The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-02-29

It was the height of confident
young folly, but there was some
thing infectious about 1t. Life
was suddenly gay and excllng'
Lee could do anything.
Milton Bradish and his son saw
them return. The elder Bradlsh
was standing by window and
looking out with pleasant COM
placency at the wide valley that
at Last was his own.
Stanley also looked out as the
two horses came up to the steps.
AS steps came down the hall he
reached for magazine and ldled
over to the other side OF the
room, looking around with a'carEe-
less nod as Lee HOLSTER ap-
peared in the door, but not VOL
unteering introductions. Lee lg-
nored the deliberate rudeness.
"You are Mr.. Bradish? My
name is Hollister."
How'd you do, HolllSter. I've
heard of you Come in"
"Virginia tells me that you're
thinking of taking over the Cir
Gle ""
"The deed passed this morn
ing" Bradish loked sharply at his
visitor and became bland again.
I'm a rancher now. You know
more of this place than I do" He
was the personification of brisk
frankness. Il know you have
been connected with it for a long
time and I know what Blair
thought of you. I'm going to
make a lot of improvements and
have it run right up to the min
ute. can't be here myself to boss
things, and I need good man to
take charge. The Job is yours. Will
you take it,"
Thanks. I'm not looking for a
job" The answer came in the
mildest of tones. II came for
something entirely different. I've
been talking to Virginia about
the sale. She feels that the whole
business this morning was pref
ty hasty, and she regrets it. In
fact, she feels very badly about
it, and I've persuaded her to let
me make a personal appeal to
you. Her father was a good friend
to you once, and you have your
chance now to be a good friend
to his daughter"
He was taking a folded slip of
paper from his pocket.
"This is the check you gave her
this morning. I'm asking you to
take it back and destroy the deed
she gave you"
From the other side of the
room Stanley grinned derisive-
ly at this extraordinary request,
but Milton Bradish did not smile.
He favored his visitor with con-
temptuous stare.
you've got less brains than I
thought" he snapped. Business
..sn't done that way"
"Then you refuse?"
Certainly. It was a bona fide
transaction, the property is mine
and I mean to keep it,
"Then I'm afraid I shall have
to tell you that your deed is
worthless. Matt Blair had only a
half ownership of the Circle V
to will to his daughter. I'm the
other owner, and no deed can
pass without my signature"
"Prove it," Bradish's face was
purple.
81 have the deed with me. al
ways carry it because your friend
Slanty Gano has a habit of going
through my cabin when he thinks
I'm not around. The deed was
made out while I was away, only
short time before Matt died.
He wrote me about it, but the let
ter missed me and followed me
back here He said that he had
done it as a proof of his affec-
ton and confidence, and that
was to come back and the two of
us were to run the place in full
partnership and make big thing
of it. The deed was placed for
safe keeping in Judge Harvey's
safe, in confidence, to be given
to nobody but me, or to Matt
himself. I've played a watching
game to protect Virginia's rights,
whether I kept the title to my
half or turned it back to her.
But as she has promised to mar
ry me, I think that matter will
take care of ITSELF"
He looked for a second at Vir-
ginia. Her eyes were warm and
lovely, her cheeks flushed with
an excitement that cheered him
on. He handed a folded docu-
ment to Bradish. Bradish took
it, scanned it swiftly and hand
ed it back.
"You win," he said CURLY. He
would have said moro hit STAN