The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-07-30

Jerry dropped the receiver.
Twombley ''called away" from
Ironburg; Rose summoned to that
lonely shanty near Break O'Day
Iron cliff!
| Jupiter's horn hooted. 'First to
the telegraph office" said Gid
den.
It was less than hundred
yards away, but the girl clark
started a fresh piece of chewing
gum before she answered his que
ry as to whether she had trans
mitted a Pittsburgh telegram to
Miss Rose Walker at the 1ronburg
general store.
eve amt allowed to tell them
things"
'Look here: I can prove I was
the sender by giving you the mes
sage word for word" Jerry did.
'Now, here's a five spot" It was
his last, and the car would some
how have to be paid for; but he
flung the bill over the counter
into her lap. Save for Jerry and
the girl, the office was empty. The
bill looked large.
ooh, WE'LL" said she, II don't
care. Yes, I sent it. You needn't
worry none-I know those folks
out at Ironburg. It was that part
time clerk of Miss Walker's-that
Slim woman out there-who I
talked to-
Jerry reached the curb in a
single bound:
''Ironburg; BY the shortest road
there is. By the highest speed
pou've got!'
"That's the Burners Creek way,
and the roads rotten"
''Never mind. Take it anyhow"
Jupiter was a long, lean youth
whose lantern jaw bespoke a seri-
business beyond his years.
'This here mayn't be much of
a chariot, mister, but she's all the
Rolls-Royce I got-an' eff she gifts
busted, I am"
Jerry tried to speak again-to
urge-to threaten. His voice re-
fused obedience. His lips twitched.
He uttered a sound, but it was
inarticulate.
"Are the cops after your" whis-
pered Jupiter. Estate police?"
Here was help! Jerry's manner
had unconsciously struck the one
chord to which the inner CONTRA
ternity of public chauffers always
and everywhere responds.
He looked squarely into that
suddenly sympathetic brown face.
He oughtn't to have nodded-but
he did nod.
'ELicker?" murmured Mr.. Jones.
"Jupe," said Jerry, finding
speech at last, "if you smash up
on the way, I'll buy you a new
auto, so help me! Come on. I tell
you this is the most important
drive you ever took anyone on"
He jumped into the car. The car
jumped up the street.
It was a vehicle that, in calmer
days, would have excited it's pres
ent passengers derision-the ever
ready derision of man who owns
no car at all.
But now Jerry warmly thanked
Heaven for it and for the chance
, that had impressed something of
his own fervor, however errone-
ously, upon Jupiter. The crazy
motor did it's best, and its best
wasn't bad-for a while.
They left the town behind them;
they breasted a steep and stony
route. There was still a ruddy
furnace glowing in the western
sky. The way was clearly lighted,
and the light showed fields of
green Tobacco and yellow wheat
rising on the one hand, while, on
the other a brief incline fell off
to the brawling waters of a deep
creek-that creek which Rose had
mentioned and which Jerry con-
Guided was partly fed, under
ground, by Break O'Day Lake.
Then an explosion. Il knowed
it!' walled Jupiter. "That there
tires the rear right, an it's the
only new one O. the whole four!'
He jumped out. So did Jerry.
But Jerry's side was the creek
side of the road, and Jerry's
glance, as he landed, was captured
and held by something coming
down the stream-something that
tumbled over and over - some
thing that just then was stopped
by a rock.
Jerry all but fell to the brook
side. He reached far out and
caught corpse. Brogans. An in
flated skirt. A sunbonnet tied be-
meath the chin. Jerry dragged the
body ashore. He lifted the bon
- .xl
eye gods!" he cried. "Here's the
tree that nearly did for me the
pioh+ boforn 1oc+I Tuo%1oh7nu 0Ot