August 10, 2025 • 25 mins
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
As the old morning Google call of the covered wagon
trains dies away among the echoes. Another true story of
death Valley Days is brought to you by the Pacific
Coast Borocks Company, who give you the miracle of Borocks
in three convenient forms twenty Mule Team borocks per household use,
twenty Mule Team Borock soap chips for washing clothes and bushes,
(00:50):
and the new Boraxo for toilet utes. Before you become
absorbed in the Old Ranger's story for tonight, we would
like to take just a moment of your time to
tell you something about Boraxo. Boraxo is created in response
to the insistent demands from women for a product that
would cleanse the skin as safely as twenty Mule Team
Borocks cleanses painted woodwork or bathroom porcelain, or your fine
(01:13):
china and glassware.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Well.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
The letters we receive every day praising Boraxo tell us
that we have succeeded in meeting this demand. For say,
are new customers who have discovered Baraxo. Your Boraxo does
just what we wanted.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
It cleanses dirty hands and the children's knees and elbows.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Like magic.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
It works so fast that the children no longer have
any excuse to be laid for meals. They can wash
up in a jiffy with Boraxo. And best of all,
I know that they will come to the table not
only really clean, but with smooth, soft skin.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Your Boraxo cleanses the skin.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
As quickly as your twenty mule Team Borocks cleans our houses.
And that is saying something. And like twenty Mule Team Borocks,
it cleanses without doing any damage.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Thank you for your wonderful new product.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Boraxo, and thank you too for death valid days which
all of us love.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
And now here's the Old Ranger.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
A hearty welcome to y'all.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
And now, Ranger, what's the story for to night?
Speaker 4 (02:23):
Well, it's a story I hardly expect you to believe,
but it's the absolute truth.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Jesus Eve, Why Old Ranger? You know I believe every
word you utter on the air.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
Say George, you don't like the way you say on
the air. However, a little passed this time and now
you just pinned.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Bake your ears and part to the story of the
borough that had no name.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Wouldn't it be a good idea before you start, Old
ranger to explain exactly what a burrow is.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
There may be some of our listeners who don't know
don't know what a burrow is, well, not by that
name anyway, Sure they do.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
Where the word burrow is as carbon as.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
Horse pout where you come from? Maybe everywhere?
Speaker 3 (03:06):
It's not in the encyclopedia or do you know?
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Because I looked when you told us last week about
this burrow story, I thought i'd well study up a
bit on burrows.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Oh steal a merch in the audience.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Eh.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
So you went to the encyclopedia, yes, and I took
down the volume labeled pray b r AI to pass pray.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Well, that was a good thing to look under. Just
the same, the.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Word burrow was nowhere to be found.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
Maybe you don't know how to spell it b u
r R that's right, and you're short.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Wasn't there absolutely from l Hugh Burrow? They jumped right
to John Burrow's whoa. So then I turned to Donkey
and all it said there was c.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Ass And all it said there, I suppose was ce Baalem. Well,
since you couldn't find the word burrow in your dictionary, Georgia,
enlighten you a burn is the same as a donkey
or a jackass. In the desert, we generally call them
jacks for short. They stand about four foot high.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Their coats is wurry, their ears is long, their.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
Tails is sort of like a piece of rope frayed
at the end. Their hoofs is small and sharp, but
their teeth is big and sharp, and their voices is
something fearful.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
There you are.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
And now, since you've got a mental picture of the animal,
well let's get going on the yarn. Hey. The scene
opens in the mining camp of Ryolight. It's the year
nineteen oh five.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Walter Scott Smith not as Smitty, and.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
His partner oly Martin are negotiating with a feller in
ryo Light for a string of burrows with which to
start out into the hills.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Packs and one for yeah. Now, if you can just
fix this up with a couple of good riding burrough
I can give you two of the finest riding burrs
in the batter black Jack here and Samson. How much
fifty a piece? Fifty We'll give you thirty. Ah, you
go to blazers, Why then.
Speaker 5 (05:17):
Pack animals bring thirty five?
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Holy smoke, Well that's highway robbery fry and buy them
somewheres else. Then thirty five dollars for a pack burrough
and fifty for saddle burrow. These two critters is worth it. Two.
I've wrote them both myself, and I know why Blackjack
brung me once all the way from Gold Circle to
Battle Mountains, a sixty mile trip in ten hours. And Sam,
(05:40):
we'll give you forty a piece for them, fifty or not.
I never paid as much as fifty dollars for a
burrow in my life. I'll tell you what I can do.
I can give you a cheaper pack burrow in place
of one of them you picked out? Yeah, which one?
That one over beyond there, sniffing at the pile of
tin cans. Now, I could give you a white burrow here.
Speaker 5 (05:59):
I'll let you have him for twenty dollars.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
I wouldn't take him as a gift fifty. You'd think
I'd be fooled up to go prospecting with a white burr.
