Smyrna times., 1932-09-14
WEEKLY STORY
AROUND TABLE
Reading to While Away Time
Under the Evening Lamp
When Days Work is Done
INTERESTING READING
DEATH VALLEY LOVE"
By Marshall Breedon

RULL GRAHAM had lived for
- fifty years in the Mojave desert
spending most of his time tramp
Ing around Death valley.
It's a-gettin' so man can hard
ly have room fer to turn around
in," Bull grumbled.
Lonesome June, his long-eared
Jenny, who was asleep on her feet
beside him, did not wake up at the
sound of Bulls voice. But when
the crunch Of feet cut the still hot
air Lonesome June opened one eye,
looked at the newcomer and went
to SLEEP again. Bull had caught a
view Of the young girls face. She
was making hard headway through
the alkali.
She stopped when she came up
to the old man. Her lips were
cracking, her breath came in
quick gasps, but under the blister
Of her face the countenance was
determined. Bull was about to say
something when the girl stepped
aside and started to pass. Instantly
Bull slid forward. His heat-twist-
ed old body barred her passage.
you can't fight the SINK" he
said. You're walking to yur death,
sure"
She glared at him. Eyes wide,
lips set, muscles taut. Il know
what am doing" The tone was
harsh, the words suffered through
the dry throat. Let me 60" She
jerked away, but before she could
step forward Bull took her by both
arms and swung her face away
from the deadly blow of the sun.
He held her until the brief struggle
died. When he loosened her she
looked at him, "Old Buzzard. You
mind your own business, want to
die"
For a brief moment their eyes
held, then the girl wavered, her
breast heaved and, sitting in the
hot alkali, she buried her face in
her arms and sobbed. dreadfully.
Bull Graham stepped to the side of
Lonesome June. He took a water
bottle from bis pack and stood
about the girl.
"a drink of water slow like" he
held it close, temptingly so, "then
you'll not want to die. No man In
the world is worth what you was
adding. Take d drink outen the
bottle"
Il love him." Her words we're
more broken than before
The old man drew her to her feet.
led her toward the patient Jenny.
BEST we get back to the hotel,''
he said. ITS not more'n a couple
of miles. They started off slow
". The water mad revived the girl.
Her eyes lost some Of their fierce
ness. her lips softened. They walked
without speaking. Every hundred
steps or so Bull would offer her a
drink. On the fourth stop she
handed the bottle back. I'm not
going back" Her voice was firm.
IF you go into the sink, I'll have
to be a-goin' with you and me and
Lonesome June is tired, we be-"
"He was going to marry me-" she
said
"He had a change of heart again
you?"
In the hotel he told me while
we we're dancing that he did not
want to marry me-"
"Thinkin maybe you was a right
smart gal" Bull said. Guess maybe
| was mistOok."
"What do you mean?" she asked. |
"When | was young feller," he
talked as they began to walk toward |
the hotel, Il had me a gal. sat a
heap of store by her. Liked her
more'n | do Lonesome June here.
An will you believer of it. one night 4
she up and tells me to go plum
to hi out of her sight? Well. that
busted me up a heap. | was fer /
having myself killed. and was fer
killing her and by gosh | was all
upset. So | sets out to have my
self killed jest as you been doing.
Yes, I walked from Los Angeles
where was a-living. and | kept
coming until | come to this here
Death valley, and then | seen what
a fine place the world was and ]
didn't want to get myself killed.
"You think you can love only
oncet. So did |, but / know better
now. been in love ever since that
gal turned against me. More In
love than was with her. And
you, why, you'll have a better boy
afore you can wink twenty times,
and then you'll be like | am, plum
happy with your new love. and it
will be a honest love. like the one
you Jest had wasn't"
A smile moved her cracking
lips. "Why. you're right" she said.
Her voice was cheerful .'Of course.
here are other men. and besides
II wouldn't be fair to my father
and mother. They are waiting at
the hotel. I'll run along and