The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-01-09

munerative converse with the frs
fastener that Cooked good t.
him."
And it all happened more easily
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 young chap, West fol
his health, named William Win.
throp. The fastener had learned
to lounge In Orcutt's 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 is Jack Sum-
mers," the tramp begun, after
Sweeney had introduced them.
Some folks took to calm me
Overland Red SEEM as l been
some tourist in my time"
Great" the Fastener had re-
piled. Overland Red!' That
name has me hypnotized."
"You was sayin'?" Queried Over
land.
beg your pardon. Nothing
worth while. l haven't been so
happy for a year. Let me explain.
I have little money, pretty we'll
invested. l also have lungs, | be-
lieve. 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 l want to
forget it. That's all. Go ahead
about that desert and the gold.
I'm listening"
And the desert and the gold be-
came land of promise with Over
lands telling.
William Stanley Winthrop woke
next morning with vague impress
sion of having lost something.
Cold" he murmured. "Mojave
Desert! Overland Red! Lost gold!
No, it isn't the two hundred dol
lars l invested in the rascal's
story, for it was worth the money.
l never spent four happier hours
in my life. The best of It is he
actually made me believe him. ]
think he believed 1t himself"
Winthrop sat up in bed, yawn-
ing. 81 think black coffee will be
about all, this morning." he MUIR
INJURED, as he dressed leisurely.
He was trying a fastidiously oor-
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 its frayed scabbard. The
burrows followed a man, whose
flop-brimmed hat, faded shirt, and
battered boots told a tale of the
outlands, whispered of sun-swept
immensities, sand and silence.
Another dust rat" thought the
policeman on the corner between
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 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
glancing out across the desert.
His was the widest of wild
goose chases. A stranger had told
him of mysterious ledge of gold,
and named a desert town-the
town toward which Winthrop was
journeying. Would the eccentric
Overland Red be there? Winthrop
hoped so. He wanted to believe
that this Ulysses of the outlands
had spoken truth.
He imagined Overland Reds
surprise when one William Stanley
Winthrop, late Of New York,
should appear, equipped to the
chin and eager to participate In
the hunt for the lost gold. Then
again, the prospector might not
care to be burdened with the COM
panionship of a tenderfoot.
The uncertainty Of his welcome
lent zest to Winthrop's enterprise.
He closed the door Of his drawing
room and wound through a ma
hogany maze toward the dining
car.
Next morning, as the trair
slowed down for the desert town
Winthrop was in the vestibule
peering out anxiously. 1t did no,
occur to him that Overland Red
knew nothing OF his coming, Oh
that the other would be waiting or
the station platform II he did. The
tramp had not the faintest desire
to make himself conspicuous. Some
OF Wfnthrop's enthusiasm had
evaporatcd during the hot night II
the sleeper. T
Winthrop got off behind thu
porter with his plumber" Then
! as the Pullman slid away, he