The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-01-23
CHAPTER vI-continued.

OF truth, the comparison between
the two men could not well have been
more striking. The young preacher
was very handsome man. The beard
and spectaces, the mass Of hair fall.
ing about hlY ears, seemed to invest
MIN with an air of exquisite mystery
an OR that has such power to compel
the attention of women.
The young woodsman, on the other
naIId, with his uncouth and ill-fitting
clothes, though far from plain, owed
whatever attractions he possessed to
his magnificent physique, bold regu-
larty OF features, and an honest, open
fIankness-a mans man.
With a jerky, elaborate bow to
Jack, the young preacher turned to
Texie.
Il was just hunting for you, Miss
Texle. They want you at the punch
bowl"
The girl must have known the
woodsman was about to speak to her.
His face was as easy to read as the
signs Of spring. She glanced, at him;
dropped her eyes; laughed--a trifle
uneasily he thought, knowing her so
welf--and walked away beside the
mnister.
The woodsman stood looking after
them. queer sense of emptiness In
his breast-a man nursed by nature,
untaught to juggle with the hearts
ernotIons.
The voice of the gray-halred gentle
woman In the rocking chair recalled
mis- straying thoughts.
Aren't they fine-looking coupler"
she was saying.
"Uh-huh."
"As look back over the years since
we came to Buckeye, remember that
you and she have always been play
mates. My dear husband so often
used to speak Of the beautiful COM
partnership between you. Long associ-
alton with one so sweet and innocent
must have had most ennobling lnfiu-
ence upon you"
ut didn't hurt me none"
Dear me- but you are laconlc this
evening my lad. Do you always speak
with such Spartan brevity?"
She might as well have said 1t in
Latin. Jack was frowning hari In an
effort to make out her meaning when
zeke Pollok, ofliciously omnipresent,
stopped at the old lady's chair.
The woodsman was saved He
walked away in the crowd. Willie Aunt
Liza, few seats away, never back
ward about airing her views, leaned
over toward the postmaster's wife and,
n hoarse half.whispers. laid down her
7astly positive opirlon on the very SUBJ
ect he had just escaped discussing.
"Ain't 1t a burnin' shame the way
rexie let's the new parson carry on
With 'er, an ieavin' Big Jack out n
he cold Ian him wo'th any two o.
he parson, rhe best breath e ever
lrawed She'll rue 1t. Mark my
words, Hammer Pollok. she'll rue It," l
ealous FIR Big Jack, him bein' about {
u s. much, an Uncle Nick a-teachin'
IN all about the woods an boxin' an
ich" s
"Nicki Nick ut could be utterly {
impossible to commit 10 paper the ul-
Innate contempt in the stifled tones {
fr the lam sakes What d. y'u s'pose @
care who the oil man teaches is I
Dol truck an boxin' tricks to? She'll q
ne the day she draps fine lad like
liz Jack-bound though e beam t
axes up with teetotal furriner, jist t
'cayse e happens t be mite slicker-
,okin' mebbe-though, FIR my part
ont consait i'm one iotum better y
,okin' than Big Jack Is. She'll rue it,
tanner Pollok. she'll rue 1t. That par n
IN hain't got all that PLAYER an n
Ieechin' ways rr nothin', now there's k
le business of 1t, Ijeeminy!'
The postmaster's wife had her lips t
It ready for her reply when there y
.me 4 sudden connection at the door. p
strange man. tall and powerfully q