The Mesa Trail

dobes nestling along the curve of Santa Fé creek under the gray sharp

ignifies "cow" and may be spelled, in the old fashion, either Baca or Vaca. If t

to them, and halting abruptly before the house, crept a dust-white flivver in which sat two people: one a woman, g

ed the two smokers. They r

ind Alf Lewis and Joe Gilb

s us,

r a handle. I'm goin' to open up an ore outcrop. Thi

f you, ma'am,

work! Only, ma'am, we'd ought to tell ye squa

be no pleasure trip, gents. 'Cause why, I've got something good, something that'll bring Mackintavers on the trail soon's he smells it-him or his friends. I don't aim to be bluffed o

aid Gilbert. "We sure woul

ace was sun-blistered and graven with gnawing desire, his black eyes were feverish, he looked anything but a mining man. Yet the

m boxes gentle. Three or four holds blasting powder and dy

far?" asked Le

he soft spots in the road. Besides, I've driv' several hundred mile a'ready with this here outfit, and she ain'

r nerves," commented Gilbert. "But you ain

turned and strode away through the dust. Thady Shea watched her out of sight, the

either of you delvers in the deeps

ing voice Gilbert's ja

Scripture talk? What

that do mingle soul with vaster inspiration! I p

aculated Lewis, staring. "

late despair. The two men in the rear of the car glance

s. There, concealed from exterior view, she found an automobile at rest; she went on to the adjoining rear doo

hot!" said Mrs.

hant. "Let us take the front room and we may t

at a third interest in Number Sixteen was to be assigned to Thaddeus Shea, in whose name, also

n Shea, se?ora. Why do

e. He spoke as one having the right to

lthy, none of us ain't going to thrive on Number Sixteen for quite a spell yet! I'm gambling that Thady Shea will earn all he gets. He's absolutely honest, and good-hearted. He won't know t

ed gently and

d that this man will be the cause of misfortune; but what matter? If not from

uncover the vein, and send me more samples immediately. These other two men must become small shareholders, so that

p grimly, "look out for Mackintaver

Tio bowed and fin

and heard the roar of her car's engine. The roar became a thrum that lessened and died i

! Well, I warned her in the note. What matter? These incidents of destiny are intended t

be of aid in running a flivver, Mrs. Crump hea

over this section unobserved, and it was entirely evident that her haste was

crashed and banged fearsomely, in view of their partial contents; but Mrs. Crump only threw in more gas and plunged ahead

paused at a wayside station to fill up with oil and gasoline, also t

mesa, you two boys act tender with them boxes! They's two-three places we got to ford cattle runs, and we

lbert and Lewis could by no means have

wn highway beside the railroad and took the shorter but deserted road that leads south

y though the three passengers were, it was clearly impossible that they should prove less tough than a mere

approaching dissolution in the hand that rocked the steering wheel. Admitting her weakness with a sigh, she turned out of th

n under the cold stars, his gaunt body shivering with the chill of the night, his haggard features contorted with the desperate anguish of shattered nerves. Al

lected the pale starlight above; and like the stars, those tears were cleansing, and serenely sad. The first tears he

ust-white flivver o

work duly began upon Number Sixteen. Days of hard, back-breaking labour ensued-days in which living quarters had to b

o rough shacks, and here the dust-white flivver rested peacefully. To the north towered the higher forested ranges whence came the ca?on-the continental divide, rugged crests leaping at the sky. Below,

aced by overalls, high boots, flannel shirt. Shea was less conscious of his changed exterior than were those abou

ain't he?" said Lewis. "No

ks that-a-way, partner. Reckon Mis' Crump knew her business, after all,

re seemed to move with a more lissome flow of muscles; for the first time in his life, most wonderful of all, his deeply lined features had becom

mp, hastily coming to the scene. Shea dropped his pick and joined the others

t i

"Veins, rather-looks like a lot of 'em, and they go d

ckled in a sat

seam? But she is. Well, never mind any more work a while, boys. I got a letter already writ, and when I fill i

d this here location has got to be kept secret if possible. I s'pose the devils will get it from t

ok his head

nd we ain't right sure how things is fixed for us. Sti

how to run the car, anyhow. Thady, you got to send them samples and a letter. No one's goin' to

grub, for which same I got a list made out already. A new axe helve, too. Don't forget that there axe helve, whatever ye d

a slight smile cur