2 The News-Review, Roteburg, Ore. Fri, May 21, 1954
17-Year-Id Authoress Wins Exertional Acclaim
'The Magnificent Rift' Story
Of Marooned Prospectors
! The following story It printtd , pales of a magnet attracts, they,
In iti entirety by spatial arranga-j too, were drawn to eaci other.
msTTT wim in awinvr. vuij uuiig uic uau ill bunr
By Janniee Hanbett
The air of the small dimly-lit
cabin wai blue and smelted of
mon was a desire to go Into the
wilds, of the Yukon Territory and
find a rich vein of gold, it seemed
that Pate had brought 'hesj men
atale tobacco smoke and had the i trmthr in nh m uhiteWsn
rant uwr vl twsc iiviiik. mi
through the long winter, the two
men had been closely confined to
the small comforts which the cab
in offered. The winter had been se
vere and long; out, hey had been
well-prepared to face the rigors
of th long, cold nights and the
unless, freezing days. Many of
the previous summer's long iyt
bad been spent , outaining wood,
which was split and neatly piled
in the lean-to next to the cabin,
just two long steps from the front
door. The shelves and bins had
been well stocked with good sub
stantial food, food that would stick
to a man's ribs and help insulate
him from the razor-sharp, biting
air.
. Yes. they had been well-ore
pared for the long, bitter winter
In every way but one. They hadn't
prepared themselves to live with
each other. It Is true, they realized
that they needed some form of
relaxation, something to keep their
minds occupied, Tney sacruicca
the space of one pack-saddle bag
that they filled with magazines
and books, which would afford
for all winter. But ' these had all
been read, reread, and reread un
til eacn could tea almost to rue
page that a certain word had ocen
written. When they had read the
books and magazines until Jicy
were boring and intolerable, they
started reading, the labels on the
' canned goods and flour sacks.
Each could tell you how many
ounces of tomatoes were In the
can, where it was canned, who
was the brokerage firm that han
dled it. The brown bean sack ad-
vertlsed itself as being filled in
Twin Falls, Idaho, the dried bean
center of the world. Man, wouldn't
it be nice to be there. Any place
but this cold, God-forsaken liole.
They bad met two summers ago,
and there was an immediate -attraction
between the two. They
were definitely opposite types, just
as muerent as the two poles ot a
that day.
me tall red-head had lust been
graduated from Princeton. He
wanted to be on his own for a year
or two before he settled down to
a bum-drum existence of living
and working and rushing around
in a big town like his father and
grandfather before him had done,
as tney were accumulating money
money which would do neither
good. Many tunes, dunnz the trio
on the boat from Seattle to Skag-
way. he had thought about these
two. Me finally conclude! mat
their only enjoyment in life was
to obtain more and more money
and spend more time and enort
made In its mad race through
the frothy water. The boat was
traveuing way too close to snore
and the heavy stera was slowly
starting to turn in the current
and jut the boat sideways A huge,
wnuc wave nuea me cran nisii
and the observers could see the
boatman frantically rowing, trying
to gel the nose of the boat neaaeu
down-stream. The craft disap
peared from view into a trough.
A sigh of relief came from the
breed when the craft again appear
ed, still Intact, on the crest of the
next sweu.
"By gar!" said the breed. "He
got more guts than brains. Ev
cr'thing he do, he do the wrong
way. Come let's got in my boat
and pick up the pieces when they
drift over the rapids."
The red head and the breed him
riedly pushed a graceful, high
sided boat into the eddy at the
foot of the racing rapids and wait
ed for the inevitable wreckage.
They stood high in the boat so
they might tee over the huge,
pounding waves, foaming and
churning the .clear water into a
froth. Occasionally they could see
the boat as it careened ana
Routine Class Assignment Wins
Laurels For Janniee Henbest
trying to devise better methods of bounced first one way and then
keeoine it.
The red-head had been in White
horse two days and had looked the
town over completely. Everyone
was friendly and hospitable: but,
his driving urge to go on North
was making hin'. restless. His long
legs were drawn toward the watei.
front.
The beach was lined with boats
of every description and size, from
small canoes to huge river boats
with large side and stern-wheels.
The ordinary hustle and bustle
was temporarily suspended and
everyone's eyes were riveted on
the rapids above the town. The
red-head looked up the river to
see what was claiming their atten
tion. A small. Bray boat had just
entered the smooth chute at the
head of the broken water. It was
so far awav that it was difficult
to see the small figure standing
In the stern.
As the small craft shot down
the sleek water, everyone who had
made the trin involuntarily, tens
ed, as if he were in the boat and
were again experiencing the thriijs
and fears they had on their first
trip through.
It was easy to see that the boat
man was inexperienced in han
dling a boat in white water. A
dark breed riverman stepped close
another in its mad race through
the spine-chilling rapids.
