The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-08-27

gan," he said. eff them two
wants to execute a deed of pard-
nership, there amt no way of
stoppin' them. This is sheriff's
sale, and that's the law. Heinie,"
h. shouted to the barkeep, "just
bring me a sheet of paper and a
pen and a bottle of ink, and come
here for a witness, will yuh?"
Five minutes later, with the
money transferred to Lonergan's
pocket, less the sheriff's fees, and
the deed of partnership in his
wallet, Dave was assisting old
Hooker, who looked completely
dazed, out Of the saloon.
Didn't want your partnership,
Mr.. Hooker" he said, as Hooker
chung to his arm, voicing protesta-
tions of gratitude. Cali I was
lookin' for was a job. When we
get to your house, and you've had
a sleep, we'll go into details.
Where's your cayuse?"
"Over there" mumbled Hook
err, indicating a strawberry roam
standing at the end of the hitch
ing-rack.
Dave unhitched the horse and
helped Hoker to mount. Once in
the saddle, the old man seemed
to regain control of his limbs.
Dave mounted his bay, and the
two set off side by side along the
street.
At the end of the short street
the sage began, mingled with
patches of range grass. Hooker
struck a trail that ran outside
the bottleneck of the valley and
wound upward toward the mesas.
For half an hour the two rode IN
silence, Hooker now and again
refining in to drink from a bottle
that he carried in his saddle peck
ct. Invariably he rendered the
bottle to Dave first, but Dave de-
clined it.
They had reached the lower
mesas and the upper mesas. The
sage had given place to a thin
scrub. Looking back, Dave could
see the whole valley stretched out
beneath him, and Mescal mere
blur on the landscape, far below.
He spoke for the first time.
Seems to me, pardner, you got
mighty poor grain up here" he
said. "Looks like a self-respectln'
cow would have hard scratchln'
for to make a livin'."
Hooker swayed in the saddle,
leered at him as he rode closer.
1--WE only got one cow, Dave, "
he answered, land a rundown
ranch"
different when my wife liv-
3D." he said. ''She stuck to me.
But she died three years ago, and
since then I haven't cared much
about anything excepting - well,
let's be getting home"
Just visible at the edge OF the
brush was a small cabin, with a
wisp of smoke eddying upward
from a stovepipe chimney. The
little place was a mere shack, and
looked utterly forlorn.
"Well, we're home, Dave" said
Hooker. Heres where we hang
our hats under our hospitable
rooftree."
He took the lead, swaying from
side to side in his saddle as he
crossed the strip of green. The
horses, Withholding broncs, scat
tered, snorting. And then Dave
saw something that momentarily
brought his heart into his throat.
For in front of the door, stand.
ing with neither bride, saddle,
nor halter, was Black Dawn.
Old Hooker shouted, and the
door Of the cabin opened. The
girl, Lois, stood in the entrance,
a frying-pan in one hand, and her
arms white with flour to the ell
bows.
"Howdy, Lois!" Hooker bawled.
II got some news for you. I've
brought me back a partner, named
Dave Bruce, and the interest on
the mortage is paid. He's going
in with us, fifty-fifty. Come and
shake hands with our new part
ner, Lois!" Dave clapped knees
on his horses flanks and rode
quickly up. Lois was staring at
him with dismay and anger on
her face. He slipped to the ground
and moved forward, but she made
mo responses to his approach.
: $50 you've come back! she said
in tones of bitter anger. Il told
you never to cross my path again.
What have you come for?"
"Why, I told you, Lois, he's
gone into partnership with me"
Hooker began.
81 don't believe it. You can take
this man back where you found
him, and when you've done so,