PAGS SIX "WIS FOURTEENTH INSTALMENT j SYNOPSIS: Ruth Warren, living | in the East, comes into possession of three-quarters interest in ail AriiMjiitx ranch, left to her in the will of her only brother, reported to have died while on business in Mexico. With her ailing- husband and small child she goes to Arizona to take possession, thinking the climate may prove beneficial to her husband's weak lungs. Arriving at the nearest town, she learns that the ranch. "Dead l^antern," is 85 ! miles across the desert. Old Charley j Thane, rancher and rural mail carrier. agrees to take them to the "Dead Lantern" gate which was 5 miles from the ranch house As 1 they wearily walked past a huge overhanging boulder in a gulch in coming to the ranch house, a voice whispered. "Go back! Go back." their reception is cool and suspicious. Snavely and Indian Ann are the only occupants. They hear the legend of the gulch. Snavely is dif- s; ficult to understand but regardless, j Ruth takes up the task of trying j to adjust their three lives to the ranch and its development. Kenneth, Ruth's husband, caught in ' u chilling rain, contracts pnuemonia and passes away before a doctor arrives. Ruth tries to carry on. She is not encouraged by Snavely in j; plans to try and stock the ranch or [: improve it. She writes to her fa 11 tlier in the East asking a loan with I which tc buy cattle. She receives no I reply. Will Thane comes home to < visit his father . . and Ruth meets ! him A rancher nearby decides to ! retire and offers to sell Ruth and I Snavely his livestock on credit. ' Snavely tries to balk the deal but j1 F.uth buys to the limit o.f her three ; quarter interest in the Dead I*in- j tern ranch .NUW GO O.N WJTii THE STOICY. OKI Charley himself had i*emarkiid j to Ruth thai the rains began about j the. end of June; Snavc-ly had admit- j ted that it might rain around the. twenty-fourth of June before the; real drought .set in; but Ann, Don; .Francisco, Alfredo, and Magda had i CtJltCd 'v?Wu- -Q\ni. r>tin. _vvr.ii Id i come in abundance beginning with the Day of San Juan. It was now the twentieth of July and since the single storm of more than two months before, there had not been a cloud in the sky the size j of a pigeon. Hie grass wliicli had j sprung up so brave and green after the storm was now wilted and the color of broomstraw. The lacy leaves j of the mosquito curled on drooping? branches, dust laden; the broad, flat j leaves of the prickly pear were shrun ken and yellowish; small bushes were; as brittle as glass, and the twigs and weed stems underfoot rustled like dry paper. The birds, rabbits, coyotes and lions had left the country ?all was desolation. Rattlesnakes abounded. Each morning the sun rose naked above the eastern mountains and as it rose a wave of stifling heat swept over the desert as though a mighty oven doer had slowly swung open. Ruth had rather expected rain on the Day of San Juan and, when that! passed cloudless, felt that in a day or j SO she would see the elrnidn hillrw^rmor over the mountains and smell the indescribable perfume of desert rain. As day succeeded day, each hotter, dryer, more hopeless than the preceding day, her anxiety increased?she seemed trapped in a corner while disaster crept relentlessly nearer. The increasing awareness of her respon- \ sibility drove her to assume more and j more the control of the ranch. Be-1 Fore she well realized it she was giving the orders for the day's rid.ng. JSnavely left everything to her. He rode out each morning but he rode alone and he returned alone. Occasionally as she rode about the , ranch, Ruth came across him. Some- j times he was riding casually up some canon as though he cared not where he went, as long as he had no company; again, she had seen him sitting in the shade of a scrubby live oak high upon a ridge top. Whenever she saw him these days Ruth had an odd, uncomfortable feeling that Snavely was waiting for something. One day