The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-07-02
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| there was something different.
From the chazy stovepipe serv-
ing it for chimney, smoke IS
sued, and
To come here by the turnpike
route must be a whole lot quick
er than any woodland way
Angie sticking to the store?
Why, there she was, in front OF
the shack!
Uwombley in long conference
with Rose at Ironburg? He stood
now beside the shack's tenant al
the shack's entrances!
Unable to hear-able to see
aware that he must not be seen:
that was Jerry's position. He
drew aside, taking partial cover
behind one of the pines upon the
fringe of the clump.
Evening was near, and he was
stationed westward Of the hut
Shadows over him. Over the
pair he spied on, the red light OF
a dying afternoon in July.
One thing became Immediately
evident. Whereas Twombley's
talk with Rose had appeared ami
cable, his present conversation
gave every sign of argument. E.
ven if words were indistinguish-
able voices were raised, and
there were gestures somewhat
violent.
First, the sunbonnet tilted back
arms lifted beside it as if in ap-
peal; next-sure refusal of what
ever was asked-a brown sleeve
/ of the plump figures coat leaped
up and down, while fist pound
ed palm.
A second later, these roles were
reversed.
S'Twombley wants ITO go in
side," said Jerry to himself; land
she won't let him. It's just the
way she acted to me this morning
But why's she doing it now"
At last permission seemed to
be granted. The one figure turn
ed and bent above the lock, the
other took a step back, looking
down. Glidden held his breath.
He held it because of Twomb-
ley's next action. The broker
stretched out his right arm to-
ward that bowed head above
which, as its owner leaned for
ward, the rear flap of the sun
bonnet flopped, leaving the neck
exposed. Jerry coud see Twomb-
ley's fist open, the fingers spread
wide.
Lately Glidden had likened An
gela to wolf. The brokers'
stealthily advanced arm, above
it's potential victims turned head,
resembled venomous snake.
Jerry watched the two, fascinated.
The fingers closed. Slowly,
Experimentally. On air-but
within a scant inch of their de-
sire. They respread. Some sort
of debate both urged and retard-
| ed them. The arm half retreat
ed, crept forth again.
"Phew!" gasped Jerry.
He required no acquaintance
with crime to recognize these as
the movements of a stranger. He
shook himself.
IF that guy doesn't really try
it, I've got to keep quiet and stay
still. But if he goes to it, it'll be
up to me to yell and tackle him"
The arm stole nearer; the fling
ers crooked. Jerry crouched like
runner on the line.
Twombley, however, changed
his mind-or it was changed for
him. His intended prey stood e.
rect and faced quickly about. The
threatening arm fell. So nearly
simultaneously did these things
happen that Jerry couldn't tell
which happened first. The shan
tvs door opened, and the ill-pair-
ed couple went in. Should he,
Jerry demanded of his judgment,
have warned the woman in order
that she might be on her guard
in the future? Should he warn
her now? He had, he reasoned,
no liking for her, of course; he
was quite clearly convinced that
she was engaged in some nefari-
GUS plot affecting his own inter-
ests.
'But a woman's woman, af-
ter all" he said. IF I mutted in,