Gold mines and mining -- Fiction; Nevada -- Fiction; Western stories
Across from the bank, the O'Hara House floated a green pennant with
the O'Hara in white upon it; which was the sign of the O'Hara House in
cities all through the West. Bill and Doris had tried one in Portland,
and had found it almost good enough for Doris, although
"two-rooms-and-bath" were the best accommodations the place afforded,
with the bath connecting, which was terrible. But the cuisine was
above criticism. O'Hara food always was perfect and immaculately
served. Nevertheless, Bill curled his lips at the sign and went into a
grocery store and bought a can of tomatoes, a pound of coffee, a
little flour and butter and onions and potatoes and such other
supplies as he happened to see or remember, and called a loafing
Mexican to carry the stuff to his old camp, Bill walking ahead with
his suitcase to show the way.
Tommy, it appeared, had been faithful to his trust. The camp was
enclosed by a highboard fence, and there were signs which said, "KEEP
OUT!! THIS MEANS YOU!!" Bill grinned happily and had the Mexican set
the things down by the gate and go back whence he had come, an extra
dollar in his overalls pocket and a wide smile on his face.
Tommy had sent the extra padlock key to Bill, perhaps in proof of his
good faith. Bill opened the gate and was set upon with deadly intent
by Hezekiah, who evidently failed to remember him until Bill spoke his
name. Then his joy became hysterical and brought a lump into Bill's
throat.
His tent stood just as he had left it, with the forge under the
juniper tree and the dugout cellar in the bank. His bunk was neatly
spread with his blankets, though dust lay on the calico-covered
pillow. His dishes were placed in orderly rows upon the box shelves,
a pile of dry wood lay behind the cook stove. And from the ridgepole,
suspended by a bit of rope tied through the handle, hung a black
leather case,--the silver saxophone.
Bill laughed a little when he glanced up and saw the symbol of one
secret hope, but there was no mirth in the laughter. He was thinking
what a fool he had been to dream of playing "Love's Old, Sweet Song"
with Doris. Doris never sang nowadays. She would not sing the old
songs Bill loved, because they were so absolutely back-woodsy and she
did not seem to care about learning the new ones. Besides, she
explained, her voice had never been cultivated; an omission for which
Bill thanked God in his heart, after hearing other women strain their
vocal chords with technical skill and little melody. Doris did not
even know about the saxophone. It seemed unlikely now that she ever
would know.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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