Evening star., 1922-01-29

his hosts were brother and sister. Beth
and Robert Linder by name. -;
My brother and ] have been here
only couple of weeks" said the girl.
His health is bad
mo need to be speamish about NAM
ing it, said Linder cheerfully. I'm
lunger-that is. I have been. These
two weeks here have done me a world
of good. Six months of it will cure
me. pretty nearly" -
Sure ought to-" said Mangas. Il
was in mighty poor health myself d
year ago. just a city kid. with no
had some money saved up. and one
day ] lit out. / met up with an old
prospector over in Palmdale. on the
railroad, and he taught me the ropes.
Haven't found any gold mine yet. but
living is cheap and I located some fair
silver prospects a month ago. These
will bring me in something eventual
ly. Well, this feast certainly looks
good. Miss Linder.' -.
"No ceremony, please. It's Bob and
Beth and Mont around here" said the
girl laughingly, as she brought in the
coffee.
Makeshift seats were drawnaup, and
the three attacked breakfast~lIt,Sas
then that Beth Linder made d s8He-
ment that caused Mangas to swallow
hard. when Bob's able to take &lps
around. we'll do some prospecting,
too." she said.
Mangas gulped. "You prospect?'
he asked. With the rigors of desert
prospecting in mind, it's hardships and
dangers, it was small wonder that he
stared.
Beth thinks that she can tackle
anything" and Bob Linder chuckted.
Yet there was vast admiration in
his voice. a worshipful light in his
eyes; and Mangas liked him the bet
ter.
Our plans for prospecting are diff
ferent," remarked the girl. -.
X X X ..
As she spoke she shot a glance at
her brother. Between them passed
something that Mangas did not under
stand. A question lay In the eyes Of
Beth, and, the invalid assented to it
with a nod. Then the girl sfurnedk TO
Mangas. - ~, ~
I'VE want to make our stay here
serve o double purpose" she safa
quietly, Years ago our father spent
good deal of time here on the edGs,
of the desert. painting and modelling.
He learned from an old Indian thu E
somewhere near here there was a ctfs
S,f~ 111r sNI, 60 ~
made a finer modelling clay than any
known. From specimens of pottery
which he got from the Indian we
know that this was So"
"And you hope to find that rock?"
asked Mangas.
"Yes. Our father left map where
he got it. I don't know. but think
some one made it for him from the
Indians description. We can't make
much Of it, and we've been wishing
that we knew some one whom we
could trust, some one to give us ad-
vice. Bob. thinks that we can trust
you. After what passed last
night"
But what do you think about it?"
queried Mangas quizzicalfy, smiling as
he spoke. :. -
81 think we can."' and. the eyes Of
the girl met his frankly.
They all. three broke into laugh.
"I guess you can trust me, SO long
as it isn't q gold mine." said Mangas.
1--WE never been right in this valley
before, but I've been all around here.
II there's any ;adviee 7 can give you,
you're sure welcome to ft!,.' -
The girl produced for HIS inspection
a map which was SO crudely drawn as
to be unintelligible.t unless the local
ity to which it referred was already
known. Mapgas chuckled as he bent
over it, Strengthening out the paper.
I'm such a poor hand locating
gold" he said whimsically. "that may
be I can locate modelling clayi Let's
see what we can make out Of this"
The map showed what was called
sr oso f1nrsa r1afvy, - 1oca Tad m fhe