The craft appeared to be riding
lower in the water and would not
respond to the oar, as the lone
rider tried to steer it away from
the last high, white froth, which
boiled around the huge boulder
that marked the end of '.he tur
bulent water. It would need more
and stronger arms to pull the craft
into safer water. Frantically the
oars were pulling and training
to straighten the boat and ease it
through. A loud thud jarred the
boat and tossed it sideways, throw
ing the occupant over the side into
the foaming water. The boat lurch
ed sideways shipped water, set
tling it lower.
The red-head and the breed row.
ed the boat to the ege of the swift
water and waited, holding the craft
under control in the heavy up
stream null of the back-water.
Soon they could see a dark, shining
head struggling to stay above the
white foam. They rowed rapidly
into the fast water to intercept it.
The gray boat was rushing toward
them, as if trying to hit them and
throw them off course. The crazy,
bouncing river crashed the boats
together and knocked the bow ot
their craft downstream. They lost
signi oi me oiacic nea-i in tne
I What started out to be a rou-
tine class assignment turned into
i national recognition for a Rose-
burg senior Hign bcnooi junior.
Janniee Henbest, one of a class
of 28 English students, submitted
a short, story with others of her
class in a regular assignment. Her
instructor, Donald W. Bodeen, ad
vised her to submit the story to
Scholastic Magazine's annual con
test. Others in the class were also
invited to submit their original
compositions for judging, but Miss
Henbest was the only entrant from
Hoseburg.
A few weeks later, she learned
through her instructor and the
newspaper that she, had received
a commendation from the maga
zine for her work.
The story, "The Magnificent
Rift," is printed in its entirety in
adjoining columns.
Miss Henbest, the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. James Henbest. is
17, and has been an advanced stu
dent in Bodeen's class since the
beginning of the year. Students ol
the class have shown an aptitude
in English composition prior to
their assignment to the group.
Bodeen states that while he has
had students reach similar rani
in the contest, Miss Henbest is the
first Roseburg student to receive
recognition, to his knowledge.
While she does not have definite
plans to be a writer, Miss Hen-
jFV J ....
J
v
1 ft r i v
JANNICE HENBEST
. . .authoress
best plans to take journalism and
composition as a prep course if
she attends the Universi'.v of Ore
gon, as planned.
She comes by her talen honest
ly, sue says, since her father has
written several stories, and is at
present engaged in writing a book.
oars until the muscles were nearly : er he had rid himself of the gag-
torn from their shoulders. The K"S... n smuea. jeeoiy ana saia:
swimmer's arms were
to the red-head, intentlv watching torrent for a . minntp Thorp it
magnet, and just as the opposite 'every move the unknown boat 'was again and they pulled on the
the dark, wet head and reached
down to null him over the stern.
It took the combined strength of
both of them to pull the sodden
body over the nigh stern,
"Get the boat," he said and lay
in the bottom of the boat, heaving
and breathing hard from his ex
ertion of trying to, stay alive in
the churning water.
The two men rowed down
stream and caught the heavy boat,
tied a line to the bow and pulled
the loggy craft into the safety of
the eddy. The back-water car
ried them upstream to the waiting
crowd. The black-haired stranger
was now sitting up and coughing
the water be had swallowed. Aft-
feebly "We ain't goin' back up and
it dKaiu, me wi ludu auuui
e roughest trip I've ever tried.'
When the boat was docked, they
n,..ki. i- vm himtoif i. inn try again, are we7
tw n..lii th boat alnmr.side the roughest trip I've ever tried."
J . r . . . i i ... j , Wrmn fhit hftnt uroo
pulled on the rope to get the water-logged
craft closer to shore.
The curious erouD of oeODle crowd-
ea arouna me ooai. some uciycu
to get the newcomer to his feet
on the shore and others pulled on
the sunken boat to gel it up nign
er where the water could be rock
ed out of it. All of the strangers
supplies were unloaded and plac
ed on the beach to dry.
The friendship between the red
head and stranger wasted no lini
in getting started. Yes, it seemed
to be fate that brought such op
posites together to form a combin
ation which would travel over
quite a bit of the province in
search of the elusive gold.
The contrast between the two
was apparent to the eye. One was
tall, light-complexioned, and red
haired. The other was short, mus
cul. , dark skinned, and deep,
brown eyes. The tall one was care
fully groomed and the short never
cared anything for clothes, ex
cept that they covered him and
kept him warm. All their habits
followed the same pattern and 't
seemed that each was needed to
complement the personality of the
other.
For a full year and a half an
other they were constant compan
ions before they had struck it
rich. All this time was spent do
ing things, helping each other,
and having their minds occupied
on getting things ready for the
winter they were now spending.
