The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1922-11-16

breaking Of reserve, noticeable I'm the
eiuer man, almost imperceptibly grad
ual In Cameron. And so, as Cameron
began to respond to tie influence OF
Il desert less lonely than habitual, he
began to take kccncr note OF his COM
rndc, and found him different from
any other he had ever encountered In
the wilderness. This man never
grumbled at the heat, the glare, the
driving sand, the sour water, the
Scant fare. He was tireless, patient.
| brooding.
Cameron's awakened interest brought
home to lin the realization that for
years he had stunned companionship.
In those years only three men had
wandered into the desert with him.
and these had left their bones to
bleach In the shifting sands. Cameron
had not cared to know their secrets.
But the more he studied this latest
comrade the more he began to suspect
that ne might have missed something
In the others. In his own driving pas.
sion to take his secret into the limit
less abode Of silence and desolation.
where he could be alone with it, he
had forgotten that life dealt shocks to
other men. Somehow this silent com.
rade reminded him.
one afternoon late, after they had
toiled up white, winding wash of
sand and gravel, they came upon Il
dry watcrhOc Cameron dug deep
into the sand. hut without avail. He
was turning to rctrhce weary steps
pack to the last water when his com.
rhdc asked him to wait Cameron
watched him search in his pa kSand
bring forth what appeared to be a
small, forkcd branch Of peach tree.
lie graspcd the prongs Of fork
and held them before him with the
end Standing straight out, and then
he began to walk along the stream
bed Cameron, at first amused. then
amazed. then plying. and ut last GU
riouS Kept pace with the proSpcctor
lie saw strong tension Of his com
rndc's wrists, as If he was lolding
hard against Il considerable force The
| end Of the peach branch began to
CULVER and turn, kept turning, and at
length rointcll to the ground.
| dig here" said the proSpcctor.
What" calculated Cameron. Had
| the man lost his mind?
Then Cameron stood by while his
comradc dug in the snna Three feet
he ug-four-fvc. and the sand
grow dark, then moist. At six feet
water began to secp through.
Get the little basket in my pack"
he said.
Cameron complied. and saw his
comrade drop the basket into the deep
hole, where 1t kept the sides from
cavlng in and allowed the water to
seep through While Cameron watched.
the basket filled. OF all strange
incidents of his desert career this was
the strangest. Curiously he picked up
the peach branch and held 1t rs he
had seen 1t held. The thing, how
ever. was dead In his hands.
II see YOU haven't got It," remarked
his comrade. "Fcw men have. Back
In Illinois an old German used to do
that to locate wells. Ile showed me
| hnd the same power can't ex-
plain. The old German spoke of
made money travelling round with his
peach fork"
"What a gift for man In the des
ert I"
Cameron's comradc smiled tire sec
ond time in nll those days.
They entered a region where min.
eral abounded. and their march be-
came slower. Generally they took the
course Of wash, one on each side.
and let the burros travel leisurely
along nipping mt the blcached blades
or Scant grass. or ut sage or cactus,
while they searched in the canons and
under the ledges for signs Of gold.
Each succeeding day and night
Cameron felt himself more and moro
drawn to this strange man. He found
that after hours Of burning toll he had
inscnslbly grown nearer to his com
rade. He reflected thar after few
weeks In the desert he had alwnys
become different man. In civilian.
tion, In the rough mining camps, he
had been prey to unrest and gloom.
'ut once down on the great billowing
sweep of this lonely world. he could
look into his unquict soul without bit.
terness. SO now he did not marvel nt
SLOW stir stealing warmer along his
veins, ana at the pIemOnition that per
maps he and this man. alone on the
desert, driven there by life's mysteri.
GUS ana remOrSeless motive, were to
see each other through Gods eyes.
one night they were encamped nt
the mead Of canon. The day had
Dech exceedingly hot. and long after
sundown the radintions Of heat from
the rocks persisted Cameron watched
MS comlade. and yielded to interest
nc hhd not hereto fore voiced.
"Pardner, what drives yon into the
nesert? DO YOU come to forsct?"
"Yes"