What's the matter with a white bird? Well, they're unlucky,
that's what unluckiest thing there is. Say you don't really
believe that to you? We could swing fifteen dollars you
ain't suggesting that we buy that white jack. Well, hey,
(06:22):
fifteen dollars for a jonah a jinx a hoodoo. Only
you're crazy. You must have been out walking in the
sun without your hat on. He ain't really white, Smitty,
He's kind of gray. He's as white as you or me. Well,
we ain't exactly, Lily. I'll make you a price of
twelve dollars for him. How's that You shut up? And
I'm talking off partner. If he buys that white bur
(06:44):
off and you, he's no longer my partner, Ah, Smitty,
I mean it. Only you and me has been prospecting
together since panamid days. We've slept under the same blanket,
drunk out of the same canteen, gone fifty to fifty
on every strike we've made. I think a heap was
But if you pay as much as two bits for
that that you'll win yonder our trails is going to
(07:05):
part so help me. I guess we'll just take four burroughs. Mister.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
It was on the second night out only in Smitty
were finished with their supper and only went over to
feed the Leavin's to the Burroughs.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Oh, I'm coming one at a time.
Speaker 5 (07:31):
Now what why hollo?
Speaker 2 (07:34):
What's the matter? Am my countin thoses right? One? Two?
Frickh one of our jacks missing. No, seems we've acquired
an extra one. Got five? Now?
Speaker 5 (07:48):
Yeah, Well, if.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Those fool greenhorns don't know enough to tie their critters up,
they deserve to lose them. Let me have a look.
So huh it's the white Well, it's a white Buruh
it's the same white bird that that's sharper in Ryle.
I tried to palm off on us on Now that
ain't likely, Smithy. I recognize him in the dark lots
(08:12):
some moore, he recognizes us. Look at that glint in
his eye? Why don't see no glint? He's a grinnin
at us, gloating overs it's a blasted little devil. You're
the plain for this. Only it's all your fault, my fault.
It's all account of you. He's followed us here, and
it's up to you now to get rid of you.
Well how you ask me?
Speaker 4 (08:32):
How?
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Well a fire rocks at him, cuss him, kick him.
I wouldn't want to do that, all right, then I will, No,
you leave him for me. I'll make it plain to
him that he ain't welcome around here. We'll see that
you do pronto. I'll be washing up the supper thing,
all right, I'll hear you, gritters, here's your grub. How
(08:53):
don't you be so greeny Samson? Don't you know there's
others to share with you? Do that? Te Oh yeah,
only yeah, And I'll take it and wash it along
with a frying fan. And holy Martin, what's the matter
You fed that BurrH?
Speaker 5 (09:10):
A which bird of white burrow?
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Ah? Now, Smitty, you needn't deny it. Look at him
licking his lips. Well, that's just yes, some bacon grease.
He's trying to get off his whiskers. You are imagining things, Smitty.
Is that piece of flapjack sticking to his nose my imagination?
Speaker 3 (09:27):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Well, you fed that BurrH? And you just promise me
to get rid of him. I will, Smitty, honest right away.
It's too late. We'll never be rid of him. Now,
evil little blighter will tray us wherever we go, bringing
us nothing but bad luck. Look he's leaving, now, what
did I tell you? Here? He's walking right off into
the desert. You see, he's savvy's he's Savvy's that supper
(09:51):
is over, but he'll be back. You just wait and
see the next morning.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
When only he opened his eyes, he looked around fearfully.
Then he breathed a sigh of relief. The white burrow
was nowers in sight.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
We breakfast over.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
The partners pecked up their outfit and moved down farther
into the hills. That evening they made a dry camp,
and while Smitty unpacked and prepared supper, Ollie went off
with one of the.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Pack burrows to rustle the supply of firewood. It was
almost dark when he returned. Well, I've begun to think
he was lost or had struck gold.
Speaker 5 (10:40):
Maybe no, just that wood was scarce.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
This critter wanted to lay down all the time. Mmm, hey,
what smells the good? I got a treat force tonight.
What is it? Fresh bread?
Speaker 4 (10:53):
No?
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Uh huh? Why you old son of a gun? Too?
Low were off in the Dutch oven keeping warm? Mmm
mm fresh bread, yes, sir? Hey, what it's my turn
to do the cooking? I produce real grub. Well, if
you're castless versions on my meals?
Speaker 4 (11:08):
Hey?
Speaker 2 (11:09):
What else? We gonna have? Mulligan coffee, dozen plums with
a loaf of bread. A peace with that ought to do. Hey,
we're saving one of them loaves for tomorrow. Ah, don't
be stingy. You call a half a loaf of bread stingy?
Say them big load? Well I could eat a whole
batch without any help. I'm hungry as a wolf. Well,
everything's ready as soon as you are, well, then let's eat.
(11:29):
All right, I'll be deacing up to Mulligan and i'll
get the bread out of the oven. That oven was
a good bye? Holy yeah? Wait did you see the
crust of that bread? A nice even cold and brown?
Where'd you say it was money? What for bread? Why?
Right where you're looking in the oven? Lord d a,
(11:50):
Oh sure it is, I tell you, n ain't. The
oven's empty. Say what have you been drinking? Well, if
you don't believe me, come on and look for yourself.
