Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-03-06

THE RED LOCK
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threw her arm about her father,
dragged him up out of the chair and
led the way to the barn.
Brownie, beautiful dark sorrel,
with single small patch of white in
her forehead, hearing the girls voice,
came trotting up opt of the pasture
lot-the same through which Jack had
trailed the unknown prowler the night
before. A tall, clean-limbed gelding,
bright bay, with one white hind foot,
followed her almost up to the gate,
where he stood back and half jealous
ly watched the girl caress his mate.
Come, Rex" the girl called, reach
ing out her hand and coaxing the tall
bay. But the horse kept his distance.
1t was only after the two men had
drawn back few steps that he came
up to the gate and put his nose against
her face.
do you ride, Mr.. Hopkins?" she
called over her shoulder
mot especially well,' he answered,
though I do like a good horse. You
ride, of course?"
Everybody rides In the Flatwoods
you must learn"
"W'y, yes," chimed in the old bank
er, there's Rex jist sp'ilin' FIR work,
now that don't ride any more sence
these blasted fainty spells got t. COM
In. Theirs nothin' t bender y'u from
takin' ride every day reckon
we've still got my saddle an things,
amt we, daughter?"
Saddle and bride and ALL" she an
swered. "And 1t will be such a pleas
ure,' she went on, turning to the
young preacher, ST show y'u around
over our beautiful Flatwoods.'
with such guide, am impatient
to go the earliest moment possible"
the preacher exclaimed effusively,
"this afterDoon-now-if you will.'
The girl glanced at her father.
"Why not?" he nodded.
Il don't like to leave-you."
The old man tossed up his hand and
laughed-a raspy sort Of laugh-aH
that the years had left him.
The girl turned back to the preacher.
"W'y, yes-if you wish," she said
"only you must promise not t. run
away from me; Rex is ever s. much
faster than Brownie"
The preacher turned to look again
at the tall bay, standing a few feet
back from the gate, where he had
Withdrawn step by step as the minis
ter advanced.
He certainly appears to possess
great speed"
s"Speed!" the old banker repeated, a
note in his voice common to the throat
Of every man in the Flatwoods when
speaking of his horse or dog, next t.
Jacks Graylock at the homestead yon-
der, he's the fastest In the Flat
woods
"Graylock - Warhope" ~ the tired
eyes pinched together thoughtfully-
"a remarkable young man."
Scarce as hens teeth, his breed"
the old man returned warmly. "Tm
doubtin' if TIERS anybody along the
Wabash that knows the woods like he
does. unless 1t might be OF Nick WIFI
fes. I've alw'ys ben glad he tuck to
'em the way e did, and I've encour-
aged I'm. Theirs nothin' like the
woods t. make man of Teller"
Some professors came up her Fom
down the river t. study what they
called Native Flora on the homestead
last year-y'u know, theirs two thou
sand acres Of 1t, most of 1t layin' list
as the Indians left it, and he keeps
coaxin' me not t. low an ak laid to a
single sound tree. There'l be for
tune In that oak and walnut some day.
Jack, he'd ben writin' to- these
professors, and they'd ben sendin' i'm
anyhow, they come up and
tramped around FIR nigh week.
zone day one of 'em was talkin' t.
me, and he said Jack knowed more
about the woods than all the rest of
'em put together. Well, that's him,
every time. I never did know I'm t.
try anything but what he got 1t down
about as fine as the next one"
The old banker glanced up at the
sun slipping down the west and turned
to his daughter:
'sWell, if y'u're goin', y'u better be
startin'"
Long years of active business life
had taught Banker Colin the value Of
promptness and decision-had so
ground these traits into his nature
that they had come to function auto
matically.
Talking as volubly about the rela-
tive merits Of Rex and Brownie as II
he were an agent trying to sell them,
and rubbing his bony hands in delight
at having his restless mind set once
more to a definite task, he led the
way to the lot and turned the horses
into the barn.
The saddle and bride were some
what stiffened from disuse when he
tried them on Rex, but he had them
limbered up and came leading out the
horse almost as soon as Texie had
Brownie ready.
(To BE coNTINUED.l