The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-10-08
IL y. BLACK DAWN ;,
~, =! S5t9 a|[I'sl. !: e.:

Ferris. "You put that man Cur
ran in charge of the Cross-Bar,
and you sent away my good cow
hands and brought in gang of
Mexicans.
"And now this Bruce teller
comes along and plays hell gen.
orally, and, after his numbering
old Hooker, that girl, Lois, stages
rescue from the lynching party.
I tell you, it don't look straight
to me. I want to know what's be-
hind it.
Lonergan bit off the end of
cigar and lighted it. He emitted
puff or two of smokeJbefore re-
plying.
$50 you think I've ridden you
too hard, Ferris?" he asked.
well, maybe have seen my adj
vantage and taken it when it
came along. Lemme see, Ferris"
he continued in an irrelevant
manner, you must be close on
sixty, if I'm not mistaken"
whats that got to do with it?"
demanded the ranchman.
"Quite a lot," said Lonergan.
"Why go on worrying, and mud
ding your head with things that
bother you? Ever think of a
little plance in California to end
your days in peacefully? A place
where you won't ever have to
think Orwell, of me? I'd new
er trouble you, Ferris, if you
should decide to sell out to me.
"Of course, prices having drop
ped so low, I couldn't make you
a very advantageous offer, but If
you liked to consider eight or
nine thousand dollars-why, you
could go a long ways with that in
California"
"You devil" shouted Ferris,
springing to his feet. $50 that's
what you've had in mind, getting
me out of the district! I guessed
it,"
"You guessed right, Ferris" an
swered Lonergan. There was a
steely glitter in the judges eyes
now, in place of the sardonic
look "After all, Ferris, you owe
me everything you've been, don't
you? No, I'm not going back o.
yer old times. But there's my
offer"
"The Cross-Bar's worth forty
thousand, if it's worth a penny"
Ferris shouted.
I'D say it will be nearer fifty,
when prices lift" responded the
other. ''Tll make it nine thous-
and clear, if you accept my offer
and quit within the next two
weeks"
Ferris was standing like stat
ue, but slowly his head and
shoulders bowed. A look of ut
ter misery came over his face.
Listen, Lonergan," he pleaded.
"You know how came into this
district years ago"
with Blame Rowland, your
partner, who ran off with that
check for the CATTLE" interposed
Lonergan.
give made my home here. It's
hard to have to pull up stakes
and start afresh. If you'd make
it twenty thousand I'd feel it
might be done. But can't this
business be settled somehow
else?"
Nope" answered Lonergan de-
cisively. my offers nine thous-
and, and it's got to be accepted
or rejected within the next cou-
pie of days. And two weeks to
vacate. You'll have to excuse me
now, Ferris, because they'll be
waiting for me to impanel the
jury"
He walked past the ranchman,
took down his hat from stays
antler in the hall, and clapped
it on his head. Wilbur Ferris,
who had been watching him in
dumb despair moved slowly to-
ward the door.
Lonergan ushered Ferris out in
to the street, closed the door, and
strobe briskly in the direction of
the courthouse, outside which a
knot of men was already milling.
Ferris got on his horse and rode
slowly back toward his ranch,
taking the opposite direction till
he got clear of the town.
Suddenly blind rage filled Fer
ris' heart. And, according to the
nature of the man, it did not show
itself upon his face, which became
a mask. Stupidity, blindly trying
to find reality in this new confu-
sion, Ferris rode back toward his
ranch house with sudden reso-
luton formed.
Weak, irresolute, he was fol-
lowing the traditional line of least
resistance in seeking a confidant.
AID T,1r,~o-~