Oh you never could find nothing, nowise what see, we'll
all be durned. Where'd you put me? You sneak him
out and hit them? I know I did nothing of
(12:12):
the kind. Come on, tell me why ain't so much
as laid eyes on them loaves of bread? Smitty? I
swear well, somebody's took them. They was in this oven here,
not five minutes ago? You sure, of course, I'm sure.
I come over, took a look at him. See if
they was done just before you come in. You don't
suppose one of the burroughs could have stole them?
Speaker 5 (12:29):
Do you know while your back was turned?
Speaker 2 (12:31):
How could a burrow lift up the lid of a
Dutch oven carry off two loaves of bread? You'd have
to be educated flame this thing. I ever knowed two
loaves of bread disappearing into thin air. Maybe you didn't
bake them at all, Maybe it just greamed and you
smelled them, didn't you. That's right I did.
Speaker 5 (12:51):
Holy yeah, Holy chuck over.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Yonder where I'm pointing. What's that sticking out from behind
that big It looks like a couple of long cactus leaves.
It's a pair of ears, maybe white ears. Only it's now,
don't jump at conclusion, smitty, Let's go see I told
you this had happened. I knowed he'd turn up again.
(13:17):
Ah there, and you see I was right, sure enough.
It's old white own to a smatter. Don't you dare
give him a name? Why not? Don't you know that
once your name an animal, he's yours? Who says so?
Why it stands to reason, you know, mean, So long
as he's got no name, he's astray, a stranger, a
(13:39):
rank outsider. But just you give him a name, any
kind of a name, and he belongs to you. I see,
what are you laughing at? For a stranger? This fellow
has secondly made himself right at home. Look my bread,
what's left of? It's my beautiful, fresh, hot, crusty bread.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
Oh, you farment, you, you thieving little son of.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
A wrestler, you feracious fuzzytail. Careful, smitty, don't call him names.
Calling him names ain't the same as giving him names.
I can call him all the names in the dictionary
if I feel like it's yes and a duke ye green,
you're in, you lop eard sawt off him of satan,
you white curse, you evil eyed aspineur, your name for darkness.
(14:23):
You well, I reckon. I'll hit the hey. You can
turn in if you want to.
Speaker 5 (14:30):
I'm gonna set up a while longer.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
What for?
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Oh, just ain't sleepy, that's all. I'll smoke another pipeful
and wait up for him. Huh wait for who? You
can't fool me? Oly, you're worrying about that Burrough. Do
you suppose something has happened to him? Smitty? Well, let's
hope so, then maybe our luck will change. I can't
seize we've had any bad luck on this trip. No,
(14:55):
nor any good luck neither. We ain't smell the smell
or holy fuck? Where coming toward us out of the night?
What it's? It's him a prodigal Hush hush? Will you
if he hears you? Will that ain't him? Why if
it was him, he'd be playin by now that Burrow
(15:16):
ain't making a sound. It's his ghosting, Come to hanis
it's the spittin' immy? All right? Smithy? It is his
ghost now him himself? What's He's he walking so queer? For?
Why he's sick or hurt or something? Eh? What is it,
old boy? What's happened? Come over here by the fire
(15:38):
where I can see you. His eyes is closed tight
and his head's all swelled up. Say what incarnation looks?
Queer around the jaw? To open your mouth, feller, let's
have a look.
Speaker 5 (15:50):
Open your mouth, old Huh?
Speaker 2 (15:55):
He can't. His teeth is clinched. What is it? Lockjaw
rattlesnake bite? Look here on the nose. You can see
where the fangs went in. Yes, or he's done poor,
then we may be able to save him. Save him,
We'll do our best. Any high? Are you crazy? Where's
that pomanganate of potassium? Only? Ah? Here it is? What
are you going to do? Rubbert and the wound? Of course,
(16:15):
holy and steal old Feller. I won't hurt you now,
this is going to do you good. Only have you
went clean out of your senses? This critter's a jinx
Oh who doo? We can't just stand by and watch
him die? But why not? We don't want him, nobody wants.
That makes no difference.
Speaker 5 (16:34):
He's a poor, dumb animal and.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
He's in misery. Then put him out of it.
Speaker 5 (16:37):
For just what I'm trying to do.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
I mean, shoot him, your fool? No all, you put
that gun down, you quit working on him?
Speaker 5 (16:44):
Then I can't, smitty, don't you see?
Speaker 2 (16:46):
I can? Why can't you he come to us for help?
He trusts a struss, a white BURROH.
Speaker 5 (16:52):
What ain't his fault? He was born white?
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Only you look, his eyes is opening. The potassium pomanganat
is beginning to work his jaws.
Speaker 5 (17:01):
Loosen him.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Now if I can jest, get some whisky down him. Hey,
that's my whiskey. It's our whisky here, boy only. I've
stood for a lot. But if you pour so much
as one drop of that liquor down that white farming stroat, shut,
we bust.
Speaker 5 (17:17):
Up you and me tip your head back. That's it.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
I'll let me stick the bottle in between your teeth.
