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

CIV IL.
"Miss-Texie-you will grant me the
privilege of calling you by your first
name. will you not?"
She did not answer.
"Your-brOther, my-roommate, was
very enthusiastic about his pretty Sis
tice. You are"
He stopped abruptly, stared past her
into the night, as If cropping for words
to clothe thought unusual with him
The look of a tired student came
slowly back to his face, and his Shout
ders dropped as If weary with bearing
the burdens of others. Mumbling a fur
ther word or two, he turned from her,
crossed the foot-log with mincing step
and passed on through the orchard
toward the parsonage.
The girl walked back up the path
and sat down on the porch step
Words were never too plenty with
moments. He leaned against a post
and looked down at her. She seemed
busy with her thoughts. The silence
was so deep that the clink of the
dishes, as Mrs. Curry put them away,
and the crinkle of the old bankers
letters, as he sat reading them at the
head Of the dining-room table, carried
to them out on the porch.
| The man reused himself from the
spell Of the silence; stepped off the
porch and sat down by the girls side.
what d. y'u think of him?" she
asked.
| 1t was characteristic Of the woods
man that he should answer by an
other question.
"What d. your"
The girl laughed-a contented little
laugh like the Tilt Of the happy water
at the bridge
"Oh, l think he's"
There came a groan from the dining
room, and the sound of a heavy fall
They sprang up and dashed into the
house, just as Mrs. Curry ran In from
the kitchen. The money-lender lay
sprawled on the floor, in one hand an
open letter. In the other an empty
envelope
The girl darted across the room and
bent above the shrunken figure.
Jack! Jack-w
Tickle, no, don't be fustered. It's
just another one O. them faintin' spells.
He'll be all right In a minute"
He raised the old man In his great
arms and laid him on a sofa at the
side Of the room
Mrs. Curry had hurried back to the
kitchen for cold water and cloths. al
Texie was urging Jack to run for t
DOCTOR when the old banker OPEN
his eyes.
Doctor pr he painted hard 4
breath. "Who wants a doctor7 Ii
jist another one O. them fainty Spell
Look there-w -
He held up the letter. The gi
glanced at 1t carelessly; then, with
quick exclamation, turned 1t towaI
the woodsman. And thus holding
between them they read 1t slowl
word by word.
Somewhere In New York,
May 2 1S49.
"Simon Colin.
Buckeye, Ind.
"Sir:
81 caught a fellow with a card
his sleeve and called him. He BID
me on the draw, and here 1 am. This
girl here says l can't last till the inks
dry, and I'm not doubtin' her. She's
always played square with me. l |
reckon you wouldn't allow her inside Of !
your little old synagogue down there |
In the Flatwoods, but she'd be the
whitest one there-except Sis.
you've been one hi of a father |
to me. I've heard you pray by the
yard, and I've heard cussn' that was
more religious. You starved mothers
life out, and you're starvin' the life
out Of Sis, but you didn't starve my
life out. d-n you. I've got drop of
OIL Red Colin in me-him that brought
all this cussed red lock mess info the
family. I've had my fling-and that's
more than you can say, with all your
money that you've wrung out Of better
men.
81 reckon I've got but few minutes
70 live. I'd give half Of them to see
Sis. But If you'd come in right now,
I'd try to get up and kick you out
I'm dyin' as OIL Red Colin died-with
ny boots on. I'm expecting to meet
him and you both-in h-l-
KEN CO."
up. S.-Mr. Colin is dead. He dief
,efore he could quite finish signing his
lame. You can see the blot where tho
zen fell. l am respecting his wishes
md sending this letter without any
treet address, or other marks, where
" you might trace him. His CONF
ence shall never betray. l will only
ay that he shall have decent burial.
THE GIRL"