The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1938-09-08

in front of me and lead his horse.
How far we got to go?
Three miles,"
The Turner ranch lay on the
sheltered side of large draw with
sloping grassy sides which served
as a windbreak. Tall sycamores
mushroomed up in the black night,
hiding everything about the house
but two spacious and lighted win
dows.
No one greeted them as they dis
mounted. Rosy took Dave in his
arms and followed Mary into the
house. They entered a broad, low
ceiled room, huge fireplace at one
end. Rosy did not see the man
seated in a chair before the fire as
he laid Dave on a davenport.
well, Mary" the man drawled.
Rosy looked up. The speaker was
young, perhaps thirty, with a dark,
cody appraising face: He .yas
dressed in whipcord breaches and
shiny boots, slouched comfortably
on his backbone in the easy" chair
ooh, Ted" Mary said, a little
catch Of fear in her voice. Some
one shot DAVE" She looked at
Rosy and flushed a little. Excuse
me. Mr.. Rand, my husband, Ted
Winters"
"Howdy," Rosy said. He looked
curiously at Mary.
81 wanted to surprise Dave" she
said, flushing little deeper.
what happened? Winters
drawled.
He lounged out of his chair and
came over beside Rosy, looking
down at the unconscious figure on
the davenport. Mary left for the
kitchen.
Some whippoorwhill on the dry
gulch," Rosy said. 'This side of
the bridge"
''The DEVIL" Winters exclaimed.
"Who?"
II dunno. He's out there on a
horse now. Take look at him and
see if you know him."
''You mean you got him?" -
Dead" Rosy said dryly.
Mary returned with the basin
containing warm water and mild
disinfectant. She kneeled by Dave
and bathed the wound, her face
white.
"Ted, it was awful" she said in a
low voice.
The disinfectant was biting into
the raw flesh of Dawes wound and
he groaned and writhed under the
pain. His eyelids fiuttered, then
opened.
What happened? Somebody shot
at me-"
Some whippoorwill up in the
rocks tried to blow your head of, :"
Rosy said grinning.
Dave nodded weakly and shifted
his eyes to Winters.
"You the doc?" Wave asked him.
''No, Dave. This is Ted Winters,
my husband" Mary said. II want
ed to keep it secret and surprise
you" Dave stretched his arm out
to Winters and they shook hands.
Dave smiling weakly. "You got the
best girl I ever knew, Winters"
81 know it," Winters replied. He
put his arm around Mary's should
er and Rugged him tightly.
''How do you feel?" Mary asked.
"Good. I'll be up tomorrow. What
was this all about?"
''He's out there dead-on horse"
Winters said.
'Who was he?"
''1'm going out and take a look"
Winters said. "I'll put up your
horses while I'm at it." He left by
the front door and Mary and Dave
looked at each other.
''You little devil!" Dave said.
81 didn't want it all to come at
once" Mary replied, laughingly shy
ly. "Can you walk to bed? We can
talk it over in the morning"
Dave nodded. Leaning on Rosy's
shoulder, he walked with dragging
footsteps down the middle corridor
of the one-story house. Mary opened
a door to bedroom, containing
broad white bed in one corner, a
simple, implanted chest of drawers.
"Mr. Rand, you have the room
next door-or you can sleep here
on the cot. We're just across the
hall.
Mary babe them both goodnight,
and left the room.
Rosy sat on the cot, drew Dur