Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-04

leN.YA1I The trail ran straight as line oNel
the burning sand between the littl'
railway station, white spot glittering against
the blue mountains on the south, and the ossit
Of Frog Tanks, a smudge Of grayish-green trem
bling in the heat waves on the northern horizon
The heavy ore wagons in their daily Journeys
had worn the trail below the level of the adj
jacent plain, and had covered it with thick
cushion of powdery dust Half a mile away a
playful little whirlwind had picked up some OF
this dust and had carried it merrily over the
desert until. wearying of its playthng, 1t re-
turned to the road, and, stopping over the man
who sat there allowed it's burden to settle slow
" upon him. The day was hot. The dust olung
TO the mans face, and as he vainly tried to rub
il off he cursed it and the country and his luck.
Crawling along the road, near the station, was
a black speck, which probably was freight
team. but it was at least four miles away, and
could not come up for hour yet. Still, there
was nothing to do but to wait, and Sam cursed
again as rising, he slipped the bride OIL the
head of his horse and began TO uncinch the sad
die The big wooden stirrup, held down by the
weight of the carcass, required strong pull to
free it. but at last it came, and, removing the
saddle blanket Sam hung it the tree-hke
trunk of suiuarro cactus, so that 1t threw
patch of gray shadow the brilliant sand. linen
he sat down in the shade to wait for the ex
pected wagon. But it was not wagon-he could
see that now-but horseman with a pack-anf
NAL, coming along at the prairie jog which looks
so slow and covers much ground
The Arabian proverb which says that IN the
desert no man meets friend is true in a measure
Of Arizona. For while Sam watched the ap-
preaching traveller warily; then with gr1nt OF
satisfaction he sprang to his feet as the morse
man drew near enough to be seen distinctly,
and stepped out into the middle OF the trail,
waving his hat.
The other, raising his right arm in answer, put
his mount into a canter and rode up to where
Sam was standing.
"Say, Pete" cried Sam, when the mods OF
greeting had passed. ''I'm up against a stand
still Broke his leg in badger hole and had
to shoot him. Couldn't you lift me on to Frog
Tanks"
Pete dismounted and began casting loose the
ropes which bound the pack to the aparejo. "Sad-
die up," he said as the bundles rolled on the
ground. "We7l divide the plunder and pack it
between us. 1t isn't much"
Bound for the weddin', amt you, Peter"
asked SAM tugging at his girth.
Pete nodded Carlo sent over and asked me-,
he replied as he mounted.
CHATS good" said Sam. "You don't want
to miss it. It's the first weddin' Frog Tanks
ever had. and Carlos humpin himself to do
it up in shape. And then it amt many weddin's
that runs dark horse in the pair"
they decided on the bride YETI" inquired Pete,
puzzled.
sam swung into his saddle. ooh, yes" he
said; "bride's all right enough. She Highjolly's
widder-"
'sWidow?" interrupted Pete quickly.
'EYep He's dead. Never come back to deny
it. anyhow. You know she one of those
high-toned grease1s what owns the big Spanish
grant over Tio Juana way-Cartina, their name
is She was old Cartina's daughter. Always
dead queer, they say, an when Highjolly comes
along, she ketches him up an marr1es him.
Old Cartina dead sore an wouldn't have
nothin' more to do with her. Then there was a
cowboy on the ranch-a greaser, too, reckon
and he was sorer than any because the girl had
shook him. an so he starts in to shoot holes in
Highjolly. but Highjolly and the girl they skips,
an bimeby they turns up in Frog Tanks. High
jolly amt his real name. Don't know what that
is. He's an Arab"
Greek" said Pete.
FGreek, then," replied Sam. 'It's all the same.
But how'd you know?"
Pete looked uneasy and shifted in his saddle.
''Knew Highjolly and the COW puncher long ago,
before l in these part" he said. "The
puncher wasn't greaser. White man. Fool
too. Go on"
"Highjoly's head has always been busted about
them humpbacked mules, l reckon" Sam con-
tinued. "He fetched 'em into the country. Likely
you know"
Fetched what into the country?" asked his
companion. what are you talking about"
'Humpbacked mules. Camels. They call em
that mos generly here Gov'ment had 'em to
pack mails an things, but the malpai rock cut
their feet up, an the Southern Pacific came
through, so they wasn't much good, an they
turned 'em loose Highjoly he brung 'em here,
an he was boss camel puncher while they lasted.
That's what made me say he was an Arab. |
Arabs goes with cames. They sent some to
Australia smother seaport, but there's big
gang of 'em left, JUS loafn round the desert,
here, havin' colts. Highjolly was always tryin'
ter roun' 'em up. Big money in 'em, he says, |
an he'd win a grub stake somehow and then
pack up them three burros err his an light out.
Gone mos all the time He said that once in
six months or so, when they had to fill up on
water, the camels used ter hit Frog Tanks be-
fore twas settled. an now they have ter go by,
far er near, to get to the Gila So he brung his
wife there an then he wanted ter go cameing,
but she kicked He couldn't raise enough fer
q grub stake, an she wouldn't give up no dust,
they pulls hair about it considerable. Heard
'em once-it was great Well, one day he digs
up some silver she's cached and skps, swearin
he's stay away till he come back ridin a camel.
lie never come back. One of his burros did,
though with empty canteen on his back An
now the widder's hooked another chump. That's
all"
"Who is he?" inquired Pete
II forgot That's the queer part Nobody knows
but her, an she keeps it dead shady. Says he's
--hows that now? Oh, yes; noble an high
minded man; only some ducks got it in fer
him on a crooked lay an is gvin' him the go by,
low down. That's the sense of it. Say, Pete,
how'd it come you didn't know all this? Thought
there wasn't man for hundred miles round
hat -