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


"Why, I can see where they've
been back-firin'. Can't tell much
about it till we get closer. Come on,
boy! Push 'em over the hill. If this
is too fast for you, MISS" he yelled,
follow us!"
But nothing was too fast for Jane.
The city girl was always on their
heels.
With the ponies in a lather, the
Gunlock crew pulled up short be-
fore the ranch-house corral, where
party of fire fighters just from
town were starting for the front.
Henry SAVOY, smoked and scorched,
was guiding them out. Bill Pardaloe
headed the town men. In the bunch
were the evangelist preacher, Bill
Hayes, alias Panama; the liveryman,
McAlpin; SPOTS, the bald-headed
and profane barber; Selwood, the
cattleman, with half a dozen of his
men; Jim Laramie, from away up in
the Crazy Woman country, with a
bunch of his cowboys.
Jane saw a man riding up from
the creek, but it did not look to her
like Bill Denison. Not until he drew
near and lifted his hat hastily to her
as he rode over to talk to Pardaloe,
did she realize it was he.
AS rapidly as possible he greeted
the newcomers, told them where
they were most needed, pointed and
started them on their way, and turn
ed to Jane.
ooh, Bill" exclaimed Jane, as
Denison rode up. I'm so sorry"
II hope didn't stir things up over
there, by sending that message. l
shouldn't have done it,only-I prom
ised," he said in dry, cracked voice.
Don't think about the small
things, Bill. You should have sent
long ago. / brought all the men /
could"
'McCrossen refused to Gomez"
Gle was kind of mean-so came
myself hope I'll do for substi-
tute?"
His answering smile was joyful.
1T was too good of you to come,
Jane. But now I've got to ride right
out again. Would you step into the
cabin and rest up before you ride
back?"
st'Ride back? Yes, but who's going
to cook for all these men? I'm going
back to get Quong and bring him
over"
Noon passed before Jane got back
to Denison's and installed herself
with Quong in the kitchen.
One man, severely burned, came
in from the front toward dark. Car
py could not be reached till morn
ing. Jane bandaged the mans arms
and fed him. Denison rode in late,
smoked and scorched anew but tire
less.
Bill" she asked, sitting down op-
posite him, "tell me honestly: are
you holding it,"
'Jane, to tell the truth, I don't
know. Sometimes I think we are
sometimes it looks bad In a forest
fire, every hour must tell its own
story; that's about the size of it."
It was late when they walked out
of doors together. The southern sky
was angry red. It'll be hard day
tomorrow, Bill" said Jane. 'There's
nothing more I can do here, tonight.
I'm going home. I'll be back by day
light in the morning. You go to bed.
You must be dead"
''I'll ride over along with you,
Jane"
''No, you will not
''But Jane, you're not going to de-
prive me of riding home with your"
eyes, I am"
ooh, pleased" He pleaded with her
like a boy. 1--WE been counting on it
all day"
81 thought you'd been fire-fighting
all day."
''Fighting fire and thinking about
you and saying, Tonight I'll ride
home with Jane"
They did not ride fast. There was
so much to talk over. Both were Sc
rious. Denison knew better than
Jane how grave the danger was both
to himself and to her. But he had his
hour with the woman he loved, and
for that hour what else in the world
mattered?
ooh, Bill" protested Jane, family,
sick at heart with the happiness of
listening to his words. Don't! You
mustn't say such things. I won't list
en- to you, Bill. I'm nothing but a
girl, and you're making me a god
dess or fairy-stop such nonsense.
Not one word more, Bill DEMON. If
you keep on, I'll break out crying:
Here's the house, anyway. Good
night"
Every available man was out on
the front lines when Jane reached
the threatened ranch after day.
break. Quong kept the little stove
in the kitchen hot, and Jane, busy
about the cabin and looking after
the boy burned the day before, did
not realize how fast the morning
was going, until Carpy arrived from
town to dress the lads burns. He
greeted Jane and, with her to help,
went to work on his patient.
Afterward he sat down beside
Jane on the bench outside the door.
$780," said he, you're playing good
Samaritan. How are you holding out
at Gunlock?"
Gall right; the danger is all from