So Holy, I'm warnin you a little more. Now we're through. Yeah,
we're through, Smitty. You can take your pick o the burrs,
holy and your share of the grubin things you're not
going on. No, I'm goin back to ryolight and No.
Speaker 4 (17:49):
Ten days later, in a brilliantly lighted saloon and Ryolight,
we find Smitty doin his best to forget about oly
Inn the white Bird.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
He's in his second childhood. That's all you can say
for him. Yeah, yeah, have another. I don't mind if
a dude, Yes, their only needs a nurse or a
keeper or something. He's what's the matter? Can you beat that?
A burrough walking straight in through the swinging doors. He's
(18:39):
looking for a drink. See he's head and straight for
the ball jump being hoos fat. It's the white BurrH,
What yup, Burr, I was just telling you about he's
come back to hoodoo me again. Aye, you're just saying things. Yeah,
have another drink. It's him a look look at that
(19:01):
scar on his nose. That's where the rattlesnake bit him.
Must mean only's back then, funny He come back soon.
Said he was gonna stay out another thirty days. Say
maybe located something. Um huhm, not with that white burrow alone.
Get out, await from me, you unlucky barmit. What do
you mean? Grab a hold of my coat like?
Speaker 4 (19:23):
Call on me?
Speaker 2 (19:23):
You hear me, get out, await for me, get out
of here. Course back to that old fool only had
done it? He knows only his name or right Tony.
Why wouldn't he? Well, why don't you go? What are
you standing there for? What are you looking at me
(19:44):
like that for? Take them eyes off of me? You
hear me say, say he's trying to tell you something, smitty, Oh,
I ain't interested. Something's troubling him. He he's conscience. Maybe
you don't suppose something could have went wrong? Do you
will only be his own fault if it did. I
just wondered, well, what could.
Speaker 5 (20:02):
Have happened to him?
Speaker 2 (20:03):
Ah, nothing, most likely. Oh he's old, desert rid. He
knows all the water holes in Nevad got plenty of grub. Well,
that'd be in the case. Hol out another drink? No, No,
I've had enough. Thanks, This one's on the house. I
can't stop now, all right? You where is he? Is
he here in rhyelight? No? Then show me where they submitted?
(20:32):
Where you going? Wherever this squer takes me? You mean
I'm going to look up?
Speaker 4 (20:38):
Holy well, it was just about sundown of the third
day out that they found him laying unconscious at the
bottom of a narrow canyon.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Holy thanks the Lord, he's still alive. Holy huh, it's
me Smitty, Smitty A come as fast as I could.
He brung your hair? Did he? Straight as a die?
Speaker 5 (21:13):
Good boy feet He turned up in ryolight, just like
I told him too.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
I knowed right off that something was wrong. What happened?
Only where you hurt? My leg broke? Yeah? Yeah, yeah,
I can see. I was falling some float up the mountain.
It was getting dark like a fool. I didn't want
to stop him.
Speaker 5 (21:37):
Somehow or other I lost my foot in then.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
And fell clear down here. Yeah, Oh, I wonder you
wasn't killed out right? E shows how tough I am. Gosh,
I knowed I could never make it back to town,
even if I had a burrow to ride. What happened
to you? Birds?
Speaker 5 (21:56):
And I went off I don't know where.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
All but this.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
He stuck by me until I I sent him away
to get help. I figured I had enough water, the last.
Speaker 5 (22:12):
Metal you could get here if you'd.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
Come, well, oh here, of course i'd come. I didn't know.
I was sort of afraid. You think I'd let you
die out here alone? Alone with my samples? Huh uh
they're around here, Summer's samples of or I run across
something mighty.
Speaker 5 (22:34):
Good, Smitty.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Here, here's one of them. Take a good cat. Let
me see. I agree. I'll say, real picture rock. I'll
bet she says, a trip to Europe for tan if
we wanted to go to Europe, which we don't we,
you and me all but but Oliot, we're still Pardners,
ain't we, Smitty Oliot? I don't deserve it after the
(22:59):
way I treat did you? Heck? You just saved my life,
didn't you? It was me? Was the White Burrough?
Speaker 5 (23:06):
A White Burrough.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Holy yeah, have you named him yet? No? Then let's
give him a name now, Smitty. After all, he's earned it.
You know what it'll mean, don't you? That he'll be
ours for the rest of his life? Yes? All right,
I'm women.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
You've been listening to another true story of death. Valley Days,
brought to you by.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
The Pacific Coast Borox Company, producers of twenty Mule Team
Borocks for household juice, twenty Mule Team Borox soap chips
in the big blue and yellow Sunshine box for washing
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Your grocer can supply you with all of these products.
