Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1924-01-03
THE RED LOCK

soon amt. Went on M souri, OWN
me dollar and thirtyfour cents, and
| never did git It,"
Jaw, well, Zeke don't worry none"
Uncle Nick rejoined. .'y'u'ye wormed II
outen some other pore devil b. this
time. more'n likely"
The blacksmith slapped his heavy
hand down ON his thigh, the others
laughed. the fisherman's frisky eye
twinkled ead he swore merrlly.
Zeke said never a word, but the ex-
preston in his little rat eyes might
have meant any number of things.
"Blamedest feller-that Jim Rum
midge," Uncle Nick went on. "Ther'
werdn't nothin' but what him an that
brother 81 O. his'n wus up to when
they wus youngsters. Ricollect one
Sund'y Jim tuck 1t into is head t yoke
up couple o. calves Oh man Rum
nudge was calc'latin' t save FIR oxen,
an 'e coaxed 81 t. play off sick with
I'm SOS they wouldn't hat t go
church. Well, the oil folks werdn't
more'n out O. sight when up jumps
Jim, an ST right after i'm, an they
breaks rr the barn-Iot t yoke up them
yearlin's.
"Sh-h-h-i'' warned Zeke, "hyur
comes the parson."
Almost with the words, the dapper,
nervously alert young preacher en-
tered the door. In spite of his studi-
GUS air Of ripper years, he couldn't have
IL
twenty. The trademark of his cali
ing was hung all over him. His shiny
boots, elaborate frock coat, neck stock.
high hat and enormous spectacles
fairly shrieked schoolmaster.
And yet one coald not help wonder
ing why fate had set such a man as
the Rev. Caleb Hopkins to the busi-
ness of keeping school. Dissociated
from all suggestion of theology and
chalk, his figure wss about all that
could be desired in a man-height
trifle above medium; well set up 1.-the
and graceful-and his face-nothfng
short Of handsome, only for a certain
air of peering severity.
To look at him as he entered the
door-six feet Of 1.-the young man.
hood smothering under its ascetic, not
to say somber. investure-one would
never have guessed that there was
anything wrong with his health, and
yet that was precisely what had
brought him to the Flatwoods.
And now as he walked past Loge
Belden slouched against the counter
he stopped and stood staring curl
ously at him.
Belden seemed on the point of re-
Caleb quickly turned away, and with
a nod passed the group around Uncle
Nick and went on to the post Office
window at the GEAR OF the room.
"What d. y'u say we ask I'm e
e. long" whispered AL Counterman
TO Uncle Nick as the young minister
stood waiting for Zeke Pollok to adj
just his dirty spectacles on his thin
nose. turn up the smoky lamp and
laboriously sort over the meager bunch
of letters and postcards.
"Y'u dasn't," Uncle Nick answered
guardedly.
watch me, an y'u'll see whuther
l da'st. I amt a-feared Of no parson.
"Mr. Hopkins" he called a moment
later, stepping in front Of the young
preacher as he passed toward the
door, "a passed. of us feliers is goin'
a-seinin' up around Alpine island in
the mornin'. / reckon y'u wouldn't
like t go long, mr. nothin', would y'u?"
"Wh0 are going, did you say?"
"0h. me an Uncle Nick, thar, an
Big Jack Warhope."
Il have promised to be at the social
tomorrow evening at the schoolhouse,
which, ! an Informed, is always held
in celebration Of the last day of school.
Do you expect to return in time for
that?"
Jaw, We'll be back by noon, easy"
Let me See" pondered the preach
er, not willing to compromise his dig
nifty by appearing overanxious. "This
is Wednesday; tomorrow is Thursday
Il believe | may safely allow myself
this recreation. / shall be most happy
to avail myself of your kind invita-
ton"
The fisherman stood lingering his
hat and staring at the door long after
the minister had passed out, the
twinkle gone from his puckered one
eye, puzzled look on his smoked ba-
con rind of face
well, I'll be dernedi Wouldn't
that SINCE y'ur whiskers l dunno yit
whuther he said ed come r not
Uncle Nick threw lis head back and
fairly roared, while the postmaster
rumpled up his dry countenance into
half begrudged grin.
Course he said ed come. Whar
wus you brung up at, anyhow? Didn't
y'u hyur i'm say he'd vail himself of
yur kind invitation? Course he's
calc'lating t come. Zeke, we'll hat
t. git AL new spellin' book an start
I'm t. school next fall"
"Well," muttered the fisherman rs