Arizona Argonauts

"The Arizona Argonauts" by H. Bedford-Jones is a story set in the early 1900s in Two Palms, Arizona. The town is a remote desert community where gold mining is a popular pastime. People eagerly await the daily arrival of the stage coach for entertainment. The story features the challenges of life in the desert, including deadly rattlesnakes, unpaved roads, and frequent blowouts on the few vehicles that travel the area. The heat is intense, and residents must carry their own water, gasoline, and tire patch kits. The nearest "big" town, Meteorite, has an ice cream parlor, which is a big deal. The story portrays the harsh reality of life in the desert and the perseverance of the Arizona Argonauts who seek to strike it rich in gold mining.