The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-05-30
SYNOPSIS

Ann Haskell, taciturn, independ-
ent mountaineer, rules the little
village Of Pine Knob, in the
Ozarks, with IN iron hand. Though
generally considered hard and un.
bending, Ann could also be ex.
tremely generous. A hard-workiug
farmer herself, Ann disapproves Of
the useless life led BY the wealthy
vacationists 1t the Lodge. Among
these, however, IL one reception
Diane Carol. lovely young artist,
whose work means more to her
than her wealth; yet Ann consid-
ers dance painting . waste Of
time. The latter, however, greatly
admires the mountain woman who
sacrihced her own happiness for
her sons future. Years before, fol.
lowing the death Of her first hus-
band, Ann had placed her boy,
John Herbert, in the care Of an
old friend, Judge Shannon, 90 that
he might b educated properly.
She has not seen John Herbert
since. In his place. she raised !
ns'er-do-well stepson. JEFF Todd.
Then, one day, John Herbert un-
expectedly returns. Diane hap
pens to be At the station when he
arrives and offers the stranger .
lift. They are trapped in the
woods BY heavy rains. John Her.
bert con6des in Diane that, al
though he studied law, his heart IL
in writing and he hopes his mother
will not be disappointed. With
darkness approaching, they find 4
sheltered spot and John Herbert
goes In search Of kindling wood.
CHAPTER XIII.
I'VE must hurry. urged Diane,
following his example. ats grow
With desperate haste they gath
cred wood to last through the night.
The light was almost gone when
John Herbert ran hack to the car
and returned with the cushion.
While Diane watched he quickly
arranged the bits Of dry leaves and
twigs and dead grass. A match
dared, the tiny flame caught in .
wisp Of grass, reached for the dead
leaves, leaped to the twigs, and Z
rudy glow banished the dark
shadows under the ledge and
touched the wet bushes near BY
with glistenin- light.
"Hurrahl" cried Diane. *All
the comforts Of home!"
Better have some more wood, !"
returned her companion, and dis
appeared in the gloom beyond the
circle Of the freight.
With his going the girl felt sud-
denly very much alone and unpro-
tected-an odd feeling for Bill
Carols daughter.
About the small spot Of light in
which she sat the vast forest made
itself felt. At her back the wall
Of the cliff, with the overhanring
ledge, il the glow Of the fire, was
friendly enough, but out there in
the darkness. : host Of phantom
shapes crowded close in threaten
ing silence-watching, waiting
held back only BY the narrow circle
Of the light. She shuddered and
moved closer to the rocky wall. She
listened. There was no sound save
the sullen distant grumble Of the
angry creek, and Z ghostly sigh -
. breath Of wind swept through the
tree-tops that were heavy with the
rain. Her companion seemed to
have vanished completely. It was
- Il he had never existed. How
strange! She did not realize that
on the sodden earth and among the
wet bushes the young mans move
ments would make very little noise.
The suspense carried her to the
verge Of panic and, unable to en-
duro It longer, she shouted, desper-
ately: "John - John Herbert
where are you1 Are you there!"
His CHEEKY answer sounded
startlingly near. "It's al right.
I'm coming"
As he emerged from the dark
ness with . log Of goodly proper.
tions on his shoulder, Diane real
lied how glad she was that she was
not alone and that it was John Her
bert Haskell who was with her.
y thought ! had lost you," she
said, IN = tone Of relief, wondering
ct herself.
He laughed happily % he low
cred his heavy burden to the
ground. II was hunting ! good
bacNog-one that will last. IT'S
not quite 20 dark O. It looks from
here. Il win b, though. in an
other ten minutes"
She watched him with 4 new In
terest - he arranged the backlog
and the dre to his satisfaction.
"But that load was heavy enough
for two men," she remarked. II
never guessed you we're 20 strong"
"Oh, that" he returned, with .
touch Of embarrassment. "Why.