Charlie Staump

The Lady of Goldstone Charlie Staump

In October of 1949, eighteen year old Doug Wilson heads out to explore an old mining town in the high desert of California. upon arrival, he meets an elderly woman who happens to be the last surviving resident of the town. She relates to him the story of how she and her husband left New Jersey and headed west in search of a hidden underground tributary that made his grandfather a rich man back in the gold rush days. Their trip, and the life that followed, was not always easy. The heartbreak of leaving all they knew, especially after the murder of her father, and traveling to parts unknown in search of a dream was a story worth hearing. Doug listened to the tale of their journey; the adventures, the joys and the tragedies that finally brought them to this barren, dusty desert town and why she chose to stay long after the others had gone. Charlie has been a farm boy, a marine, a detective in a small town and an investigator for a large Sheriff's Department, a recreational gold prospector and now enjoys writing in the high desert of California. He has drawn from these life experiences to create this intriguing story.