The Coolidge examiner., 1934-10-12

z Ing the land worthless
Imagine owning the Garden os
The Gods 3" gasped Jack. HAS Il
always gone By that name. won
derY
II has as long as / remember /:
but the early settlers called the
Z place Red Rocks No need 20 en-
courage a siiT neck. Jack. by trying
20 sec out of the back ot your
head Wen all drive down some
day and explore the Garden"
II the West had seemed wonder.
ful from a car window. IL vas
I thrice wonderful from Mark Adams
Z dilapidated fivver. The young Nel-
sons were never 90 forget that
ride Such spectacular beauty was
new 20 both Of them Gllmpses Of
rushing water FAR below-the rocky
ellis and hillsides far sharp
curves appearing with alarming fre-
/ Quency: and over everything a SKY
of deep azure such as they had
not Imagined. vas. as Nance wrote
the family later, too wonderful FOR
any words Of hers.
THERE exclaimed Cousin Co
lumbine when those impressive
cliffs were left behind. that's over
safely. Time was when that pass
vas really dangerous It's boule-
ward now compared with those days.
Thanks FOR blowing the horn so
often. Mark. know you did 81 Tor
my benefit. though nv worst enemy
never called me nervous There's
Matthew drawn up beside the read.
DO you suppose he's had a break
downf That truck Of yours Is get.
ting pretty apcisnl"
There's plenty o life ln that
old truck ret. defended Mark "All
my hAShful brother wants. most like
ly. II for Us 20 Get home firsi 10 he
won't have 20 describe ihese-er-
newcomers 10 Aurora Tubbs Matt
says Anrora takes away bis power
of speech when she sllngx ques-
lions AZ him He says It's no won-
der Victor Tuhbs went into de-
cline. Hi. there. Matt Want Us 10
tow you homer
The older Adam smiled a negative
rs they passed: and Nancy said:
Doesn't your brother ever wear
hatf"
Not SOS you'd notice H. Dad
says that's all Matt learned IN col
lege going bare-headed-"
Mark turned 10 throw a smile az
Nancy and barely escaped collldIng
with a rock.
Mind your driving. ordered Miss
columbine.
Yes. ma'am." replied the youth
with meekness: and turned his head
again. this time 10 wink
The winter day had seemed almost
balIny to the New Englanders; but
as they reached more open country
and the shadows OF afternoon began
10 deepen. Nance was uncomfort-
ably conscious OF the changed at
mosphere and hack OF lap robe Thus
II was a relief when Cousin colum-
blne announced that they were near
~ home.
stop after you cross the track.
Mark. and let them get good look
at the Peak from this slde--our
side. I call IL. You see. I've lived
In the shadow OF that mountain since
the day was born. and II seems 10
belong 20 me-"
Marx nodded, crossed the track.
turned sharply 10 the left and
stopped the car. while Nancy uttered
n cry OF genuine delight. Cousin
Columhlne had not exaggerated.
l Pixies Peak was beautiful from here,
It's snow crest lifting above a for
est Of dark pines. Said Jack, after
an awed moment: That's great.
Isn't itf' And the old lady respond.
ed: I'm glad TO see that you appre-
ciate nature. for It's all | have TO
offer except hospitality. This Is
Pine Ridge. my dears. / dare say
II looks provincial to you: but It's
home TO me-"
Home, Nancy's eyes strayed from
the mountain. and with difficulty she
suppressed another exclamation
one OF dIsmay. Pine Ridge. Why
II was nothing but n struggling. dus-
" street, Had they travelled two
thousand miles in order TO spend
weeks. months, goodness knows
how long. In such a spot7 The
grandeur OF the mountain was for
gotten In that desperate moment
All the girl saw was a row OF for
lorn frame buildings. their elusive
fronts rising deceptively 10 the
height OF an imaginary second
story, their clapboards bare OF
paint. their porches sagging. :.
AS the car moved forward even
Jack was dumb. They passed a
HllIng stations grocery-the post
Office and drug store-a ramshackle
place marked Restaurant" al