The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-02-04

around and follow me-do you know
where you're heading for?"
She was too exasperated to speak.
you're headed for the desert, and
that's a poor place for stranger to
sleep in, night or day."
The fell warning checked Jane.
She had heard stories about that aw-'
full desert; she had been warned to
keep away from it. A revulsion of
feeling swept over her. She was tir-
ed enough to drop off her horse.
Oppressed by sense of loneliness,
helplessness, and resentment at be-
ing rediculed by a disagreeable
stranger, her eyes filled with angry
teas. She began to cry as she turned
her horses head to follow him.
"Hold on" he said kindly, "hold
on. oNthing to cry about, not thing.
You're as safe as if you were in your
! bed at the ranch. I guess I'm pretty
rough-spoken; but my barks worse'n
my bite. So you're from Chicago?"
eyes"
"That's quite a burg, I under
stand"
slow far have we got to go to get
homer"
considerable ways. If we could
20 as the crow flies, it wouldn't be
so far. How long have you been out
here?"
"Six weeks"
He was to polite to comment,
though he had hardly need to ask
the question-Jane was so evidently
tenderfoot.
whats your manner" she asked in
turn.
Bill Denison."
"How long have you lived here?"
Here and in the Panhandle most
of my life"
"And how many years is that?"
'Nigh onto thirty years, figure
it to be-"
"What are you so sore for on eve
rybody at Gunlock rancho"
Lady" return her companion, IF
I told you, you wouldn't believe it.
But I don't say I'm sore at every
body. And I'm not sore at you. I'm
glad there's one decent person now
at Gunlock-"
Jane bridled again. zone decent
person! I like that"
Hang it, I didn't mean to make
another break. Please excuse, and
I'll hog-tie my troublesome tongue"
"Is it very much farther?" asked
Jane, alarmed now by approaching
darkness.
mot a whole lot. But maybe
you'd better mount off and rest a
little if you need it. It's rough going
RI f0Hn
a short cut"
you're not lost, are your" she de-
manded suspiciously.
mot yet"
"But you might get lost?'
'Not tonight. And if you'll stick
to the saddle a little ways farther,
you can have a drink at spring to
freshen you up"
"HoW can you find it,"
IF you'd drunk from it as many
times as I have, you could find it in
sandstone, blindfolded-so could
these horses, either of 'em."
The two were silent for while.
Presently Denison checked his horse.
Here's your spring, lady. Are you
thirsty?"
"Choked. If you hadn't been so
mean, I'd have asked you for
drink at your house-if it is your
house."
cts mine so far, but there's a
hangover lawsuit of Van TambePs
on it. Can you get down, Lady,"
IT don't know whether can or
not I've been in this saddle so long"
Her companion eased her to the
ground. Jane refused to drink with
out a cup till he told her to cup her
hands. Then she would not drink
until she could see there were no
snakes in the water.
Nothing gets into that water; it
would freeze a snake to death. But
I can strike light so you can see
the water in your hands"
"I'd have offered you drink at
my house if I'd thought of it," he
said, helping her to remount. II
didn't aim to be mean. You kind of
took me by surprise"
There were lights everywhere
when Jane knocked, very late, at
the ranchhouse door. Kindly old Bull
Page, one of the ranch hands, greet
ed her in the kitchen.
The girl was jaded to death.
Where's everybody, Bull?" she ask
ed, dropping into a chair.
''Why, Miss Jane, they're all out
lookin' for YOU"
Looking for mel" exclaimed Jane
scornfully. well, they must be loaf
ing on the job. Where's Quong?"
"QuOng'S gone to bed, but I'll get
some bacon and fried potatoes for
you in no time" declared Bull.
'Coffee?"
eyes, and strong"
Same as I take it. Well, well,
how'd you manage to find your way
homer"
II didn't find it. I found a man
and a cabin about a hundred miles
from nowhere, and he brought me
home. That coffee smells grand,
Bull" sighed Jane. Hurry up with
the bacon!"
Ac che cold Tho xx1OrIc IN c+o11zoI