Newspapers / The Cherokee Scout (Murphy, … / March 19, 1942, edition 1 / Page 2
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CHAPTER XVI An uncanny howl from somewhere Inland rose to crescendo, slid into diminuendo and died away. "What's that?" The teeth of one of the pilots visi bly and audibly chattercd as he an swered Paxton. "That a wolf cry, yes sirree. Smoke an' fire drive dem to shore. Dey no lak fire. Not much ever come oder time. Hunters come liere. bhack up by trees." Paxton's voice showed strain. "You've clung to your camera, I see. We may wish it were some thing to eat before we get through. There are two cans of crackers in the launch, that's all. If only this infernal smoke would lift, we'd get back to the yacht. The men were right. There's the shack." Janice's heart went into a tailspin. On a little hill, a spur on the side of the mountain, sagged a cabin of warped, weather-beaten boards. She didn't know how long she and Paxton stood there staring at the distant hut. He wheeled at sound of the put-put of an engine starting. With a startled oath he ran back to the water's edge. Janice stum bled after him. As they reached it, the stern of the launch vanished into the mist. "Come back! Come back!" Pax ton shouted. Only the fading throb of the engine responded. He drew his revolver and tired into the aiv. As though in answer, a wild wail was relayed by echo after echo through the woods. Janice caught his arm. Her voice came raggedly. "Ned! Ned! Save your ammuni tion. Remember that ghastly howl." A shower of hot stones pelted the man and girl. Rain splashed. "Come on, Jan. We'd better make for that shack while the going is fairly good. I'll bet it leaks like a sieve, but it will be some protection. Those infernal quitters threw out a can of crartcers. I'll take that along." He picked up the tin. They passed great patches of blue lupin. Wild raspberry bushes, high er than Janice's head, clawed at her wet clothing, as though to di rect attention to the dead ripe fruit hanging in Aiaroon clusters. She gathered handfuls, carried them in her hat which she had lined with a damp but spotless handkerchief. The woods rustled with the motion of un seen life. A porcupine rattled across the trail ahead. An otter swam down stream, two martens scuttled into a tangle of brush. A fox trotted by. stopped, one foot raised, looked back before he dashed off as though pursued by furies. A fat ptarmigan rose with a whiz which sent Jan ice's heart into her mouth. A few blood - thirsty mosquitoes buzzed about her head, before drifting smoke sent them winging. Did ev erything living feel the pervading imminence of danger? Paxton's eyes were inscrutable as they met Janice's. Something about the grimness of his mouth set her heart thumping. He waved his hand toward the hut. "Let's investigate. I have a light. I was trained by an old sea-dog never to leave the ship without a flash, a gun and matches." He pulled an electric torch from an in side pocket of his soaked blue coat. Its glow revealed a room high enough for a man, a tall man, to stand upright without hitting his head. A bunk against one wail was heaped with dried boughs of spruce. A loose-jointed pipe, one end poking through the roof, acted as smoke conductor between a rusty cnok stove and the outer world. A de generate chair and a rickety stool kept dissolute company. A table, whose legs sprawled outward like those of a teetering new-born calf, supported two tallow streaked bot tles and a dirty pack of cards. A rusty kettle and a frying-pan burned black hung from a crude shelf. Against the wall leaned an axe with a long handle and nicked blade. Paxton snapped a gold lighter. Aft er several futile attempts he suc ceeded in producing a small flame which he applied to a candle stub in one bottle. "We will save our matches for the fires. My knowl edge of camping is all laboratory stuff, no field work, but I know enough for that." They hung over the table breath lessly till the wick caught and a flickering flame set ghoulish shad ows astir on the walls. Paxton snapped off the electric torch, laid his rtvolver on the shaky table, a card of matches beside it. "Those must be kept dry. Think you can start the fire in the stove while I collect brush for a signal to the yacht? Wrecked on a desert is land stuff." He flung his wet blue coat over the chair-l-ick Axe in hand he sn'ilid r.t Her from the threshold. Good, but not Rood enough. Did lie think she didn't know that the outside fire was more to keep off marauding animals than to signal the boat, that she had forgotten those banshee howls? She steadied her lips and smiled back at him. This last hour had aged him un believably. It had set deep crow's feet at the corners of his eyes, etched lines between his nose and lips. Except for war service, all his luxurious life he had played hard and worked liuie. Hio cr.cc im maculate buckskin shoes oozed