The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-19
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the money, but more for the hap piness they might find there."
 "Joan would do that, Bob as- sured him. He was little over come. That MT. Hendry had liked and admired Joan, he knew well enough, but never to SO great an extent as this!
 As soon as he could trust his voice to be light, he added: "Sup- pose you plan to live here until our children are married--this would be a fine place to start them out!"
 Hendry chuckled. That's the idea! I never thought of that Well, might as well tell you, I'm counting on another 20 years at least. Don't let my little talk fool you Bless my soul!" He slapped his thigh vigorously: When I look at Charley Norton, after all these years - well, tell me now, would you ever think that fellow was 64 years old?"
 Bob raised an eyebrow in sur prise. "Sixty-four is he? Z No, I certainly would never have guessed it."
 Hendry took another cigar from the box on the table and bit off the end. He stared at it medita- lively before starting to light it. Bob took out his pipe, and filled it slowly and deliberately. Out of the corner of his eye, Hendry watched him. Suddenly he said:
 You don't like Charley Nor ton, do you, Bob?"
 Bob started guiltily, as if the older man had read his thoughts.
 Can't say I've any reason to dislike him." he replied evasively. He struck a match and held it over the bowl of his pipe, draw ing in on it slowly.
 That's not answering my ques- tion," Hendry insisted.
 Well" Bob replied at length, ito be perfectly frank with you, J. H., don't like him."
 T knew darn well you didn't"
 Bob smiled grimly. T hope I don't show my feelings as un- pleasantly as all that"
 No. You've never done any thing, nor said anything . but somehow I've sensed it. Why don't you like him?"
 Bob shrugged. T don't honestly know. Perhaps when I was kid, a big dark man like him scared 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 scoffed. Char ley's great fellow. We pros pected together, out in the old Si- era Madres, some 40 years ago, I dare say. Yes sir, we were kids at the time. Couldn't have been more than 20, myself. And Char ley's a year or two older, if any thing. He was a 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?'
 Tt was somewhere south of Pla- cerville. We'd come upon an old shaft - abandoned, so it seemed. Of course, foolhardy like young fel- lows are, we had to examine it, right off, without a thought of the danger, I went down ahead. remember, while Charley secuted around the surface. But got no more than 30 or 40 feet down that shaft when the whole shebang caved in on me. I tell you, I thought that was the end ."
 You were burnied beneath it?"
 Hendry nodded Buried under a couple of tons of dirt and rock And forty feet below the surface at that. Fortunately, there was a sort of cave to one side of the shaft, and I just naturally fell in- to it. There must have been enough air, too to keep me go- ing"
 How long were you down there?"
 Well, I don't rightly remem- OCls AU OCClllCQ lAhC ~ JSoAos M lieve me. But Charley said it was only matter of 10 or F hours. In the meantime, he was digging frantically down the shaft to get me out. Somewhere, he happened on couple of other men, and the three worked to clear away the dirt. I don't re- member much about it. Guess I was pretty nearly out of the pie ture when they finally brought me up. Gosh almighty, I'll never forget how tickled I was to wake up and see that big black face of Charley Norton. Perhaps that's why he doesn't look so bad to me. I was expecting to see an angel instead"
 Bob took long breath. That must have been an experience, l,a roy,oorLad s'T'11 hat UOlI left