Love adapts itself to strange conditions when it must, and men and
maids never find it less alluring. Eight days Gary had been
imprisoned in the crosscut, and thought it a lifetime of misery. Yet
the four days which he remained still a prisoner, but with Patricia
perched upon the bowlder practically all of the time, the entombment
became an adventure, something to tell about afterward as a bit of
red-blooded pioneering that seldom falls to the lot of men nowadays.
It is true that Monty was there, pecking away at the bowlder with
single-jack and gadget much of the time; but Patricia during those
hours moved just far enough away to escape the swing of Monty’s
hammer, and the dialogue went on--mostly of things altogether strange
to Monty Girard. Gossip of the city, plans for “The Pat Connolly”
mine--in which Monty was of course included.
“I shall put three names on that location,” Patricia announced, in
the tone that went with the squared chin. “Whatever possessed you,
Gary Marshall, to leave your name out of it--or Monty’s? Do you think
I’m a--a pig?”
Monty dissented to the plan, and so did Gary--but precious little
good that did them. Patricia left the bowlder then, while the matter
was fresh in her mind, and made the trip down to the cabin after her
fountain pen so that she could have the mine as she wanted it.
“There! If the thing is worth anything--half as much as you think,
Gary--two thirds of it is as much as we could ever spend and keep
decently sane on the subject. And I’m sure, Gary Marshall, you’d
think Monty was earning a share, if you knew how hot it is out here
in the sun. The perspiration is just _rolling_ off him!”
“Let up a while, old son,” Gary generously implored. “I’m doing all
right in here--it’s a cinch, with the eats passed in to me regularly,
and not a thing in the world to do. You can send out for a preacher,
Monty, and I can offer my good right hand to Pat any time. Great
scene, that would make! Handsome Gary entombed----”
“For pity’s sake, Gary, don’t j-_joke_ about it!” wailed Patricia.
When Monty sent a warning frown and a “sh-sh” through to the
irrepressible, Gary subsided.
“Car’s coming,” Monty announced, glad to have the distraction for
Patricia, who was crying silently with her face hidden. “If that’s
Joe, he’s had better luck than is possible, or he’s laid down on the
job. I better go down and make shore. I’ll bring up whatever yuh-all
want to eat, when I come. If it’s in the cañon,” he added
cautiously, remembering some of the things Gary had perversely
insisted upon.
“I’m sorry, Pat,” Gary murmured, when Monty’s steps could no longer
be heard on the rocks. “Can’t you put your face right up to the
opening now? Monty knocked quite a chunk of rock off a few minutes
ago. And, Pat, if you knew how I wanted to kiss my girl on the
lips!”
So Patricia wiped her eyes and put her face to the opening.
* * * * *
It happened to be the sheriff’s car from Tonopah, with three other
men deputized to come along and see what was taking place away over
here in Johnnywater. In a little while they came puffing up the
bluff to look in upon the man who had been trapped underground for
considerably more than a week. They were mighty sympathetic and they
were deeply concerned and anxious to do something, poor men. But
they were not welcome, and it was difficult for the leading man and
his lady to register gratitude for their presence.
Gary finally thought of a way out. He told the sheriff that, since
there was nothing to be done at present to release him, he would
suggest that they investigate the grave under the juniper. He said
he thought they might be able to identify the remains of a man which
he had buried there.
They took the bait and went trooping down the bluff again to do
their full duty. And the last hat-crown had no more than disappeared
when Patricia again leaned forward and put her face to the opening,
this time without being asked.
There is nothing in the world like love, is there? When it can
brighten a situation such as this and turn tragedy into romance--why,
then, there’s mighty little more to be said.