Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-03

4 - II
lived In southern California, not
I0&EQ far from the great desert in
* whose very heart was spreading
the salton sea.
When George left his home in one OF
the eastern states. the temperature there
was below zero. II was in the month III
February and heavy snow lay all over
the ground. George was dressed for that
sort Of weather and when he arrived ut
Ell Paso, Tex. enroute to southern Calf
fornia, he was obliged to put his overcoat
out of sight, It's very presence almost SUMO
eating him. The next morning on rising
from his berth. he dispensed with some
OF his heavier garments when dressing, for
he had now come into a salubrious climate,
where the northerner sometimes finds even
February too warm for comfort.
But George did not feel uncomfortable
yet. The first suggestion of too much heat
for comfort in winter clothing was at
Yuma, Ariz., that interesting town that
lies below sea level. and whose houses
have double roofs to protect the inhabi-
tants from the tropical sun which comes
down so fiercely during nine months Of the
year. There he found June day In win
ter, bright sun and soft, warm sands
stretching all around. At Yuma the train
crossed the Colorado river, that uncon-
trollable stream which has broken through
its banks and Is filling up the great Salton
desert basin, making OF It sea.
George left the train at Yuma and walked
about the station, buying a string Of beads
from a Yuma Indian squaw who. with a
number OF her tribe. was squatted on a
blanket in front of the railway station
Offering her wares for sale.
In ten minutes George was again on the
train going westward through the Yuma
desert. AS they sped along through sand
and sand George became deeply impressed
with the mystery and silence of the desert,
and longed to go about in 1t. In the dis
lance, both to the right and the left, were
dim mountains, at times almost lost in the
purple haze that denoted great distance.
On top these mountains cleaned snow In
the tropical sunshine, a problem George
could not solve. Why" ne asked himself
'If the mountain tops are nearer to the
burning sun than are the valleys, do they
keep so cold?" But the question remained
unanswered
As they pushed on into the desert the
heat became much greater 1t made George
think of an August day during drouth In
his own state. Then he fell to thinking
how II was that very moment at his home
OOuDJeSS a DllZLdfu was III progress, snow
blowing and piling everywhere in great
drifts, while here was he, less than ZOO
miles from home, riding under a tropical
sun through great wastes of sand and end
less sand.
II was evening when George reached the
little town where his uncle met him at the
station. But his Journey was not yet ended
He stayed with his uncle at a hotel thai
night, and early in the morning they sci
out for a ten-mile drive over dry. sandy
roads. His uncle had fruit ranch right OF
the edge OF a desert. his orchards being fec
by means OF irrigation.
During the pleasant ride George ex
pressed his wish TO go into the desert Il
make some geological study. He was deepl,
interested in that science and wished yer,
much to take advantage OF this visit t
the west TO further his knowledge.
I'm tell you what you may do" said hi
uncle, who was fond of his bright younI
nephew you may take a mule tomorrow
and ride over beyond that low range o
mountains. It's a good days journe!
70 go and return. You'll have I,
start before breakfast and eat a snacl
as you travel. Pathfnders never walt Of
rrNH's v"u know " And the indulgen
uncle laughed merrily. ''Wcil make