Page 26 - Life's Outtakes 13

headed down the stairs, out the door,

and ran straight into Betty. She

looked at us and said, ‘Could you

boys get my ladder and get my

hatchet down for me?’”

Walt said they both froze and

looked at her.

“Finally,” Walt said, “I squeaked

out ‘Hatchet?’ She nodded and said,

‘I threw it at a squirrel, and the

hatchet got stuck in the side of the

house. Dang squirrels! Always

chewing holes into the attic.’”

Walt grinned. “And that’s how

she got the name Hatchet Woman, but

I would advise not calling her that to

her face.”