The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-05-07

| know you have your heart sci
on fine place upon your hilltop
You can have that, too. But thi:
place is very dear to me. It's
it's Il sort of shrine, | guess yoU
might say. to Nancy. | don't want
it TO go to Sybil or Phil. They
don't understand how | feel about
it. Why, Sybil would scrap it toi
junk. But Joan will understand
I'd like her to keep it for me, II
you don't mind. AS long rs Abra'
ham is alive, it is to be his home
After that, we'll, let her rent il
out to some young couple who
would appreciate it--nOt for the
money. but more for the happi'
ness they might find here
Joan would do that Bob as
Surcd him. lie was a little over,
come. That Mr.. Hcndry had liked
and admired Joan, he knew well
enough, but never to so great an
extent as this,
As soon as nc could trust his
voice 70 be light. he added: Sup
pose you plan to live here until
our children are manicd-tnls
would be fine place to start
them out"
Hcndry chuckled. That's the
idea. | never thought OF that,
Well. | might as we'll tell you. I'm
counting on another 20 years at
least. Don't let my little talk fool
you Elces my soul" He slap
ped his t,.sh vigorously: When
i look at Charley Norton, after all
these years-well. tell me now,
would you ever think that fellow
VAS g. years old?"
Bob raised an eyebrow in sur
prise. "Sixty-four, is he? No, |
certainly would never have guess
cd it."
Hcndry took another cigar from
the box on the table and bit off
the end. He started at it medita-
lively before starting TO light 1t.
Bob took out his pipe, and filled
il slowly and deliberately. Out of
the corner of his eye, Hendry
watched him. Suddenly he said
"Yod don't like Charley Nor
ton. do you. Bob
Bob started guilty, as if the
older man had read his thoughts.
Can't say I've any reason to
dislike him." he replied evasively.
He struck u match and held 1t
over the bowl of his pipe, draw
ing it on it slowly.
That's not answering my qucS-
ton" Hcndry insisted.
Well" Bob replied at length,
ito be perfectly frank with you,
J. H.. | don't like him.
Il knew darn well you didn't"
Bob smiled grimly. 81 hope |
don't show my feelings as UNI
pleasantly as all that"
NO. You've never done any
thing. nor said anything but
I've sense it. Why don't
YOU like him."
Bob shrugged. Il don't honest
~ know. Perhaps when | was a
kid. a big dark man like him scar
ed me. There is something wicked
in the way his eyes stare into
your soul, you know
Hendry laughed. you talk like
an old woman" he scofted.
"Charley'S a great fellow. We
proSpectcd together, out in the old
Sierra MadreS. some 40 years ago,
| dare say. Yes sir, we were kids
at the time. Couldn't have been
more than 20, myself. And Char
Iey's a year or two older, if any
thing. He was great pal. Saved
my life once, too"
He did? Bob looked up In IN
terest, a little taken back to dis
cover this new angle to Norton'S
character. "In what way
1T was somewhere south of
Placerville. We'd come upon an
old shaft-abandoned, so it seem
ed. Of course, tOOlhardy Ike
Young fellows are, we had to eX-
anime it, right off, without u
thought of the danger. ! went
down ahead. | remember, while
Charley secuted around the sur
face But | got no more than 30
or 40 feet down that shaft when
the whole shcbang cavcd in on me.
l tell you, | thought that was the
end =" .
"You were buried beneath it?'
Hendry nodded. Buried under
a couple Of tons of dirt and rock.