The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-06-22

hDty IL udO Deeu u SOlut Olier puTt,
for the water was new to him. He
stood gazing aloft at peaks, at lower
rampants Of the mountain, and at
nearer landmarks of prominence.
Yaqui seemed at fault. He was not
sure of his location.
Then he strode past the swirling
pool of dark water and began TO as.
cend a little slope that led up to a
shelving cliff. Another object halted
the Indian. 1t was pile of stones
weathered. crumbled, fallen into ruin
but still retaining shape enough to
hands Of men. Round and round this
the Yaqui stalked and his curiosity
attested a further uncertainty. II
was as If he had come upon something
surprising. Gale wondered about the
pile Of stones. Had II once been q
prospector's claim?
"Ugh!" grunted the Indian; and
though his exclamation expressed nc
satisfaction, it surely put an end to
doubt. He pointed up to the roof of
the sloping yellow shelf of stone.
Family outlined there in red were the
imprints of many human hands with
fingers spread wide Gale haC often
seen such paintings on the walls of
the desert caverns. Manifestly these
told Yaqui he had come to the spot for
which he had aimed.
Then his actions became swift-and
Yaqui seldom moved swiftly. The
fact impressed Gale. The Indian
searched the level floor under the
shelf He gathered up handfuls of
small black stones, and he thrust
them at Gale. Their weight made
Gale start. and then he trembled. The
Indians next move was to pick up a
piece of weathered rock and throw 1t
against the wall 1t broke. He
snatched up parts, and showed the
broken edges to Gale. They contained
yellow streaks. dull glints, faint trac-
ings Of green. 1t was gold.
Gale found his legs shaking under
him; and he sat down, trying to take
all the bits of stone into his lap. HIS
blade he dug into the black pieces Of
rock. He found gold. Then he stared
down the slope, down into the valley
with Its river winding forlornly away
into the desert. But he did not see
any Of that. Here was reality as
dream come true. Yaqui had led him
to a ledge Of gold. Gale had learned
enough about mineral to know that
this was a rich strike. All In second
he was speechless with the Joy Of 1t.
But his mind whirled in thought about
this strange and noble Indian. who
seemed never to be able to pay debt
Belding and the poverty that had
come to him! Nell, who had wept
over the loss Of a spring! Laddy
who never could ride again! jim
Lash, who swore he would always look
after his friend! Thorne and Mer
cedes All these people. who had
been good to him and whom he loved
were poor. But now they would be
rich. They would one and all be his
partners. He had discovered the
source Of Forlorn river, and was rich
In water. Yaqui had made him rich
in gold. Gale wanted to rush down
the slope, down into the valley, and
tell his wonderful news.
Suddenly his eyes cleared and he
saw the pile OF stones. His blood
turned to Ice, then to fire. That was
the mark Of prospector's claim But
II was old, very old. The ledge had
never been worked. The slope was
wild. There was not another single
indication that prospector had ever
had first staked this claim7 Gale
wondered with growing hope. with
the fire easing, with the cold passing
The Yaqui uttered the low, strange
Involuntary cry so rare with him, q
cry somehow always associated with
death. Gale shuddered.
The Indian was digging in the sand
and dust under the shelving wall. He
threw out an object that rang against
the stone. 1t was belt buckle. He
threw out old shrunken, witheret
boots. He came upon other things
and then he ceased to dig.
The grave Of desert prosIectors
Gale had seen more than one. Ladt
had told him many story Of su~f
gruesome finds. II was grim, hare
fact.
Then the keen-eyed Yaqui reached
up to little projecting shelf of rocl
and took from It small object. He
showed no curiosity and gave the
thing to Gale.
How strangely Gale felt when he re
ceived into his hands a fiat oblonl
boxi Was 1t only the influence Of
the Yaqui, or was there nameles,
and unseen presence beside tha
gravef Gale could not be sure. Blu
he knew he had gone back to the ole
desert mood. He knew somethin,
hung In the balance. No accident, n,
luck, no debt.paying Indian could &C
count wholly for that moment. Gal,
knew he held In his hands more thar
gold.
The box was q tin one, and not n
all rusty. Gale pried open the re
luctant lid. A faint old musty odo
penetrated his nostrils. Inside tn,
/