."
The young preacher stretched forth
his hand; the other grasped It. The
peering eyes behind the heavy glasses
studied him with curious intentness,
but the woodsman. only mildly inter-
ested, missed the inquisitive look.
The old banker had taken step up
the road.
WELL" he said, II low that jist
about winds up the how'd -y'-doin'.
Texie, run in and git the mail, and
we'll be moseyin'."
He half turned and glanced back
over his shoulder at the preacher.
1--WE dickered the use Of our OIL
preachers study f'r y'u at the parson-
age. Sister Mason-the wilder, y'u
know-she lows she'll be right glad
to have y'u come over and use the
study, she's that lonely sence the par
son died. Wen stop as we 20 a-past, and
you can take look at the study, and
meet Sister Mason. But, as writ y'u,
I'm amin FIR y'u t put up with me,
at least FIR few days"-the brisk,