Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-08-01

Ter 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 rifle 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. l took
him to be about 25 years Of age. Our
acquaintance began in Tucson. l was
going along the main street one day,
when he stopped me b ask for the
loan of the price of a meal; he was
broke and hungry, he aided. His was
not the whining plea Of the beggar,
but the manly request for momentary
aid of the self-relian frontiersman
who expects to return the favor at
some future time, and % gave him a
dollar, although l had fever seen him
before.
Later in the day he hunted me up to
tell me of valley fewhunired miles
away, where placer god vas to be
found, and ended by Toposing that
we go prospecting in pa'tnerIhip, to
buy the supplies and outfit, and he to
lead the way to the valley. Il agreed
and we set out the next morning, our
effects packed on the lack of the
"blamedest, kickinest mule. as Lew
described him, that have ever known.
For two weeks we tramIed scross the
blistering deserts of Arkon, and at
last arrived where we could ee down
into the valley, but only to fid it the
ghost of gold field; it hid been
worked by somebody else. AIng the
dry bed of little creek that marked
the valleys centre were a tbusand
holes and trenches. and as man heaps
of sand, which told us that z had
come too late; in the blaze of te set
ting sun the place looked utterl desc
late, which but added to our glom and
disappointment.
I'm mighty sorry" Lew wit on,
"but yuh en- sect didn't lie but it,
| reckon. "'Taint no use ter bf over
milk we amt never had te spill,
though, an we'd better start lck-"
He broke off and was silenta few
moments, then brought his han down
on his thigh, with heart slap.
"Pardner, have yuh got tn n@e ter
give Ghost canon er try?' e ex-
claimed There's gold there, 4 lots
of it, they say; I've got tn dt ter
tackle it if yuh have. Whatd'yuh
say?"
I'm willing" replied; "bebr go
here than empty-hanoeufo oaeef < 'sHrHc HaHec
SON."
Lew seemed surprised, an silently
looked me over few momeS. Ever
near O. Ghost canon before. lrdner9"
ne asked finally.
NO" l said; but that cn no fig
lre. I'll take your word fdit that
here's a chance to find goldhere."
Maybe yuh've heard of by its
Msxican name, Canon Encaada'?"
Lew persisted. his voice sinkiralmost
TO a whisper.
mo, | think not" / replie But
why do you ask?'
WY, twas there t tn Nor party
was wiped out by 'Paches. thr years
ago; yuh'ye heard O. that lin,
he answered. He ref'ed to
tho murder of Tom Morris a four
by Apache Indians
"Oh, yes. I've heard of itout ;
iidn't know just where theilling
took place." l said. Are yolfraid
some of the Indians are still th?"
mo, that amt what bluffs !" he
replied; "it's tn pinto pony-tcan- 8
on's haunted"
Haunted exclaimed dervely. I
well, if we find gold in theinon !
we'll rout the ghost out, eh?'Fhat 6
about the pinto pony?" :
Lew slowly shook his head. .'Th' +
pinto's jest where tn ghost cos in S
he's tn ghost" he said seriov. |
looked Lew in the face and ghed a
heartily.
Laugh if yuh want he sa SOL Y
emnly, but it's straight good Civ v
in yuh. Amt never been er \ as @
went in that canon an come ousain,
excep' jest one, er greaserf it s
plumb locoed him; ever since tthe's n
done nothin' but mouth an )uth n
bout tn pinto pony what donsave
no trail. I'd rather be dead tha'azy v
like that. seen tn pinto self n
once. but l didn't have tn ne ter e
foller i'm in tn canon"
"Then how is it that you waD go q
now" l asked. II
He grinned sheepishly, and face D
flushed in spite of its tan. 'ItIm S,
kinder figgerin' on gittin' ried q
soon's I git er stake ahead" ham W
mered. 9TH littles girls saihed a
have ME; she lives UP in Presc' l.
"Ho! So that's the way tbind %
sets!" 1 laughed well, if are lie
ready to brave the ghost for little te
girls sake, I'm ready to do it the e,
gold"
"Then it's er go!" Lew said. ming sc
out and shaking my hand. Ahar h,
was how we came to decide to ros- w
pecting in Ghost canon. h;
We camped where we wGhat tt
night and started for the canarly cI
tho newt morning following road c>