All of them are inexpensive, all of them bring the
(23:57):
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Speaker 3 (24:00):
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Speaker 1 (24:03):
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(24:26):
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Speaker 3 (24:32):
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Speaker 1 (24:33):
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Speaker 5 (25:01):
The paper, but
As the old morning Google call of the covered wagon
trains dies away among the echoes. Another true story of
death Valley Days is brought to you by the Pacific
Coast Borocks Company, who give you the miracle of Borocks
in three convenient forms twenty Mule Team borocks per household use,
twenty Mule Team Borock soap chips for washing clothes and bushes,
(00:50):
and the new Boraxo for toilet utes. Before you become
absorbed in the Old Ranger's story for tonight, we would
like to take just a moment of your time to
tell you something about Boraxo. Boraxo is created in response
to the insistent demands from women for a product that
would cleanse the skin as safely as twenty Mule Team
Borocks cleanses painted woodwork or bathroom porcelain, or your fine
(01:13):
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Speaker 2 (01:15):
Well.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
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Speaker 3 (01:29):
It cleanses dirty hands and the children's knees and elbows.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Like magic.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
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any excuse to be laid for meals. They can wash
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only really clean, but with smooth, soft skin.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Your Boraxo cleanses the skin.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
As quickly as your twenty mule Team Borocks cleans our houses.
And that is saying something. And like twenty Mule Team Borocks,
it cleanses without doing any damage.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Thank you for your wonderful new product.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Boraxo, and thank you too for death valid days which
all of us love.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
And now here's the Old Ranger.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
A hearty welcome to y'all.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
And now, Ranger, what's the story for to night?
Speaker 4 (02:23):
Well, it's a story I hardly expect you to believe,
but it's the absolute truth.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Jesus Eve, Why Old Ranger? You know I believe every
word you utter on the air.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
Say George, you don't like the way you say on
the air. However, a little passed this time and now
you just pinned.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Bake your ears and part to the story of the
borough that had no name.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Wouldn't it be a good idea before you start, Old
ranger to explain exactly what a burrow is.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
There may be some of our listeners who don't know
don't know what a burrow is, well, not by that
name anyway, Sure they do.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
Where the word burrow is as carbon as.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
Horse pout where you come from? Maybe everywhere?
Speaker 3 (03:06):
It's not in the encyclopedia or do you know?
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Because I looked when you told us last week about
this burrow story, I thought i'd well study up a
bit on burrows.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Oh steal a merch in the audience.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Eh.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
So you went to the encyclopedia, yes, and I took
down the volume labeled pray b r AI to pass pray.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Well, that was a good thing to look under. Just
the same, the.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Word burrow was nowhere to be found.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
Maybe you don't know how to spell it b u
r R that's right, and you're short.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Wasn't there absolutely from l Hugh Burrow? They jumped right
to John Burrow's whoa. So then I turned to Donkey
and all it said there was c.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Ass And all it said there, I suppose was ce Baalem. Well,
since you couldn't find the word burrow in your dictionary, Georgia,
enlighten you a burn is the same as a donkey
or a jackass. In the desert, we generally call them
jacks for short. They stand about four foot high.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Their coats is wurry, their ears is long, their.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
Tails is sort of like a piece of rope frayed
at the end. Their hoofs is small and sharp, but
their teeth is big and sharp, and their voices is
something fearful.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
There you are.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
And now, since you've got a mental picture of the animal,
well let's get going on the yarn. Hey. The scene
opens in the mining camp of Ryolight. It's the year
nineteen oh five.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Walter Scott Smith not as Smitty, and.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
His partner oly Martin are negotiating with a feller in
ryo Light for a string of burrows with which to
start out into the hills.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Packs and one for yeah. Now, if you can just
fix this up with a couple of good riding burrough
I can give you two of the finest riding burrs
in the batter black Jack here and Samson. How much
fifty a piece? Fifty We'll give you thirty. Ah, you
go to blazers, Why then.
Speaker 5 (05:17):
Pack animals bring thirty five?
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Holy smoke, Well that's highway robbery fry and buy them
somewheres else. Then thirty five dollars for a pack burrough
and fifty for saddle burrow. These two critters is worth it. Two.
I've wrote them both myself, and I know why Blackjack
brung me once all the way from Gold Circle to
Battle Mountains, a sixty mile trip in ten hours. And Sam,
(05:40):
we'll give you forty a piece for them, fifty or not.
I never paid as much as fifty dollars for a
burrow in my life. I'll tell you what I can do.
I can give you a cheaper pack burrow in place
of one of them you picked out? Yeah, which one?
That one over beyond there, sniffing at the pile of
tin cans. Now, I could give you a white burrow here.
Speaker 5 (05:59):
I'll let you have him for twenty dollars.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
I wouldn't take him as a gift fifty. You'd think
I'd be fooled up to go prospecting with a white burr.
What's the matter with a white bird? Well, they're unlucky,
that's what unluckiest thing there is. Say you don't really
believe that to you? We could swing fifteen dollars you
ain't suggesting that we buy that white jack. Well, hey,
(06:22):
fifteen dollars for a jonah a jinx a hoodoo. Only
you're crazy. You must have been out walking in the
sun without your hat on. He ain't really white, Smitty,
He's kind of gray. He's as white as you or me. Well,
we ain't exactly, Lily. I'll make you a price of
twelve dollars for him. How's that You shut up? And
I'm talking off partner. If he buys that white bur
(06:44):
off and you, he's no longer my partner, Ah, Smitty,
I mean it. Only you and me has been prospecting
together since panamid days. We've slept under the same blanket,
drunk out of the same canteen, gone fifty to fifty
on every strike we've made. I think a heap was
But if you pay as much as two bits for
that that you'll win yonder our trails is going to
(07:05):
part so help me. I guess we'll just take four burroughs. Mister.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
It was on the second night out only in Smitty
were finished with their supper and only went over to
feed the Leavin's to the Burroughs.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Oh, I'm coming one at a time.
