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

gan" shouted out Hooker. he
had picked himself up and came
tottering forward, a tragic figure,
with his educated speech and
scarecrow clothes. 'TNe kept
quiet long enough. I'm warning
you-
"Yep? And I warned you plen-
tv that your shindigs in town has
cot to STOP" rasped voice behind
them.
Dave turned. A big man with
a clipped black mustache and a
star upon his coat was standing
just behind him.
''He struck me across the face,
Goggswell. I want him arrested
for assault and battery" shouted
old Hooker. give got some rights,
haven't II"
'sYou got no rights while you're
drunk and incapacitated, exceptin'
a cell in the town lookup" an
swered the sheriff. "And how a
bout you, Stranger" he demanded
of Dave. 81 never seen you be-
fore that know of. How come
you're interferin' in this matter?
Keep yore hands away from yore
belt and speak up quick"
"Why, I was just urgln' this
reverend, or whatever he calls
himself. to pick an extra heavy
weight of his own brand" answer
ed Dave, jerking his head to in
dictate Lonergan's bulk of paunch.
s'Tm just a harmless puncher'
sheriff, ridin' in to get me job
somewheres."
"You seen Mr.. Ferris?"
s'I seen him and I had few
words with him and Curran. Re-
suit, no job" said Dave.
"Then you'd best ride on" said
Coggswell.
'As for you, Hooker" he add
ed to the old man, "you fork yore
cay-use and git back to yore place
pronto. Maybe you'll have time
to sober up and make yore plans
before the sale comes off"
Gust a minute" said Dave.
GLOW much is it Mr.. Hooker owes
this here Lonergan for back in
t'rest on his mortgage? I thought
I herd something said about two
hundred dollars"
1.-TWO hundred twelve dollars
and fourteen cents, if it's any in
t'rest to you," the sheriff answer
ed. "You was thinkin' of pawn
it, huh?"
"Well, dunno" said Dave. 1T
seems kinder hard to put this old
Teller out of his ranch for two
hundred and twelve dollars and
fourteen cents, after he's been
there for twelve years-wasn't 1t
twelve? And that there notice on
the wall, presumably referrin' to
his ranch, describes it as a valua-
BILE property Of two thousand a.
cres.
''What you say to me lendin
you the money to settle with this
Lonergan, and then givin' me a
job as a puncher?" asked Dave,
turning to Hooker.
He opened the pocket Of his
belt and pulled out sheaf Of bills,
which he proceeded to count. The
total sum of Dawes remaining
savings amounted to two hundred
and sixty-five dollars, with some
small change.
"I'll take this Lonergan's receipt
for that mortgage int'rest," said
Dave. "And here's the money"
Lonergan's eyes were popping.
"Say, who sent you here?" he
shouted. '"Just what game do
you think you're playing?"
''Why, I'll tell you," answered
Dave, leaning forward confiden-
TALLY. 'Pm figurin' that two
hundred will buy me a job till I
got time to look around some
more. And I kind of hate to see
an old teller like Mr.. Hooker
forced to pull up stakes after
twelve years because of two hum
dred and twelve dollars. So if
you'll just fix up that receipt,
Lonergan, me and Mr.. Hooker
will be ridin' home"
Hooker grasped Dawes hands
in his. It'll be pardners," he
shouted. 81 never hired nobody
in my life to work for me, and I'm
not going to start it now. Pard-
ners, fifty-fifty, and I won't take
the money no other way"
Dave shrugged his shoulders.
S'Well, if you feel that way about
it, Mr.. Hooker, I'm willin' to OBJ
lige," he answered.
Sheriff Coggswell cut short
Lonergan's explosive oaths.
That's fair enough, Mr.. Loner-