Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1921-01-21
WITCH HAZEL
BY cLARIssA MAcKIE.

1920. by Mcclure Newspaper So Indicate

! Sky-tn the foreground was the sandy
| trail leading gradually up to the blue
| green dimness of the mountains. All
| around him were the plain board
| bungalows of the town blistering I'M
| der the noon sun The veranda of the
store and post Office was crowded with
men clad in flannel shirts and cordu-
roy trousers-bronzed weather-worn
faces under broad hatS-and a score
of horses were tied at the long rail
fence.
Jim Thornton saw none of these
things; all he saw was a girl riding
away on a tall black horse-a slim
young thing in faded khaki with a
sOmbrero pulled over her red hair.
Nate Miller followed the glance
and smiled sympathetically. That's
Hazel Deane," he murmured in a low
tone, you might meet her if you are
going up the trail-her fathers place
is over on the upper trail-Little Boul-
der, they call it,"
"Prospector" asked jim.
Nate nodded. Found the real
thing" he muttered. "Some say that
It's the only real find hereabouts
Most of those fellows" he nodded to-
ward the noisy group on the We
randa, "are cattle men-they don't
bother with gold mining-too uncer-
tain. Always excepting Pedro--see
that greaSer Sneaking onto his horse
thinks no one sees him-always fol-
lows Hazel until she finds him and
sends him back like the coyote he
isw
Jim Thornton had not cOnfided In
Nate Miller that he had a 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.
He 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 up
to Look down at the country sketched
below-when he heard the sound of
voices above nina mans whining
tone and the treble Of girls voice.
Hazel Deane and the half-breed!
Jim urged his horse forward and
In five minutes, they burst upon
strange scene. 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. She was gazing
with blazing eyes and white face at
Pedro, who, crouched behind his lit
tie sorrel, was covering her with q
gun.
"You tell me, sonora, let you go
just word where gold is"
"Pll tell you nothing!" cried the
girl.
81 keel yore horse-prontow The
threat ended in n loud howl Of pain
as a bullet knocked the weapon out
of his hand and grazed his knuckles
In passing.
you get out of here-pronto! !"
commanded Jim, riding into the open
ing. The half-breed mounted his
sleepy horse and the two skulked out
of sight and out of this story.
Are you all rlght?" asked Jim, re-
moving his hat.
She smiled and nodded. Thanks
to you. Pedro was drunk. He might
have harmed me with that gun.
probably owe my safety to you. My
father, Henry Deane, will thank you
for me-"
81 am on my way to Little Boul-
der" explained jim. ~ have a let
ter of Introduction from Major
Blake"
"Then you are Mr.. Thornton-the
major wrote to dad. We have been
on the lookout for you" Hazel led
the way up the mountain trail. turn
ing to the right at a small rock, then
that finally led to a green canyon,
gay with flower gardens, where a wa
terfall rippled down a rocky incline
and formed tiny lake. An elderly
man sat on the veranda of a white
bungalow, and he jumped up when
he saw them coming.
Half an hour later they were eat
ing dinner prepared by a capable Chi
nese cook. Thornton found the
Deanes a cOngenial trio from the Mid
die 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 were thinking
of going back to Ohio before very
long.
witch Hazel-wants to continue
here-live our hermit life indefinitely"
he ended with a smile at his daugh-
ter; my wife has converted her
with promises of winter In New
York"
Hazel flushed 70 the roots of her
glorious hair. do tell us about your
map, Mr. ThOrnton--I am sure know
the very spot"
oil hsNs, u, II