Chapter 4By the time the Journal hit the streets that evening, I was on a southbound train, on my way for the first time in my life, to southwest Virginia. For the next eight hours I got the best sleep I had gotten in a week.
I arrived at Blair Station, near the newly named town of Galax, just after midnight. I was told there would be no transportation to Hillsville until early the next morning, so I checked into the Blair Inn. While there, I made friends with the telegraph operator. I have learned, in the newspaper business, you can never make too many friends.
At daybreak there was a knock on my door, and I was told a driver was waiting to take me to Hillsville. Two hours later I stepped down from his wagon and entered the Hillsville Mercantile.
“Hello. I’m here on business for a
