The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-02-11

swell, what's the name of the
wonderful rider who picked up the
bracelet? And the cigarette?"
'It was Bill Dension."
Jane started imperceptibly.
"He's living here now on his
brothers hill ranch brothers dead
Well, Jane, what in the world
brought you out here?"
'Why, because Fathers so ill.,
DR.. Carpy nodded. "You took care
of him, Doctor, and recommended
his going to Medicine Bend"
ut was pretty high for me to
come out to look after the ranch
Small girl for big job, as the In
dians would say"
Jane laughed. THAT'S what Fa-
Their said when he saw me. You
know two years ago was the first
time in his life he'd ever seen me. y
"How old are you, Jane?"
almost nineteen"
"Well, WELL" unused DR.. Car
py still regarding his caller benev.
olently. $50 you're Van Tambel's
daughter. guess you take after
your mOCner.
Aunt Lou says I d." she re-
turned with composure. $50 Father
said, too, when I went to see him
at the hospital in Medicine Bend
last month. And he told me, Doc
tor, to come to see you about his
bill. I couldn't find one from you
among the bills at the ranch. Did
you ever send one?"
Hell, Jane, never sent bill
to anybody in my life"
''Doctor!" exclaimed his caller,
startled both at the expletive and
the statement. 81 never heard of a
doctor who didn't send out bills!'
Carpy laughed uproariously. 'Why
that's nothing"
"But," she went on, "you took
care of Father quite while. He
thinks you're the best doctor he
ever had"
The sardonic note in the doctors
slight laugh as he suppressed any
exclamation did not escape the girl.
'But everyone out here says that
or something just like it, SO you
must be used to it," she added.
"Please tell me now, Doctor, what
the bill is; I want to pay you"
The doctor waved Jane off. When
he sidestepped, she kept after him.
He lodged, and she persisted. At last
she drew from her purse two one
hundred-dollar bills and laid them
on the table in front of him. Carpy
looked at them in establishment.
''Your father hasn't gone out of his
mind, has he?"
''No," Jane retorted. "Why? That's
not enough, is it," she added shame
facedly. 81 didn't know"
cts at least twice too much. Did
Gus send this?"
Jane had to fib bit. She had add
ed hundred dollars herself to what
her father had told her would be
about right,if Carpy refused to name
the bill. "He told me he wanted you
well paid" she answered evasively.
Carpy pushed one bill back to
Jane. "That's plenty"
Doctor" she exclaimed, 81 wish
you'd take this other BILL
He shook his head. ''Put it back in
your purse. How are things out at
the ranch?"
''You know how it is when the
cats away" laughed Jane.
''You must mean the wildcat"
suggested Carpy, grinning half ami
ably.
Everyone doing things his own
way" she continued, ignoring the
thrust. COR. not doing them at all.'
mostly that, I guess"
mostly that" agreed Jane. ''I can
see I have plenty of work ahead"
''And you going on nineteen.
And, I'll bet, never did days work
in your life"
She Strengthened up. give worked
every day of my life since left high
school at fifteen"
'What for?"
Helping support Mother
Carpy flashed with anger do
you mean to tell me that old cur
mudgeon father of yours didn't sup
port you and your mother?"
James eyes fell. She crimsoned.
Then, collecting herself, she said, "I
did not mean to tell you, Doctor. It
slipped out. We've nearly always
had to look out for ourselves
hate to talk about it, Doctor. Father
says he's sorry. When telegraphed
him about Mothers death, he was
all broken up and sent me so much
money for the expenses that I didn't
know what to do with Though it
was too late to do poor Mother any
good. I know Fathers eccentric,
Don't waste a moment II you see