The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-09-23

NdyOS dIlu 1IldyOC 4AOC' DoC
wouldn't have gone cow crazy,
range crazy, until couldn't afford
to work my stock"
Strangely, Horse did not anger
Wheeler saw that the Old Man
thought his trade was merely based
on youth and ignorance, which he
had seen in unlimited quantities be-
fore.
Maybe" Dunn said now, "You'd
have kept the "a little one-horse
spread-in the best of shape. But
that amt the question now. We're
where we are, and there's no use
fighting over what went before"
II can save it yet" Wheeler told
him rashly. 81 can throw hum
dred thousand into the a."
II didn't know you could swing
that much. You got it Billy"
what 1 haven't got of it can
get"
Horse Dunn studied him, sadly,
long time. '"That's an offer, is it?'
he said at last.
con one condition. That you give
me free hand, to hire, fire, buy
or sell, land or cattle, for three
years."
Il believe" said Dunn, 'I'd even
do that"
Its a deal, them
No! You and nell never make a
deal like that!"
''It's your out" Wheeler told him,
land it's your only out. Let me
take the finance and the outfit-and
all the other ruction falls to pieces. P"
And now Horse Dunn's eyes
blazed again, and his voice crack
led. you'll never put dime in
this brandt"
cts her brand" Wheeler remind
ed him. "You willing to let it bust
up and 60 down and the girl and
her mother without cent?"
LET 'er bust-before it ever
hangs on your dough-"
But damnation-why?"
"You want to know why? I'll tell
you why! Because you want that
girl? You want that girl-you think
I'm blind? But she don't want you.
I'd no sooner put her in your debt
than I'd sell her to you outright.
You're only making the offer be-
cause you're in love with Marian"
you're crazy! I'm making the
offer because I think 1 can come
out on it,"
"You want the girl" Horse per-
sisted.
''You old fool" Wheeler held his
voice down-"do you think T ever
expect to get her that way? Do you
think I'd want her on the basis Of"
Anyway, that's all over and
done, two years back" Wheeler lied.
"Once she could have had me body
and soul. But that's all over. I
wouldn't tie myself up, not now, to
her or anyone else"
"You lie," said Horse calmly.
Horse, if you'll let me take"
Never a dime Of your money in
her brand" Horse said with utter
finality.
Wheeler turned in that night feel
ing old and grim; and he was Won
dering why he had fought so hard to
build a stake that was useless to
him, useless.
. It was still dark as Billy Wheeler
let himself noiselessly into the cook
shack and lighted lamp. He found
himself cold biscuits, and in a huge
pot on the back of the stove he
found bitter coffee above banked
fire.
He had about finished washing
down his cold biscuits when he was
annoyed to discover that another
early riser was about. Someone was
walking quietly toward the cook
shack. Hurriedly he blew out his
light, gulped down half a cup OF
dregs, and let himself out of the
kitchen, anxious to be on his way
without conversation.
Then, rounding the corner, of the
cook shack he almost ran into Mar
ian.
Morning, Billy" He saw that
she was wearing belted overalls and
boots.
"Isn't this pretty early? Couldn't
you sleep?"
'sNot very much. Aren't you 60
ing to help me find some break
fast?"
"You bet I am" They went into
the cook shack, and he lighted the
lamp again.
Moving slowly, he quietly showed
wood into the banked fire, and got
bacon into skillet 'I'm sure sor-
ry I can't stay while this cooks" he
said. "But I've got to make ride
Maybe I'll 60 with you"
'I'm afraid" he said gently, ''you