The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-03-04

of brush fire and acrid with the Gre
osote of burned SlashingS from cut
over lands on the Reservation.
Reaching home, she was not sur
prised to find everything there alb
normally quiet. McCrossen, with
most of the men, was up in the hills.
The sole exception to the general at
mospheric gloom was Quong.
When Jane dressed at daybreak
and looked out, the wind had shifted
and was blowing fresh from the
SOUTH
McCrossen and his men were up
bedtimes. He reported to Jane that
they had checked the fire up toward
the pass. He was in good spirits.
Jane went to her breakfast feeling
treasured. She was finishing her
coffee when Quong stuck his head
through the kitchen dor into the din
ing room and said. MAN to see!"
Jane walked to the front door and
found man on horseback
what can I do for your"
'I've just come from Bill Deni-
sons. He says if you can spare a
dozen men quick, he can, maybe,
save his ranch buildings"
"Tell him I'll do everything I can
to get them over right away What's
your name?"
'Scott, ma'am.''
Jan ran over to the corral, where
McCrossen was closing the wire
gate.
Bill Denison has sent messen-
ger over"
81 saw him." interjected McCros-
sen CURLY.
asking for help" Jane went on
rapidly. eff we can get a dozen men
over to him quick, he can save his
ranch buildings"
"A lot of gall, amt it, Bill Denison
lookin' to Gunlock for help?"
"No matter what differences there
have been," insisted Jane firmly, Gin
the hills we're all going to stand to-
gether in time like this. Get the
men together, Dave, and get over
quick and do what you cam"
McCrossen, drawing from his poe
ket plug of tobacco, bit off
chunk. II don't approve of that"
cts not question of your ap-
proving, Dave, want you to go.
Right off; now!"
McCrossen was in no hurry. 'Who's
goin' to look after Gunlock If l go
over to Bill Denison's?" he asked,
regarding Jane sullenly.
Jane was nobody's fool on the
danger of the situation.
Dave" she exclaimed, inpatient
ly, 'you know the worst threat to us,
with this wind, is from the south. If
the Denison ranch burns we're in
danger ourselves. Will you saddle up
quick and get over there with the
boys?" she demanded.
McCrossen made no move to go.
"I'll tell you right now I've had a
damned sight more experience in
these forest fires than you have. And
1 say my places right here!" He
spoke loudly and angrily.
Jane grew white. Il want you to
know I'm boss Of this ranch. My
father has told you so-and this or
der is going to be obeyed or I'll
know the reason why"
McCrossen faced her with as much
animosity as he dared show. ''Well,
if you want to know one reason why
your order won't be obeyed, just
look at me-Tm a reason. I know
where my place is when Gunlock's
in DANGER" he Numbered.
."Stop your talk" exclaimed Jane.
''Will you do as tell you or not?"
81 will not"
"Then you're discharged as fore
man of this ranch. Take your things
and get off it by tomorrow morn
ing"
Like hell I will"
Half a dozen cowboys had edged
up to listen to the controversy. Jane
whirled around to them. Boys" she
said, speaking in lower but very de-
termined tones, ''take no more orders
from David McCrossen.He's no long
er foreman here"
Keeling off her words rapidly and
firmly, Jane explained the situation
to her growing circle of listeners.
"Now have discharged McCrossen,"
she said in conclusion, land I want
all of you boys who are loyal to me
to ride with me over to the fire line
on the Denison ranch and see what
we can do to save his buildings
Those of you who will go, line up
here with me-"
One of the boys, Bull Page, step
ped promptly to James side. Before
he reached it, four more were on
their way. Barney Rebstock and a
crony stood still. It meant that they
sided with the foreman.
''Now, Bull" she added snappily,
'hunt up as many of the other boys
as you can find and let's get going"
Within a few minutes, with the
ponies dancing and the men shout
ing, a party of ten headed south for
the Denison ranch.
Not until they reached the last
crest of the hills separating the two
ranches and Jane looked over on the
lowlands of the smaller ranch, did
she catch her breath in sudden fear.
In the distance she saw a formidable
wall of white smoke billowing into
the sky.
In the nearer distance lay Deni-
sons buildings. Between the two