The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-10-11
CHAPTER x

ooh, no." protested Rusty.
Why these ranchers and the as
ISOLATION men have lived here al
ways
"And does living here make
them immune from thieVery!
Doctor Westmore was away
that night and the next morning.
and Adelaide presided at the hos
pital in his place.
Rusty shopped for the mouse
that morning. At the butcher s.
she eyed the meat counter
thoughtfully. =,
"Pd like that tenderloin but"
she told the butcher, but first
I'd like you to show me the side
from which you took it. I want
to see the government stamp"
Look" drawled a tall, blonde
eirl next to her, take what you
can get and eat it. This meat
rationing is all a lot of hooey.
The big ranches are holding their
cattle so they can make more
money on them"
Rusty shook her head. when
we buy black market meat, we
may be buying stolen goods, and
the fellows from whom it was
stolen is the loser"
"a lot you know about it"
scoffed the blonde. ''These cat
tie barons can stand it. Why say,
the money they make-Well,
what's so funny?"
Rusty was chucking. II hap
pen to be one of the cattle bar
ons,' she explained.
Here you are, lady," said the
butcher in a bored voice, and
heaved side onto his block. "Or
would you like me to prove that
butt came off this"
"She'd know" laughed the
blonde. She SAYS she runs one
of the big ranches"
The butcher scrutinized Rusty,
then grinned. well, I'll say she
does! Didn't recognize you, Miss
Rowland. Any chance you sell
ling straight? I could sure han
die some of that Double r beef. "
Get thee behind me-" begged
Rusty. But no-I'd rather wait
until my stock is in the prime y
what did I tell your" demand
ed the blonde eff this doesn't
prove the cattlemen are holding
out"
1T doesn't" Rusty flashed.
"Our men overseas are going to
need food next winter, If all the
cattlemen sold their stock when
it was one-third its potential size,
they'd be cutting the needed sup
ply of beef just two-thirds."
She took her package and left.
Westnore returned home that
afternoon looking grim and very
tired Adelaide literally drove
him int the house to rest, saying
that she could do the hospital
work.
'1f ever a human needed a
complete rest" she said worriedly
to Rusty. Il wish he could go
off on hunting trip, far away
from telephone bells"
IF only he were surveyor
unused Rusty. Il could fix up a
trip for him"
But he isl" exclaimed Ade-
1aide, sitting up. Cor he was.
That's how he happened to be-
come a veterinarian"
Rusty blinked, trying to fathorn
the relation between a surveyor
and veterinarian.
Adelaide laughed, then explain
ed. He graduated from college
as civil engineer and Immediate
ly joined a crew building high
way across section of the Rock
les. he was in the advance
group, which had to ride in on
horses. The terrain was impossi-
BILE. Everything that could hap
pen happened to their mounts and
their pack horses. It was night
mare to any one loving animals
All they could do was kill the un-
fortunate beasts.
Herb realized that, if any of
them had had even the rudimeots
OF veterinary skill, many of the
animals could have been saved
And SO, the next year he enrolled
In the school 1 attended. At that
time believe, he intended to re-
turn to engineering, using his
veterinary training merely as a
supplement. However, for some
reason, he later decided to make