Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1934-07-06

iyOu! L am Anne OuSn1nS.
why. no ma'am." Petry gulped
visibly. my name is Petry. Boone
|Petry. If you're lookin' for Lon
Simpson, he-he's moved away
from here. He sold his place just
recent"
Eyes, I know, I bought it But
II thought he might be here to-
we'll, to show me the place, l sup
|pose. I'm afraid that was a rather
silly idea"
mo m 'ma,' said Petry helpless
1ly. The dismayed look was hover
ing in her eyes again. He shifted
his weight from one foot to an
lother, and thought earnestly of
things he would like to do to the
departed Simpson.
II guess SIM kind of careless
that way" he added apologetically
|"But don't let thas bother you,
ma'am. If there's anything / can
do, or the boss either we'd SUE be
pleased to-"
The local groaned IN all It's length
and gathered its complaining joints
into motion again leaving them
standing there. At a little distance.
ust beyond the platform, the young
man who had came over from the
|post-office stood and watched them
with puzzled curiosity The few
dawdling loungers had frankly
turned their heads in the same
direction.
The girls eyes were sweeping the
sun-warped platform and the hot
road beyond They hestitated for
an instant as they caught the un-
obtrusive scrutiny of the brown
young man. and then passed on
composedly. They came back to
Boone Petry.
Its awfully kind of you to take
so much trouble. If you could just
tell me where l can get a stage or
rent a car. I think / can manage
all right"
cit amt a bit of trouble. but
there amt any stage, because there
amt any place in particular for a
stage to go. And there amt garage,
either, not for hirin' cars. But that
needn' matter a bit, because yours.
and we can give you a fit easy.
Any time you like"
Petry rubbed his chin nervously
with a mahogany paw. Here was
a situation calling for diplomacy,
and diplomacy. he felt, had never
been one of his. stronger points. He
sent a hunted look around, caught
the eye Of the watching young man
and signaled him with a furtive
thumb. The girl was Thanking him.
"That would be splendid, but /
hate to be such a nuisance"
mot a~-tall, ma'am." The young
man was at his elbow now, looking
interested. Looking more than in
terested. Miss Gushing, meet my
boss, Mr.. Barry Duane. Barry this
lady's just bought the Simpson
place, and Sims lit. I've told her
it's right on our way and we can
take her out any time she wants to
60"
"Of course we can. Very glad
to-" Not a single blink BETRAYED
that the Simpson place was out of
their homeward way by some miles
|of ~singularly bad road.
It's awfully good of both of you.
I didn't expect to be a charge on
the community as soon as 1 ar
rived"
1.-THE community" said Barry
Duane. considers it self in luck,
Now about this new place of yours,
When do you get possession?"
1--WE got it now"
"Yes-of course" He hesitated,
Petry cleared hiss throat.
II was thinkin'," he ventured.
seeing there's nobody out there
now, maybe the lady might like to
put up at the hotel here, until her
folks Gomez"
"But you see. there isn't anyone
Ielse to come" Anne Gushing
laughed. for the first time in three
long weeks and Barry Duane
thought it was the loveliest laugh
he had ever heard.
"You really mustn't be worried
about me-" she said in that lovely
voice. "I'm not a bit afraid of
staying alone. I thought I'd try to
get a man and his wife. I meant to
leave an advertisement for them be-
fore I started for the ranch. Car
I do this?"
Barry laughed. "No, I'm afraid