The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-09-30
! Witch Hazel
Bys cEARlssA HAc5IE
Sswspaper Association

things, all he saw was sIlA Lt4 4IiLe
away on q tall black horse-a slim
young thing In faded khaki WIZ
9 sombrero pulled over her req
hRir.
Nate Miller followed the glance
and smiled sympathetcally.
That's Hazel Dean" he murmured
In low tone, "you might meet her
II you are going up the trail
her fathers place Is on the upper
! traiI-Littie Boulder they call II.
'Prospector?" asked Jim.
Nate Nodded. Found the real
fhinRP he muttered. Some suy
sEhat iSs the only real find here.
shouts. Most OF those fellows,
he nodded toward the noisy group
on the verRnda, ARE cattle men
they don't bother with gold mining
too uncertain. Always expecting
asPedro-see that greaser sneaking
onto his horse-thinks no one secs
him-aIways follows Hazel until
she finds him and sends him back
again like the coyote he is.
Jim saw the slouching hHlf.breed
leap into the saddle and gain tine
trail by wide detour behind
dump Of trees. Then his little
rRtstatled sorrel scurried along,
AAIAAI- 44VIlIE1DAC oEohAAASL AAAO = -
law sand OF the trail. The new.
conner started his own horse but
Nate stopped him.
4Pedro's only following 10 find
but where the old man gets the
gold" he explained. Hazel doesn
need any help"
gH'm on my way now anyhow.
{ sid Jim. ''i'll follow Pedro and
Eventually reach Little Boulder.
Perhaps Mr.. Daaue will help me
IN what want to do"
go to II SON." said the other
&ersely, and as Jim mounted Nate
Yxamined che little pack burro,
frightened the ropes that bound the
load and then slapped the little
beast on the flank as they rode
aWay.
He gazed after them as they dis.
appeared at the end OF the trail.
dipping into gully that led to the
hills. He whistled softly and smil-
ed, "Geel forgot to warn him
that Witch Hazel has a temper to
match her red hair"
Jim Thornton had not conflded
Ia Nate Miller that he had letter
Of Introduction to Henry Deanc
and that he was depending upon
HRgePs father TO help him out IN
r = kAAG 9EaA III AL q GG1AAC "a bSAA uAoN
hidden by Grandfather Thornton
In the days Of AZ
While he had expected to enjoy
the excursion into the mountains
the fastener had not counted on
falling in love at first sight with
rsAbbily dressed, red haired girl
tysao had only thrown him a care
less glance from green eyes firing.
ed With long auburn lashes.
lH was mounting the sleeper
places now, the air was cooler and
Mere was a smell Of pine and the
hot smell Of wild thyme. He
Setched below-when he heard
the sound OF voices above him
Il mans whining tone and the
treble OF girls voice.
Hazel Deans and the half breed
Jim urged his horse forward and
In five minutes they burst upon
8 strange scene. Among the trees
at one side Of the trail was Hazel
Deane, mounted on her tall horse
ana backed against a huge boulder
that juted from the hill. She was
casing with blazing eyes and white
face at Pedro, who crouched be-
hind his little sorrel, was covering
her with q gun
y W kGAA ms GEAAUl o. lGL NOAA
go-tust q word where gold is"
girl.
~ keel your horse-pronto!"
The threat ended In loud howl
OF pain as bullet knocked the
!4,weRpon out Of his hand and grazed
his knuckles in passing.
HYou get out OF here-pronto!"
Commanded Jim, riding into the
opening. The half breed mounted
bis sleepy horse and tne two sulli.
ed put OF sight and out OF this
story.
removing his hat.
She smiled and nodded. Thanks
toyou Pedro was drunk. He might
have harmed me with that gun.
7 probably owe my safety to you.
NY father, Henry Deane, will thank
you for me-"
am on my way 10 Little BouI-
der" explained Jim. Il have a let
ter OF Introduction from Major
Blake"
''Then you are Mr.. Thornton
the Major wrote to dad. We have
been,o on the lookout for you" Hazel
led the way up the mountain trail,
turning to the right at small rock
asUuHu III A4nt1 dbHA llulO Il narrower
trail that finally leo to a green
canyon, gay with flower gardens,
where q waterfall rippled down q
rocky incline and formed O tiny
4 hika. An elderly man sat on the
xeranda, and he jumped UP when
he saw them coming.
q HRlf an hour later they were eat.
tAg dinner prepared by a capable
CHINESE cook. Thornton found the
SJi1eAnes a congenial trio from the
middle west and people after his
own heart. Mr.. Deane said that he
could not expect much better luck
Than he had had and that they
we're thinking OF going back 10
Ohio before very long.
Witch HaZel-wants to con-
t1nue here-liye our hermit life in.
definitely" he ended with O smile
his daughter; my wife has con.
SGrted HEREWITH promises II a
Y winter In New York"
Hazel flushed to the roots OF her
glorious hair. DO tell US about
your map, Mr. Thornton-T am
sure ] know the very spot"
Te1l her, Thornton; IL any one
can find Il abe can-T call her
Witch Hazel because she seems To
be able to find water and gold as
Wfil.
n week afterward Jim Thornton
and Hazel stood beside an over.
turned boulder; below was stone
1lne % hole In the ground filled with
-. 2