The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-05-05
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| SNOOu SNSiy DiI VI ok leeJ IOuf--
a powerfully built giant of a man.
He had heavy mass of black
hair, and his eyes were dark and
piercing. As he looked at YOU
they seemed to burn deep into
your mind, as if they could read
ones most secret thoughts.
He was rough and rugged, and
his well-tailored town clothes did
not seem to sit well. Joan guessed
that he fitted more easily into the
careless, outdoor apparel of a
mining camp. The curious thing,
she thought, was that there was
so little indication of age about
him. He might have been a young
man in his middle thirties, his skin
coarsened and weather beaten
from constant exposure to the
outdoors. Or he might have been
a man in his sixties, permanently
hardened against the ravages of
time and elements. Considering
that he was a lifelong friend of
Mr.. Hendry's, it was more likely
that he was in his sixties.
Joan ushered him into Mr.. Hen
dry's office and the two men
greeted each other heartily. She
shut the door and returned to her
desk. For a moment she stood
there, thinking, against her will
ga tall, dark man. And Death"
She forced herself, presently, to
get to work. She was being ride
ulous. Utterly ridiculous. 1t was
the man himself, she decided,
whose personality haunted her.
He was so strong, so dark, so UNI
fashionable. She understood why
Bob did not like him. She did
not like him either. She smiled
at that, realizing that if st. Peter
himself came down and walked
the earth, and Bob did not like
him, she would have found an in
slant reason to subStantiate that
dislike.
An hour or so later, Mr.. Hen
dry's buzzer over her desk sound
cd. She picked up her notebook
and went into his office.
Norton got up gracious!y and
offered her his chair.
owed like to draw up an agree
ment," Mr.. Hendry stated, "a sort
of tentative option on the Bella
Terra mine. Oh, this is Mr.. Nor
ton. Miss Barrett There's a
chair for you, Charley. Bring ii
over"
To Joan, he remarked, iovially,
"You wouldn't think, would you,
that Charley Norton and | pros
pected together 40 years ago? NO,
sir ! tell you, there's nothing like
living in the open mountains to
keep fellow young. E. Now,
about this option"
He dictated for several minutes,
interrupting himself occasionally
to discuss some point more fully
with Norton. Joan took the notes
quietly.
%. and be it further agreed
that Jacob Small, sole owner OF
the Bella Terra mine, shall be
paid"
He broke off abruptly. Say
Charley. | still don't see why ne
has to have 40 thousand in cash,
That's no way to do business"
Norton shrugged his enormous
shoulders cloQuently. =,
owe tried to talk to the old
fellow about that" he said. But
he's set. One of the old-timers,
stubborn and ignorant. All he can
understand is so many pieces OF
gold in his poke. If he could get
the entire amount in silver dol
lars. he'd rather have it so. You
know the type, John. They can't
read or write to any extent, ana
certified check is just a bit OF
paper to them. They want cold
cash. explained it all to young
Andrews when he was out there
He tried to talk sens to Small,
too ~ - -
81 know. He told me. Well, If
that's the way it is, guess well
have to agree. Forty thousand
dollars - even in cash - is dirt
cheap for the property To Joan,
he said: elk that up for us inn
mediately, will you? We want the
lawyers to go over it this after
noon."
She took the notes back to her
desk and began tipping them For
half an hour or so she WORKED
steadily.
Just before noon, Bob looked
into her office. -,
"Have lunch with me?" he
asked. :,
"Not today, DEAR" she said with
disappointment. 81 have to draw
up the Bella Terra agreement"
"Norton's- here, them"
Joan nodded. "And / don't like
him either" she said, smiling.
"Good. Pm glad we agree SO
amiably. I'll see you at 5 o'clock"
She finished the work without
further interruption. Carefully