Speaker 5 (07:31):
Now what why hollo?
Speaker 2 (07:34):
What's the matter? Am my countin thoses right? One? Two?
Frickh one of our jacks missing. No, seems we've acquired
an extra one. Got five? Now?
Speaker 5 (07:48):
Yeah, Well, if.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Those fool greenhorns don't know enough to tie their critters up,
they deserve to lose them. Let me have a look.
So huh it's the white Well, it's a white Buruh
it's the same white bird that that's sharper in Ryle.
I tried to palm off on us on Now that
ain't likely, Smithy. I recognize him in the dark lots
(08:12):
some moore, he recognizes us. Look at that glint in
his eye? Why don't see no glint? He's a grinnin
at us, gloating overs it's a blasted little devil. You're
the plain for this. Only it's all your fault, my fault.
It's all account of you. He's followed us here, and
it's up to you now to get rid of you.
Well how you ask me?
Speaker 4 (08:32):
How?
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Well a fire rocks at him, cuss him, kick him.
I wouldn't want to do that, all right, then I will, No,
you leave him for me. I'll make it plain to
him that he ain't welcome around here. We'll see that
you do pronto. I'll be washing up the supper thing,
all right, I'll hear you, gritters, here's your grub. How
(08:53):
don't you be so greeny Samson? Don't you know there's
others to share with you? Do that? Te Oh yeah,
only yeah, And I'll take it and wash it along
with a frying fan. And holy Martin, what's the matter
You fed that BurrH?
Speaker 5 (09:10):
A which bird of white burrow?
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Ah? Now, Smitty, you needn't deny it. Look at him
licking his lips. Well, that's just yes, some bacon grease.
He's trying to get off his whiskers. You are imagining things, Smitty.
Is that piece of flapjack sticking to his nose my imagination?
Speaker 3 (09:27):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Well, you fed that BurrH? And you just promise me
to get rid of him. I will, Smitty, honest right away.
It's too late. We'll never be rid of him. Now,
evil little blighter will tray us wherever we go, bringing
us nothing but bad luck. Look he's leaving, now, what
did I tell you? Here? He's walking right off into
the desert. You see, he's savvy's he's Savvy's that supper
(09:51):
is over, but he'll be back. You just wait and
see the next morning.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
When only he opened his eyes, he looked around fearfully.
Then he breathed a sigh of relief. The white burrow
was nowers in sight.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
We breakfast over.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
The partners pecked up their outfit and moved down farther
into the hills. That evening they made a dry camp,
and while Smitty unpacked and prepared supper, Ollie went off
with one of the.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Pack burrows to rustle the supply of firewood. It was
almost dark when he returned. Well, I've begun to think
he was lost or had struck gold.
Speaker 5 (10:40):
Maybe no, just that wood was scarce.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
This critter wanted to lay down all the time. Mmm, hey,
what smells the good? I got a treat force tonight.
What is it? Fresh bread?
Speaker 4 (10:53):
No?
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Uh huh? Why you old son of a gun? Too?
Low were off in the Dutch oven keeping warm? Mmm
mm fresh bread, yes, sir? Hey, what it's my turn
to do the cooking? I produce real grub. Well, if
you're castless versions on my meals?
Speaker 4 (11:08):
Hey?
Speaker 2 (11:09):
What else? We gonna have? Mulligan coffee, dozen plums with
a loaf of bread. A peace with that ought to do. Hey,
we're saving one of them loaves for tomorrow. Ah, don't
be stingy. You call a half a loaf of bread stingy?
Say them big load? Well I could eat a whole
batch without any help. I'm hungry as a wolf. Well,
everything's ready as soon as you are, well, then let's eat.
(11:29):
All right, I'll be deacing up to Mulligan and i'll
get the bread out of the oven. That oven was
a good bye? Holy yeah? Wait did you see the
crust of that bread? A nice even cold and brown?
Where'd you say it was money? What for bread? Why?
Right where you're looking in the oven? Lord d a,
(11:50):
Oh sure it is, I tell you, n ain't. The
oven's empty. Say what have you been drinking? Well, if
you don't believe me, come on and look for yourself.
Oh you never could find nothing, nowise what see, we'll
all be durned. Where'd you put me? You sneak him
out and hit them? I know I did nothing of
(12:12):
the kind. Come on, tell me why ain't so much
as laid eyes on them loaves of bread? Smitty? I
swear well, somebody's took them. They was in this oven here,
not five minutes ago? You sure, of course, I'm sure.
I come over, took a look at him. See if
they was done just before you come in. You don't
suppose one of the burroughs could have stole them?
Speaker 5 (12:29):
Do you know while your back was turned?
