The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1921-02-01
WITCH. HAZEL
sy cLARlssA MAcklE.

Overhead was the sunny California
sky--ID the foreground was The sandy
trail leading gradually up to the blue.
green dImness Of fle mountains. All
around him were the plain board
bungalows Of the town bIlstering un-
der the noon sum- The veranda Of the
store and post ONCE was crowded with
mem clad in flannel shirts and cordu-
roy trOusers--bronhed, weathG.worn
faces under broad hats--and score
Of horses we're tied at the long rail
fence ~
Jim Thornton saw none Of these
things !. all he. saw was 4 girl riding
away on II tall black h0rse--a slim
young thing In faded khaki with q
sdhibrero pulled over her red hair.
Nate Miller followed. the glance
and smiled sympatheticaily. 'That's
Hazel Deane," he murmured In low
tone, you might meet her II you are
going up the trail--her fathers place
is over on the upper trail; Boul-
der, they call IT,
"Prospector?" asked Jim.
Nate nodded. "Found the real
thing" ne muttered. "Some say that
It's the only real 'fnd' hereabouts.
Most Of those fellows" he nodded to-
ward the noisy group on the We.
ran'la, 'are cattle men--they don't
bother with gold ulIning--too unccr-
fain. Always excepting Pedro-see
that greqser sneaking onto his horse
thinks no one sees him-always fol-
lows. Hazel until she finds him and
sends him back like the coyote lie
Isl"
Jim Thornton had not conflded In
Nate Miller that he <had letter Of
Introduction to Henry Deane and that
he was depending upon Hazel's father
to help him out in his search for
cache OF gold dust hidden by Grand
father Thornton in the days Of 40.
Hc was mounting the sleeper
places now, the air was cooler and
there was the smell Of pine and the
hot smell Of wild thyme. He pulled ur
to look down at the country skctched
belOw--when he heard the sound Of
voices above him--a mans whining
tone. and the treble Of a girls voice.
Hazel Deane and the half-breed!
Jim urged his horse forward and
IN five minutes they burst upon a
strange scehe. Among the trees at
one side OF the trail was Hazel Deane,
mounted on her tall horse. and
backed against huge boulder that
jutted from the hill. Size was gazing
with blazing eyes and white face at
redro. who. crouched behind his lit
tie sorrel, was covering her with a
gun. tgA " AK ss-ss
You telIsne, sonora, let you go-.-
Just word where gold is" {
"lll tell you nothinE!" cried the
girl. 9 rsi
~ keel yore horse--prontoi" The
threat ended in loud, howl Of pain
az bullet knocked the weapon out
Of his hand and grated his knuckles
In passing. III.
"You get out Of here--pronto!''
commanded jim. riding into the open
ing. The balf-breed mounted his
sleepy horse and the two skulked out
Of sight and out Of this story.
"Are you all rightr asked Jim, re-
moving his hat,
She smiled and nodded. "1'hanks
vo you. Petro was drunk. He might
have harmed me with that gun. !
probably owe my safety to, you. My
father, Henry Deane win thank you
for me-"
81 AM on my way to Little Boul-
der" explained Jim. II have let
ter OF introduction from Major
Blake"
'yrhen you are Mr.. Thornton the
major wrote to dad. We have been
on the lookout Tor YOU" Hazel led
The way up the mountain trail. turn
ing to the right at small rock. then
turning again into a, narrower trail
that finally led to green canyon,
gay with flower gardens. where a wa
terfall ripplcd down rocky incline
and formed a tiny lake. An elderly
man sat on the versnda Of white
bungalow. and he jumped up when
he saw them coming.
Half an hour later they were eat.
Ing dinner prepared by capable Chi.
nese cook. Thornton found the
Deanes a congenial trio from the Mid
die West. and people after his Owr
heart. Mr.. Deane said that he could
not expect much better luck than he
had had, and that they were thinking
Of going back to Ohio before very
long:
witch Hazel--wants to continue
herevlive our hermit life Indefinitely y
he ended with a smile at his daugh-
ter; 'my wife has converted her
with promises of winter In New
York."
Hazel flushed to the roots Of her
glorious hair. "Do tell us about your
map, Mr.. Thornton--I am sure know
the very spot"
Tell her, Thornton; If any one eau
find 1t she can--I call her witch Ha.