The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-02-22


away. But if that was what he was
waiting for he was doomed to disap-
pointment.
Zone day a desert tramp came along
and asked for shelter overnight. He
was the first human being that either
Aaron or Rosie had seen in many q
long day, and you may be assured the
couple made him welcome. A desert
tramp is not likely to be very intel
lectual or well bred fellow, and this
one certainly was not He was burned
almost black by the sun, and his
clothes were dirty and ragged. But he
could talk to them, and that's more
than their cats or their dogs could do.
And just think how the sound of an
other voice than their own must have
delighted them!
Rosie got up a good supper for the
tramp. which he ate as though he had
passed through Death valley, where
there was neither flesh nor vegetable
that man could live on. After supper.
while Rosie was clearing the table and
washing the dishes. Aaron gave tho
tramp pipe and some tobacco, and
the two sat down for smoke and
chat. Aaron didn't care what his
guest talked about so long as he talk
ed and Rosie at her work enjoyed the
sound of voice. rough and uncouth
though 1t was. as well as her husband.
1.-THE tramp had visited many regions
and naturally talked about them. He
had been at Salt lake and told them
that the water was so dense that per-
sons bathing In it would float on its
surface like boat on water. He had
been in Colorado and told them how
the gold was stamped out of the rock.
The last place he had been was Ne
yada. There are borax deposits In
that state. and he told Aaron how they
looked.
Now, Aaron had often been in Death
valley and had noticed something
there that looked like what the tramp
described He asked how one might
know borax deposits. and the tramp
told him that there were certain chem
icals which when combined with borax
would burn u green fame. Aaron also
asked the tramp what borax was used
for, and he told him. as you all know,
that it was used for washing purposes
and that little package Of 1t was
worth about 10 cents. Aaron thought
that if this was the price what he had
seen must be worth thousands of dol
lars.
1.-The next morning. after the tramp's
departure, Aaron talked over with
Rosie what had been said about the
borax deposits He thought 1t was
possible that what he had seen In
Death valley might be borax. But
even if he went there he had no means
Of discovering whether what he had
seen was borax or ordinary soil.
"'Rosie, DEAR said Aaron. 1 would
like you to go to town where you
borax, but it will require a week or
two, during which | shall have to stay
here alone Then when you come back
we shall have to make a trip to Death
valley, and after all our trouble there
isn't one chance in dozen that what
have seen there will turn out to be
borax.'
81 really think, Aaron replied the
wife, that the chances don't warrant
the trouble, but I'm worn out with
this desolation and am yearning to see
people. / feel as If | must have one
of my own sex to talk to. even If only
for day
"'Well, sweetheart, go, but don't stay
any longer than to have good chat.
for I'm very anxious to make the
test
$50 the next day Aaron took her
where she could get some one to take
her on farther and left her to go back
to the cabin. AS she kissed him good
by she looked at him wistfully and
said:
Aaron, won't leave you again. l