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

| 10 fmO WE, SAID Jane COl0ly.
her answer. He caught his breath
with a gulp. '"That fellow! Well,
some things do beat the devil"
The name doesn't seem to sit very
well with you," observed Jane
crustily.
''That birds name doesn't sit very
well with anyone at Gunlock."
Jane seemed willing to pursue the
subject. "Why not?" she asked Ian
guidly as she slipped her coffee.
why not? There's more reasons
than one. Denison is a rutly, if you
know what that means" He paused.
what else?" she asked in the
same fatigued manner.
It nettled her foreman. "He'S the
worse enemy your father ever, had
in this whole country. He's probably
stole more Gunlock cattle than all
the rustlers in the hills"
Jane rode into Sleepy Cat next
morning with Bull Page, and when
she had dispatched her business at
the bank, she walked up street to
Carpy's hotel.
She asked for DR.. Carpy, whom
she remembered from her visit two
years before.
The doctor was somewhat surpris-
ed at the sight of this trim, erect
girl, eighteen or nineteen years of
age, and seemingly stranger, fac
ing him. Obviously she was new
conner to Sleepy Cat; the doctor did
not at once place her. But his glance
swept everything about her like a
flash-her cowboy hat, her red,
open-neck blouse with it's dark
flowing tie; her sloping feminine
shoulders; delicate, pleasing bosom
and slender, rounded hips; her short
brown riding skirt and her soft,
tight fitting tan boots. The rig SEEM
ed right for her brown hair and blue
eyes. CDR. Carpy?" her voice was
clear and her manner possessed.
The doctor DOTTED his hat and set
his book down on the desk with an
air of satisfaction. "I'm DR.. Carpy.
But I'm glad to see you don't need
me or any other doctor"
"Why, Doctor!" exclaimed Jane
demurely. There was sophistica-
ton in the delicate droop of her eye
lids, as she protested, that did not
escape the doctor. It deceived him
only as to her age. 'That's hardly
complimentary, DR.. Carpy," she ran
on. "Have you forgotten Frontier
day two years ago when we sat here
on the porch together and in the
rickety grandstand to see the rid
ing?" Her eyes were laughing. DR..
Carpy was flustered.
"What is your name?'
''Not a very popular one in this
''Not very popular one IN this
country. I'm Jane Van Tambel.
He knit his brows. ''Why, that's
maybe two years ago, and it was
little girl that talked to here on
the porch and took to the races. I'll
be hanged! Two years! And you've
sprung into all bloom. Full bloom!'
repeated Carpy in undisguised ad-
miration. "Where've you been ever
since?"
"In Chicago. You look exactly the
same, Doctor"
"Can't say feel exactly the same,
Jane," he said. His eyes still rested
on her. "How long were you out
last timer"
"Only two months or so. But I'm
out now to stay, perhaps"
81 heard something lately about
some women folks over to Gunlock,
but I didn't hear of you being over
there. If I had, I'd have been over
there myself. So you're Gus daugh-
ter he unused.
''Never knew he had child till
you came out the first time. You
threw your bracelet out on the
track, didn't your"
"That was partly your fault, Doc
tor"
'Was it? Well, you got it back"
II did, but I never learned the
name of the man that picked it up.
All I could find out, when l asked,
was that he was rustler. You don't
remember him, do your"
''Of course I do. Who the hell said
he was rustler?"
"Why, that's what they told me at
the ranch after we got home"
We'll, you've got some able-bodl-
ed liars at Gunlock-one in part1cu-
lar"
who's that?"
mo need to specify"
well, what's the name OF the
wonderful rider who picked up the
bracelet? And the cigarette?"
1T was Bill Denison."
(TO BE CONTINUED)