The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-12-19
CHAPTER IlI-Continued.

little to tell Your brother was the
almost puzzling psychological prob
lem that 1 ever tried to solve. He
could have been one of the most bril-
liant scholars the institution ever
turned out. He literally drank up ev-
erything the college had to give, and
that without apparent effort-as the
desert drinks the dew. His penman-
ship; his drawing; his command OF
English-very remarkable. l was his
roommate and classmate, and yet
never saw him apply himself seri-
ously to study. 1 don't think he did.
And that was probably his limitation
learning came too easy to him. It
can, you know"
He stopped, as If he had no more to
say; stared ut his napkin and folded
It with careful precision.
'1The presidents letter said that
that"
The girl seemed unable to finish the
question, but the preacher guessed
fumbled his napkin, unfolded it, and
looked around the table. 1t was an
embarrassing moment.
with all due respect to you, his
family''-he glanced at Mrs. Curry and
the woodsman-"andfr friends, though
would rather not speak Of 1t at all,
and should not do SO, only that 1t Is
my duty as your minister to tell you
the truth-Kenwood Colin was very
severe trial to the college authorities.
His talent for learning was equaled
only by his talent for mischief. Yet,
wild as he was known to be, nobody
thought that he would ever have
forged his fathers name. He was
deeply in debt before his very clever
forgeries were even suspected. much
less detected.
"Then came his sensational killing
of a gambler over a card game, and his
subsequent escape somewhere into the
great underworld of the city. Since
that, nothing more seems to have been
heard of him."
There was moments silence. The
girl leaned forward; her lips apart;
her eyes wide.
"Pore KEN" she said softly. HE
couldn't hep bein' what e was. 1t
was the-red lock-"
The preacher raised his specialized
eyes up from his plate and stared at
the girl clIriously.
RED lock-f
Didn't you know e had itT'
The preacher looked his bewilder-
ment.
"Then please, please, don't mention
that you know 1t Please, don't ever
lowed you knowed, bein' his room
mate, or wouldn't "a told. He was
that 'shamed e had 1t, and alw'ys
KEEP 1t combed under SOS 1t didn't
show"
The banker had been staring at the
tablecloth. He lifted his face.
1.-The curse of Colin" he COM
mented thoughtfully. HE was ii sea
pirate in the days Of Queen Elizabeth. |
Red Colin they called i'm. Looks |
like his blood would "a run out b. this |
time, but 1t hain't. Every three r four |
generations 1t shows up, gener'ly one |
child in a family with a lock O. hair
as red as fire. Nobody would think
lock o. hair and drop O. blood could
set . child back hundreds O. genera
lions Z what OIL Red Colin must a
ben, but 1t does.
1.-The minute l saw that red lock on
Ken, / knowed e was doomed. I've
licked I'm and reasoned with i'm and
prayed over im-but l knowed all the
time 1t wouldn't do no good That's
the main reason I sent I'm Off t the
kind of college / did-where Their
amt nobody much but preachers a.
runnin' 1t. He didn't like t go t that
Kind. but hoped beln throwed
men like that might head off
what l knowed was in i'm"
The preacher leaned back in his
hair; dropped his hands In his lap.
Permit me to say" he observed in
liz jerky fashion, that was as grave
| mistake a. you could possibly have
made"
"Mebbe So" the old man answered. ]