Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-02-18

~ TRANCE things breed In the
deserts OF southern California
some Of them beautiful.
p some Of them symbolic OF
endJess and terrible thirst.
There are three thirsts In this world:
That for wealth; the one for life; great
est0f 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
hisa rnde house the door has stood for
all time defense and an opportunity.
In; the long vista Of life we find many
locked doors and gates-doors to hap.
pinass, 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 key. ",yho
holds the master key to all these lock-
ed doors7" we cry.
This waas the silent question in the
hearts of two men. YEARLY struggling
through the sage brush toward the
sharp ridges OF the San Jaclnto noun
tains In southern California.
II WONDER" said Thomas Gallon, FIN
gering his prospector's guide. whether
we viii find that gold-the gold the
Indians told US about Yes, must
ind that gold"
'.You don't seem to realize that you
have q partner" snarled Wilkerson.
s.You ace always talking about ILL.
Haven't got share In this7 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. aud
she's got to have a good education, and
I've got to work to pay for 1t. Excuse
me, partner; you know did not mean
II that way, but when remember her
mother He broke Oh abruptly. and
both men stopped
'Her motherT' asked Wilkerson.
Eyes, her mother" choked Gallon.
'sThe 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
tiff have to tear that mountain apart
with my finger nails"
"Well." said Wilkerson impatiently,
..let's camp. I'm thirsty"
They stopped in the shade of the fal-
low plume Of the Yucca and made their
little fre for coffee. but before the
blaze was well started Wilkerson
picked up the water bag and took q
long drink. His companion suddenly
flashed in anger.
..say, partner" he said sternly, ''that
water has to Inst us clear to the noun
tains."
WilkeFson dupg his head back and
laughed. "why worry7 Don't you see
the snow there on San Jacinto peak
That means creeks down every ravine
and gulch."
Instantly Gallons eyes dulled. &c
seemed 20 once more subside into {
dream
There's where they said the gold
was" he muttered "In one of them
gulches up there. Goldl Gold! Say
Wilksrson. we'll get that gold. but w
must save the water. didn't NEAR
any harm. partner. for calling you
down for drinking that water, but I'vl
got 70 get that gold"
Wilkerson once more reached for thu
water and took long draft
II guess this viii last till We react
those foothills" hs said. But his com
panion paid no attention to him, stol
idly preparing their slender meal o.
coffee and beans.
When they had eaten Gallon brusque
~ mohonsd to WHkerson to clean ~
the camp and then silently started u
the sulch.
II never heard o. nndlng gold b.
moonlight" his partner muttered Il
himself Let the old man dig arounl
n hs wants TO-" And immediately onc'
more hs yisldsd 20 his physical dssirea
this time for sleep.
Gallon steadily trudesd around tn
blum, following the stream % best b,
aos,A nntfl NJ kua~ HhaA ~ -aa aI,aa