Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1938-06-10
/ =. q z ~
By OREN ARNOLD
CHAPTER %

111E FOAAOW1ING UdyS were
extremely busy ones for all of
them. It is amazing how much is
to be done when a new estate is
being set up, especially if the own
er and builder are anxious to have
personal contact with it, to put
heart interest into practically
every board and stone.
Ellen had discovered the beauty
Of rocks when she had first come
to her ranch acreage, and instant
~ had developed ideas.
II want a great big room some
where" she had ordered, "for a
sort of den, or hobby place. I
want to put our own-my own col
lections in it."
Going in for animal heads, men,
or postage stamps?" Bill had
leased good-naturedly.
At any rate she gave this room
her personal attention. She would
ride out for three hours, return
with saddle bags stuffed with rocks
she had picked up on the hillsides.
Red stones bigger than her fists
would sometimes be streaked with
brilliant turquoise green-a mani
festation Of copper mineral. Other
pieces were bronzed, or slate col
'ored, or pink, or blue. Some were
clear like !, crystal. Some had
stripes and patterns. One day she
came home in considerable excite
ment and sought out Buckshot
Brown.
1T was as big as fireplace log,
almost!" she told him. "a piece
Of rock just like a tree, Uncle
Buckshot! It really was. It even
had a perfect knot, a limb sticking
out an inch or two on one side. It
was beautiful red. It looked Just
like part Of tree. It"
He interrupted her then.
why you young dude, tibet was
. tree! Amt you never heard of
petrif1ed wood3 Tn petrifed for
est up in northern part Of tn
state? There's logs like thet scat
tered herein there all around tn
southwest"
The piece weighed more than
Ellen, so he rode out to help her
pack 1t home. Together they en-
sconced it on the center of a rock
table she was building in her den.
He told her petrified wood is al
most the hardest mineral to be
FOUND, save for diamonds; and he
rugged up a handwriting and pol
ishing outfit, from which he was
soon turning out some beautiful
cleaning, picture stones suitable
Tor bracelets and rings. Black
yellow, green and orange stain II
some Of the Clipped wood frag.
nients often combined to make
sunset scenes, or forest fires If
lovely miniature.
Inc oidster and the girl thus
were constantly like children a,
play, but the ranch house becano.
all the more complete and inhab
table therefor. The adobe bricl
walls were up soon, and the grea,
oak poles were laid on for sim
porting the roof, protrudine
through the walls q foot or two
The original Durango home hat
been more pueblo than Spanish"
although Spanish architecture q,
America knows 1t practically al
has been an adaptation of India,
style. 1t Is, In point Of foot ~,
only truly American" architec
ture yet evolved.
"Old Durango had to figh
Indians. so he built hisself
breastwork on part of his mai,
walls" Buckshot recalled. "I
was just more wall, built up fo,,
feet SOS they could shoot throue]
portfolios cut in it,"
Ellen Immediately caused th
parapets to be restored as nearl
Hike the original as Buckshot coul
remember them.
"For a long time there was ,
old carreta standing about here,
Buckshot next said. He was point
ing to spot in the front area 9
yard, near a boulder.
"You mean a cart? A woode
cart?". Ellen had seen one dow
In Sonora. They're darling
Picturesque"
9Th same. Wooden wheels an
all. I CANT rightly say as to ho'