The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-07-17


fer Tucson; I've led yuh on er rain
bow chase, / reckon"
1t was Lew, my partner, who said
this, as we gazed gloomily down the
hill upon which we were standing. Lew
was a child of the desert, innocent OF
book.learning and the ways of civilized
man, but crack shot with rife and
revolver, and skillful prospector;
he was blue-eyed, tow.headed. and the
sun and wind of the desert had given
his face the color of leather | took
him to be about % years of age. Our
acquaintance began in Tucson. l was
going along the main street one day.
when he stopped me to ask for the
loan of the price of q meal; he was
broke and hungry, he added. His was
not the whining plea of the beggar,
but the manly request for momentary
aid of the self-reliant frontiersman
who expects to return the favor at
some future time, and so I gave him a
dollar. although / had never seen him
before.
Later in the day he hunted me up to
tell me of valley a few hundred miles
away, where placer gold was to be
found, and ended by proposing that
we go prospecting in partnership, to
buy the supplies and outfit, and he to
lead the way to the valley. | agreed
and we set out the next morning. our
effects packed on the back of the
"blameiest, kickin' est" mule. as Lew
described him. that have ever known.
For two weeks we tramped across the
blistering deserts of Arizona, and at
last arrived where we could see down
into the valley, but only to find it the
ghost of gold field; it had been
worked by somebody else. Along the
dry bed of little creek that marked
the valleys centre were a thousand
holes and trenches. and as many heaps
of sand, which told us that we had
come too late: in the blaze Of the set
ting sun the place looked utterly desc
late, which but added to our gloom and
disappointment.
I'm mighty sorry" Lew went on.
"but yuh en- sect ! didn't lie bout it,
| reckon. "'Taint no use ter beef over
milk we amt never had ter spill,
though, an we'd better start back
He broke off and was silent few
moments, then brought his hand down
on his thigh, with hearty slap.
"Pardner, have yuh got tn nerve ter
give Ghost canon er try?" he eX-
claimed. There's gold there, an lots
of it, they say; I've got tn grit ter
tackle it If yuh have. What d'yuh
say?"
I'm willing" | replied; better 20
there than empty-handed back to Tue
son."
Lew seemed surprised, and silently
looked me over a few moments. Ever
hear O. Ghost canon before. pardner?
he asked finally.
mo" | said but that cuts no fg-
ure, I'll take your word for 1t that
there's a chance to find gold there
Maybe yuh've heard of 1t by Its
Mexican name, Canon Encantada|
Lew persisted, his voice sinking almost
to whisper.
mo, l think not" replied. "Buj
| why uO yOu dSh'
"W'y. twas there t tn Morris party
was wiped out by 'Paches, three years
ago; yuh've heard O. that KILN,
reckon" he answered. He referred tt
the murder of Tom Morris and foul
companions by Apache Indians.
"Oh, yes, I've heard of 1t, but
didn't know just where the killini
took place." ! said. Are you afrai'
some of the Indians are still there?'
mo, that ain't what bluffs me- h
replied; Its tn pinto pony-th' can
on's haunted"
Haunted" exclaimed derisively
"Well, If we find gold in the canoi
we'll rout the ghost out, eh?" Wha
about the pinto pony?"
Lew slowly shook his head. "Tf
pintos jest where tn ghost comes 4
he's tn ghost" he said seriously.
looked Lew in the face and laughe
heartily.
Laugh If yuh want" he said, sol
EMMY, "but it's straight good I'm gi'
in yuh. Amt never been er man a
went in that canon an come out aSal.
excep' Jest one, er greaser, an
plumb locoed him; ever since then he
done nothin' but mouth an mout
bout tn pinto pony what don't leav
no trail. I'd rather be dead than Graz
like that. | seen tn pinto myse
once, but / didn't have th' nerve te
foller i'm in tn canon"
Then how is it that you want to c
now?" ! asked.
He grinned sheeplshly, and his fat
flushed in spite Of its tan. "Tm-Pl
kinder figgerin' on gittin' marriG
soons | git er stake ahead" he stan
= mered. "Th' little girls said she
| have me; she lives up in Prescott"
"Ho, So that's the way the wir
sets." j laughed, We'll, If you a
ready to brave the ghost for the lit
r girls sake. I'm ready to do it for Il
t gold"
q "Then it's er go!" Lew said. reachil
:, out and shaking my hand. And tn
u was how we came TO decide TO so pro
I pecting in Ghost canon.
:, % We camped where we were tn