The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-12-27
CHAPTER iv-continued.

"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' l mostly agrees with 'em an
says amen to 'em, an the new parson
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
stem from between his lips after a
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 renewal OF the argument.
At the moment Loge Belden took a
gulp from his bottle Of squirrel" put
the cork in. slapped 1t tight and
slouched up along the counter.
Say. I'd just like t put one { that.
This eyenin' as / come up the River
road past this hyur Warhope home
stead an Sine Collins house. stopped
q 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 spring
along the crick thar under the edge O.
the hill. an TIERS bench + set on
under the maple tree by the spring.
"Wetl, as / come a-past. thar set this
-hyur new parson an that Texie gal
on that bench, an as near as | could
make out. bein' purity well along
tow'rds dark. he had is arm around
'er. You fellers r wastin' 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 nightfail. stood the tall form
OF Jack warhope
Beiden grinned oddly; muttered a
word or two: leaned against the coun-
ter and looked down az the floor.
with The reach and spring that only
the woods and hills can give. warhope
walked into the room.
IL low y'u must "a been mistook
sbout that--arm."
Not a d-n bit
Like lightning came the sharp
smack Of an open hand that famed
Bslden's head back. he ieaped away
nom the counter and struck-a good
suashlng swing. clean from the hip;
BIT II didn't land.
II was apparent that Belden had q
high opinion Of bis ability as a rough
and tumble fighter. for he stepped
right In and mixed II fast and furi-
Jus-the whiriwind give and take Of
The mountains. The man he faced
sucked or sidesfepped or dashed aside
everything Reiden had. and came back
with an occasional jab that Was mad
dening
Belden lost his temper-ths mistake
az many 4 better man-ani iunEed
viclonSly. He ran into an uppercu, 10
the chin that Doubled him back over
barrel ~ salt He whiried up. and
his right hand ciawed the butt Of a
,,lsfnl cut OF his pocket.
The pistol came oct. bat that was
all heavy six-gun leapee from the
roodsnian's side. a bullet crashed into
-. 49,
s,,rh,Iv and tore on into the eaIf
barrel
The eoodsnan stuck the sirgun
back into the holster az his hip. hid
6en by bis hunting blouse. snstched
B>sdea hs the collar and jerked him
suf into the middle Of the 1oor.
y 1ow - must "a ben mistook
sbssur that erfn--
R~3d<s's snail ssady syes burned