Henderson daily dispatch., 1941-03-26

Inc mn S~tOcknOluefS he mao come
up to this supposed EVclesS Eden
for a month Of rest and relaxation,
and now look at him, He'd had
neither rest nor recreation. He had
fallen in love like a sap. And as a
result, nothing had turned out as
he had expected it to.
If Bill hadn't come along with
him-if he had been the only Occu-
pant Of the cabin when Eve landed
among the COlllrIS things might
have been different. Eve might
even have learned to love him. But
Bill had come along And. as usual,
when Bill was in the ncighborhood
Of a girl, Joel Lee Randall was an
unknown quantity.
It was hard not to be bitter and
resentful.
joel picked up a pencil. He began
to add up a column OF figures.
II thought you We're going to
Asheville today" said Bill, who
came wandering in, He had been
in a wandering mood for some time
now. THAT'S what you told Eve
the other evening"
Yes, l know l told her" said
Joel, not bothering to look up.
But can't a nan change his
mind?"
Sure, Why not ?" said Bill.
"Only if I remember right you told
Eve you'd pick her up on this par
ticular day and take her with you
to 60 some shopping y
IF don't show up she'll know
it's all Off"
Bill shrugged. No wonder you
never get anywhere with the Wofn-
en- he remarked.
Joel didn't reply.
Bill, restless, uncertain. moved
here and there about the cabin.
Mind if | use the carr" he final
ly asked.
"No," said Joel. Go on--use it!
I've got work to do"
"Thanks,,"
Now Joel did look up. He eyed
his cousin.
"Only,' he said, at seems to me
you're doing mighty little work on
that mountain story here of late"
I've dropped it for the time be-
ing
''Why?"
I've got to get q perspective"
said Bill. "There's such a thing as
being too close to your material.
III take it up again after | leave
the mountains
When will that be ?"
I'm not sure yet" Bill was
thoughtful. i've got a lot on my
mind, believe it or not. Personal
problems, all that sort of thing"
L can believe it very easily"
said Joel. Having two lovely girls
in love with you IS a problem. Too
bad You can't just shut your eyes
. and jump. That would simplify
} matters no end
tTo BE tOntinued)
were tied to the upper part of tho
chair.
Reckon that oughter make him
behave" said Zeb. He turned to
o Ike. IAN right, Ike" he said, hits
O yo' time to shoot"
: NO, tain't," said Ike.
a Yes, it's"
t mo, faint"
e Yes, It's. =. I shot the last
man whit We got rid Of"
< mo, you didn't. I shot him."
BE yo'uns callin' me err liar?"
a "Memme l be, and mebbe ]
be'ant."
1 "What is this ?" Joel cut in, try
ing to keep the fear he felt from
creeping into his voice. "a debate ?
Stop arguing. Stop standing there
like a couple of wooden Indians."
Gosh, ali hem-lOck, Ike" said
Zeb. Il gotta idea. . You'uns
j, recolleck that thar movie we seen
J, down Asheville way? =. . The one
Whar the villuns fixed a gun sos
, hit would 60 off when the door wuz
t opened, an"
} an shoot the man what wuz
tied in the chair?' said Ike.
"Shore, l recolleck that thar pic
ture, Zeb. Be you er-aimir' ter do
something like that thar
"That's jest whit I'm er-aimin'
$ ter do" said Zeb. He walked to the
/ door opening to the narrow porch,
and examined it. This here do is
jest whit we needs. Hit opens out,
r an whoever opens hit will pull er
string tied to the trigger Of the
gun, Whut's pointin' at this here
mans heart, an'-Wall, hits jest
goin' ter be too bad!'
"Hitll be the gcah-aWfulest
t shootin' scrape WhuteVer took part
: in these here mountains" said Ike.
| "Hitll be the talk er the neighbour
hood" He glanced at the gun he
5 was carrying. BE you'uns her aim
t in ter use this here gun OF mlne?'
Ter course not said Zeb.
| "Folks'd know then who done the
, shootin." He glanced up at the rifle
which Vas again resting on the
wooden pegs above the mantel.
J wen use his oWn gun, an then
. nobody'H be the wiser" y
: Joel listened and watched, try
ing to convince himself the whole
! thing was a dream or, perhaps, a
nightmare. 1t couldn', be happen
ING. Not to him, anyway.