Lust for Gold Page #3

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around here in the '70s and '80s.

That one killed a sheriff in 1875.

You know, finding this where I did,

I thought I might be near his mine.

That is, if it was his gun.

I never heard anybody say

what kind of a weapon Walz used.

If it's so important for you to find out,

you might try the Pioneer's Home.

- The Pioneer's Home?

- It's in Phoenix. Old folks' place.

One of those old-timers

might be able to tell you about this...

and your grandfather, too.

They got nothing else to do up there

but talk.

Thanks. I think I'll pay them a visit.

Mrs. Bannister might be able to help you.

She spent her childhood

in Florence Junction.

She isn't easy to talk to.

If you'll promise not to upset her...

I won't.

Martha, this is Mr. Storm.

He wants to ask you a few questions.

You know I don't like being bothered.

You've got no right

to bring people pestering me.

It's about my grandfather.

He lived here around 1886.

I knew a lot of people who lived here.

What was his name?

Walz. Jacob Walz.

I won't talk about him.

Jacob Walz was a mean, wicked man.

And if you're his grandson,

you're probably just like him.

Did I hear you mention Jake Walz?

He was a real sidewinder, that man.

What do you want to know about him?

I'll be glad to tell you.

You're always poking your nose in

where you ain't wanted, Bill Bates.

- He didn't ask you.

- My name's Barry Storm.

- You see, Walz was my...

- Checking up on old Jake?

Well, you've come to the right place,

young fellow.

- Now, if you want my opinion, I...

- He don't want anything from you.

I'm the one who knows

all about Jacob Walz.

I found this gun and...

You like guns, don't you?

You probably go around scaring people

with them, just like he did to me.

When I was a girl in Florence Junction,

he frightened me.

What you doing, mister?

What you doing?

Why are you playing with that?

Is that gun yours? It's brand new, ain't it?

- Ain't it, mister?

- Come here.

Want to have some fun?

Put your finger in there.

Pull.

Pull harder.

I got buyers for two of our burros.

A Mexican fellow and his partner.

Well, here's your burros.

You got them at a good price, too.

Gonna have a look

for that lost Spanish gold?

I guessed right, didn't I?

Everybody looks for it,

but nobody ever finds it.

I figure them Indians hid it.

Too good, they hid it.

- What do you mean the Indians hid it?

- That gold is hid forever.

Want to sell back them burros?

I'll give you half what you paid for them.

Well, maybe they ain't hid it

good enough. Eh, Peralta?

Silencio!

Keep your mouth shut.

Name of Peralta

mean anything to you, Dutchie?

Be a dirty shame

if they was to stumble onto something...

and we wasn't there to see what is was.

Yeah.

- They're making camp for the night.

- Yeah, it's about time.

The fellows must be part mountain goat,

the way they been hightailing it.

Go start a fire down in the gully there,

and don't make any smoke.

I'll go unload the burro.

Soon as I play myself a game.

You know, I think you're right about them.

They haven't even stopped

to pan one of the streams.

- They know where they're going all right.

- Sure they know where they're going.

You should've seen the way that Mexican

jumped down the other fellow's throat...

when he started to talk.

You're dang right

they know where they're going.

Say, you're lucky I let you in on this.

You go down and build a fire

and don't make any smoke.

Just turn up the ace of spades

and I can win this game.

Well, it could be the ace of spades.

I won that game.

Them's the settin'est two fellows

I ever seen.

Suppose they sleep setting up that way?

Their fire's going out.

Darn ace of spades never shows up

when I need it most.

Beats me every dang game.

Come on!

They tricked us,

them shad-bellied hornswogglers!

Made us think they was setting here.

- They won't get away.

- We can pick up a trail.

I figure they went this way.

What do you think?

- Why, sure, Dutchie.

- All right, go get the burro. Go on!

The two who were following us...

I wonder if they follow our trail?

No, we'd have seen them two days before

if they had.

Are you sure you know what you're doing?

I found the marker and the signs.

We won't have long to wait

for the next sign now.

See, the moon is just rising.

I never heard of finding a mine

by the light of the moon.

It is 38 years to the day

that my brothers and I were here.

You won't forget our agreement?

I am a Mexican.

- I cannot file a claim for this mine.

- No, I won't forget.

I file the claim as an American citizen,

and we go 50-50.

We must get to the ledge below.

There's nothing here.

It's been many years,

but I'm sure this is the place.

Maybe the old burro-seller's right.

Maybe the Indians did cover it up.

We dig here.

My old legs are killing me.

I'm getting too old

to be traipsing around these mountains.

When we go back, lets go to Phoenix

instead by way of Florence Junction.

What do you say, Dutchie?

You never been to Phoenix, have you?

It's a real live town.

I remember once I was...

Look at it! Gold! Sacks of it, already mined!

We've got a storehouse.

I tell you it's the richest gold ore

you ever seen.

Come on.

Gold!

Joe, what is it?

Fellow found gold in Superstition,

Mrs. Thomas.

Brung back nuggets as big as your fist.

- What's happening?

- Parsons is weighing it now.

- Stranger, you've hit it rich.

- How much?

- For that ore, I'd say close to $40,000 a ton.

- $40,000 a ton.

- That's bigger than the California strike.

- How much?

$40,000 a ton!

- Bonanza!

- $40,000 a ton.

- Can you imagine?

- Go and buy up every burro in town. Hurry.

- How much?

- $40,000.

- $40,000.

- It's over $40,000.

- It's way over $40,000.

- Nearly $50,000.

- How much for what I brought in?

- A mite less than 300 pounds.

- I'll give you $5,000 for it.

- It's worth $6,000.

Refined, maybe. As it is, no.

- Let's see.

- Stop crowding me, will you?

All right, $5,000.

What's your name?

I have to have your name on this receipt.

- Walz. Jacob Walz.

- What's his name?

He said his name was Jacob Walz.

- Who is he?

- Jacob Walz.

- Must be a Dutchman.

- Or a German.

Yeah, that's what I said, a Dutchman.

Jacob Walz.

Sign it.

It's a receipt stating I paid you $5,000...

for 297.5 pounds of gold ore.

- You ain't paid me yet.

- I will.

You've got to sign it. It's the law.

Is he signing his name?

- I don't know.

- He isn't even signing his name.

- He can't even write his own name.

- He can't read nor write.

How do you like that, Julia?

A stupid foreigner that can't even read

or write finds $1 million gold mine.

And you get $11 a week

clerking in a hardware store.

You and your high-school diploma.

And ten 50s make $5,000.

You're sure going to file a claim, ain't you?

I'd like to talk to you about a deal

you might find interesting.

Whereabouts is this strike?

Ain't you going to file a claim, mister?

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