Chapter 16 sixteen

Della.Streeter unfolded the evening paper on Mason's desk, and look, our friend Paul.Drake.she says. Mason looked at Paul with approval.A picture of Drake in a battered shirt, patched overalls and a scuffed Stetson hat.He led a donkey, and his pack was covered with canvas, and a pick, a shovel, and a golden saucepan were all tied to the outside of the pack.The whole photo has a very real feel to it.Paul.Drake had a friendly, sincere look on his face.In the photo, he is thin and dark, his body is strong and strong after years of living in the desert.In his raised right hand he carried a buckskin bag.

The text under the photo records the story that happened: Paul.Drake claims to have discovered the famous missing mine.Here Drake is handing Harvey a bag of gold dust.Brady's wealthy Las Alisas rancher.See page six for details. The text was published prominently on the sixth page of the newspaper.Here's the headline: Prospector finds missing bonanza, Southern California rancher shares clues with down-and-out prospector. Mason read the story with relish.The story goes that Harvey, a famous rancher in Las Alisas,Brady had always wanted to be a prospector, but he was destined to run a small-scale cattle breeding business. He made money to invest in buying more cattle, and finally became one of the giants of the cattle industry in Southern California.But with the prospect of prospecting always in his mind, because his extensive business activities prevented him from going to the desert himself, Brady began to read about deposits and mining, especially about the lost mines of the Southwest.He spared no effort to find every piece of news he could get his hands on, gradually building his library into one of the most complete in the Southwest.

For fear of being ridiculed, Brady kept his hobby private to his closest friends and colleagues.No one who had known him for many years would have guessed that he would be interested in the missing mine.Through exhaustive research work, he came to realize that the missing deposit might have to be relocated.And just like that, fate finally rewarded Brady's persistence when he drove across the desert six months ago. As he was driving across the desert to attend a livestock conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, Paul.Drake, a typical desert prospector, was shuffling miserably between Yemore and Windermere Station, feeling sorry for the dead donkey.Drake is left with the pack on his back.He walked slowly on the road, a sound of car brakes came to his ears, and when he looked up, he saw Brady's friendly smile.Afterwards, Drake threw the heavy package into the trunk of the car, and he got into Brady's car and drove to Windermere station together.

During the conversation, Drake said he was familiar with the desert, and Harvey.Brady had just deduced that one of the famous missing deposits was located in this desert.Instead of getting off at Windermere station, Drake went to Las Vegas and became Harvey.Brady's guest.Drake was at the restaurant while the ranchers were in meetings.Brady would chat in Drake's room whenever he could, trying to get to know him as well as he could. So, on the last day of the meeting, Brady made a suggestion.He wants to help Drake on the condition of sharing the mine.Instead of prowling around, Drake will be a desert detective who will follow Brady's route, a route he deduces has been traveled, and eventually find the richest man in the entire Southwest. One of the mines, which of course is now missing.

The newspaper went on to say that the parties were naturally silent about the specifics of the conversation between them.But they struck a deal.The deal finally came to light yesterday afternoon, when Brady, who had almost forgotten about the prospector, received the good news that his reasoning had once again helped him find one of the richest deposits in the desert.Just when this dramatic event directed by fate but not asking for rewards for doing good deeds was about to end, Drake came back and handed Harvey.Brady had a buckskin bag containing hundreds of dollars worth of placer gold that the prospectors picked up in less than twenty-five minutes.Someone came to this mine sixty or seventy years ago, and that person was too excited, so he couldn't find this place anymore.

Mason said with a cheerful smile: I have to give the newspaper to Paul.Look at Drake, he's doing a good job. Have to give Harvey.Brady look, Della.Streeter said he was a good friend of faith. He is.But when the truth came out, his friends would laugh at him.But, just like that, he won't make a fuss about it. Della.Streeter blinked and said: To some extent, he will have a lot of complaints in his heart when he does this.His sense of humor always keeps him in good spirits. His loyalty to his friends makes him feel so reliable, Mason said, is there Paul?News from Drake? Not at all.

