The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1902-11-28

DOUGLAS FELL IN HEAP OVER THE
YOUNGER MANS WEAPONS.
air contains over 100 degrees of kiln
dried heat. the great thirst is born
You see the heat racing upward in
palpitating waves. The valves of your
heart burn. The blood scalds in your
veins The great thirst is fighting for
the moisture in your brain-your san
ity.
1t cracked the woman's lips and
drank from them. The cracks healed
and the great thirst tore them apart.
She lost the power to move, even to
toss her head. She strove for the
power to suffer. to know. Gradually
her eyes closed. Conquered. When
they opened again, she raved, quite
mad The power of acute sensation
was gone.
In rough claim shanty across the
valley the young prospcctor smiled
hopefully into his firstborn's eyes as he
raised the cup to its lips. Then he
walked to the door. and the smile fad
ed. Two weeks before Molly had left
them-him and the baby boy-to get
the assay and record their claim. She
had laughed at his fears. She knew
the country 10y heart and while she
Travelled 4 would dig further and fur
Their into the precious vein. When she
returned, they would 80 to Los Angeles
and stay till the great heat died down.
He glanced across the valley to the
point where he knew their first home
stead stood. He loved its rough rubble
walls. He had brought Molly there Il
bride. He looked at the thermometer.
1t stood 1870 in the shade. And still the
babe in the shack croWcd.
He left the shanty and walked to the
ledge of rock that held fortune for him
and Molly. Then his alert black eyes
caught sight of horseman leading a
pack burro down the narrow trail.
Skirtfng the canyon wall, the prospect
or reached the path to the forlorn claim
shanty. The child was crying. Taking
the little one in his arms, he ran to the
brook and dipped it in the water; then,
filling his canteen, he hurried back to
the shanty and laid the little one on its
bed. Snatching his rifle, he advanced
to meet the stranger.
With a muttered oath he recognized
the man as Douglas. the assayer. Mol
spite of her husbands warnings. And
Douglas knew of their strike
whats wrong" asked the stranger
pausing at sight of the gun.
"What brought you?"
| Douglas scowled ominously.
"Well, hearin' bout your find, though
| you might take a notion to SELL
Il amt sellin'-leastwise to you," re
piled the prospector significantly. There
had been bad blood between them ever
since Dan Donovan's Molly had shown
her favor for the penniless prospectol
and had scorned the crafty, unscrupu
lous assayer. There amt room fol
both of us in these diggin's. You'd bet
ter scoot.'
He turned to the house. and bulle
tore its way through his hat II
! turned quickly. Douglas had droppe
back of the trees that edged the creel
The prospector dropped TO the grount
stretched flat and began to throw u
the earth in front of him. Bullet
whizZed around him. wish to tn
Lord | was nearer the shack" he mu
tered to himself, but maybe I'll cate
him fore shutdown" The breastwork
were 4 foot high now, and his rifle wa
pointed over the top. his keen ey
Slancing along the barrel.
So an hour went on. Two bullet
struck him, but he made no outer,
The great thirst stole up from I'll
ground. and he fought It off until Il
gun sight danced on the barrel. u
reached for his canteen, but two mol
bullets from the man who lay by IL
creek emptied it for him.
The enemy began to tempt.
want water? Give it to you fl
that claim"
The prospector was mute.
From the shanty came the faint CT
of the child, "Papa-dink-dinkr
The prospector kept his cramped Fl
gers locked around the trigger. II
lips set firm. but there was agony
his eyes.
THAT you're kid cryin'T
No answer.