Speaker 2 (12:31):
How could a burrow lift up the lid of a
Dutch oven carry off two loaves of bread? You'd have
to be educated flame this thing. I ever knowed two
loaves of bread disappearing into thin air. Maybe you didn't
bake them at all, Maybe it just greamed and you
smelled them, didn't you. That's right I did.
Speaker 5 (12:51):
Holy yeah, Holy chuck over.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Yonder where I'm pointing. What's that sticking out from behind
that big It looks like a couple of long cactus leaves.
It's a pair of ears, maybe white ears. Only it's now,
don't jump at conclusion, smitty, Let's go see I told
you this had happened. I knowed he'd turn up again.
(13:17):
Ah there, and you see I was right, sure enough.
It's old white own to a smatter. Don't you dare
give him a name? Why not? Don't you know that
once your name an animal, he's yours? Who says so?
Why it stands to reason, you know, mean, So long
as he's got no name, he's astray, a stranger, a
(13:39):
rank outsider. But just you give him a name, any
kind of a name, and he belongs to you. I see,
what are you laughing at? For a stranger? This fellow
has secondly made himself right at home. Look my bread,
what's left of? It's my beautiful, fresh, hot, crusty bread.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
Oh, you farment, you, you thieving little son of.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
A wrestler, you feracious fuzzytail. Careful, smitty, don't call him names.
Calling him names ain't the same as giving him names.
I can call him all the names in the dictionary
if I feel like it's yes and a duke ye green,
you're in, you lop eard sawt off him of satan,
you white curse, you evil eyed aspineur, your name for darkness.
(14:23):
You well, I reckon. I'll hit the hey. You can
turn in if you want to.
Speaker 5 (14:30):
I'm gonna set up a while longer.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
What for?
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Oh, just ain't sleepy, that's all. I'll smoke another pipeful
and wait up for him. Huh wait for who? You
can't fool me? Oly, you're worrying about that Burrough. Do
you suppose something has happened to him? Smitty? Well, let's
hope so, then maybe our luck will change. I can't
seize we've had any bad luck on this trip. No,
(14:55):
nor any good luck neither. We ain't smell the smell
or holy fuck? Where coming toward us out of the night?
What it's? It's him a prodigal Hush hush? Will you
if he hears you? Will that ain't him? Why if
it was him, he'd be playin by now that Burrow
(15:16):
ain't making a sound. It's his ghosting, Come to hanis
it's the spittin' immy? All right? Smithy? It is his
ghost now him himself? What's He's he walking so queer? For?
Why he's sick or hurt or something? Eh? What is it,
old boy? What's happened? Come over here by the fire
(15:38):
where I can see you. His eyes is closed tight
and his head's all swelled up. Say what incarnation looks?
Queer around the jaw? To open your mouth, feller, let's
have a look.
Speaker 5 (15:50):
Open your mouth, old Huh?
Speaker 2 (15:55):
He can't. His teeth is clinched. What is it? Lockjaw
rattlesnake bite? Look here on the nose. You can see
where the fangs went in. Yes, or he's done poor,
then we may be able to save him. Save him,
We'll do our best. Any high? Are you crazy? Where's
that pomanganate of potassium? Only? Ah? Here it is? What
are you going to do? Rubbert and the wound? Of course,
(16:15):
holy and steal old Feller. I won't hurt you now,
this is going to do you good. Only have you
went clean out of your senses? This critter's a jinx
Oh who doo? We can't just stand by and watch
him die? But why not? We don't want him, nobody wants.
That makes no difference.
Speaker 5 (16:34):
He's a poor, dumb animal and.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
He's in misery. Then put him out of it.
Speaker 5 (16:37):
For just what I'm trying to do.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
I mean, shoot him, your fool? No all, you put
that gun down, you quit working on him?
Speaker 5 (16:44):
Then I can't, smitty, don't you see?
Speaker 2 (16:46):
I can? Why can't you he come to us for help?
He trusts a struss, a white BURROH.
Speaker 5 (16:52):
What ain't his fault? He was born white?
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Only you look, his eyes is opening. The potassium pomanganat
is beginning to work his jaws.
Speaker 5 (17:01):
Loosen him.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Now if I can jest, get some whisky down him. Hey,
that's my whiskey. It's our whisky here, boy only. I've
stood for a lot. But if you pour so much
as one drop of that liquor down that white farming stroat, shut,
we bust.
Speaker 5 (17:17):
Up you and me tip your head back. That's it.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
I'll let me stick the bottle in between your teeth.
So Holy, I'm warnin you a little more. Now we're through. Yeah,
we're through, Smitty. You can take your pick o the burrs,
holy and your share of the grubin things you're not
going on. No, I'm goin back to ryolight and No.
Speaker 4 (17:49):
Ten days later, in a brilliantly lighted saloon and Ryolight,
we find Smitty doin his best to forget about oly
Inn the white Bird.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
He's in his second childhood. That's all you can say
for him. Yeah, yeah, have another. I don't mind if
a dude, Yes, their only needs a nurse or a
keeper or something. He's what's the matter? Can you beat that?
