The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1896-07-16
A THIRSTY LAND.

A u AOkO Il l. AxAkNDs
The register Of the Mesa House at
Blackwater showed but two signatures
under the date Of July i5-one was
James P. DAILY Of Crystal Canyon, the
other George Exwell of Boston. Both of
these gentlemen were sitting outside
enjoying the cool refuge which the
shadow Of the hotel afforded from the
burning heat Of the plain about them.
The western man pulled his big,
shapeless hat low over his eyes and
drew quick, short puffs from the little
black brier pipe which he seldom re-
moved from his lips The easterner's 8
hat was broad one Of stiff straw,
which he tipped to the back Of his head
as he lighted a cigarette and watched
with growing sense Of comfort the
blue smoke curling and writhing on the
still air.
The country was new to Exwell, and
he half closed his eyes to catch once
more the bronze tint which the MONDAY
radiance lent to the sagebrush. The
hills north Of the town were miles
away, but he could almost count the
scrub cedars on the slopes, each one
standing so grim and motionless with
its blue shadow about its foot He did
not realize that he would have to travel
until those shadows lay like long fingers
to the east before he could reach the
first rise in the land.
The hills on the horizon were faint
and purple and seemed almost floating
in the air He could see strip of sky
beneath the ends Of the range
"How thirsty it all looksi' he mutt
tered. II don't wonder they want water
out here"
George drew his matchbox from his
pocket to relight his cigarette and find
ing it empty turned to Mr.. DAILY of
Crystal Canyon.
Pardon me" he said Have you a
match?"
Sure" said the westerner, produc-
ing some from his pocket. Never travel
without 'em." He handed one to
George and watched him critically as
he began to smoke again. You're Mr..
Exwell, aren't your" he asked "Of
Boston?'
"Yes, that's my name''
II thought so. see your name on
the hotel book just above where
branded it" George laughed, and DAILY
continued: "What you think Of the
country, Mr.. Exwell? Ever been this
way before?''
"No," said George. "It looks like a
God forsaken country to me- I'm not
accustomed to seeing water quarried and
sold"
"God forsaken" repeated Mr.. DAILY
contemptuously. THAT lust shows
what you fellers worship back east.
All this country needs. sir, is capital,
and 'twould discount Massachusetts the
whole length Of the string and beat
her,"
II have heard that publicly stated, !"
said George dryly.
Now you take the valley just south
Of here" went ON the other. "They
call it the Taman prairies Put that
land under water and you can raise
more peaches the first three years than
was ever raised in all New England or
ives - ssid r,oo-,. ...,a :. ,,u,s
.olo s1ko nno anS t,, ~ao.,, " ~" ~a ="
40 IL y ~ WV ''"' ''0 "
"Oh " s.;a NJ n.,r .,,,, .,o
scho,me ora uo,a,, ~ 'oU 80 =" '''o
"Not co. rot y :, so;a coo..o .,u. ,,uo
.o. = ,w;nSo, & osar ' -, euse, ~ ua0 aSo uo
eud ~, | Ioos;na - - >" - 'uo e" "o''
NJ n.Iv i.n.h.a .r,u .o,, :. =.
,o,, s,-a;ch. !" Sa ..,s ..vos,,, ~ 49, ~
onau ~ - - s n".e ~
voy ~ IN IN on ,he orovrd mv - eoos ,,S,s' a,s ;. =
.f oan,t ,.;. ~ !. ..;S % Goa- no"' ..u-
r.u honsay, T nns,,assau s.au - oeos e; a:. 2
me M" eao. 900 !" ss '
| "Wei, % DON'T de., IN no-oh.s... ,o.,
..,..a :, sa;S I ~ % na,n - ne.'ei ..nN - isa, s:s
ia sei, ont S avsrr to. ., :. oau and ~. aaa tha