The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1943-01-07

"Now we have to look for q
well that's just been finished
Gary said, where there's an out
fit standing waiting to be moved
And then, after we find an outfit
we have to persuade them to
move twenty miles or more on to
a wildcat job, and that will be a
selling job too, for mostly they
don't like wildcats very much"
"How can you tell well that's
finished?"
There's one over there. See
that derrick with the red mud
piled around under it and all the
machinery still standing? Well,
it's down and cased in and the
Christmas trees set up - SO I
know it's finished"
Il don't see any Christmas tree
You're crazy, Gary"
"See that contraption of pipe
and wheels and stuff sticking up
out Of the hole in the floor?
That's what oil men call a Christ
mas tree!"
A rickety trailer was parked
under a tree, and beyond lay an
unshaven man of middle age,
with his hat dragged down over
his eyes and a small white dog
curled up in sleepy knot on his
chest. The dog sprang awake and
came charging, yapping, as they
approached, and the man sat up.
know who owns this drilling
OUTFIT" Gary asked.
Sure I know - Heymie Starr
owns it. Go up yonder and talk
to Jim Hickey. Up in that shanty
with the red front on it, just be-
yond that machine shop, towards
the stripper, Jim's good driller
good as there is"
Jim Hickey talked gliblv and
eagerly. He would. so he promis-
ed, get a we'll down quicker and
cheaper than any other man a.
round.
Adelaide sat patiently on the
running board Of an old car while
Gary and the toothless Jim proWl
ed around a yard full of ponder
Gus machinery Then Gary came
back and said, Lets go. His stuff
is old. He hasn't got the money
to have it overhauled. Well look
somewhere else"
He folded the grimy paper on
which Jim Hickey had estimated
his drilling costs, and put it in
his pocket. ''Ill show this to your
father. but he probably won't
want to risk Hickey on the job"
It was dark when they turned
back toward the ranch.
Gary sat alone with Mona Lee
for while, listening to the radio,
then he went upstairs to his room
to write letters-to oil men that
he knew, asking for a job.
He had finished the third e.
pistle when he heard Mona Lee
coming up the stairs. She stop
ped outside his door and said, Il
thought you'd gone to bed. Gary,
would you 60 over to Grace'S
place with me? She telephoned-
and it's late. and Harvey doesn't
like it if 1 drive alone at night"
Gary got up quickly. "Of course.
Is someone sick?"
Mona Lee hesitated. looking
worried and unhappy mo I guess
it's Just one of divers sprees.
Grace was crying, and said she
had to talk to me and Oliver had
left the car in town, so told her
I'd come"
They locked all the doors and
left the key in the asparagus-fern
box for Adelaide, and Gary held
the flashlight while Mona Lee
backed the car out of the garage.
The Kimball house was a new,
smart white bungalow on the
edge of the little town and, as
they drove in, every window was
lighted.
"Oliver,s not home" Mona Lee
said. "Grace is scared when she's
alone and she turns on every
light. You wait here Gary, till
I find out what she wants to
talk about. You can turn on the
radio-I guess it works."
A lighted door opened and she
disappeared inside, so Gary lean
ed back and snapped buttons and
tried to interest himself in a
dance band and then in a news
broadcast.
And then that door opened and
Mona Lee came out and came
around to her seat, getting in be-
side him without a word. Gary
did not ask questions, and the