The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-01-16

endless and terrible thirst
There are three thirsts In his 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 is 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 time q defense and an opportunity.
In the long vista of life we find many
locked doors and gates-doors to hap
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 doors" we cry.
This was the silent question In the
hearts of TIVE men, YEARLY struggling
through the sage brush toward tue
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
nnd that gold"
you don't seem to realize that you
have a partner" snarled Wilkerson.
You are always talking about I'LL
Haven't I got a share In this2 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 q good education. and
I've got to work to pay for 1t. Excuse
me. partner: you know / did not mean
Il that way. but when / remember her
mother He broke OF abruptly, and
both men stopped
"Her motherT' asked Wilkerson.
Yes, her mother" choked Gallon.
'The girl deserves the best there Is In
this world. I'm all she's got, and. by
heavens"-he shook his fist toward
the distant blue hills-"she shall have
II II I have to tear that mountain apart
with my finger nails"
-well," said wnkerson im%patiently.
Tets camp. I'm thirsty"
They stopped In the shade of the fal.
low plume OF the Yucca and made their
little Ore for coffee. but before the
blaze was well started Wilkerson
picked up the water bag and took a
long drink. His companion suddenly
dashed In anger.
Say, partner" he said sternly. that
water has to last us clear to the noun.
tains."
Wilkerson flung his head back and
laughed. "Why worry7 Don't you see
the snow there on San Jacinto peakf
That means creeks down every ravine
and gulch."
Instantly Gallons Eyes dulled. lie
seemed to once more subside into @
dream
There's where they said the gold
was." he muttered. I'm one of them
gulches up there. Goldi Goldi Say.
wllkerson. Wen get that gold. but we
must ave the water. l didn't mean
any harm, partner. for calling You
down for drinking that water. but I've
got to get that gold"
Wilkers0n nee more reached for the
water and took a long draft
II guess this Will last till we reach
those foothills" be said. But bis com.
panion paid no attention to him, stol.
idly preparing their slender meal of
soffes and beans.
When they had eaten Gallon brusque-
ly motioned to Wilkerson to clean up
the camp and then silently started up
the gulch
II never heard OF finding gold by
moonlight" bis partner muttered to
himself. Let the old man dig around
n he wants to-" And Immediately once
o hs yielded to his physical desires.
this time for sleep.
Gallon steadily trudged around the
blu6. following the stream as best be
could until be knew that he was abso
lutely alone. Chance, the master or us
al, delights In strange freaks. Now at
this moment, when he felt hatred In his
heart for his partner. when he knew
that he had come on his final quest
with q weakling to coddle along, Mis-.
tress Chance laid her quick finger on
him and whispered, "Here!"
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 In his
sleep.
II wonder where the old man u.s." ne
muttered to himself. Hes always
prowling round o. nights"
What was that figure sinking around
the blur! Something In his partners
attitude as he stopped directly In the
full sheen of the moonlight made him
pause.
Hes got something" he thought
why does hs not come down to