The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-14

PNts VI 1hc uc20 lTueItctuT- hod
was sure he could easily find the
railroad tie under which he had
buried them. But even with
them as guide to the desert rats
hidden mine he must first have
money to purchase an outfit.
To this end the tramp had de-
termined to hold wise and re-
munerative converse with the first
fastener that looked good TO
him."
And II all happened more ess-
lily than Red could have possibly
hoped. He was Visiting the saloon
of his old friend. Sweeney circuit,
when the meeting took place. The
victim was q young chap. west for
his health. named William Win
throp. The easterner had learned
to lounge In Circuits cool bar and
amuse himself by watching what
he called types" Overland was
a distinct type. and as winthrop
not only had more money and
time than he knew what To do
with, but was also becoming more
and more bored as his strength
returned. he fell easy prey to Red.
MY real name IL Jack Sum-
mers," the tramp had begun. aft
er Sweeney had introduced them.
Some folks took to calm me
Overland Red seem as | been
some towerist in my time"
Great" the fastener had re-
piled. Overland Redi' That
name has me hypnotized.
You was sayin'?" queried
| Overland.
Beg your pardon. Nothing
worth while. haven't been so
happy for a year. Let me explain.
l have a little money, pretty well
invested. l also have lungs, / be-
iieve. The doctors don't quite
agree about that, however. The
last one gave me six months to
live. That was a year ago. | owe
him an apology and six months.
I'm not afraid, exactly, and I'm
certainly not glad. But | want to
| forget 1t. That's all. Go ahead
about that desert and the gold.
I'm listening"
And that desert and the gold
became a land of promise with
Overland's telling.
: William Stanley Winthrop
woke next morning with a vague
| impression of having lost some
thing.
"Goldl" he murmured. "Mojave
Desert Overland Red! Lost
gold! No, 10 isn't the two hun
dred dollars / invested In the
rascal's story, for Il was worth
the money. never spent four
happier hours In my life. The
best of 1t Is he actually made me
believe him. l think he believed
himself.
Winthrop sat up in bed. yawn-
ing. 81 think black coffee will be
about all. this morning." he muir
INJURED, as he dressed leisureiy.
He was tying a -fastidiously cor
rect bow on his tan oxford when
he happened to glance out of the
window.
Below on the pavement pat
tered two laden burros. On their
packs hung dusty, weather-worn
canteens, a pick and shovel, and
a rifle in it's frayed scsbbard. The
burros followed man, whose
Hopping brimmed hat. faded shirt.
and battered boots told a tale of
the outlands, whispered of sun
swept immensities, sand and ST.
lence.
another dust rat" thought
the policeman on the corner be-
tween his dreams of what he
would do with the $1,000 should
he catch Overland Red.
Winthrop drew a long breath.
Such an adventurer was the Over
land Red he had talked with the
evening previous. The tramp had
mentioned a town far out on the
desert. Winthrop sauntered down
to the office and secured a time
table.
Over the grade and on the level
of the desert the train gathered
speed. Hour after hour sat Win
throp, reading and occasionally
CHANGING out across the desert.
His was the widest of Wild
goose chases. A stranger had told
him of a mysterious ledge of gold,
and named a desert town--theI
town toward which winthrop was
journeying. Would the eccentric
Overland Red be there7 winthrop
hoped so. He wanted to believe
that this Ulysses OF the outIands
had spoken truth.