The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-01-20
Death Valley
Love
~ MARSHALL DREEDoN
. hy Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.

Lonesome June, Ills long cared jen-
ny. 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 Z view Of the young
girls face. She was making hard
headway through the alkali. Bull
crossed to point where he would
encounter the girl.
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 coun-
tenance was determined. Bull was
about to say something when the girl
stepped aside and started to pass. In
stantly Bull slid forward. His heat
twisted old body barred her passage.
"You can't fight the sink" he said.
you're walking to yur death, sure"
She slared at him. Eyes wide. lips
set, muscles taut. II know what am
doing" The tone was harsh, the
words suffered through the dry
throat. LET me CO." She jerked
away. but before she could step for
ward 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 swn bust
ness, l want to die"
For 4 brief moment their eyes held,
then the girl wavered. her breast
heaved and, sitting In the hot alkal,
she buried her face In her arms and
sobbed, dreadfully. Bull Graham
stepped to the side Of Lonesome June.
He took 4 water bottle from his pack
and stood above the girl. The effort
Of sobbing in the heat had nearly ex-
hausted her. She looked up AZ he
held the water bottle close.
"A drink Of water slow like" he held
It close. temptingly so, then you'll not
want to die. No man In the world IL
worth what you was adding. Take q
drink outen the bottle"
81 love him." Her words were 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 q couple of
miles. He jerked Lonesome June
awake. They started Off slowly. The
water had revived the girl. Her eyes
lost some Of their herceness, her lips
softensd. They walked without speak
ing. Every hundred steps or 80 Bull
would offer her drink. On the fourth
stop she handed the bottle back. "I'm
not going back" Her voice was frm
III you 60 into the sink, I'll have to
be a-goin' with you and me and Lone
some June is tired, we be-"
He was going to marry me-" she
said.
"He had a change of heart again
your"
"In the hotel he told me while we
were dancing that he did not want to
marry me-" Her voice broke q little.
He said he didn't love me any more"
'Thinkin' maybe you was q right
smart GAL" Bull said. Guess maybe
was mistook."
what do you mean?" she asked
when was a young fellsr." he
talked as they began to walk toward
the hotel, ~ had me gal. l sat 4
heap Of store by her. Liked her more'n
/ do Lonesome June here. An will
you believer Of 1t. one night she up
and tells me to go plum to HI out
Of her sight'l Well, that busted me
up heap. ! was fer having myself
killed, and l was fer killing her and
by gosh was all upset 80 sets out
to have myself killed jest az you been
doing. Yes, ] walked from Los An
geles where I was a-living, and I kept
coming until come to this here Death
valley. and then ! seen what 4 fine
place the world was and I didn't want
70 get myself killed any more"
"You think you can love only oncet.
So did l, but ] know better now.
been in love ever since that gal turned
again me. More In love than l was
with her. And you. why. you'll have
better boy afore you can wink twenty
imes and then you'll be like ! am,
,lum happy with your new love, and
t will be honest love, like the one
you lest had waaonst"
A smile moved her cracking lips.
why. you're right" she said. Her
'oics was cheerful. "Of course, there
re other men. and besides 1t wouldn't
- fair to my father and mother. They
ire waiting at the hotel. I'll run along !
md oh, thank you 20 much,
md l hope you'll always love your
wife like you said you did, for you
aid you found better love than the
lrst girl could give"
Old Bull Graham leaned his skinny
rms over the back OF Lonesome June.
1s watched the girl going toward the
Iotel.
Il been homes. with the sink fer If !
y-thres years, since come to It," he
aid, 'and it amt a-goin to mind efen
tell bit Of lie. Love me wife.
wife. say, gal, amt ever had no wife, !
or no gal, either. been In love with /
>eath valley fer all them years and / ,
uesen the sink will love me fer saw
ng your life"
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