The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-12-31

mona lalQ H6f cdrQS GOWN anu
folded her hands.
Gary" she said. "You like
Adelaide pretty well, don't you?"
Gary felt the hot blood flare
over his face and neck. He smiled
wanly. 'There's not much use
trying to hide anything from
you, is there, Mrs. Mason? But
what can I do? haven't a
thing to offer a girl like AIDE
laide-not a thing but love-"
"You think love is unimpor-
tant? It isn't-not to girl. Har-
,vey Mason had nothing to offer
me but love, either-and a few
hundred acres of washed GU t
prairie land. We made the rest
together"
II haven't even a piece of wash
ed-out land. There" he threw
a few crumpled bills on the table
Lies my fortune!'
"You need another shirt, Gary.
You buy one tomorrow And don't
you give up. Adde'S a little crazy
right now-it's the thought of all
this money. She'll calm down
pretty soon."
Harvey came in late and tossed
telegram into Mona Lees lap.
She looked frightened and picked
it up gingerly with her fingers.
"Oh, mercy!" she gasped when
she read it. cts from Junior. He
says Here we've struck oil. Stop
Swell. Stop. Just went around
and bought myself new road
ster." Harvey Mason, you get a
wire off to him straight and tell
him you haven't struck oil yet,
and to send that car right back"
'He had a new car last year"
growled Harvey. That's the way
with kids. They think you're
made of money"
II never said a word in my
letter. Adelaide must have writ
ten him something. know you
didn't write-you never do"
well, I did write line or
two" Harvey admitted. II had
to send him a check and I told
him I was figuring on starting
drilling"
"You Dragged, I'll bet. Now
you can just settle this car bust
ness yourself. You're the one that
spoils that boy anyway. I don't"
"You spoil everybody, Mother.
You got me spoiled and then you
want to fuss about it." Harvey
grinned and chucked her under
the chin. But he did not write
or wire to Harvey Junior. He
forgot about it. He had to get
ready to go to Austin to get his
drilling permit so he rushed a
round, shouting orders all over
the house.
Look here. Gary-you know
about this drilling business-you
ought to know a good rig when
YOU see it. You take Adde'S car
and she can 60 along and drive,
and you go over east and hunt
me up a good crew TO get a well
down."
you'll need two crews - rig
gers to get your derrick up and
drillers to get your we'll down"
Gary reminded him. "And what
are you going to do about water
for the boilers and to run the
drill? You wouldn't want to pump
YOUR well dry the first day
even if your pump would lie
enough to run the drill-Whlch
I doubt. You'll have to arrange
to pipe some in from somewhere.
Any creeks or rivers near here
with much water in them?"
Harvey looked thoughtful:
There's a cistern at the barn. And
that tank out there holds a hum
dred barrels"
'Not enough. It would take a
week, probably, to get your well
down. And you cant run out OF
water while the drills turning"
"You get the outfits we need'
and I'll see about the water"
you'll have to arrange for fuel
, to fire the boilers, too. Have oil
tanked in on trucks. On tlelo
you'd have the gas from the strip
per. but out here you'll have to
provide your own fuel. I'll have
to find an outfit that's equipped
with an oil burner"
"Well, it's good thing you've
got Gary, Harvey, to think OF
everything" Mona Lee said
There's that little creek over on
the Harper place, Harvey. But
you'd have to pay old man Har-
per-and tell him what you want
ed the water for-and he'd prop
ably stick you"
II can take care OF old man
Harper. He owes me money
81 wouldn't talk to too many
people about this well, Mr.. Ma.
son." Gary advised. If you gel