The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-02-22
H6NES LOUISE PROVOST

said CURLY, ana ne took SOoo
care not show himself. I was on
my way here, just entering the
mouth of Turkey Gulch."
Mrs. Archer shot triumphant
glance at her niece; Virginia
looked steadily down at the
wound she was bathing. Curley's
brick red face was as nearly ex-
pressionless as human face can
be. The mouth of Turkey Gulch
was in a direct downward line
from Lee HOLSTERS cabin.
1--WE should have a doctor, Cur
ley. Will you get him." That was
the only comment Virginia made.
"I'Il go and bring him." sug-
gested Curley obligingly. Mrs.
Archer followed him with ner-
vous backward glance at Vlr-
ginia as she left the room.
"Stanley's low voiced question
came the moment they were
alone.
"Why, just as I told you, Wee"
''But you suspect someone"
she persisted. "Who is it,"
mo one that I would care to
accuse" he answered evasively.
She ignored his light tone, but
she could not ignore the implica-
ton back of it. But I'm sure that
no one here would do such a
thing"
mo one?" he queried ironical-
ly.
She flushed. eff you mean Lee
HOLSTER, he would never fight
that way, from ambush"
ooh, I'm not accusing him."
He raised cynical brows that did
accuse.
Out on the veranda Curley
took some hastily written mes
sages from Mrs. Archer and star
ted back to the corral with STAN
ley's waiting horse.
"He's liar, reflected Curley
dispassionately. GIVE been shot
myself, and I'll bet two dollars
Mex that he carried that cat
scratch from blame sight fur
Their than Turkey Gulch."
The doctor came and went,
pronouncing Stanley's injury
only a flesh wound that might
be painful for a few days, but
was not dangerous.
Virginia wandered restlessly
from room to room. 1t was all
maddening and impossible. Only
one thing stood out definitely. A
guest in her house had been the
victim of a cowardly attack from
ambush, almost within the linn
it's of her own land. That could
not be passed in silence.
Footsteps on the veranda
caught her attention. She went
to the door.
"Good even," said Lee. II hear
Bradish has met with an acct
dent"
81 could scarcely call it that.
Virginia chilled instantly under
this casual reference.
STANLEY was shot in the back
this afternoon by some contemp-
tible assassin who hadn't the
courage to let himself be seen.
He is a guest in my house and
a friend, and 1 shall expect every
man connected with the Circle
v or interested in it to make it
his business to find the man who
did it,
His steady eyes were on her.
unsmilingly. Men don't usually
ask women to fight their battles
for them," he commented.
"He hasn't asked anything!
she famed back at him.
Hope you find your man," he
said politely. "Is Bradish in? I'd
like to see him alone, please"
Stanley loked up sharply at the
tall figure in the door.
"How d'you do" he said Ian
guidly. Looking for Miss Blair?
She just stepped out"
mo, I'm looking for you. /
hear that you're spreading the
report that some friend of mine
tried to kill you in my interest.
You happen to know that it's a
lie. In the first place, I wouldn't
take the trouble to have you
killed. In the second place, I
don't hand over dirty work to
other people, and in the third
place, my friends don't miss.
The curt contempt of it brought
a dull red to Stanley's face.
Look here" he began angrily,
but the sardonic voice went on.
IF any friend of mine winged
you like that, he wasn't trying to
commit murder. He was posting
warning, and I advise you to
take it. Whatever you were up
to when that thing happened,
don't do it again."
Without waiting for any reply