The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-07-23
b. AkRD JONES
c 800
keA Service Lax

| Helvig's.
Good morning, Miss Frazier, y
Helena faltered. 'I'm awfully
glad you called"
"This," answered Leah Frazier,
"isn't precisely a call, Miss Der
irik." She smiled coldly. at is
Helena DeTik, isn't it? I mean,
you wouldn't quite call yourself
Mrs. Peter Henderson, would
you?"
Helena ignored the thrust.
"Won't you sit DOWN."
Thank you, no. l can state my
business very briefly. l under
stand that you're going to meet
Roger Barnes today"
eyes, | am"
"Roger Barnes managed the
store for Peter, you know. | sup
pose you plan to turn everything
over to him."
! Helena fingered the letter she
! had Just written. Pm not pre-
pared just now to discuss my
plans"
Leah Frazier's eyes glittered
with Sudden anger. She kept her
voice level with an obvious eff
fort. perhaps, however, you'll
consider my advice"
"Perhaps.'
"My advice is that you relin-
quish all claim to Peters estate.
No doubt Mr.. Barnes will be will
ing to make some compensation
say, q sum that would be reason
able under the circumstances"
apparently you've discussed
the matter with him."
And why not? My people
were among the founders of this
town. / was-a friend of Peters
and of his family. Obviously, you
have neither the background nor
education to even assist in the
management of the store"
Helena smiled. perhaps not
the background, if that's neces-
sary. But I've worked in stores
for quite d while. 1 think that
might be a very good education
for this job. With the advice CT
Mr.. Courtney, and perhaps OF
someone. from the bank - even
from Mr.. Barnes if he wishes to
help-I might get along"
"You couldn'tw Leah returned
without control. Everyone knows
YOU tricked Peter into marriage
Just so you might fall into this;
| suppose you thought you played
into great luck when ne had the
accident. / suppose" 49,
CHATS enough, Miss Frazier.
Helena cried, facing her. "lf ev-
eryone knows a story like that it's
only because you've spread 1t.
Now will you please leave"'
The Frazier girl cOlored, held
fast to her composure. ayes, glad
". But in fairness, I'll warn you.
If you attempt to stay in this
town you'll wreck Peters store IN,
six months. I'll help you to do,
it."
You'll help? E. :" said Helena,
not understanding.
Leah Frazier smiled. eyes. And
so will all my friends. Well
boycott Henderson's Department
Store, and we have accounts there
now running into plenty of
money. You don't know how fast
a thing like that can spread IN
a town such as this"
Helena gazed at her in sudden
contempt. "You'd-you'd do a
thing like that just to spite me?
You'd try to smash Peters store
and hurt the town, just to"
ooh, it would come back" in
terrupted the Frazier girl. after
we got rid of you" She turned
and left the apartment, slammlng
the door insolently.
When Courtney arrived ne
found Helena wrapped in a cold
rage that had not subsidized from
the moment Leah Frazier had
gone.
"The Frazier girl was Just
here" Helena told him. "She
wants ME to turn the store over
to Barnes. And she says if | don't
she'll boycott it."
The LAWYER pursed his lips. 81
was afraid of something like that.
And there's another hurdle, too.
I've discovered Barnes has been
talking to the employees. He's
warned them that if you take
over you'll mismanage the PLACE,
put it out of business, and lose
their jobs for them. If he fails
in that stunt he's going to con-
test the will on the grounds that
Peter was temporarily incOmpe-
tent when he made you his sole
heir"
81 don't care about that" Hell
! ena whirled upon him. "They can
all have the store if they want 1t.
But l don't like the idea of being
run out of town. Won't anybody
be with u.s." g..
cts hard to. say. / think we
can count on one person, and he's
important to US. That's John
! LaSSiter."
Who's John Lassiter?"
Hes old Aaron Lassiter's son.
Aaron's president Of the biggest
bank here-the one we do busl-
ness Without he's turned things
over to John mostly"
why why should he be
with u.s." 49,. = at
Courtney shook his, head. u
don't know, but he is. He told