They had planned things very
well. In fact, too well. If only
they had left something undone,
like not cutting enough wood; or,
if they bad run short of grub and
had to snow-shoe the seventy-odd
miles to Whitehorsc, they would
not be getting on each other's
nerves. The continual, boring life
they were living in the cramped
quarters kept them in constant
niu.1 with Aarh other and the
i friction was increasing daily,
i Without realizing it, these two
' ft.n .....iirflM rl
.were victims .
long northern winter nights cabin
ti,a tvmntnnit anneared
; level. -- -r, -
I slowly at first; but, by '.lie end of
i February, neimer wouia ia:n m
the other except in arguments
I about the work (and very little of
I that was being done). Things had
('come to such a state hat neither
I could stand the thought ot con
iintuing partnership. Everything
jthat each had admired about Ihe
other was now a source of an
inoyance and irritation. The tall
inn had an Eastern inflection to
his voice, which had at first in
trigued the other, in fact; he nao
even copies it. Now, he felt like
from. The tall one had been raised
in a family t)al was neat ana
precise. When the other dropped
Ut. i Ika miHslla nf IhA flnnr.
he felt like kicking them througn
the wall; and when the other spill
ed food on the floor, he wanted to
grab him by the hair and rub
his nose into it.
Matters rapidly became worse
n. it h.Miia Hma fnr I hi
Spring break-up, sheer will-power
aione xepx ineuu iiom cam min
er's throat. Everything would have
been straightened out by the ac
tivity of the Summer's work, if
the tall one hadn't opened the
door and remarked:
MTh.,.'. a uranm Ittiinnnfr Ulinrl
biowing. Won't be long until the
snow will be melting, ana you can
go out and fall in the creek and
get the bath you've bee needing
all winter."
The smaller one jumped to his
feet and yelled:
"By God! I'm not goin' to take
any more of your high and might
iness. I've been puttin' up with
your snobby ways all winter and
bending over back-wards to keep
my temper; dui una u .
I wouldn't be partners with you,
if thai whole dang mountain was
!8"Do you want to split-up?" ask
led the other. "That's the way I
I want it, too, the sooner the bet
i tcr. What do you want for vour
'half?" '
j "You can go to blazes! Wbal dn
you want for your naif? I ain't
goin' to sell out to you."
: It took effort for the tall one
to hold his voice down, as he an
Iswered, "My half isn't for &al
I to you, either." i
i "What do you want jo do about
it? It's a cinch I ain't goin' to sell
out to you and I shore am t goin'
I to have you around all summer."
n.a turn mon &tnoi. ffLirin? fit
each other, and each trying to de
vise some schema to rid himself
of the other.
"Why don't we cut the cards
and high man take all?" asked
the tall one.
The smaller thought for a min
ute and answered. That's fine
with me."
Both walked to the table and a
deck of worn cards were placed
on the table when a loud roar filled
the cabin. The floor tipped up era
ily, throwing the two men across
to the other wall. The door was
now above their heads and snow
gradually drifted down to cover
the white face of the tall one, ly
ing unconscious on the broken
wall. The stove tipped over tho
cabin. ,
The short, black-haired one was
dazed by the sudden shock, but
eru,n Malivwl that h had hpttpr
tget out. He looked up at' the
door and Knew mat ne couian i
reach it. He pulled the table over
and climbed on it to push the
heavy door up and crawl outside.
(Continued on page Foun
(fee GMurffcs GtfteGsfjgg
Here's 10 discount
t M
ii you r ujmM
can sav: " ;.7
f iht ptsl
a a
AT THE DAIRY CASE
IN YOUR GROCERY
lr-V. Attn
You get this 10 Claim-Free discount on
your entire auto insurance premium if you
are now insured with the
If you are not now insured with Farmer's
and your safe driving entitles you to this
additional discount contact your neigh
borhood Farmers Insurance Group agent
and learn how you can get this 10 saving.
AUTO, TRUCK, FIRE, LIFE - ALL YOUR INSURANCE NEEDS
CLARENCE V. DeCAMP
Uynbot of Juperiorjervicerm
DISTRICT AGENT 636 South Stephens
Or Contact Your Nearest Agent
Dial 2-2618
ROSEBURG
Volmo M. Bass
Tel. 3-5414
A. U. Taylor
Tel. 3-5123
W. Alica Goff
Tel. 3-4296
Nellie Tucker
Tel. 3-3222
E. E. Van Horn
Tel. 2327
Conyonville, Oregon
Homer A. Blyth
Tel. Temple 6-9362
Drain, Oregon
John E. Jones
Tel. 3-6525
J. L. Aikini
Tel. 3138
Riddle, Oregon
Vera M. White
Tel. 805
Myrtle Creek, Oregon
T. L. Weaver
Conyonville, Oregon
Mo
A7 IcMnWEIS
)
FLME
It's New!
Flavorful!
Delicious!
Refreshing!
Perfection 1$ hard to improve upon but it hat finally been accomplished by Umpquo
Dairy. Our delicious dairy fresh BUTTERMILK has now been improved in flavor,
nutrition and refreshing abilities. Flakes of pure butter ore now added to give you
the complete , . . the full flavor ot pure Buttermilk. Try it yourself! You enjoy
the full body . , . the additional flavor and above oil the extra energy that only
Umpquo Butter Flaked Buttermilk 'will give you. Try it plain or in cooking. The
flavor is absolutely out of this world.
ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE INDIAN HEAD TO BE SURE IT IS FROM UMPQUA DAIRY
LET OUR LABEL
PROTECT
YOUR TABLE