The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-09-17
The Girl Drew Her Hand Away 40
n He Had Smirched It.
INSTALLMENT 2

A tug at his shoulder reused Garth
from his six-hour sleep. Tobin's
hoarse voice rcoaked in his ear:
Roll out, sir. Suns up The pair
of 'em are keen to be awning. Looks
like their test of your nugget livened
'em up. Grub's on"
Garth pulled on his buckskins and
moccasins and stepped into the store
room. Miss Ramill was coming in at
the front door. She paused to remove
her headnet. Huxby and Mr.. Ramill
were already putting down hearty
breakfast of bacon, sourdough bread
and oatmeal porridge. Garth crowd
ed past them and Tobin to the end
of the little shelf table.
The girl stopped in the entrance to
peer around the cubbyhole kitchen,
her scarlet-smeared lips curled with
disgust. Though Soap-clean, every
thing in the place looked crude The
air was choky from the smell of
cheap bacon.
Hubby sprang up to place the
chair at the near end of the table.
He lifted the boiling teapot from the
stove and started to fill a tin cup
with the black brew.
Pardon our not waiting, Lilith, %
he apologized. 81 did not wish to
waken you with the refueling. Plan
ned to do it while you breakfasted. %
"Quite thoughtful of you, darling.
But you need not think I'll drink this
I've or eat any of these beastly
messes. Not for me. You can have
your steerage garbage. I'll keep to
cabin fare"
She faced about and went back
through the passage. Hubby stood
hesitating Mr.. Rambill motioned him
to sit down.
''You stocked the cabin with
enough wines and delicatessen to
last several days. Finish your meal. !"
The mining engineer shot a glance
at Garth. 1--we had enough oats to
founder Scotch cow. May as well
see to the refueling."
Tobin rose stiffly and followed
Hubby into the Storeroom. Mr.. Ram
i'll took a last sip of the boiled tea,
favored Garth with a patronizing
smile, and opened his gold-mounted
cigar case to offer one of the choice
Havanas.
Garth declined. 81 never smoke. It
deadens the nose"
Deadens-What's that?"
Though man has the sense of
smell, compared with dogs he lacks
ability to scent. Yet even trace of it
may be of use in the BUSH"
The investors portly body CULVER
ed to his chuckle. 'I've heard of nos
ing out prospects! First time, though,
it's been done to my knowledge" He
caught himself up. cat least, Mr..
Huxby considers it possible your dis
covery may be worth an examina-
ton. That leaves only the question
of terms, in case we find the mine
promising enough for me to make an
offer"
Garth spared an inquiring glance.
The portly gentlman gave him a
bland smile.
81 believe in encouraging prospec-
{ tors. They find new districts. With
that in view, buy numbers of un-
developed prospects, taking the risk
of heavy losses. Though I drop
thousands on some mines, have
made fortune from others. But the
average prospector, like yourself,
stakes his all. Ninety-nine times in a
hundred, he is cleaned out by total
failure, If your lode looks at all
possible, I'll pay you up to a thou
sand dollars cash for it."
Sim not selling" Garth said. 4
like to play game through to the
end, win or lose"
The investors eyes hardened.
whats your idea?"
Zone years lease, and sixty per