The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-03-12
/ THE RED LOCK
-..,mIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlilIIIfIIIIIIIIIIIIIII


frightened again In her eyes. Sh
threw her arm about her father
dragged him up out Of the chair an
led the way to the barn.
Brownie, beautiful dark sorrel
with a single small patch of white II
her forehead, hearing the girls voice
came trotting up out Of the pasture
lot-the same through which Jack hat
trailed the unknown prowler the might
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 a 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 L do like 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 1 don't ride any more sencs
these blasted fainty spells got t. COM
in. Theirs nOthin' t. bender y'u from
takin' a ride every day. reckon
we've still got my saddle an things
amt we, daughterr'
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 a guide, 1 am impatient
to go the earliest moment possible"
the preacher exclaimed effusively,
this afternoOn-now-if you will"
The girl glanced at her father.
"Why not?" he nodded.
II don't like to leave-you."
The old man tossed up his hand and
laughed-a raspy sort Of laugh-all
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
1t the tall bay, standing a few feet
pack from the gate, where he had |
step by step as the minis
er advanced.
HE certainly appears to possess
'reat speed"
Speed" the old banker repeated,
tote In his voice common to the throat |
f every man In the Flatwoods when
peaking Of his horse or dog, next t.
ack's Graylock at the homestead yon-
er, he's the fastest In the Flat
7oods."
"Graylock = Warhope" - the tired
yes pinched together thoughtfully-
a remarkable young man."
Scarce as hens teeth, his breed"
ne old man returned warmly. I'm
oubtin' If theirs anybody along the
Wabash that knows the woods like he
oes, unless 1t might be OF Nick Wifi
es. I've alw'ys ben glad he tuck to
m the way e did, and Eve encour-
ged i'm. Theirs nothin' like the
GODS t. make a man of a Teller"
"Some professors came up her f'om
own the river t. study what they
lied Native Flora on the homestead
st year-y'u know, theirs two thou
md acres Of 1t, most of 1t layin' jist
, the Indians left it, and he keeps
'axin' me not t. low an ak laid to a
ngle sound tree. Therell be a for
me in that oak and walnut some day.
lex, he'd ben writin' to- these
''fessors, and they'd ben sendin' i'm
they come up and
amped around FIR nigh week.
zone day one Of 'em was talkin' Z
e, and he said Jack knowed more
,out the woods than all the rest of
N put together. Well, that's him,
cry time. 1 never did know i'm t.
y anything but what he got 1t down {
'out as fine as the next one." l
The old banker glanced up at the [
n slipping down the west and turned {
his daughter: =
"Well, If y'u're goin', y'u better be {
artin'." a
Long years of active business life
d taught Banker Colin the value of
emptiness and decision-had so =
ound these traits into his nature l
at they had come to function auto y
ltically.
as volubly about the rela- G
e merits of Rex and Brownie as il 3
were an agent trying to sell them, u
d rubbing his bony hands in delight
having his restless mind set once "a
IRE to a definite task, he led the IL
~ to the lot and turned the horses II
o the barn. VI
The saddle and bride were some :"
at stiffeneu from disuse when he =
ed them on Rex, but he had them ~
lbered up and came leading out the IL
rse almost as soon as Texie had Z
ownie ready.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)