The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-01-30

her feel groWn-up.
He lit a cigarette and slumped
down beside her. He was more
completely at peace than he ever
remembered being before. He
realized, without wishing to, how
unreal had been the world in
which he had lived with Ellen.
He tried to put the suggestions
cut. They seemed so terribly dis
loyal to Ellen. And he must have
loved her. Or had he loved only
the immeasurably beautiful shell
that had housed her? It seemed
strange and rather wonderful
that it was Ellen's child who had
given him back to himself.
The clouds were riding lower
now, and occasional thunder
rumbled. When the storm began,
he would take the wheel
Along the whole flat stretch, as
far as he could see, there was
nothing, not even another car, to
share the coming storm. And then
ahead, he caught sight of a speck
beside the road.
In the rapidly changing per-
spective of the moving car, the
speck grew. 1t became boxllke. 1t
developed form. 1t was vehicle
of sorts. A kind of van, drawn up
alongside the road. Mark had
never seen anything quite like 1t.
A figure peered past the lifted
hood. The figure wore breeches
and boots, and soft shirt. BY the
time they were beside it, he saw
to his establishment that it was a
girl.
Valerie stopped before he
spoke.
Good kid" said Mark. He
opened the door and jumped out.
The young woman Strengthened
and looked up. For minute they
stared at each other. Mark got an
impression of slim and medium
height. Of very brown eyes and
exceedingly golden hair. Of a
sort of flower-petal skin, rather
badly smudged with grease.
speaking of an answer to
prayer!" she said. Would you
have the least idea why the thing
won't go?"
"Not yet" He bent beside her
over the engine, and was i'm
mediately absorbed. No matter
how perfectly his own car ran,
the problem of another at once
became his.
II think it's case of burned-out
bearings. It's just my guess. Do
you ever think of oil?"
81 don't think of much else,"
the girl told him.
Maybe you've got an oil leak"
Which makes it even better"
She dropped down on the run
ming board and looked up at him.
"What do I do now?" Oh, I know
it's not your worry, but you're
the first human being I've seen
for an hour" ,.-.
Mark stood off and looked with
widening eyes at the aged vehicle.
It was part truck and part de-
livery wagon, with a drop of pas
senger car - the worst highway
hybrid he had ever seen. 1t was
painted a bright green, and on
its sides in enormous white letters
were the words TREDWAY'S
TRAVELLING LIBRARY.
The girl sat Imply on the
running board, staring at him.
Whats in it," he asked.
Books"
Can you lock the thing up?"
ooh, yes-but what's the use?
I suppose-you wouldn't have-a
.towline about you anywhere?"
She cast an admiring eye over
the long perfection of Marks car.
"No-of course not"
I'm sorry" said Mark. He felt
apologize, somehow-as he used
to feel when he was small boy,
and his toys were more expen-
sive than the others.
Il broke my third yesterday"
she admitted. "You see, this isn't
the first time the Ark has stran-
ded-what with one thing and
another-You wouldn't believe.
what can happen to an old car!
Well, that's that"
The sky was quite black, and
the rain was coming down faster.
Mark held out his hand and
pulled her to her feet.
Lets talk it over inside" he
suggested.
They made a dash for his car
and he opened the door and put
her in the back, getting to his
own place beside Valerie. The
girl looked from the delicate
fawn upholstery to her smudged
breeches.
Couldn't I just camp on the
flnnr2" she asked