Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-08


the See Saw claim he had purchased. As he
walked away from the assayers shop, he felt his
hands absolutely empty. For the very first time in
least four years he had binding glitter before
his vision entice him to feverish endeavor He
was dreamer with dream, miner without
mine
He felt chagrined, Inundated After all his time
spent here in the worlds most prodigous laboratory
of minerals, he had purchased salted mine!
sharper man, that sad faced half sick Sewyn Briggs,
had actually trimmed him like this!
Sated And he was broke! Well, what was the
next thing to do He thought Of the fine large bill
of goods engaged for himself and partners to take to
the See Saw claim 1t made him smile. But he
would not rescnd the ordeT-for awhile His part
ners with his worldly goods, the Chinese cook, and
all the household, save Cayuse would doubtless ar
rive by He and they had to eat; they had to
live. Also they had to mine, for they knew nothing
else by way of occupation They must somehow get
hold of some sort of claim and go on with their round
of hopes and toll. They had never been utterly
bereft, outcast by the goddess of fortune since
they had thrown their lots together
He dreaded the thought of meeting various
guaintances here in camp, the friends to whom he
had said he going that day to the See Saw prop
erty far the Mahogany Range, near the Indian
reservation; He determined to go. Perhaps the
shack and the shafthouse the claim with the wind
lass and tools included by Briggs in the bill of sale,
might fetch a few odd dollars
SLOWLY down the street he went to the hayward
~ where his pony stabbed. He met a water
man, hating on his rounds at the front of a
canvas dwelling The had three large barrels on
a wagon each full Of muddy brackish water A long
piece OF hose thrust into one; its other end dan
gled behind
From the tent emerged a woman with her buckets
he waterman placed the hose-end to his mout h. a-D
piled lusty suction, and the water came gush1 g
forth He filled both receptacles, collected the price
and then drove to the next.
Sardonicay Van reflected that the fine little
stream of water on his claim IN a land where water
SO terribly scarce, was absolutely worthless
an asset 1t was over mountain ridge OF such ire
mendous height that it might well have been in
the forests of Maine.
Despite the hopelessness of his present situa-
tion his spirits not depressed. Gettysburg he
reflected, genius for humping into queer old
prospectors-recs OF the days OF 40, still eagerly
pursuing their agnis jatnus of d,-and from some
such desert wanderer he would doubtless soon pick
up claim. There nothing like putting Gettys-
burg on the scent.
Van wrote note to his partners:
DEAR FELLOW MouRNBRs.-Have just discovered
dream is deunct Have gone lay out remains If
you find any od,mers who have just discovered some lost
bonanza take them into camp Don't get drunk get
busy! Be back little after noon
This he left with the hay yard man, where his
partners would stop when they arrived
MOUNTED on suvy, his outlaw of the day before,
A'A he rode from Goldte joyously. After all, what
were the odds? He had been no better off than row
at least hundred times. AT the worst, he still had
his partners and his horse, breakfast aboard and
mountain ahead to climb.
Indeed at the light of friendship in his bronco's
eyes, well as at the ponys neigh of welcome back
there at the yard he had felt boundless pleasure
his veins. He patted the chestnuts neck in his
rough, brusk way of companonship, and the horse
fairly quvered with pleasure.
For nearly two hours the willing animal went zig
tagging up the rocky slopes. The day was warming,
the naked disk OF fire. 1t was hard climb
ing. Van had chosen the shorter, sleeper way
the range. From time to time, where the barren
ascent was exceptionally severe, he swung from the
saddle and led the bronco on, to mount farther up
before
Thus they came in time to zone of change
of the ridges region where rocks and ugliness
gave way to growth of brush and stunted trees.
These were the outposts ragged, dwarfed, and
warped, of a finer growth beyond.