John and Mary had only been married a short time and Mary was naturally a little timid about staying in the cabin which he had furnished for her while he was away. Jack was the new forest ranger and was compelled to make long trips and be ...See moreJohn and Mary had only been married a short time and Mary was naturally a little timid about staying in the cabin which he had furnished for her while he was away. Jack was the new forest ranger and was compelled to make long trips and be away from home oftentimes two or three days. He had picked out his cabin with a view to making it overlook all of the country through which he had to travel. "If you're ever in danger, Mary," said Jack, "make a smudge and send me a smoke signal. I will show you how to do it." In the front yard they put some sticks and dried grass and Jack showed Mary how to cover up the smoke rising from the smudge in such a way as to give the well-known danger signal of the forest. And well it was that he did so. For Hackensack and his gang viewed with alarm the unapproachable honesty of the new ranger and inasmuch as they were engaged in such nefarious undertakings as cattle stealing, smuggling and brand changing, they could not afford to have an honest ranger on their trail. So they laid a trap for him. But Jack, suddenly becoming aware that he was being followed, rigged up a stick with his hat and coat on it. When the ambushers closed in, he held them up and brought them in triumph to the sheriff. "Here's two of Hackensack's gang. I'll bring in the others, I hope, next week." Two of Hackensack's gang and Hackensack were standing near and overheard the remark. In their hideout in the mountains they planned to entrap Jack. The plan was well laid and involved entering his home and capturing him when he returned. Mary saw them coming and at the first opportunity lit the smoke signal in the front yard, but before she could give the signal Hackensack got wise to her I and kicked out the fire. The gang got quite enthusiastic about Mary and thought that it would be a fine thing if she prepared them a home-made dinner. Mary, in fear and trembling, did the best she could and all hands except Mary seemed to enjoy it. Then an idea occurred to her. As she turned the damper in the chimney and hoped that the interruption of the smoke column would give the same effect as the blanket over the fire in the front yard. It worked famously and Jack, miles away, through his glass, saw the signal and hurried home just in time to prevent catastrophe and captured the villains when they were getting altogether too much interested in Mary. Written by
Universal Weekly, November 29, 1924
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