New Britain herald., 1929-12-30
Chapter 1 "NIISS EVE

Anne flung herself flat on the
 ground and drank eagerly from tl,
 cold. sparkling mountain spring.
 Her thirst Quenched, she leaned farther over the spring and eazcd
 down curiously into it's liquid, glass
 green depths.
 The deep, cup-like basin was
 ciuSted thick with crystals which
 flashed in the leaf-dapplcd sun 1 light into q million jewels, diq-
 monds. Sapphrcs, cmcralds and ru- | blcs.
 "lf tEose were only real and mine" she unused idly.
 She pulled herself d little higher on her elbows, turned her head slowly from side to side. studying herself critically in the mirrored surface of the spring.
 Her skin glowcd satin-smooth ani she was glad. Before leaving New York she had thought she detected signs that tattle of passing youth.
 She was glad she had stolen away from the lodge, her Aunt Emily, and Leon Morse. for this moment alone. She sighed as she thought oI Morse, multi-millionaire New Yorker, who Was her host in his retreat in the Sicrras. She knew that somcday he would propose hnt had she not grown up knowing that she must marry someone with his qualifications? Nothing cl.c would satisfy her Aunt Emily.
 Half hypnotizod by her crystal gazing she was unaware that she was not alone. Then she noted the shadow that turned to brown the surface of the spring.
 As she strengthened up she found a tall man, his steel gray eyes fixed on the piquant picture she presented
 With an expert eye born of long appraisal she took in, with a swift glance the muscular lines of the intruder whose face was stampol with the healthy vigor of the west. 1 From his plain costume - flannel | shirt khaki trousers and high boots she concluded he was a workma,
 The man broke the silence. I did not mean to intrude. I thought | you were someone else. Strangers seldom come here.'
 How do you know I'm stran- 5er" Anne asked interestcdly.
 lie swept her from head to foot with an amused glance. That's moi hard to guess - with Fifth avenue on your clothes or is 1t he Rue de Ia Paix?"
 Anne smiled at his disccrnmcnt Her visitor apparently had travclei. she thought
 Can l be Of any service to yo1 n finding your way back to the odge:' he inquired solicitously.
 But I'm not lost" Anne pro- ested.
 'No-"?" The amusement lingerel II his eyes. Anyway, this trail 10 the left will take you back to he lodge in half the time you came lp. He paused, then added. "I must apologize for intcrrupting our mirror gazing Miss-Eye?"
 with humorous, satirical glance le turned to go and did not no1e he red which swept into Anne's ace. She was not accustomed 10 hat tone from man.
 It was plain that he had watched Ter admlring herself in the spring nd had interpreted it as q dis spl,v # vanity. biting retort formrJ n her mind but she checked her ell She Was hungry and had no- iced the knapsack that hung from is shoulder.
 Don't go yct-pleaSc" and ihore 'as a pleading note in her tone nat caused the man to halt
 don't want to be a nuisance ut l am frightfully hungry-"
 Why didn't you say so before ?" e demanded Dlusqucly as he loos- ned his knapsack and began 10 repare a meal.
 While Anne watched his deft { 1ovemcnts, he kindled a fire for office, and spread sandwiches be- ore her. [
 Help yourself" he offered as II" l Irned to watch the coffee. "Sheb lWa|s puts up enough for dozen." }
 'Who is Shab?" Anne inquired as l he munched a sandwich. Her host cured some coffee in tin cup be- C