The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-04-26
Chapter 39 CALLERS COM E

THE storm was over, the clean A cool air that followed in it's wake blew through Judith's house. Delphy sniffed it gratefully as she stood at the kitchen door, then sniffed back towards the kitchen and waddled rapidly across the floor towards the stove.
 Didn't burn," she said with a sigh of relief, and drew a golden brown upside down cake from the oven. Carefully then she went over her menu for the evening meal.
 She went to the front door and looked down the hill. Judith Dale was coming up alone. Her clothing. dripping wet from the still falling rain, clung to her slim figure, her hair hung in bedraggled wisps, even her shoulders seemed slouched un- 0Cl SOnc SOQQcn WSI5uJs
 As she came close she looked up and Delphy wondered if the wet drops glistening on her cheeks were rain drops or tears.
 Look at cha" she growled, like a mother bear, Just look. Like a drownded rat, hair a hangin'. What you suspect to do, take yo' death a cold? Come long in here and git in your tub. Take those wet clothes off"
 She started peeling the garments from the unprotesting girl as she scolded, handed her flannel robe and went t1 fill the canvas tub. Still Judith said nothing. Obediently she went to the tub, bathed, dressed in dry clothing and came back to the main room to sit down in chair and stare stupidly at the door.
 Delphy carried in a small tray with cup of strong, black coffee and Judith slipped it dutifully.
 Miss Judy" Delphy could stand her silence no'longer, what you-all grievin' for. Whats happent?"
 "I'm not grieving, Delphy. I'm just :. just sunk, that's all"
 You mean cause that well done blew up?"
 Ut didn't blow up, Delphy, light ming struck the derrick. There was a leak in a drum of fuel oil that blew up and caused the other drums to go."
 Laws a-me," confided Delphy, "I done thought Judgment Day were here sure-nuff. I could just hear Gabriel blowin' his hon an, Miss Judith" Delphy giggled a little, "I most made up my mind to send Lige back his money, what's left of it, cause I didn't play honess, was too scared a losin' and not gettin' to come long with you"
 "IT DID make an awful noise; l thank Heavens everyone was over here on the hill The debris flew for hundreds of yards, and one piece went right through one of the motor truck houses. From the way Mamie Scoggins is acting you'd think I'd ordered the lightning ir."
 You mean she say you have to build another one?"
 "Yes Delphy, and I haven't the money" She didn't know why she was confiding in the old woman. but she had to talk to someone and goodness knew that no one had been more faithful, you see, in our contract, I agreed to see they dug or drilled to the five thousand foot level. They are only down three. Delphy why does everything have to go wrong?"
 Reckon it's the Devils Dam, Miss Judy, but everything aint a goin' wrong. That there lightnin' was throwed down there by Mister Toms ghost. He done see what misery them Scogginses were bring in you. But don't you worry none. Mass Norman. he'll come long back. Some these days that bad boy, knows him, and then everything will be all right"
 Judith started to eat to please Delphy, then found she was really hungry, the food delicious.
 "Delphy," she said, as the old woman appeared with a triangle of cake, topped with cloud of whipped cream, what did you mean when you said MT. Norman would be com ing back? You know 1 left Hillen- dale, he didn't leave me-"
 Miss Judy, Mass Nom, he left you, afore you left Hill and dell"
 What do you mean Delphy?"
 If Mass Norman had been united to you in solemn matrimony, he wouldn't acted like he done"
 But Delphy we were.. united"