mud; his soaked white flannel trou sers were criss-crossed with black lines, where wet shrubs had lashed at him; little green rivulets, spon sored by his necktie, were cavort ing down the front of the silk shirt which was plastered to his body. His eyes with a laugh in their blue depths met hers. "I don't like the suggestion of crit icism of my appearance in your ex pression. You're not so hot your self." The liking she had felt for him during the first weeks of their ac quaintance, which had flamed into love ? or fascination? crumbled into gray ashes of doubt and distrust, stole back. It warmed her voice. She took careful aim. Fired. "I'm a sight. I feel like a rag doll which has been left out in the rain." She heard the crackle of brush un der his feet. She lifted a rusty cover from the stove. Her thoughts raced on as she laid a fire of dry leaves and brush. Billy and Bruce had taught her woodcraft when they had taken her with them on their fish ing expeditions. If only Bruce were with her instead of Ned Paxton. She struck a match to escape the memory which set her heart pound ing unbearably. She watched the dry leaves ignite before she clapped on the rusty cover. She listened. The fire roared. Had she put in too much fuel? How the pesky thing smoked. She wiped her smarting eyes as she hunted for a damper. Her throat stung. I* v.-as humiliating not to be able tr start a dinky little fire, but she would have to ask Ned to help. She stepped to the entrance for air. What ?<'as that? Good grief! What was that behind the tree near him? A dog? A gray dog? A dog's eyes wouldn't be green. A wolf! What was hanging from the creature's cruel mouth? Cloth! A piece of plaid cloth caught on one yellowed fang. Sickening! She tried to call a warn ing. Her tongue dried to the roof of her mouth. Her body prickled with horror. The animal took a stealthy step toward the man on the stump. Stopped. Not a muscle rip pled under its skin. Ned would have no chance to save himself. Eyes on the motionless creature, Janice backed to the table, seized the revolver. On the doorsill she dropped to one knee. "Steady! Steady! Remember Jimmy's in structions," she warned herself. She took careful aim. Fired. Man and beast leaped simultane ously. The wolf soundlessly slunk into the shadows. Paxton ran to ward her, caught her shoulder. Shook her. "Why in heaven's name did you do that?" She steadied trembling lips. "It was a wolf ? just back of you ? he he was watching you? hungrily. 1 thought ? I thought ? " She dropped her head in her hands. Shuddered uncontrollably. "A wolf! You shot him?" "I shot at him." There was a touch of hysteria in her laugh. "I'm not too good." "God, we'll have the whole pack down on us." Indignation steadied Janice's nerves as no commendation would have done. "I call that Horsed un grateful. You would have been torn to shreds if I hadn't fired." "WHy didn't you yell?" "Yell! I was dumb with horror. I came to the door to ask you to help with the stove, saw that terri ble creature moving toward you, and fired." He loosened the fingers still clutching the revolver, laid it on the table. "Did you care when you thought me in danger, Janice?" Her heart flew to her throat. Blue eyes aflame could be mora terrify ing than fierce green eyes. "Care! Wouldn't you care if you saw a human being in peril of his life? Isn't the smoke stifling? Can't you do something to stop it?" "I ? " He coughed, sneezed, wiped his eyes. "What's the matter with the infernal thing?" Lids half shut, tears marking grimy furrows down his cheeks, he poked about the stove. Tears brim ming from her smarting eyes, Jan ice tried to help. He shook what seemed to be a damper. The por tion of the pipe which pierced the roof fell with a clatter which set her already taut nerves twanging like violin strings under the fingers of an impassioned virtuoso. A vi cious orange-red fang shot from the standing smoke-stack, licked at the rotting branches of the roof. Damp as they were, they ignited. Fire ran from twig to twig. The man and girl stared incredu lously. "We've done it now! Quick! Out of this!" Paxton pushed her to the door, caught up the revolver as he dashed by the table. Janice grabbed her camera, snatched the tin of crack ers. As they jumped to the mossy log she heard the crackle of wood. The walls of the shack were on fire. Side by side they watched the lurid light inside flicker, flame, wane. Heat poured out as through the door of a furnace. Janice turned her back. "I'm thoroughly toasted on one side. ' "Tis an ill wind, etc.' It would have taken hours before an ordinary Sre to dry our clothes. What is the next feature on this peppy program? It ought to be an nounced over a coast-to-coast hook up." Paxton's eyes shone blue and clear in his smoke-grimed face. "Janice, you're the best sport in the world. You set a great pace." He steadied his voice. "The fire's dying down. We'll have a