The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-07-23

From that lonely spot the desert stretched away until in the mys- erious distance earth and sky be- anne one. The sun was almost 5ouching the higher peaks of the mountain range so far away that appeared as a gray-blue cloud; put in all the sky there was TO loud. And the land lay as emp y and silent as the sky.
 The loneliness, the silence, to Iarriet Noels son, were appalling
 Suddenly the silence was broken y a rich Irish voice. Come away put of that now, Kate! Ye blun- .erin' she-devil av a burro Can't nevar larn ye to keep yer dirty lose out av the spring? Iris five 5ears and more that I've been wat rin' ye at this place, and niver a inc that ye did not try to spoil he drink for yer betters."
 The voice came again: Hey. you lack, look to yer feet whilst I put 'er hobbies on. Now git, the lot of ez."
 There was a sound or blows and icurrying hoofs, and then from round a rocky corner came man if the desert. His age might have jeen anywhere from 40 to 80. His can stringy body was as straight s gun-barrel and he walked yith the easy, tireless movement of he old-time prospector. The years le had lived under the fierce des- ITS sun had marked his features with innumerable lines; desert skies lad given his blue eyes a serene outrage and an unwavering fidel- ty In one hand he carried four ead-ropes, in the other a cloth oyered canteen, dripping wet from he spring. Tossing the ropes on he nearest pack saddle he took he canteen to Pierre.
 "Av all the jaek-asses I've ever .inown in my long career-and I've known a lot. animal and man them four old burros av mine do be the most exasperatin' limit And shat's the truth or my names not Jimmie Harrigan Have drink?"
 Pierre smiled. Thanks, but l filled up at the spring when we first arrived
 Sure ye did, but have another, anyhow. Too much water will be an experience when we're out in that danged old desert wonder"
 Pierre, with a laugh, raised the Canteen to his lips.
 "Speakin' av water" the desert man continued, there do be tracks av strange burros down around the spring. The beasts never come from my place and they did not come from Red Butte or we would have seen their signs these last two days. I'm thinkin' 'tis more than likely thim burrose belong to the two men yere lookin' fer"
 You think Bruce Carey and the man he is with are near here?" cried Pierre eagerly.
 No, lad, 'tis certain I am that Colorado Bill and his friend Burnes, that you think is the man Bruce Carey that you're so wistful to find, are not in this neighborhood Iris like I told you-I seen thim men wid me own two eyes a-head- in toward Mother Mountain. They ain't come back or they'd be here, or at least their tracks would. Now, the only water-hole on Moth CT Mountain is Blaekwater Tanks. Sometimes there's water at the Tanks, and sometimes there is not. These burros bein' here at Drippin' Spring may have come back from Blackwater Tanks because there's little or no water there right now
 "Blackwater Tanks is no more than hollow in the rocks, and not Twin water like Drippia Spring here And that water hole may be dry, we've had no rain for so long a time"
 l But if there is no water the men would come back, too, would mt they?"
 They would if--' The Irishmar hesitated, then as if to reassure his companion. "it may be av course that there is little water in the Tanks, and that Colorado Bill has turned his burros loose to save what there is fer himself and yei friend, Bruce, knowing that tht beasts would come back here te Drippin' Spring and that he coulo pick them up again on his way back to Red Butte after he ana yer friend had stayed on Mother Mountain as long as what littlt water there is in the Tanks lasts But I don't like it at all"
 "Is there anything we can do MT Harrigan?"
 "Ncthin' more than to go straight ahead as ye planned. But 'tis vel that ye have no burros to bother with tomorrow. You can carry enough water to last ye to Mother Mountain and back here again But 'tis on me mind that yell not get far til ye meet yer men or