Wunpost

"Wunpost" by Dane Coolidge is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story is set in the desert landscape of Death Valley and follows the adventures of John C. Calhoun, nicknamed Wunpost, a prospector with a penchant for rugged determination. As he navigates relationships with other miners and his partnership with Wilhelmina Campbell, the reader is drawn into a tale of ambition, betrayal, and the harsh realities of mining life. At the start of the narrative, we meet Wunpost as he finds himself lost in the desert, on the brink of death from thirst. Just as hope fades, he's rescued by a boy named Billy, who turns out to be a girl in disguise, named Wilhelmina. Their bond forms the crux of the story, as Wunpost dreams of a gold mine he has discovered. However, the opening portion also foreshadows the tensions that arise with other prospectors, particularly Dusty Rhodes and the shady lawyer Judson Eells, hinting at conflicts over ownership and loyalty that will complicate their fortunes. The stage is set for a gripping exploration of trust and ambition against the backdrop of the unforgiving desert landscape. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Dane Coolidge was an American author, naturalist, and photographer. He wrote fiction, non-fiction, and articles featuring the American West. He wrote short stories for magazines and made illustrations. His book Rimrock Jones was adapted into the 1918 film Rimrock Jones. The Smithsonian Museum has three of his photographs in its collection. He wrote several dozen novels and many tens of short stories.