Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-11-30

iIo deserts of southern California
lss1x1Sy some of them beautiful,
lS.xg some of them symbolic of
endless and terrible thirst
There are three thirsts In this world:
That for wealth; the one for life; great.
est of all. the thirst for love.
The first and the last expression of
our civilization 10 the locked door. and
from the time the primal carpenter
laid down his tools and went within
his rude house the door has stood for
all tine defense and an opportunity.
In the long vista of life we fins my
locked doors and gates-doors - Jap
piness. to life and to love.
Fancy to yourselves thirsty men
knocking with scared knuckles on
these doors. Then realize that sooner
or later experience tells them that they
cannot enter without a key. who
holds the master key to all these LOCK-
ed doorsT We cry.
This was the silent question in the
hearts Of two men, YEARLY struggling
through the sage brush toward the
sharp ridges of the San Jacinto noun.
tains In southern California.
II wonder" said Thomas Gallon, fin-
gering his prospector's guide, whether
we will find that gold-the gold the
Indians told us about Yes. must
find that gold"
You don't seem to realize that you
have a partner" snarled Wilkerson.
You are always talking about Ill
/ Haven't got share In this? Haven't
dug up money! And yet you don't
seem to think that I've any concern In
/ this matter"
Excuse me. partner" said the other
man, fixing his dim gaze on the noun
tain. I'm always thinking Of that girl
Of mine. You know she's In school. and
she's got to have a good education, and
I've got to work to pay for It. Excuse
me. partner; you know did not mean
1t that way, but when I remember her
mother He broke or abruptly. and
both men stopped
Her motherY' asked Wilkerson.
Yes. her mother" choked Gallon.
1.-The girl deserves the best there is in
this world. I'm all she's got, and. by
heavens"-he shook bis fist toward
the distant blue hills-''she shall have
# n l have to tear that mountain apart
with my finger nails"
WELL" said WIkerson impatiently.
Tets camp. I'm thirsty"
They stopped In the shade of the fal-
low plume OF the Yucca and made their
little dre for coffee. but before the
blaze was well started Wikerson
picked up the water bag and took a
long drink. His companion suddenly
flashed In anger.
"Say, partner" he said sternly. .'that
water has to last rs clear to the noun
tains."
Wnkerson flung his head back and
laughed why worry2 Don't you see
the snow there on San Jacinto peak?
That means creeks down every ravIne
and gulch."
Instantly Gallons eyes dulled. He
seemed to once more subside into a
dream
"There's where they said the gold
was" he muttered I'm one Of them
gulches up there. Gold! Goldi Say.
Wilkerson. Wen get that gold, but we
must save the water. didn't mean
any harm. partner. for calling you
down for drinking that water. but I've
got to get that gold"
Wilkerson once more reached for the
water and took long draft
II guess this Will last till we reach
those foothills" he said. But his COM
panion paid no attention to him, stol-
idly preparing their slender meal OF
coffee and beans.
When they had eaten Gallon brusque-
~ motloned to Wilkerson to clean up
the camp and then silently started up
the gulch.
II never heard Of finding gold by
moonlight" his partner muttered to
himself "Let the old man dig around
II he wants to-" And Immediately once
more he yielded to his physical desires.
this time for sleep.
Gallon steadily trudged around the
blum. following the stream as best he
could until he knew that he was abso-
lutely alone. Chance, the master OF rs
all, delights In strange freaks. Now at
this moment, when he felt hatred In his
heart for his partner. when he knew
that he had como on his 6nal quest
with weakling to coddle along, Mis-
tress Chance laid her quick finger on
him and whispered, ''Herer'
He heard that light whisper and
dropped his gaze to the ground. A mo
ment later he was furiously hammer
ing at the outcropping of rock that
threw its sharp shadow down the hill
Wilkerson turned sluggishly i'm his
s1non