The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-10-25
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place!"
Rusty was deeply asleep when
something awakened her. An un-
sheathed paw. Annoyed, she slap
ped at the cat, then awakened
completely, listening.
Fasto was growing, growing
like an alarmed dog. She jumped
from the bed and went to the
window. A moment later, she
jumped down and went to the
hall door and again she growled.
But did cats sense danger?
Suddenly, Rusty was cold with
fear. The ranch doors were never
locked, and inside, this night, were
only her mother, Nanny and her
self.
Stealthily she went to her door
and opened it. For moment she
heard nothing. Then came the tell
tale creak of the front door, a
barely discernible creak.
Swiftly, with Fatso held firmly
under her robe, she slipped
through the hall to her mothers
room. She literally dragged the
sleep-stupid woman through her
bath to Manny's room.
NANNY" - she laid her hand
over his mouth-"not word out
of you. There is someone prowling
Observation-Disclosures"
They could hear nothing at first.
Then, perhaps half an hour after
Rusty's first alarm, they heard
footsteps padding about Manny's
room, and the murmur of mems
voices.
Come one" whispered a voice.
''This is the kids room; we don't
want him"
And Rusty knew it was she
whom they wanted.
But what for?
Rusty. her. mother and Nanny,
huddled in the little attic next to
; Manny's room, heard the intrud-
ers leaving the room. For while,
there was silence.
Then, suddenly, there was an
explosion of sound somewhere
within the house-angry voices,
scuffling. This went on for some
time, to be followed again by 81
lence.
And then, the three in the attic
once more heard footsteps in the
adjoining room-and the sound of
a familiar voice.
-Sis-Manny! Where are
your"
Ralph! But what in the world
was he doing here?"
I'm here, son." Mrs. Rowland
called excitedly. Gust a minute!
We've barricaded ourselves in
Eagerly, they clawed at the
heavy play chest, moved it out
of the way, and opened the door
Mrs. Rowland rushed out to fling
herself into the arms of her tall
son. Nanny breathed an awed,
Gee whizn Rusty followed her
mother into Ralph's arms, then
looked beyond him.
| In the doorway, stood Herb
Westmore.
''But Ralph, what are you doing
, here?" asked Mrs. Rowland.
"Westmore wangled a furlough
I reached Westmore's place last
for me, and 1 shot here by plane
evening just after Dorward had
brought Rusty's message. That
message made him so sure that
+ Rusty was in danger that we drove
right out. And good thing we
| did! We sneaked into the house,
heard some one prowling around
upstairs, and came up to find the
intruders in Rusty's room. Dor
ward and his pardner, Cutter, are
guarding them downstairs now"
In the living room, the three
prisoners sat sullenly, their wrists
and ankles bound. Dorward and
Cutter stood guard over them.
At first, under Westmore's and
Ralph's questioning, the trio re-
fused to talk. But finally, one of
them weakened.
1--WE didn't aim to harm Miss
Rowland" he said. 1--WE was to
keep her hid until we got word
to let her 60. She'd found out too
much"
"You couldn't have got away
with it," Rusty put in.
Reckon we could. We'da made
you write a note to your mother
sayin' the hohspital had phoned
you that your uncle had took a