Transcriber’s Note:
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
THE WELL IN THE DESERT
BOOK ONE
THE VALLEY OF BACA
CHAPTER I
Blue Gulch was relaxing after the ardors ofits working-day. From the direction of theCheerful Heart Dance Hall issued sounds of mirthand festivity, and a weaving fantasy of shadowson its canvas walls proclaimed to those without thatthe cheerful hearts were in executive session.
A man coming furtively along Upper Broadwaymade a detour to avoid the bar of light that shonethrough the open door of the hall. He passed behindthe building, and around the big fandango,where the trip of feet mingled with the tinkle ofa guitar and the whirr and thump of a wheel offortune.
“It can’t be anywhere along here,” he muttered,4coming back to the road and pausing to survey thestarlit scene.
Blue Gulch had but one street, the two sides ofwhich lay at different levels, separated by the wideyawn of the gulch itself, thrusting into the mountainfrom the desert below. From where the manstood he commanded a very complete view of theplace. In nearly every house was a light, and theshadows thrown upon the canvas walls gave a fairclue to the occupations of those within; so thatduring the early part of each evening at leastneither half of the town need be in any doubt asto how the other half was living.
The life and gaiety of the community in relaxationseemed to gather upon the upper plane.Across the gulch Lower Broadway lay in comparativedarkness.
The man drew back again as a couple ofshadowy forms came wavering down the road.One of these carried a lantern, which hung low athis side, revealing the heavy miners’ boots of thepair, and casting grotesque shadows up the mountain-side.
“Where’s Westcott? Why ain’t he along?”one asked, as they passed.
The skulking figure in the shadow strained hisears to listen, one hand pressed upon his mouth tokeep back the cough that wou