The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-08-11

seen must be worth thousands OF dol
lars.
''.rhe next morning, after the tramp's
departure, Aaron talked over with
Rosie what had been said about the
borax deposits. He thought it 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, i would
like you to go to town where you
can get these chemicals for testing
borax, but it will require week or
two, during which shall have to stay
here alone. Then when you come back
we shall have to make 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'
Il really think, Aaron replied the
wife, that the chances don't warrant
the trouble, but Pm worn out with
this desolation and am yearning to see
people. I feel as if I 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
know how lonely you are without me,
how hard it is for you to have to get
| your meals, and I worry for fear
something will happen to you. What
would you do while am away if you
should become sick or meet with an
| accident?'
"'Never mind about that, Rosie.
Bring back the chemicals as soon as
you can
"'Oh, there's nothing in that, Aaron.
| Don't think about it. You're sure to be
disappointed
'They parted, Rosie going on and
! Aaron going back to the cabin. 1t
seemed very quiet there without his
wife, and he wished it was the end in
stead Of the beginning Of their separa-
ton. After he had cooked and eaten
his supper he sat smoking his pipe,
thinking about what the tramp had
told him. He realized that there was
scarcely chance of what he had seen
being borax, but the thought of what
would happen if it should be boraS
sent thrill all through him. He
would be the only person to know it
and no one was likely to come into
Death valley to learn Of the secret be-
fore he had established his legal claim
to all the property he cared to possess
I'm ten days Rosie came back with q
substance she had obtained from q
chemist. But neither she nor Aaron
thought much about this, they were sc
glad to meet again. After day or two
Rosie spoke of it and asked her hus
band when he was going to Death val
ley. He said he dreaded to go, for he
felt sure he would have his trouble fol-
nothing. But Rosie said that since
they had the materials they might as
we'll make the trip and she would go
with him.
$50 the next day Rosie spent the
morning preparing lunch Of antelope
steak-this was all there was, since
they lived only on game-and in the
afternoon they set out for the valley.
''They reached their destination some
time before sunset, and, having pro.
cured some Of the substance they had
gone for, they mixed it with the
chemicals. But they did not wish tc
ignite it till night came, because they
might not be able by daylight to tell
whether or not the flame was green
More than an hour must elapse before
1t would be dark, and they spent the
interval In suspense, so much de.
pended on what they hoped for. Aaror
did not care so much for himself di
rectly. It was Of Rosie he was think.
ing. For years he had kept her in a
wilderness, and now if this substance
were borax he could take her wher-
ever she cared to go. While he was
thinking Of this the wife's mind was
full of dread lest her husband, who
had built great hopes on this matter,
should be disappointed.
'"The sun set, darkness came, and vet
Winters delayed to apply the match.
"'Why don't you light 1t, Aaron? p
asked Rosie.
"Aaron made no reply. None was
needed. His wife knew he dreaded
the disappointment that both felt was
almost sure to come. They had had
no careful description Of the appear
ance Of the substance the tramp had
seen, and even if they had there might
be resemblance without the substances
being at all alike. What folly to ex-
pect that they were the same!
Then Aaron scratched a match and
held it to the combination. 1t blazed
up in bright fame
1T burns green, Rosie! he shouted.
We're richv
| ssSo thnv xuoro for y,no11o xvho +. =