she met Old Charley and Will as she was riding the southern boundary of the ranch. The two men { came up to the fence and talked with j her. That ^evening she told Snavely that ha fWwYt* *r>. o. 1 wngonload of cottonseed meal which could be given to such cows as need*-! ed it badly. She also suggested that he get a certain brand of dried milk? much advertised in the cattle raisers' magazines?which, mixed with water, could be given to the underfed calves and the orphans. Snavely thought for a long time, then said he would go. It seemed to Ruth that there was an undercurrent of eagerness in his voice in spite of his objections to the trip. He stated the next morning with team and wagon, returning a week later with the load. He appeared oddly satisfied. Now, whenever the riders found a weak cow with a starving calf or some calf without, a mother, these an imals wore brought to tbe home ranch ( turned into the small horse pasture.. in and fed Some sixty cows were re-! thi ! ceiving their daily ration of meal, kn< and above the ranch house and cor- the rais w! \jiu a That's just what we stepped right out ant styles and materials, giving you the advan n Wc arc again demon I COATS anc I DRESS UF TABLE SILVER?/ and forks, as long as Dishes, Plates, Bowls Cream Pitchers an Make your selec I THE GREAT BARG^ GIVERS . WATAUGA DEMOCRAT- EVEI . Sk nn jt? ^ rhere came a day whon the water 1 the south pasture had shrunk to a j n sheet of wet mud. Then Ruth r e\v that the end had come; with ? full herd trying to water at the Tie ranch whore the^c was bareenough for half, there Could be y one result. If no rain came with* a week the cattle would begin rty by dozens "or the last few day3 as she watchthe water so je.lentlsesly disaptr. Ruth thought less about meet- j< her note and more about the catthemscives. The tears often start- : in her eyes these days. When the! 1 came upon a gaunt cow lying | the stifling shade at the bottom some gully, with a shriveled, pant-, calf at her side, she wanted des-! ately to explain to these poor j atures that she could not help, j j t she was not to blame. Vhen the last of the water was j, le in the south pasture, Ruth felt j t she would gladly give every ani- < I on the place to any one who could e them to green fields and run- ; g water. Feeling as she didr the j v which fell on the following mail was robbed a little bit of its pow- < :o hurt. he had written a letter to Parker 11 laining the situation and thanking '? for his previous offer to extend 11 ment. And although Old Charley lid be bringing the mail and would I be going into town again until 1 t week, the girl rode to the box. i :ut the mail had already arrived ;o she reached the box. There were 1 < letters addressed to her. The one hi the earliest postmark was from ker who explained that for busi-! s reasons he had been obliged to o a loan on the note. It was now In Y -U ac mean! Last summer wli i ordered a whole flock Today we couldn't tage of our foresight. . . strating that Smithey's i [dresses SPOUT COATS ?And also beautiful fur-trimraed models, priced $4.95 to $11.95 MISSES SPOUT COATS?In all wool chinchilla and all wool Melton cloth, priced at only $4.50 A $6.75 SUEDE RAINCOATS ? For ladies, and suede zipper jac kets, priced $3.18 & $2.75 I FUR TRIMMED COATS for I children, a nice assortment. ' priced S1.75 to $t.95 SIl.K CREPE DRESSES?In an assortment of styles and colors, very specially priced from $2118 to $5.95 AIA, UOOl. DRESSES?For ladies, in jersey and other wool materials up to $4.45 ' ' 7: ' * 1 '7 1 LADIES SILK HOSE?Fullfashioned. An extra value at only - 59c ALA-WOOL COATING?And dress material, 54 and 58 inches, per yard - 97c PEPPERELL and other good grades of dress prints, per yard ~10c, 15c, 15c PEPPEUEL SHEETING?10 quarter, extra heavy grade, per yard S5c A NICE ASSORTMENT OK i LADIES HOUSE DRESSES ? THE TAB Vn extra good value in 1 i they last for only.... , Glasses, Teacups and d Fancy