The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-05-06


from the sheriff's barn for Pardaloe.
Denison, on needles and pins, wait
ed for the old mans final prepare
tons. At last Pardaloe, considerably
hurried, grabbed hat from the
rifle rack and stamped vigorously
out into the night after his posse.
He was the last man to mount. Den
ison gave the word to go, and the
ouartette were under way when Bill
Pardaloe cried a halt.
"What's the matter?" stormed
Denison, wild with the delay.
"Just a minute" muttered Parda-
loe. Forgot something. Be right
back"
Pardaloe spurred back to the Jail
office while his companions counted
time. He rejoined them after three
minutes that seemed to Denison
thirty. For Gods sake! Are you
ready now" Denison chopped off
the words furiously.
"All set, Bill" returned Pardaloe
peacefully. 'You hustled me so, l got
the wrong hat, boy"
Denison was waspish with impatl-
ence. "Man alive, what difference
does it make what hat you wear?"
"A whole lot of difference" re-
turned Pardaloe with warmth. "Had
on my new hat. 1t might git plug
ged."
Three men rode with Denison
that night-Pardaloe, Bob Scott, and
Frying Pan. The ponies were fresh
and the men eager. They stopped at
Gunlock. A light was still burning
in the living room of the ranch
house.
When the men pulled up in the
yard, Denison sprang from the sad
die, ran to the door, and knocked.
"Who's there?" were the low
words from within.
els that you, Jane? It's Bill"
She flung the door open. "Bill,"
she cried, what are you doing
here?"
II think I'm needed here. How's
Henry Sawdy?"
ooh, he's badly wounded, Bill.
How did you know?"
Bob Scott and John Frying Pan
have strict orders to bring me ranch
news of the kind that came today"
"Ben Page rode in to get DR..
Carpy."
Tell me quickly, dear, what hap
pened this afternoon" he urged.
"McCrossen rode out to get some
things, so he said I was sitting here
sewing Bill, when in walked Nc
Crossen. He said he was going away
for good. I said I wished him good
luck"
Jane hesitated moment ''He ask
ed me to kiss him good-by. 1 said
no. He got angry and sWore he'd
take as many as he wanted. I tried
to run to the front door. He caught
ne, and 1 was fighting him in his
arms when Henry SAVOY walked in
at the kitchen door.
''He turned on Sawdy. Get out of
here, Sawdy,' he shouted. I begged
SAVOY to protect me.
"Let 60 that girl!' Sawdy said.
"McCrossen turned on Henry, his
gun in his hand.
Henry didn't dare fire for fear
of hitting me. McCrossen fired
1oint-blank at Henry, and he fell in
heap. I screamed, tore myself
loose, and ran out the front door and
hid behind tree"
He comforted her as best he could.
81 must see how bad Henry is hurt,
then I'm off with Pardaloe and Bob
Scott after McCrossen. He's running
off steers tonight"
With Jane, he went to the bed on
which Sawdy had been laid. SaWdy
looked pleasantly surprised as Jane
held up the lamp and he saw Deni-
son. "Well, Bill" he said cody, ''the
old foreman is shootin' us up today"
Henry, where are you hit?"
''In the side, Bill, but it amt over
serious. You see, McCrossen-"
"Jane told me, Henry. Don't waste
any strength talking"
"When 1 seen his game to hold
Jane for a shield, I made up my
mind to drop at his first shot"
"You did a good job. Now keep
quiet"
Over the rim of the hills full
moon was rising into cloudless
sky. Jane, with frightened lips, her
heart pounding in her throat, her
straining eyes fearless, stood in the
open doorway watching the ghostly
figures of the four horsemen silhou-
cited against the sky, as they made
their way up the ridge that led to
the hill divide.
From the moment Denison and his
companions crossed the divide, they