Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1903-07-24

ne was. lie told her he FEN well.
but the sound of bis own voice fright.
ehed him, and he would say no more
Later in the day ar old and Il young
man am into the place. They had
evidently been hunting all day. From
them the prospcct)r learned of his
rescue.
\ few months prior to the white
mans journey at, Indian, named
Pinto, II Mexican outlaw. for whom
Il large reward was offered. lived by
skirting the desert from one water
hole to another, and relieving pros
pcctors of their provisions (and mis-
cries). il he saw them first. through
the sights of his rifle. In this way
he had maintained himself for years,
until he located the rich r%laccrs in
Alamo. for which discovery the Mex
can government psrdoned him his
crimes. The rush to the new placcrs
was great; Indians and Mexicans
were going from all quarters. Pinto
had sent word to n friend at Yuma
to come to the mines. He described
the course his friend should take,
and how he would recognize the camp
when he reached it. II had n large
number Of alamo (cottonwood) trees
in the gulch, which was surrounded
by mountains, from which the ocean
could be seen, about 40 miles away.
The man started from Yuma with
his wife, daughter and young son.
They took y westerly direction. but
in II few days had lost their bearings
and drifted ont in the desert. They
had packed plenty Of water ON their
burros, for they knew what to cx-
pcct.
Several days ont of Yuma they
crossed tracks. They followed this
trail in its zig-zag career. then they
guessed the truth some one was lost
in the desert and they concluded to
follow him. They had not gone far
when they found the unconscious
man. In their own way they treated
him and gave him a little water AT
regular intervals, then packed him on
n burro, changed their purse to the
north, for they knew the country.
and on the fourth day they reached
the camp in which the escaped fugi-
tive heard their story. When the pa
tent was well enough they wanted
him to go to the new field with them;
he begged them to return with him.
and told them of The wonderful dis
covcry and the good outfit which was
out on the desert somewhere. AS the
prospcctOr told of the nugget trail
two feet wide, the old man would
look at his wife and raise his shout
ders slowly in II strange way. But
the prospector insisted; he tried in
every way to get them to return
with him. His persistence was the
only thing which would alter tn"
smile which pcrsi,tentIy played ON
the old mans bony features. lie
would change the subject by saying
they would come back after visiting
Alamo. There was no choice left the
prospcctor; he accompanied his res
cucrs, and in the gold fields he tried
to interest p~rospcctorS To go with
him; but when he told of the rich
ness of the find they would shrug
their shoulders and look incrcdulous.
T'T several months 'Hc man VINO
lived this adventure prospcctcd in
Alamo, in the hope OF interesting. in
the desert discovery. some prospect
or-American. Mexican or Indian. he
cared not which-but to no purpose.
lie finally located II rich and extern
sivr mine, known as the Silent Part
ner, on the north slope of the Santa
Tomas mountains. overlooking the
desert. lie worked the mine for
years. But seldom did n day pass
that he did not sit for hours facing
the desert, thinking of that strange
find and its stranger loss.-Over.and
Monthly.
Outside. His Province