The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-02-02
1920. by Mcclure Newspaper syl

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 "reaser 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
! isr'
Jim Thornton had not coBfided In
/ Nate Miller that he had letter Of
| Introduction to Henry Deane and that
| he was depending upon HaZels father
| 10 help him out in his search for a
! cache of gold dust hidden by Grand
, father Thornton IN the days of 40.
He was mounting the sleeper
i places now, the air was cooler and
there was the smell of pine and the
! hot smell of wild thyme. He pulled up
i TO look down at the country sketched
/ below-when he heard the sound of
| voices above him-a mans whining
! tone and the treble of girls voice.
| Hazel Deane and the half-breedi
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,
i mounted on her tall horse, and
backed against huge boulder that
| iutted 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 a
!, gun.
You tell me, sonora, let you go
just word where gold is"
'Ill tell you nothing!" cried the
! girl.
! II keel yore horse-prontow The
/ threat ended in a 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-prontor'
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 right?" asked Jim, re-
moving his hat.
Il 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-
Il am on my way to Little BOul-
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
on the lookout for 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 a green canyon.
gay with flower gardens, where wa
terfall rippled down a rocky incline
and formed q 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 u 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 a 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 can
ihu II sile cah-i Sait hSH witch ma
eel because she seems to be able 10
find water and gold as we'll"
week afterward Jim Thornton
, and Hazel stood beside an overturned
/ boulder; below was q stone-lined hole
in the ground filed with tin boxes
the golden hoard of Grandfather
Thornton.
You are witch-HaZel," muir
INJURED Thornton. "You have be-
witched me-if you could See into my
heart" His eyes told the rest.
Il am sure l would discover-gold