White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1924-02-01

Il have made an enormous success
since gave up my flour and feed
store and took to we'll diggin' as a
: perfession. BY accident l discovered
that I was peculiarly gifted"
Watching the smoke rising from
Rufus's articles and specializing as
to what might be the composition of
his soles that he could endure so
much heat without discomfort, Wal
lie inquired politely:
"In what way, may l ask?"
Mr.. Reeds tone became impress
sive:
Il ana water witch"
Wallie looked puzzled.
Some call it magic, but the fact
is, I am able to locate water with a
forked willer and you can call 1t
anything you want to-"
Wallie regarded the worker of mir
acles with fresh attention. His be-
lief in his own powers was evidently
so sincere that even a skeptic could
not fail to be impressed by him.
He continued:
with my divinin' rod 1 have flew
in the faces of the biggest biologists
in the country and found water where
they said there wasn't any"
will the divining rod tell you
how far you must dig for it?"
pretty close to 1t. count foot
to every bob of the willer."
"In state like Illinois where there
is a great deal of moisture I pre-
sumo it would be possible to get
water anywhere II one went deep
enough, but in Wyoming-frankly,
should not like to rely on the divin-
ing rod in Wyoming, Mr.. Reed"
| Mr.. Reed looked somewhat Offend
ed and declared with spirit:
"1'l tell you what I'll DOLL make
you sportin' proposition. I'll test
the ground with the willer and If it
says we'll get water at certain
depth and we don't strike it, I'll dig
till we do, for nothin', if we have to
go till we hear the Cinnamon gibber.
That's fair, amt it,"
Wallie could not gainsay it.
II got my willer on my saddle and
it won't cost nothin' for a demonstra-
tion. Say the word" persuasively,
land you've good as got fine flow
ing we'll Of water"
1t would do no harm to let the
water witch make his test, Wallie de-
cided, so he followed sheepishly in
the wake Of Rufus and his willow as
he walked over the greater part of
the 100 acres.
"'Tain't nowise plentiful" the lat
ter admitted, as with each hand
gripping a prong of the willow he
kept his eyes fixed upon it. "But If
it's here I'm bound to find it so don't
get discouraged"
Expecting nothing, Wallie was not
disappointed.
At the top of draw some hundred
and fifty yards from the cabin Rufus
suddenly halted.
II felt somethia'," he said, hope
fully.
"Where?" Wallie asked, interested.
I'm my arm-like pins and needles
its symptom. She's going to
bob!" Excitedly. "You watch and
count along Of me-"
The willow bobbed Enthusiastically.
"Sixty-eight!" They finished to-
gether.
II told you!" Rufus cried, trium-
phantly. He stamped his foot:
Fright here is where you'll strike
it." His tone was as positive as If
he saw it flowing beneath the sur
face.
Impressed in spite of himself, Wall
lie endeavored to be conservative.
Gould it have been your subcon-
scious mind?" ne asked, doubtfully.
II amt any. Rufus Reed Is right
out in the open. I'll stake my repu-
tation there's plenty of water If you'll
go after it."
"It's rather far from the house for
convenience" he objected.
water in Wyoming is like whisky,
you have to take 1t where you can
get 1t and not be particular"
1t was temptation, and the cost
at three dollars foot was not ex-
cessive.
Wallie pondered and said finally.
"You will agree in writing to dig
without remuneration until you get
water If you do not strike it at SO
feet?"
can iron-clad contract will suit
yours truly" Mr.. Reed declared, en-
phatically. He added: "I'll bring
two men to work the hist and empty
the bucket. OF course you'd aim to
board us?"
why, yes, I can," Wallie said a
little uncertainty. He had not thought
of that feature, but he realized 1t
would be necessary.
He had figured that with strict
economy he had provisions enough to
last him we'll toward summer. Three
men eating three meals daily might
make some difference in his calcula-
lions, but nothing serious probably.
So the contract was drawn up and
signed and Rufus departed, eminently
satisfied as was Wallie, who was so
eager to see his we'll started that he
could hardly wait until the following
Monday.
Cro Be Continued)
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