warm, charred shack at our backs. That will be some protection." "Protection from what?" She hat ed herself for the terrified catch in her voice. "From prowlers. You heard the native pilot say that the volcano smoke would drive animals to the water. They will come down the bed of this brook from the interior." Hours passed. Hours filled with nerve-racking suspense, listening, listening for the sound of a boat which did not come, with the drip of rain, the pelt of hail, flash of light ning and detonations of thunder. Janice dropped to the mossy log in front of the shack which gave out an acrid odor of smoldering wood. Paxton carefully laid a heap of brush beside him as he dropped wearily to the log. The fire had died down to red coals. He opened a gold cigarette case. "One left." He snapped it shut. "Glad you don't smoke. Otherwise I would have to sacrifice that on the altar of chivalry. Any crackers?" She drew one grimy piece from her pocket. "The last?" She nodded. "Put it back. I have indulged in too many calories already. I'll lose my boyish figure if I don't watch out." "What's that?" "What? Where?" Janice gripped his sleeve. Point ed. Two lambent green dots glowed between low alders. With a muttered imprecation, Paxton threw on the pitifully inade quate pile of brush beside him. The fire flared. The sinister points of light retreated. A howl tore through the distance. From near at hand the blood-curdling wail was an swered. Paxton rose swiftly. '"I'm going for more wood." "Where? You mustn't. It isn't 1 ' (TO BE CONTINUED) Don't run lamp cords under the | rug. They wear out more quickly from being walked on, and pre sent a fire hazard. ? ? ? Silver should always be polished following the shape of the object ; ? flatware lengthwise and hollow- \ ware with a large circular motion. [ ? ? ? If yon nish to serve your gut ^ts ' individual cakes, bake your cake in a loaf. When baked, cut it in iquares, frost them on four sides , Spiced beet slices or picklet carrots make piquant gurnixhi-s for the cold-mcat platter. A low of cach will do. along with a few sprigs of parsley. ? ? ? A piece of charcoal kept on one of the shelves will remove all odor from your refrigerator. ? ? ? Thickening for gravies or soups may be made quickly by beating equal amounts of flour and water into a small, deep bowl with an ?ag.hpnter until a smooth mix ture Is formed. Pattern 237 contains directions for set* Illustrations of it and stitches; materials needed- Send order to: Sewln? Circle Needlccraft Dept. 82 highth Ave. New York Enclose 15 cents In coins (or Pat tern No Name Address ? This YEAR, your garden must pro duce. It's important to your family's health ? ?o the nation's welfare! Your time is too valuable to gamble on infe rior seeds. ? Start right. Plant Ferry Quality Seeds because they are bred to pro duce the best possible results. Over 65,000 tests are made annually to maintain their quality. Buy them at your local Ferry dealer's. ? Send for "Ferry's Victory Garden Plan." free. Complete plan and grow ing directions for ve^etablo garden. Write Dept. W-4. FERRY-MORSE SEED CO. DETROIT SAN FRANCISCO Pattern 237. CROCHET one or all of these accessories for baby. They go quickly in Shetland Floss in this lacy stitch. Be sure to put on the cute tassels that will catch everyone's eye. Use a color with white. Coronation Finery Catherine I of Russia, at her coronation of 1724, wore a crown that was studded with 2,564 pre cious stones and surmounted by a ruby as large as a pigeon's egg. Catherine II, at her coronation in 1762, wore a gown that had a train 225 feet long, which was carried by 50 attendants. LEND FOR VICTORY Make Your Money Count; Buy U. S. Defense Bonds Dtmt Blamelbar Husband if he's "dead tired" when he comes from work and hate* going pl&ces. Mental or physical over -exertion occurs easily if appetite for necessary body building foods is absent. VINOL. with Vitamin B1 and Iron helps promote appetite. Druggists have VINOL. CORNS GO FAST Pain Roes quick, corns Rpcodily removed when you use thin, soothing. cushion1 n (5 Dr. Scholls Zino-patia. Try thorn I AND LADY, IF YOU BAKE AT HOME, REMEMBER, THE ONLY YEAST WITH ALL THESE* VITAMINS IS FLEISCHMANN'S *Per Cake: Vitamin A ? 2000 Units (Int.) Vitamin 8,-150 Units (Int.) Vitamin D? 400 Units (Int.) Vitamin O? 40-50 Units (Sb. Bour.) All of these vitamins go right into your bread; they arc not appreciably lost in the oven. Ask for Flcischmann's Fresh Yeast ? with the yellow label. MERCHANTS Your Advertising Dollar buys something more than space and circulation in the columns of this newspaper. It buys space and circulation plus the favorable consideration of our readers for this newspaper and its advertising patrons. LET US TELL YOU MORE ASOUT IT
The Cherokee Scout (Murphy, N.C.)
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March 19, 1942, edition 1
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