Well....this story ends on a positive note. The truck is fixed and starting/running fine.

The moral of the story is don't trust technology...or don't forget the old school.

The short of it is.....my DVOM lied to me. Knowing that I had already checked and or replaced every part of the system, I started over old school. Made myself up a jumper wire and started jumping each segment of wire from the ignition to the fuse to the CPP to the relay. The short is in the section of wire between the CPP and the starter relay.....probably at the factory splice through the firewall. Replaced that section of wire and all is well.

Thanks to all who put into this thread. I appreciate it. And to those with manual trannies......beware fuse #24.