I told him to celebrate.Mason said. Drake will be there to celebrate, fully reimbursed. of course!Della, see if I can get Brady on the phone. Della.Streeter went to her phone and called Gerty on the switchboard.A few minutes later, Brady's phone connected. Mason said: Sorry, I was too late to tell you, it made you tired, Brady.I'll explain it to you when we meet. No need to explain, Brady said, a friend who needs an explanation is not worth having.When you ask a cowman to do something for you, he either tells you no, or he does it for you, and is very happy.What else can I do for you?

No.Mason told him. Your man Drake is drunk.Are you okay? nothing. He said you made him drunk in public so he could talk nonsense.However, he was still a little drunk when he talked, and I kept him in the house just to be on the safe side. Not easy to deal with, right?Mason asked. It's not too difficult either.He ran away once, very fast, and I tied him back with a noose.For a while he was more docile. Can he drive?Mason said. God, it's impossible. Do you have someone who can take him to the Mojave and let him go? Just walk away drunk like this? Yes. All right.I drove him myself.If you want to see two real old prospectors having fun, come to the Mojave and watch Paul.Drake and Harvey.Brady celebrated their luck.

I'll go, Mason said with a smile, just, don't Brady said: Bah!The mad cow jumped through the window.Then Mason heard the mic drop over there, followed by the sound of the mic dangling like a pendulum hitting a wall.Harvey can also be heard through the microphone.Brady is yelling: Get off that horse, it's going to turn you over!Then the phone disconnected. Mason sighed, hung up the receiver, and said to Della: Did you hear the call? She nodded, sounding like Paul.Drake is learning to be a cowboy. Not easy.Mason felt the same way. Della said: I'll see if I can find any news about the others.

Fifteen minutes later, Della brought back the news, Yan Dinger.Powers had been questioned and the police released him. His mobile home trailer had been seized by the police, so Yan Dinger changed into a horse trailer, loaded it with a donkey, and went somewhere. Dr. Kenward had a stroke and the wound was somewhat infected.He has gone to the desert to recuperate.Wilma.Starr was with him. Mason said: Get in touch with the detective agency.See if you can find any trace of Yan Ding'er. Della went downstairs to the Drake Detective Agency and came back to report that they had someone on the job.

She asked Mason: What was the result of your evidence collection? They must have been defeated. I bet it would make Moffgate pissed off. Mason nodded. You have to be careful.You beat him twice and he'll pick on you. Mason said: "He was holding on to something. what is that? is stock.He wasn't too sure, but he was thinking I signed Clark's name on the stock.I had to do it, as soon as Clark traced it, the stock was legal.If he is still alive, it doesn't matter anyway, because he knows and allows me to sign his name.But Clark's dead, and I'm in a bind. They call it forgery. You see, I'm trying to get myself a million dollars' worth of stock by forging the names of dead clients. Did Moffgate suspect that? Yes Moffgate is just walking around.He threatened me to speak out about it.Of course I don't have to keep the stock, but I dare not hand it over. what have you done? Rejected him on the spot and knocked him out. Boss, be careful. He smiled and said: It's too late, I don't like to be cautious. It was four o'clock in the afternoon when Drake's office issued a report.Banning.Clark owns some minerals in the Walker Pass area.The mines are known as the High Sky mine, and Comeback Mining has a purchase right to it that expires at midnight.Apparently Yan Dinger is marching towards these mines.Dr. Kenward and Wilma.Staller was with him, and Dr. Kenward wanted a change of scenery, a quiet place. Mason took note of Banning.The specific location of Clark's high sky mining area, and then smiled at Della and said: Della, does the janitor still have a pair of sleeping bags? She nodded and said: It was used when we camped last fall. I don't know if there are any inflatable cushions. Take a chance, Mason said, and tell the concierge to get those things out.Go to your apartment and wear some sturdy clothing.Bring a portable typewriter, some stationery and carbon paper in your briefcase, keep your pens filled with ink, and remember to bring your shorthand notebook. Where are we going?she asked. Mason laughed and said: Prospecting is not prospecting, it is a search for a lost murderer, and at the same time to avoid charges of forgery.