The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-03-07
H6NES LOUISE PROVOST

you're right alongside OF Maui
Blair's precious samples, the ones
that never got to the Assay OF
flee at all. Didn't think Slanty
Gano'd be smart enough to
switch 'em, did We There's gong
to be one more cave-in at the old
Bonanza, an yo're going to be
under it, or back of it, or there
abouts. When yo're mined, yell
be bones, an it'll be old Bra
dish's job to explain ye."
Slanty arose, chuckling deri-
sively. He seemed to have some
convenient cache here, for he
found bit of candle, lit it,
stuck it in the neck of a bottle
and looked around approvlngly.
The stage was set for a blast
which would send mass OF rock
and rubble down to crush a help
less man or imprison him in slow
torment until he died. Still SLAM
ty fingered, licking hungry lips
over the flavor or revenge.
The wounded mans eyelids
flickered and were still. Slanty
caught the movement and bent
over him with grin.
"Waking' up, Lee? Ye-"
The word jerked off in a
smothered snarl. Quick hands
leaped at his throat. Lee was
struggling to his feet, painting
and fighting. Slanty, caught una
wares, gave way for a step or
two. Then battering blows came,
beating a wounded man at close
range. A smashing blow landed
in Lees face, and he sagged and
crumpled.
Retreating steps, the clang OF
crowbar, a grinding sound. Float
ing somewhere in dim sea OF
weakness, Lee knew vaguely that
Slanty had pried the big rocks
back over the opening, shutting
him in.
Under his cheek was some
thing lumpy and rough. His fling
ers CROPPED over it. Rocks in bur-
must be Mats samples, that had
never reached their destination.
Lee showed them into his pocket,
and with a logged attempt at
haste began to crawl away from
the menace of the blast-farther
and farther back into the old
mine, dizzy from the loss OF
blood, with a film before his
ewes and a white-hot purpose IN
his brain.
"Oh God, let me live long en-
ough for this!"
Back of him there was a supt-
tering fuse. Outside there was
quiet, dusk falling, a man run
ming. The man lodged behind
rocks and scrub, slipped into a
fringe of jumpers and crouched
to listen. It came a moment later,
the dull boom of blast.
Life had to be faced. Virginia
dragged herself back to the reall-
cation of that, and went slowly
toward the hall. Mrs. Archer,
fearful and incoherent, came to-
ward her niece with outstretched
hands.
ooh my dear, I've just heard!"
"Please! I don't want to talk
about it," Virginia said tensely.
She went on, leaving Mrs. Arch
err indignant and perturbed, but
she had yet to pass Stanley. He
stood in her path, urgently plead
ing.
"Virginia, let me explain. I on
ly did it to save you from a ter
rible mistake. You don't under
stand"
II do. l understand more than
you know and I think you are
the foulest, most contemplate
thing I have ever seen. Get out
of my way!" Without another
word Virginia went on to her
fathers old office and shut the
door behind her.
The quiet of the little room
closed around her like protect
ing arm. 1t was easier to dis
believe that hideous accusation IN
this place where her fathers
presence still lived, genial and
kind.
There was only one relief from
the turmoil in her mind, and
that was in work. Her fathers
papers, for instance. There was
a closet full of them, and there
might be something about Lee.
She carried armfuls over to the
desk.
It was slow work. Some of it
was poignant; much of it was
dull, as old bills and papers must
be. She sighed, sorting them
briskly into better order. A pile
of old check books orders caught
her eye. She pulled them toward