The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-11-25
THE
Elasticity OF
"BEESWAX"
BY WILL LIsENBEE
"a BY Short story Pub. Coz


:. had been in the town week. L
the hands of those who habituall
, quenched their thirst at his expens
! he became so plastic that he wa
v known as "Beeswax RuggIes," an,
) finally, for brevity, 1t was cut simpl.
to "Beeswax."
4 The mission Of Beeswax In. Blue
. Gulch was at first yelled In obscurity
, Finally 1t came out that he was an
) artist. At this discovery a mild spasm
pervaded the social structure of Blue
, Gulch, which resolved itself into the
Interrogation of "Why" The question
was propounded by Pizen Bill, who
felt that his prestige as the most ar
tistic manipulation Of the double-action
six-shooter with either hand was Sc
riously threatened by the advent of
one who professed to be master Of
one of the fine arts. Beeswax received
the question with the calm impassivity
BETTING a man Of his profession and
temperament
His reply was both engaging and
conciliatory. His mission In Blue
Gulch, he explained. was in no wise
Intended to disturb the natural order
of things, but merely that he might
study for brief season, the rugged
outlines of frontier life which ap-
pealed so strongly to his love of real
ism and viriity in art.
These fine words mystified rather |
81,
Pizen Bill. yet a sense OF pride with
held him from further questions. An
artist himself in his own peculiar
field, he felt that his dignity as such
would be best maintained by pretend
Ing to have understood the technical
phrases employed by brother artist,
and to accept them as good and sufti-
Client reasons for his presence there.
"Oh, don't take 10 offense at your
comm to Blue Gulch none," remarked
Pizen Bill, as he drained the glass OF
pop which Beeswax' hospitality had
filed, "fer | reckon the town must
grow. an in CROWN it is only ques- .
tim of time when it must have
churches, Sunday schools, water works
an artists. Ar If Blue Gulch is to
have AN artist" he went on, slapping
Beeswax on the shoulder, 1T is
proper that she should have one that's =
a judge of guns
In the days that followed Beeswax
spent a great deal of his time locked u
In his studio at the Occidental hotel. :"
NO one was permitted to inspect his *
work, nor were any visitors allowed
70 visit his rooms. He was going I
% give an exhibition of his work, he
announced, and he would then invite
III lovers of art In Blue Gulch to be
present re
There are no better critics than the as
'eopie-the common people," Beeswax IN
aid to PizeD Bill in confidence. IF III
mere Is flaw anywhere, they are W.
ure to discover It, That is why | ia
m so anxious to give an exhibition We
my works here where they have
cen produced, before taking them ~
ack East" Jul
So potent was the social Influence 'no
Pizen Bill that under his patron "a q
&c the formerly despised Ruggles be- s
lme In time so popular that contempt an'
as replaced by respectful admiration n
I'd the somewhat too familiar sBees.
ak was still further shortened to tho
affectonate "Beezy." S. .e
number of all-day sketching trims ~
ere made by the Industrious artist GU
horseback, accompanied by a paa, ~
imai bearing his painting parapber- roo,
q 80 '''.a' "iu ne lliight nave rati
q company on several occasions had "
not very decidedly declined such uob
on the plea that II in /,
uld destroy his artistic inspiration 1910
lust ms public expectation and in decl
est In the promised art exhibition first
: an acute stage of in,pa- lard
nee, the artist announced that onlv m
finishing touches were now lack. in n
: huf that their application rem In /.
ed necessary trip to the outside Wic
ria for The purchase of suitable lied
ments. NO.,
10 departure was accordingly only
dia' oyation that gave promise Of inca
erl'spie triumph on his return. He I'll
Followed to the stage and for hair nant
'lie from camp by enthusiastic mi. COLI,
ers, who. while they did NOT throw gas,
quefs. pressed upon the retirino Mag,
'g'es many substantial creature
forts to enliven his journey.
ne stage had crossed a high ridoo G.,
j. e., ~''u"s '''roush narrow Hat"
|e thanked on either side by roctv Won.
s when Beeswax. whose head wos Of -
OF the window v'o,.ina m, go. -.
t1n IT, 'e'''"' gasp. Almost In perpe
Noin the roadside A. s.
=. " "ait ana throw lncre
Is up. II broke with terrlfv,,o was
nctness on the ears of driver ana 10 oh,
Sagers. and as they turned thar wou,,
TO the left, there. half hidden CONN,
ng the rocks and scant veeetatInn fh.n
a trio of road agents tbo,r Bosto
covering the stage. ~
umble out, every one of Won 49, G
into Incl" came the harsh i'm %
tive command, and the na.san 10