The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1936-10-16

he was q rustler?"
"Why. that's what they told me at
the ranch after we got home"
well, you've got some able-bodied
liars at Gunlock-one In particular"
who's that?"
mo need to specify"
swell, what's the name of the won
derful rider who picked up the brace
lett And the cigarette7"
1T was Bill Denison."
Jane started imperceptlbly.
"He's living here now on his broth
er's hill ranch-brother's dead. Well,
Jane, what in the world brought you
out here?"
"Why. because Fathers so ILL.," Doc
tor Carpy nodded. You took care Of
him, Doctor, and recommended his 60
ing to Medicine Bend"
1T was pretty high for him here"
so he telegraphed for me to come
out to look after the ranch"
Small girl for big Job. as the In
dams would say"
Jane laughed. that's what Father
said when he saw me- You know two
years ago was the first time in his
life he'd ever seen me-"
never knew till then the-yOur IA
Their had q family"
"Father was peculiar, you know. A
little while after I was born he Just
disappeared. 1t was years before we
even knew where he was. Then he be-
gan sending money back to Mother
sometimes, but he never wrote a line
Then Mother died, and 1 went to live
with my Aunt Lou"
How old are you, Janes"
almost nineteen"
swell, well" mused Doctor Carpy
still regarding his caller benevolently.
$50 you're Van Tambel's daughter.
guess you take after your mother. The
doctor spoke evenly. but the impllca-
ton did not pass unnoticed.
Aunt Lou says I do" she returned
with composure. $50 Father said, too,
when I went to see him at the hos
pital in Medicine Bend last month. And
he told me, Doctor, to come to see you
about his bill. couldn't find one from
you among the bills ut the ranch. Did
you ever send One?"
Hell, Jane. 1 never sent bill to
anybody in my life"
"Doctor!" exclaimed his caller star
tied both at the expletive and the
statement. II never heard of q doctor
who didn't sent out bills!"
Carpy laughed uproariously. why,
that's nothing"
But" she went on. you took care
of Father quite a while. He thinks
you're the best doctor he ever had"
The sardonic note In the doctors
slight laugh as he suppressed an e1-
clamation did not escape the girl. But
everyone out here says that or some
thing just like 1t, so you must be used
to It." she added. please tell me now,
Doctor. what the bill Is; want to pay
you"
The doctor waved Jane of. When
he sidestepped, she kept after him. He
lodged, and she persisted. At last she
drew from her purse two one-hundred-
dollar bills and laid them on the table
In front Of him. Carpy looked at them
In establishment. Your father hasn't
gone out Of his mind, has he"
mo-" Jane retorted. why? That's
not enough, Is it?" she added shame
facedly. II didn't know"
ITS at least twice too much. Did
Gus send this?"
Jane had to fib a bit. She had added
a hundred dollars herself to what her
father had told her would be about
right, If Carpy refused to name the
bill. He told me he wanted you well
paid" she answered evasively.
Carpy pushed one bill back to Jane.
''That's plenty"
Doctor" she exclaimed, 81 wish
you'd take this other bill"
He shook his head. "Put Ii back I'm
your purse. How are things out at the
ranch?"
"You know how 1t is when the cats
away" laughed Jane.
"You must mean the wildcat" sug.
gested Carpy, grinning half amiably.
Everyone doing things his own
way" she continued, ignoring the
thrust "Or not doing them at ALL"
MOSTLY that, guess"
MOSTLY that" agreed Jane. 81 can
see have plenty Of work ahead"
"And you going on nineteen. And.
I'll bet. never did days work in your
life"
She Strengthened up. "Tve worked
every day Of my life since left high
school at fifteen"
"What for?"
Helping support Mother"
Carpy flashed with anger. "Do you
mean to tell me that old curmudgeon
luther of yours didn't support you and
your motherT
James eyes fell. she crimsoned. Then,
collecting herself, she said, II did not
mean to tell you, Doctor. It slipped
out. We've nearly always had to look
out for ourselves-but hate to talk
about 1t, Doctor. Father says he's
sorry. When telegraphed him about
Mothers death, he was all broken I'D
and sent me 80 much money for the ex-
penses that 1 didn't know what to do
with lt-though II was too late to do