Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-03-20
The RIVER OF UNTRUTH.
III WINFIELD CLARKE.

""VANe II u
Some years ago, George Washington
thompson, 4 most carefully reared an,
altogether exemplary young man. cam
to California from an eastern state. H,
came for the purpose of making hi
fortune. In this be has been successful
but on at what a fearful cost. TIL,
story is sad one, indeed.
Previous to his coming TO California
and, in fact, for some time thereafter
george Washington Thompson hal
never even heard of the Hassayampa
river. How different might his fate
have been had he never heard of IL,
In choosing the mining company pro,
motion business as an occupation Mr.,
thompson was actuated more, perhaps.
by the thought that he could thus
achieve sooner the goal Of his ambition.
than by the loftier thought Of the good
he might do the mining interests of the
great and growing west. But he was
young and fired by all those various de-
slres which crowd the mind of the
young.
bis first venture in the mining COM
pany promotion business was also his
ms last one' He secured an option upon
some very promising mining claims in
Arizona. Some wealthy men in Los An.
geies' under the spell of his glowing en-
'husiasm' having joyfully consented to
PACK MN, he set out upon the journey
10 Arizona TO examine the property and
report 10 his hackers.
Chance threw George Washington
Thompson into the company OF an elder
~ cattleman from the Arayaipa cnun-
try soon after he left Los Angeles. They
occupied the same seat in the smoker.
he cattleman conceived a violent dis
gust for the young man because he
smoked cigars which the trainboy had
for sale. George bought six of these
alleged cigars, for which he paid a half
dollar, and gave one to the cattIeman.
The cattleman lighted it, beroicallv
by it through three puffs and one
profuse eNpectoration, and then tossed
II out of the window.
"However did ye git imbued with the
notion this yere pertic'lcr slice of COYOTE
needed di~sinfection ?" he asked.
George looked at the massive Shout
lers and square-turned Jaw of the cat
.ieman, and decided that If any insult
'as intended by this remark it was not
Intended for him, but for the train
Joy. SO be overlooked il, and very
told the cattIeman all abou, him
eli n his mining company promo
ION venture, while the train sped ON
cross the glistening sand wastes that
tretch cut on either side from the
'aiton basin TO Yuma. The cattIeman
'ah taken a pipe and some tobacco
his pocket, and the smoke seemed
} soothe him, so that he was able to
uro a strong desire to throw George
ut OF the window. II was an old nine
Inch the cattleman had used for a lonr
me, and he had not been smoking lono
efore the screws in the window casinrs
egan to start and the veneering on the
eiilng commenced TO peel up, but the
noke was very quieting-very quiet.
1g. indeed-to the old cattleman.
"Assumin' that l gi, ye correct inter
he finally observed, you'll
'e%ntually round up, l opinion, some
here JPN tn Hassayanpa country, l
b? That the idea? You'll observe the {
'y-out concernin' some likely pros. {
fer mineral, with the intention of I
lcHerin' off 'em to a flock O. tender |
'et, up in the city, eff I'm folleriu' YER |
'nversational trail anyways close. Do {
seem to git my brand on your plan all t
A..
i think so-yes, ! am almost sure a
ou do" replied George Washington h
thompson, wishing he had at least some '
'rt OF an idea of what his companion
as talking about.
hoped yer notion the first throw.
d !? Ever infested them parts TO onv b
armin' extent afore?" n
i dont think / understand" said d
Gorge. Possibly you mean" Il
On you lose my trail, Ell? Well Fl
~ iet me stampede We none, but, t.
ithout intendin' no insult an feelin, e.
! triendly-like, SEEM as how you've 70. Sc
mt struck this here range, proyidin, v
~ allows me, I'll perceed 70 sna". IL
'ort and pointed-like concerpin, 81 .an lie
ater-gallopin' gehosiphatl-bera,s s,
here l cut out from tn herd. No tell. di
when II! u onto yer trail opin ii
lung man." s'n' hi
He gathered his effects and left ,h. b,
r while George Washington Tbomn-
n a gazing out of the window a, tn
e miserable adobe houses of the Al st
town. u;
Who will say that 1t was not the bo IND d.
fate that brought the words ~ .ha w,
cattleman to so abrupt an end ;nst OF
the note Of warning was upon h;s tie
s? Surely, when all of this sad tals st
told, there will be nom to saw that re
y mans hand had aught to do Will ci
undoing Of George Washington
ompson. Twas fate. and fate alone
Sext day he reached his destination =.
4 entered upon his work Of investira. y,
n with a. much earnestness as an. 90
'er man would who knew what hc -
2 about. George evcp.imaeined that er
ga know what he was about It'd