The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-12-17
CHAPTER ~
Synopsis

1eum engineer on MS way 10 a
lob in Mexico, gets as far as Tex
as where he is given a ride by
Mona Lee Mason. They have an
accident, and Gary is seriously
injured. Mona Lee takes him to
her home. Before he has recov-
cred sufficiently to go on to Mex
leo, Gary discovers evidence OF
oil on the Mason ranch. He tells
Harvey Mason, Mona Lees hus-
band, but warns him that drill
ing is expensive and may be use
less. Now Gary and Adelaide
Mason are on their way to Dallas
to get a map.
At least, Gary told himself IN
the morning, he had this day
The sun was golden; the prairie
blazed with bloom; bluebonnets
brought the sky down and spread
it in deep splendor over the
Garth . . and Adelaide had a
saucv little curl in front of her
ear that blew about in the breeze
and danced when she laugneo,
She sang softly as she drove, and
scolded every vagrant dog ana
ialopv driver that slowed down
her skimming speed.
Gary sat back and held MS
happiness close, keeping silence
lest it burst before his eyes like
the rainbow bubble that it was:
No matter what came-he hao
this day. ,
They had lunch at little road
side place before they reached
the city. Gary had some money.
He insisted paying for the lunch
"You hunt the map, Gary. I'm
going to buy some hats" AIDE
laid announced, when they had
left the car in a parking lot.
Remember you haven't struck
oil yet" warned Gary.
ooh, but We will" She was
coolly confident. "Tll wait in the
car if finish first"
Adelaide hurried away. She
felt exhilarated and made over
new.
Life would be very gay and
changed and exciting if they
found oil on the ranch. She
would be an oil heiress-the idea
intrigued her but frightened her
a little. The oil heiresses she
knew had gorgeous clothes and
furs and jewelry-but somehow
tfSsy hadn't very much fun.
Men-young men, stood off
from them a little. And the
proud ones kept quite far away.
Like Gary. She liked Gary
she could. she suspected, care
for Gary lot, but he was
proud. too. He wanted to make
his own way and that was ad-
mirable and fine, but exaspera-
tin. Gary would never let him
self fall in love with an oil heir
esS.
Adelaide was feeling sober
when she went back to the car
and found Gary sitting there,
the map spread across his knees.
"Put that away" she said alb
ruptlv. "Somehow I don't en-
thus about oil, this minute"
"What haprenedR Did you
get an extortion note?"
Gary, there will be things
like that-if we strike oil, won't
there?
zone oil we'll won't make you
yours?" he asked as boy
stumbled up with an armful OF
bundles.
"Have him put them in the
rumble. 1 didn't buy so very
much. Just a few things I need
ed-three hats and a couple OF
dresses. Give the boy a quart
er, will you? I spent the last
cent I had for some vanishing
cream. Dad will grumble when
he sees the bill-but he always
grumbles. I always have to
have quite a lot of things in
the spring"
She saw Gary's face close up
in a qJHer, withdrawn way.
Men. she thought YEARLY, were
so touchy. Just because she had
bought three hats was no rea-
son why Gary should be re-
mote and silent for fifty miles.
She grew a little snappish "a
bout it.
you're not terribly enter
tanning, are you? I could have
brought a wooden Indian along
after an, it's spring and all
the little flowers are blooming
II know it's spring." said Ga
ry, not looking at her. "And
in Mexico it's summer"
~ think" she said, grimly,
''that you are being very obstin-
ate to keep talking about Next
CO, Gary Tallman. You know
what a big innocent Dad is. If
he sets his head about this oil