The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-03-18

SaOOle. Dill OSIl1SO1l d1lO nave SOC
our differences-plenty of 'em. Some
day 1 expect to iron 'em out with
him. But it'll be done in daylight"
Van Tambel sneered. ''Look out he
don't get you and the girl BOTH"
"Well''-the words came reluc-
tantly-"Ill talk to Barney Rebstock.
You'll have to pay him WELL"
After Van Tambel came back from
the hospital, he reopened his office
in Sleepy Cat.
81 thought you said the old devil
daloe to Dr. Carpy.
Carpy was laconic. 'He can't. Some
day he'll crack up sudden"
But Van Tambel kept Jane so
closely under his eye that she had
no chance to see Denison.
One day her father took her in
town on business. The volunteer fire
fighters we're clamoring for their
pay, and Jane, knowing the details
of the agreement with Pardaloe as to
how much beer and "grub" Should be
provided, plus their pay, rode with
her father, to town, to settle with
Pardaloe.
"Bill," she said to Pardaloe, when
the accounts had been Strengthened
out, 81 want to ask a question and I
want the truth"
Pardaloe looked at her with
strewd benevolence. Fire away,
grill"
"Why does my father hate Bill
Denison so?"
Pardaloe shifted uneasily. "You
won't like the truth, Miss Jane"
whether I like it or not, I want
you to tell me, Bill" she said.
"Well, your dad wants the Spring
ranch-started a fight for it at the
Medicine Bend land office. Bill beat
him there, so he goes up to Wash
ington, and Bill has to sell off his
cows to get money to fight and pay
lawyers. Fore he got through, the
boy had to sell everything to keep
his end up"
cit was tough" assented Jane
grimly. Her eyes were half closed
and her lips compressed, as if to shut
out unpleasant details.
Pardaloe warmed to his story. If
it want you, Miss Jane, an your
own dad, I'd call man thatd act
that way-well, wonder to me is,
Bill never plugged him. Now don't
cry; told you you wouldn't like it.
Jane shook her head and brushed
the tears from her eyes with ges-
ture of defiance. Don't mind a lit
tie shower, Bill. You've told me what
asked for-the truth. Now I want
to tell you something. But please
keep my secret-will you, Bill?"
"Shoot," was all he said.
Swiftly she told him of her first
meeting with Denison, and of their
rides together. She described how
he had saved her life and how after
ward her father had ridden over to
the Denison ranch with Dave Nc
Crossen, created scene and forbade
her ever again to see Denlson.
''I'm watched now like two-year-
old child she concluded, "and I'm
rebellious!"
Pardaloe looked at her appraising-
| w. He observed the animation of her
manner and the flash of her eye; he
listened to the rapid flow of her
words and the spirited way in which
she spoke them. The old frontiers
man looked at her as an artist might
look on a flower; he could see, but
couldn't quite understand, all that
was hidden within it.
Il wish," said Jane, musing, al
most as much to herself as to Par
daloe, II knew just what to do"
do nothin'," suggested Pardaloe.
Jane bridled. 'Do nothing! That
isn't very pleasant to think about"
"You've got to realize your cir
cumstances," he returned. I'm the
mess you're in all around out there,
it's best for you to sit tight n do
nothin'. You don't know il, but you're
settin' on a box of dynamite"
do you expect me to act as peace
maker, Bill?"
Il didn't say that-'twouldn't be
no sort of use. There'n be peace
there when bobcats go back on jack
rabbits"
WELL" sighed Jane, reluctant,
you know best, Mr. Pardaloe-"
BILL"
"You know best, Bill. I may want
to talk to you again"
"Any time, honey"
Riding home with her father, who
rode slowly, she had plenty of time
to think. And her thoughts were
soberhued.
McCrossen was thorn in her side.
To meet him every day and be half
way pleasant was daily strain.
He tried to make up to her. II got
off on the wrong foot with you
Jane" he said one daytime two were
standing near the ranch house door,
in the sunshine II know that, all
right. All I can say is, if there's any
thin 1 can do to square myself, I'm
ready to do it whenever you say the
word. Is that fair?"
Jane was looking up at the noun
tains. She answered without rancor;
a mild manner must be her cue now.
A week passed. Van Tambel lay
in bed. He had to send Jane to Medi-
cine Bend to attend to some bank
business there. To keep her under
surveillance, Van Tambel ordered