Aunt Cathy talked on as Big Bill and Becky cleared the trestle table and brought out bowls of vanilla ice-cream with slices of fresh peaches. She told of Cassie's time at the Masonic Home. "Cassie liked it there. The people were kind and there were other children with whom to play. Best of all, one of the house mothers was a music teacher. Cassie had shown promise from an early age, when one of the prostitutes started her playing a penny=whistle when she was only 3. The music teacher, recognizing Cassie's interest and talent, took special interest in her and soon Cathy was playing piano, flute and violin.

"She waited eagerly for the bimonthly visits from Emma. Emma was working hard, saving money, and making plans for their future. She had become head housekeeper at the Daniel Boone. One day, when Cassie was 10, her mother arrived at the Home flush with excitement. Mr. McJunkin, who was a manager with Island Creek Coal, was a frequent quest at the Daniel Boone. Over the years he had come to appreciate Emma's hard work, diplomacy and integrity. He had come to her with a proposition. He owned a boarding house up Paint Creek but was never there enough to properly oversee the running of it. He knew it could make money if properly run and had given up on finding some one he could trust to take care of the business for him. He offered Emma a 1/3 stake in the Boarding House if she would move to Paint Creek and run it for him."

By now, Cathy had been talking none stop for nearly two hours. Sharon had run out of tape in the recorder, and the tom, to whom Cathy looked occasionally as if for confirmation of the story, had disappeared off the porch rail.

"I guess I've worn your ears off this afternoon, and haven't really even gotten to the good parts yet. If it suits you all, I'll just stop now, and can tell you more when you back up here next month. I've already got a call from Louie. He and the rest of the gang are eager for another jam. Would you call them, Billy, to see if when they might come back?"