The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-02-05

IoI deserts of southern California
IT, |R3sq5 some of them beautiful,
~ 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 ctvtliza ton 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 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 knuckIes on
these doors Then realize that sooner
or later experience tells them that they
cannot enter without 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
ttains in southern California.
Il wonder" said Thomas Gallon, fin
gering his prospector's guide, whether
we will End that gold-the gold the
Indians told Us about Yes. l must
find that gold"
You don't seem to realize that you
have q partner" snarled Wilkerson
IN aro aIuaua faJkipo q houf J-J-I
Haven't l got share in this2 Haven't
4 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 bis 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 good education. and
Eve got to work to pay for it. Excuse
me, partner: you know I did not mean
tt that way. but when remember her
mother He broke of 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 his fist toward
the distant blue hills-''she shall have
tt If 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 fall
low plume Of the Yucca and made their
little Dire for coffee, but before the
blaze was we'll started WIkerson
picked up the water bag and took a
long drink His companion suddenly
flashed In anger
Say. partner" he said sternIy. that
water has to last US clear to the moun-
tains"
Wukerson dung his head back and
laughed why worryf Don't you see
the SNOW there on San Jacinto peak2
That means creeks down every ravfue
md gulch"
Instantly Gallons eyes duIled He
seemed to once more subside into a
dream
There's where they said the gold
was" he muttered In one of them
gulches up there Gold! Gold! Say,
Wilkerson. We'll get that gold, but we
must save the water 1 didn't mean
any harm, partner, for calling you
down for drinking that water. but I've
got to get that gold"
Wfkerson once more reached for the
water and took long draft
~ guess this will last till we reach
those foothills" he said But his COM
panion paid no attention to him, stoI-
idly preparing their slender meal of
coffee and beans
When they had eaten Gallon brusque-
II motioned 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 be yielded to his physical desires.
this time for sleep.
Gallon steadily trudged around the
bIuff, following the stream as best he
couId nnfti he knau that ho Was ahsfA