The Arrowhead bar is located on a dusty two-lane road just six miles north of Wickenburg, AZ. on the road to Las Vegas. It's a small nondescript tavern with a pool table and a handful of old West paintings.
Customers range from local cowboys and dude ranch owners to grizzled prospectors. There are a number of weekend gold seekers living on their Social Security checks who are regulars at the bar...
...and they are full of stories about gold, women, rattlers, and whiskey.
I discovered the place one weekend when I drove to nearby Rich Hill to do some gold prospecting. My companion was Joe Wilcox, who owned an Indian trading post in Sedona, AZ. Joe had agreed to teach me how to pan for gold, and he wanted me to meet some of his friends who were experts at it.
When we entered the place around 11 a.m., it had about 20 customers. They were rigged up in cowboy gear for the most part. One was packing a pistol in a holster strapped to his leg. The waitress was a buxom blond in a short red and black dress that reminded me of a character from the long-running television series, 'Gunsmoke.'
Wilcox made a beeline for the bar and slapped an oldtimer on the shoulder. The man had a beard, a faded cotton shirt, jeans and only one leg.
"How's it going, Pappy?" he said. "Can an old friend buy you a beer?"
Pappy looked at him with glazed eyes and came to life.
"Joe? By gosh it's good to see you. Been playing any poker lately? Take a seat. Bartender, two beers for me and my friend Joe."
Wilcox introduced me to Pappy, calling him one of the 'best gold prospectors I have ever had the pleasure to meet."
We settled down to our beers and Pappy told me he was a widower who lived in a camper about two miles away near the foot of Rich Hill. He said he had been living there since his wife, Emma, passed away.
"Good woman," he said, sipping his beer. "I'll never replace her. She stuck with me through thick and thin, and believe me, most of it was thin."
He asked Joe to accompany him to his pickup truck in the parking lot. We followed him to the vehicle. Pappy unlocked the door, reached into the glove compartment, and brought out a brown paper bag.
"Look at that," Pappy said admiringly. "Beautiful, ain't it?"
He handed Joe several pieces of gold quartz. The quartz was ivory colored and had wire gold running through it. Joe hefted the pieces and handed one to me.
"This is wonderful, Pappy. Are you just showing it off or is it for sale?"
Pappy chuckled."Joe, you know me. Everything is for sale at the right price. For you, 'll make a special offer. You can have the bunch for $40 an ounce."
Joe didn't hesitate. He reached for his wallet.
Wilcox and I had a profitable day searching for gold and when we left Rich Hill, he had several gold nuggets. I found a beauty -- a nugget about half the size of my thumbnail that could be made into a ring!
When we stopped at the Arrowhead on our way home, Pappy's pickup was still parked in front of it. We walked into the bar and Pappy lurched to his feet. He nearly fell but he had a wide grin.
"Hey, son," he said, "you ever see a one-legged man dance?"
I admitted I hadn't...
...and he went into a stiff dance, holding his hands behind his back pirate-style. He was remarkably agile after drinking all day. When he was finished, everybody in the bar, including the waitress, applauded!
I asked Pappy if he played poker. He nodded.
"Used to," he said. "But I don't do it anymore. My eyes gave out on me. Now I just collect gold."
The bar owner nodded. "Pappy does a good job of it, too," he said.
Author: Geno Lawrenzi Jr.
(Geno Lawrenzi Jr. is an international journalist, magazine author and ghostwriter and poker player who lives in Phoenx, AZ. He has published 2,000 articles in 50 magazines and 125 newspapers. If you want to share a gambling story or book idea with him, send an email to glawrenzi@gmail.com ).
VlagreDis 5 years ago
I'm honestly more interested to see a one-legged man dance, than all that gold you talk about :)
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