Dorothy Garlock Read Online Free PDF

brought Jill back to the matter at hand. “My other concern is our streets. We need to do something about them. Every time it rains we have a quagmire. We can't afford pavement, so I suggest we grade and oil them. We have four companies drilling near here. They should be willing to donate the oil.”
    “I'll take care of Main Street, Orvis. I'll have a couple of my men drag it to soften it up, then apply the oil. It will mean blocking it off for a couple of days until the oil soaks in.”
    “Thanks, Mr. Westfall. That'll go a long way toward holding down dust.”
    “By the way, Mayor, do I need a permit to build a dance hall? I own a chunk of property south of town. I've been thinking about developing it into an amusement park of sorts, with a dance hall, a roller-skating rink and a few rides.”
    “The county license to run the hall, the rink and the rides will cost you five dollars each.”
    “Better think about it, Mayor, ”the lawyer said. “Christian folks in this town won't want that park open on Sunday.”
    “We'll take that up when the time comes, Madison.” The mayor stood. “I guess that's all, unless someone has other business they want to discuss.”
    Jill stood beside the door and waited for Martha, who had made a beeline for the woman who had come in late, a short, heavyset woman with a pleasant face. She noticed the young lawyer eyeing her, but he didn't make an effort to speak to her. After chatting with the woman for a few minutes, Martha brought her over and introduced her to Jill.
    “Flora runs the bakery, ”Martha explained.
    “Hello, Jill. I've been wanting to come over for another visit with Justine. The last time I was there you had gone uptown and I missed you. How is she? ”
    “She stays in bed most of the time.”
    “Ah, law.” Flora's homely face showed concern. “This has been comin 'on for a while. I'm glad she's got some of her folks with her.”
    “Let's go while the oil king is busy bending the ear of the mayor.” Martha urged Jill out the door. When they got outside, she said, “I think you've got a beau if you want one. It seems that Mr. Westfall has taken a shine to you.”
    “What are you talking about? ”Then, “Oh, no. He was just being nice.”
    “Mr. Westfall is never nice unless it's going to benefit Mr. Westfall.”
    “Listen to Martha, honey.” Flora glanced over her shoulder to see if anyone was behind them. “He's had a number of women come to visit, then suddenly you don't see them around anymore, ”she added in a low voice.
    “Why did you call him the oil king? ”Jill asked.
    Martha answered, “He owns more than half of the wells around town and is trying to buy up the other half by putting pressure on the small companies.”
    “The mayor seems to like him.”
    “He has no choice. He could pull out and take his business to Tulsa or some other place.”
    “His wells would still be here.”
    “He owns the water well-drilling business, a truck line, two gas stations and other companies that employ a lot of people in town.”
    “Where does he live? ”
    “He spends a lot of time in Tulsa, but he owns that big square brick house two streets over from the hotel. It doesn't look like much on the outside, but they say it's very nice on the inside. He has a colored couple working for him.”
    “The one who stands up to him is Mr. Madison. He's such a nice man. Pity he has that
thing
on his face.” Flora clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. “He would be a fine catch for a girl if she could look past that horrible red mark.”
    “It doesn't seem to bother him, ”Jill said.
    “He's probably used to it.”
    “I don't know how Mr. Westfall plans to run a dance hall, ”Flora said, looking at the men idling on the street. “There's only one woman for every four men in town and most of them are attached. He'll have to bring in a bunch of loose women to dance with the men. The first thing you know, they'll open a whorehouse.” She