Evening journal., 1914-12-01

'That's my pencil" he thought duly
"There is not another pencil in this
desert How can | write to Dolores If
Old Man Gallon walks ofT
He took out of his pocket a worn
leather wallet and drew out the pic
ture Of a woman, whose calm, cold fea-
lures, unadorned by the photographers
art. were appealing TO the man OF his
appetltes
He looked at this a moment, and
then all the morbid fire in his blood
famed toward his heart Love, life
and happiness depended upon the pos
session Of gold. Therefore, with this
fire In his heart, Wilkerson suddenly
got that absolute thirst for gold which
traverses deserts, which has killed
more people than the armies Of Eu-
rope
And in his sudden access Of physical
desire for gold In order to attain this
woman he rose to his feet, and there
came upon his face a swift expression,
stealthy but determined.
He put the photograph away and,
pdnintIlthtt Slolt AhAo Ahc ohduoM uh
der the hill and toward the man who
had been his partner. but whom he
was resolved to kill He crept along,
taking all precautions against disturb
ing single pebble, until he stood over
Gallon, and in the full moonlight he
saw that Gallon was drawing the plans
and marking the locations OF a mine.
"How far" he thought forcefully to
himself, "has the old man gone What
gulch is this? What place is this? He
has found the gold, and I'm going tc
have I'll" He still watched the pencil
and saw him trace in rude letters:
"This will make you happy"
That moment Gallon saw WilkersoI
smiling at him.
Smiles and tears, sorrow and laugh
ter have made this world what 1t is
and the smile on the saturnine visagl
Of Wilkerson stirred Gallon to hi
depths. Did Wilkerson know7 Ha'
wilkerson seen7 Was Ruth to lose tn
gold that he had found after all thes
years? Wnkerson had peered over hi
shoulder. Wilkerson! Wilkersonl WI
kersonl There must be no Wilkerson
He pulled out his revolver and fire
at the man smiling at him from tn
shadow.
Wilkerson emptied his revolver a
the old man. But Gallons trained eye
backed up by his overmastering pas
sion, had directed his weapon too sure
ly. Wilkerson realized that his enc
my's bullet had gone home.
> still with the blood lust in his hear
Gallon pulled out the picture Of littl
girl and passionately kissed It.
"You look like your mother. Ruth.
he whispered.
) But while he was yielding to thi
queer tenderness his former partne
was struggling to his feet-dizzy wit
pain. absolutely cowed by the shock q
finding himself physically helpless, "
driven by instinct to find other huma
beings. Where were they2 There wa
no sound on the desert except Oh
I rustllng OF the dry leaves Of I'll
= yuccas and the murmur Of the cactu
as Il died Of drought. He was really {
: two minds One desire was 20 find th
location OF the gold The other was
save his own life and assuage the bi
l. ter fast which he knew meant death.
At last he stumbled 10 his feet an
: peered across the mist yelled vale.
: Far away he saw a light Gatheri1
; all his strength, he started toward
for II held out 70 MIN tine prospect
= help for his physical injury. and as
u fingered his revolver he feverish
dreamed Of finding Gallon and /
/. ayenging himself
Under the stars he tramped on.
men see their real world in miniatu
and their ideal world magnihed. as v
al do. the moon. flooding its lig
! fown upon bis path. did not appe
within his range Of vision. II VI
: only the little pin points OF stars
= the purple black sky that he discern'
and IN the midst OF this armament.
{. n horizons had been obliterated.
u saw a solitary twinkling light. whil
II meant a human habItation.
y I'm get him yet" he muttered thic
!. ly. The mere act Of articulate spec.
IL died IA his throat He realized that
: had no water. and the overpOweril
b thirst burned In his YER. marrow
Il can't make IT." he thought TO hil