The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-02-25


tempt James appetite, but her appe-
tite could not be tempted.
'Why don't you get out and ride
any more?" aked Bull Page one day
@eYou haven't been on a horse for
two weeks-just sit moping around
the house, eating nothing, talking
nothing"
Bull. Just let me alone. I'll be all
right"
For another two weeks Bull was
worried. Then suddenly Jane re-
Tented.
She would take a horseback ride
il Bull would ride with her-not
otherwise.
They started together It was: aft
ernoon. The air was thick with a soft
haze that tempered the suns rays.
The trail led in and out of the thin
pine woods.
She began to think her nervous
apprehension of meeting Denison
again had been a wasted worry. In
deed, she and her guide were home
ward bound within a mile OF the
ranch house when both heard the
,clatter of hoofs behind them. Jane
would not have looked around for a
million dollars. Bull told her there
were two men coming up.
"Who are they?"
ssLooks like Carpy and Bill Deni-
son."
James heart raced. However, this
seemed not so bad. Three men and
one woman were better than one
man and one woman. Carpy and
Denison approached together.
"Where are you riding to today,
doctor?" asked Jane.
"Gunlock ranch"
Jane showed surprise. who's sick
at the ranch?"
zone of the boys" said Carpy.
"That's the first I've heard of it,
exclaimed Jane. 'sWho is it?"
Zone of the boys that got cut up
last night downtown. I sewed him
up and want to see how he is. Moth
ing serious, I guess" said Carpy.
"Any news in town, doctor?" ask
ed Jane, though not in the least in
terested in Sleepy Cat news.
Nothing but the brush fires up
North. This whole country'S dry as
finder. I hope the winds will keep
'em up North. What do you hear
from your father?" asked the doc
tor in return.
ooh, he's better" said Jane. "He
talks about coming home pretty
Soon."
"Well, that's news" commented
DR.. Carpy, noncommittally. Hes
got a wonderful constitution, that
man." thinking to himself that it
was much too good. "How have you
been yourself, girl?"
ooh, I'm just fine, doctor"
"Rarin' to 60, eh? Come on, girl
E'I'll race you through this pine belt"
Jane saw her chance to escape an
uncomfortable situation, for Denison
hadn't said a word. She dashed gay
ly ahead and outran Carpy. But
Denison followed her, overtaking
her and riding alongside.
The squirt couldn't last forever,
though Jane prolonged it to the best
of her ability. She wondered whether
she had jumped from the frying pan
into the fire; she was alone now
with Denison.
When she slackened her pace, out
of breath, her cheeks were aglow.
81 wouldn't push that pony OF
yours too hard" suggested Denison
incidentally. Hes nervous crit
ter"
ooh, he's all right" said Jane
lightly, "but it does shake one up,
doesn't it," she exclaimed painting a
little.
cit does" agreed Denison. "But I
got a real shakeup when I spied you
on the trail. I've been stalking my
self out alone on this trail every day
for month or so, hoping to get
sight of you"
IT haven't felt much like riding
lately"
81 was afraid you were sick. I
watched for the doctor coming out,
but I didn't see him. used to ride
up Gunlock Knob every day or two
to see if I could see anything of
YOU"
81 wish you wouldn't do such
things. Where is Gunlock Knob?"
"It's that peak over by the spring,
it's really on your fathers ranch,
guess, but I'm always careful not to
run into any Of your men"
"I'm sorry, but you muSn't look Ior
me any more-please don't" She
glanced at him firmly as she
spoke. To Denison she had never
looked so lovely.
"Why?" he demanded. "Have +"
"You haven't, but have-I guess
that's the way to put it. mustn't
see you any more. don't expect to
remain in this country very long,
anyway"
':What have I done, Jane?"
Nothing, nothing"
somebody's been telling lies
about me-" he declared with some
bitterness.
mo-"
eff you'd tell me what they are,
I could answer them"
81 said, no! No one has talked
about YOU" His sudden intensity
81