A burrough walking straight in through the swinging doors. He's
(18:39):
looking for a drink. See he's head and straight for
the ball jump being hoos fat. It's the white BurrH,
What yup, Burr, I was just telling you about he's
come back to hoodoo me again. Aye, you're just saying things. Yeah,
have another drink. It's him a look look at that
(19:01):
scar on his nose. That's where the rattlesnake bit him.
Must mean only's back then, funny He come back soon.
Said he was gonna stay out another thirty days. Say
maybe located something. Um huhm, not with that white burrow alone.
Get out, await from me, you unlucky barmit. What do
you mean? Grab a hold of my coat like?
Speaker 4 (19:23):
Call on me?
Speaker 2 (19:23):
You hear me, get out, await for me, get out
of here. Course back to that old fool only had
done it? He knows only his name or right Tony.
Why wouldn't he? Well, why don't you go? What are
you standing there for? What are you looking at me
(19:44):
like that for? Take them eyes off of me? You
hear me say, say he's trying to tell you something, smitty, Oh,
I ain't interested. Something's troubling him. He he's conscience. Maybe
you don't suppose something could have went wrong? Do you
will only be his own fault if it did. I
just wondered, well, what could.
Speaker 5 (20:02):
Have happened to him?
Speaker 2 (20:03):
Ah, nothing, most likely. Oh he's old, desert rid. He
knows all the water holes in Nevad got plenty of grub. Well,
that'd be in the case. Hol out another drink? No, No,
I've had enough. Thanks, This one's on the house. I
can't stop now, all right? You where is he? Is
he here in rhyelight? No? Then show me where they submitted?
(20:32):
Where you going? Wherever this squer takes me? You mean
I'm going to look up?
Speaker 4 (20:38):
Holy well, it was just about sundown of the third
day out that they found him laying unconscious at the
bottom of a narrow canyon.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Holy thanks the Lord, he's still alive. Holy huh, it's
me Smitty, Smitty A come as fast as I could.
He brung your hair? Did he? Straight as a die?
Speaker 5 (21:13):
Good boy feet He turned up in ryolight, just like
I told him too.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
I knowed right off that something was wrong. What happened?
Only where you hurt? My leg broke? Yeah? Yeah, yeah,
I can see. I was falling some float up the mountain.
It was getting dark like a fool. I didn't want
to stop him.
Speaker 5 (21:37):
Somehow or other I lost my foot in then.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
And fell clear down here. Yeah, Oh, I wonder you
wasn't killed out right? E shows how tough I am. Gosh,
I knowed I could never make it back to town,
even if I had a burrow to ride. What happened
to you? Birds?
Speaker 5 (21:56):
And I went off I don't know where.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
All but this.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
He stuck by me until I I sent him away
to get help. I figured I had enough water, the last.
Speaker 5 (22:12):
Metal you could get here if you'd.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
Come, well, oh here, of course i'd come. I didn't know.
I was sort of afraid. You think I'd let you
die out here alone? Alone with my samples? Huh uh
they're around here, Summer's samples of or I run across
something mighty.
Speaker 5 (22:34):
Good, Smitty.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Here, here's one of them. Take a good cat. Let
me see. I agree. I'll say, real picture rock. I'll
bet she says, a trip to Europe for tan if
we wanted to go to Europe, which we don't we,
you and me all but but Oliot, we're still Pardners,
ain't we, Smitty Oliot? I don't deserve it after the
(22:59):
way I treat did you? Heck? You just saved my life,
didn't you? It was me? Was the White Burrough?
Speaker 5 (23:06):
A White Burrough.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Holy yeah, have you named him yet? No? Then let's
give him a name now, Smitty. After all, he's earned it.
You know what it'll mean, don't you? That he'll be
ours for the rest of his life? Yes? All right,
I'm women.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
You've been listening to another true story of death. Valley Days,
brought to you by.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
The Pacific Coast Borox Company, producers of twenty Mule Team
Borocks for household juice, twenty Mule Team Borox soap chips
in the big blue and yellow Sunshine box for washing
clothes and dishes, and the new Boraxo for toilet juice.
Your grocer can supply you with all of these products.
All of them are inexpensive, all of them bring the
(23:57):
miracle of Boros into your home in convenient form.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
For example, twenty Muleteam.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Borox in its neat red and white and black package
is the perfect cleanser for ice boxes. Why because twenty
Muleteam Borox is a gleaming white powder that is clean
as desert sunshine itself and absolutely odorless. Just what you
want to cleanse food containers. Take a pan or bucket
of warm water and dump some twenty Muleteam Borox in it,
(24:26):
wring out a clean cloth or sponge in it, and
wipe the entire inside of the ice box.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
Take the cube trays.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Out and wash them separately again in warm water in
which twenty Muleteam borox has been dissolved. When you are through,
you will have the satisfaction of knowing that your ice box,
where most of the family food is kept in summer,
is absolutely sweet and clean, with no odor left from
the cleansing to spoil the flavor of the food.
Speaker 5 (25:01):
The paper, but
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