Glassware at tl tions while the stocks ? l v& i W '"U "TB^ MF U"M M J tY THURSDAY ?BOONE, N. C. ii the hands of J II. JSFitherspnon [nc.. brokers. The second letter v.'fu from the broker. After reading it tin rirl stared at the cloudless skyline hen rode home. Her lips were set an< ler face shone yellow under the tan . . "Consequently, the cattle situ it ion being what it is owing tn Ch present drouth, we ire! it necessary t< ^all payment on the note when due tamely, November first, next." t * * * -Well." said Will, "there's one thin; certain?when the rains hold off a long as this they make up for it whe they do begin." Again. Ruth shook her head. Old Charley studied for a momenl then slowly climbed out of the cai Will followed. "I've seen some pre It bad times mended." remarked the ol man. "Things most always seer worse than what they are. But- we'i bound to get rain before long an when we do, it'll likely be a goo ane, same as Will says." "The last pond went dry a wee ago,." said Ruth dully. Old Charley tried not to show hi surprise. "So? Well, they'll get little thin waterin" at the well, but won't, hurt them. "Oh!" Ruth suddenly turned awa; After a moment, she said slowly, ' gave my note to Parker for the cai tie?my interest in the ranch will t gone by November?there's no wt ter?the cattle will be dying in ai sther week." "Another week!" Both men stare %t the girl. "You must be wrong, jaid Old Charley. "No, the well's going dry?it giv* >:if sooner each day." "But, Mrs. Warren"?Will looke from Ruth to his father?"I don't ur ierstand. There was surface watc there late last June, worlds of wute Why, there must be two or thre thousand acres which drain into ths well!" "It's going dry," saiu Ruth. "New wells sometimes give oi quick," replied Old Charley slowl, "but it sure seems funny. You se Will, here, helped your brother li cate that well. You ought to be ab to take care of a good half of yoi herd?let part of 'em water at U our F V. K JL JL JHL \ en we read the Tumor o of men's clothing and ] r this merchandise for tl we're passing out high s the most economical si HATS AND BERET5 Ladies newest stvie hats and bert very specially priced at 25c, 48c, 69c, 79c SWEATERS?We have sweaters fit any size or age from one day c on up. Both coat and pull-over styli priced from 25c to $1. COTTON BLANKWre ?Nice doul blankets, full size for only ..$1, OVERSHOES and Galoshes for vol en and children, priced 69c to 9 BABY SHOES and Children's She priced from 25c to 9 JUST RECEIVED?A new shipme of ladies' slippers, patent, suede ai kid, in ties, straps, pumps and o fords. All kinds of children's shoe Baby-wear, Sweaters, Caps, Boote and Blankets. iLE CHEAP table silverware, knives" 79c, 95c, $1.25 Saucers, Sugar Bowls, be very lowest prices, ire still complete!! [TH] ; , I corrals." j! "At?the?corrals? But 1 don i uu-j i iderstand?do you mean?what do you: . mean ?" 1 Old Charley looked at his son and ; then at Ruth. "Why, just what I said; " use the well at the corrals, the one 5 with the windmill?the old well " 3 j But that's what we have been us j ing," cried Ruth; "that's the one that J is going dry"" "What!" ejaculated Will. "Aren't ? you using the upper well at all?" s "Upper well--what upper well?" a asked Ruth in a dazed voice. "Well I'll be?" Old Charley looked at his son. t. "He never went on with it," said r. Will, softly. >' Old Charley nodded nmi turned to (1 Ruth. "The prosper' Harry and Will n found lust summer was in the upper e end of the north pasture? I guess d Harry didn't get around to developd ing it before?he left. But didn't any. body tell you about it ?" k "No?" Ruth'3 heart was boating wildly. "I never heard about any othis er water." a "Harry bought the pipe," said Will, it "Remember, Dad? We passed a loa.1 of it on the way to town last fall." y. "There's a big pile of pipe behind '1 the bam," said Ruth. "Tell me quick! t- Is there water we can uzc in the north >e j pasture ?" i-l "It'll have to be develoned." said i- Old Charley slowly. "Shouldn't take more than a daj d or two," responded Will. He thought " a moment, then pulied an envelope jfrom his pocket and wrote on it with s|a pencil. "Here, Dad, you run on intc I town and send this telegram?I'll be dj staying over a few days." He turned i-|to Ruth. "Suppose I ride back will :r | you and show you that place. Seems r to me you ought to develop plentj e of water with a day's work or so." it Snavcly slowly arose as the riders i came straight up to him. Ruth spoke Mr. Thane has told mc of a placi it in the north pasture where there is y, indication of water?he and my bro e,; ther found it last summer." Sh< 3-! paused. "Why didn't you tell me o le it?" ir! "I had reasons." 3aiu Snavely, hi: ie ; eyes on Will. "I didn't want to gi 'ockel _ T1 jijr rv >f the rise in wool, silk ant ladies' ready-to-wear . . . i re price we are offering it quality goods at less tha tore in Watauga for the wl ! Men's Si Over MEN'S SUITS?A fine assortment of suits with two pair pants for $17.50 (Other Suits $14.95) MEN'S OVEKCCATS?Good assortment to choose from at only $5.49 to $10.95 BOYS' SUITS?A nice line for ouiy SI .08 ? $5.95 its BOYS' OVERCOATS?With pants and cap to match for j only $3.95 j ~ OVERALL .JACKETS ? For men and boys, lined and un' lined, at very low prices. 48 MEN'S FTEIJJ SHOES?Natural re tan and black, with ?? heel irons $2.48 4o MEN'S OVERALLS ? Red Axe and Big Ben 97c & $1.19 WORK SHOES ?Men's and ^ boys, all kinds $1.79 & $2.89 OYER8HOES?Oaloshes and ' Rubber Boots for men and boys 79c & $2.48 Hl-TOP BOOTS ? For Men and Boys, priced very spec- J *** ially at only $3.48 & $5.75 ? MEN'S FELT HATS?Good quality 48c Sc $2.48 LEATHER BELTS?For men special at. 19c, 48c, 75c WORK SHIRTS ?For men, special at. 69c ? 79c FLANNEL SHIRTS ?For men, only 95c Winter Weight Underwear for the entire family at a low price. A good line of Men's Riding Pants. E^\t c MAi \ N? . izaaezA m^^XSSStBIIS^sKISrJSf^^ NOVEMBER 1933 get tin' your hopes up?there ain't no ? U5e aigyiii' ul thut gully IrftHnm ye?r because of a little rain seepage" -But, Mr. Snavely," 3aid Rum, , "now that we have need of the water ! don't you think it would be wise to j try to get it?" "If you can?you won't finu noth1 in', though. Maybe a little rock basin j full of rain water under the sand." "There had been no rains for several months when we located the prospect last summer," said Will; "the sand was wet and we dug far enough to are that water was running into it from that big dike. That dike is a natural underground dam." "All right, all right?go ahead and dig all you're a mind to if you've got 1 such an all-fired interest in the Dead j Lantern, Mr. Thane." Will made no reply and Ruth thanked him with her eyes. To Snavely she said, as she started her horse, "Please, have the two men follow us with picks and shovels." It was not long before Will guided her into a small arroyo. one of the hundreds which led down from the mountains. ,' CONTINUED NEXT WEEK) E, T. & W. N. C. Motor IXrasportation Company * ! (Schedule effective Sept. 1, ISSSj IjEAVE BOONE FOR: - Valle Crucis, Banner Elk, and Elk ,! Park, N. C., 12:30 p. m. and 8:20 . p. m. Asheville, 12:30 p. m. i Roan Mountain, Hampton, Elizabetb. ton, Johnson City, Greensville. M*rI ristotvu, Knoxville and West, 12:20 [ p. m., 8:20 p. m. , Blowing Reck, Lenoir, Hickory, Charr iotte, Statesvillc, Salisbury, High Point, Greensboro, Durham, Raleigh j and Norfolk, at 9:15 a. m., and 5-30 : P- ra. Ashevlile. Greeneville, S. C., Columbia j and Charleston, S. C.t Augusta and . I tlanta, Ga.. Jacksonville, Fla., and . I South at 12:30 p. m. M LOWEST FARES EVERYWHERE BEST HIGHWAYS?NO Dl'ST. 3 | Inquire of Ticket Agent for Fores and , | Schedules to Other Points. and J ?rk! i i cotton fabrics, we in all of the newest to you. But we are n prevailing prices. Lole family I jits and I coats I IN STREET, BOONE, I ORTH CAROLINA