Arizona state miner., 1926-10-30
CHAPTER VIII
III
Prospects


next morning.
He carried his creel, an awkward
thing to rider Of his lack Of expert
ence. In 1t he packed his lunch and
survey instrument or two with note
book and drawing materials. In his
rod case, another cumbersome thing
for him to carry, he included besides
the Joints Of his pole a steel rod that
he had secured at a blacksmith's in
the upper valley, tempered probe to
he used for investigating depths Of de-
posits. He had a geologist's hammer
In one pocket, In another pipe and
tobacco. His camera was tied to the
saddle.
Leisurely he rode down the valley,
Aivergfng sometimes and climbing
C4dge, probing with his steel rod, TAX
ing photographs, making a contour
sketch where the camera would not
serve his purpose, marking closely the
lip Of strata, the character of rock
formations the general lie of the coun-
try. Finally, close to noon, he rode
down a wash the sides of which were
clothed in buckeye and oak, and
lunched by the side of Boca creek,
where the two sycamores made an
archway for its waters.
He took the pendant from its pack
fng and laid it in the palm Of his
hands. The artificer had done well.
The tiny fishes, united by the ribbon,
were delicately yet sharply cut.
Two fish united. symbol of two
living things that lived and moved in
the same medium-water Joined by
q ribbon. Pisces and Aquarius. A
swift suggestion came to him that the
symbol might indicate more than he
had intended when he ordered the
trinket He flushed a little as he won
dered whether the girl might devise
some intimate intention In the design
Then he laughed at his own presump-
ton. 1t was her sign. It's connection
with that on his own seal was fanci-
ful. far-fetched.
He put the pendant back, got up,
rolled his blanket, saddled and rode
out into Caliente Sink, turning south
along the creek, on through the can
yon to the suspension bridge There
he dismounted and led his horse down
the bank to the edge Of the creek. He
took off his roll and thrust the blanket
and raincOat into the hollow of a tree
that was masked with ferns, together
with his creel and rod case. Unen-
numbered, he loped on to Ell Nido.
"This is my party CALL" he an
nounced to Betty, who came to meet
him, after Padilla, with a smile of
greeting had led away his mount for
q grain feed and a promised rundown
and Maria had shown him into the
patio.
The girl looked crave, seemed quiet
he fancied. But she frightened at the
gift and accepted it without reserve
'Is this really my signY' she asked
zone would think that L was a twin.
eft was very thoughtful and origi-
nal Of you to choose this. l shall like
It best of all my gifts. Something
made for me, something that belongs,
If we are to credit the astrologers
Do you know, we have an old volume
that treats Of such nonsense. Father
will be pleased, too" Her own pleas
ure was so open and earnest that Ca
Ieb felt his satisfaction growing He
was glad she appreciated bis taste.
They discussed the picnic and her
friends, In friendly fashion. Thurston
had returned to his Fresno vineyards.
The Vedders, 1t seemed had liked Ca
leb and wanted to see more of him.
Carmen had reiterated her determina-
tion to insist upon a new beret from
him. eff 1t was only a souvenir of the
occasion" she had said. Betty ap-
peared inclined to tease him q little
about the impression he had made on
Carmen.
II am afraid l shall not see much
of Miss Wilson," he said. 81 expect
to be very busy shortly"
She did not inquire specifically what
he meant and he did not volunteer it.
BE did not mean to discuss his dis
covery with anyone until it was an ac-
complished fact-unless it became nee
essary In the order of business. Later
he might have to broach the subject
TO Betty and her father.
At the end Of an hour he rose to go
and the girl ordered his horse saddled.
She gave him her hand, cool and
slim but with the grip that told of
efficiency, and he rode off, He left
the direct trail to the canyon and
mounted to a low rolling ridge that
paralleled the stream His eyes roved
the valley, looking again for the
beachmarks he had noted on his first
visit.
And then he saw from the height
what his previous trails had hidden
from him-the grove of cedars about
q low white railing and within the
fence, some white headstones-the
ree-generaIions cemetery of the
Clintons.
He frowued little at the sight, re-.