The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-05-09
CHAPTER VIII

OnAf HEN VIII
Synopsis
Life grows complicated for the
children of plucky Anne Phillips
who, by working in a department
store, has supported them since
her husbands death. Her mar
ried daughter, Berenice, quar-
relS with her husband Bill. Jim,
Anne's SON, is infatuated with the
rich Helen Sanders, although
Anne suspects that Cathy, the wi
dOwed little dancer in the apart
ment across the hall, is in love
with him. And Janet, Anne's
younger daughter, is unhappy be-
cause her well-to-dO friends neg
lect her and insist on believing
she is annoyed over her old friend
Gordon Keys attentions to Pris-
ella Leigh. Janet is studying in
terror decorating and is commits
stoned by Tony Ryan to help him
restore the old Phillips estate,
which he has bought. A negro
and Englishman working there
tell her of TOny's kindnesses.
BY the last week in July Mr..
Busby was next to finished at the
Radcliffe house. There were only
the loose ends to be tucked IN.
Janet began uneasily to wonder
what would happen next. She had
after considerable research decld-
ed on exactly what furnishings
the old mansion required. She
had the names of dealers and
prices at her tongues end, as well
as neatly put in a slender req
notebook for Tony Ryan's consld-
Grafton.
Deke had been engaged for sew
eral days in carefully wedding
out the flower beds at the SIDES
of the Radcliffe mansion, job
at which he could sit down II his
leg troubled him. The business OF
pruning the trees and cutting
back the heavy shrubbery was to
be left to Rufe under the super
vision of the Earl of Jersey, so
Deke said.
'sMr. Tony knows I can't ham
die no scythe," chuckled Deke'
"but he promised to skin me alive
if missed airy weed in these here
flower beds. Mr.. Tony can't stand
nothing sloverny.
Janet's lips curled. 'He expects
you to earn your keep, does he?"
"Yas'm."
There's nothing like being able
to eat your cake and have it toe"
she remarked. Il mean, it isn't
everyone who can make a beau
tiful gesture pay"
"Yas'm," agreed Deke doubtful
ly.
He had no idea what she was
talking about, but the man who
had come up behind her knew.
give seen the skids put under
too many Good Time Charles to
let that happen to me-" said To-
ny Ryan in a hard voice.
Janet turned with little gasp.
He had come in through the rear
gate. Under the dark tan of his
lean cheeks there was red glow
like the dusky flush on a copper
vase.
I'D like if possible to have the
house ready for occupancy by the
twentieth of August" he said.
"Please buy what you think the
house needs and have them send
the bills to me-" he said crisply.
She WINGED, and her old anita
gonism flared up. ''The price is
no object, naturally" she asked.
He gave her a curious glance.
ct want the best" he answered.
theoretically, after she had
been busy at the office Tor eight
hours, Berenice should have been
satisfied to stay quietly at home
with Bill at night, only it had not
worked out that way. She was
generally tired by five and more
and more inclined to feel sorry
for herself because her friends
had been doing nothing all day
except play bridge or otherwise
amuse themselves. She formed
the habit of stopping in at one of
their apartments after work. Us
ually The Bunch was together
somewhere having cocktails. They
encouraged her to join them.
When she came into the apart
ment that afternoon Bill was
slamming things around In the
kitchenette. 'Hullo," he said
without looking up, his face like
q fhunderclOud.