Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-04-15

square pane Oh glass constituting VIII
dow, and, after consultation, the two
messengers concluded to take peep be-
fore making their presence known.
Georgia put his face to the glass and
peered intently within. The Hermit sat
on the earthen floor enveloped in a
torn and miserable blanket. His hat
was off and his long gray hair was tan
gled and unkempt His eyes, which
Georgia could plainly see, as he sat
nearly facingth window, combined with
their usual pleading expression a sort of
fcverish glitter, and the whole attitude
of the man was one of despair. In his
hands he held what appeared to be a
photograph and an old letter, and he
never moved his eyes from them.
The rest of the room that came within
Georgia. field of vision betokened clean
illness, but at the same time
extreme poverty for even that rough
country. Georgia withdrew his mead
and his companion took look, after
which they both softly retreated some
little distance into the timber and
paused.
"Well ?" said Roney.
burned queer" said Georgia.
Kinder sick-looking, ELI 20
Georgia nodded his head thought
fully.
"Let's see the boys about it." said
Roney, and then the both retraced their
steps to the saloon.
The boys listened with interest to the
report, and pulled then boards and
scratched their heads in attempts to OBJ
tain solution az to what allied the
Hermit Many and various were the
explanations given, and then they de-
cided that Georgia and Roney had better
go back and knock at the door and in
quire, atany rate, if anything was wrong;
80 thereupon, the two once more started
up the trial. They knocked-first softly
and then louder-but elected no re-
Spouse or caused any show of life within,
save the extinguishment Immediately of
the light.
No use, whispered Roney, and with
out further word they left the little cabin
aud its solitary and eccentric occupant,
and joined Their comrades.
The next day passed, and the next,
and the Hermit showed no signs of ex-
iceNutts IlSlb tic lllull CdUlt
and among the letters, was one, in 70
mans hand, for John Harmer, Mineral
City, San Juan county, Colorado. There
was not such parsonage in the country,
so far as the boys knew, but Georgia
suggested that it might be Tor
the Hermit. This seemed most probable,
and it was deputed to carry it up and de-
liver it, if corr act.
AS before, all the knocking failed to
obtain an answer, and Georgia, after
few moments hesitation, put his shoulder
to the door, and with as little noise as
possible, burst the wooden button off
Jnat served as II lock. The next instant
and Georgia was in the room. The
Hermit lay extended upon the floor, his
face flushed and hot with fever, and his
long, thin fingers nervously grasping
md relaxing against the torn blanket ON
which he tossed.
whats the matter, old pard?' said
ieorgia, as he raised the old mans head
The fevered eyes slowly turned toward
lis face, the emaclated fingers opened,
md the poor, lonely old fellow said
luskily:
"Don't tell heiw
Who-tell who?"
Alice-poor little thing-she don't
know"
Thinking of his folks in the states"
Georgia, and then tenderly and
carefully he lifted the sick man in his
arms and strobe away to his own cabin.
The news of the Hermits sickness
spread through the camp and blankets
and food came from all quarters for his
use. The store was ransacked for the
BEST that it could afford. A terrible
of mountain grouse took
place that rich broths might be made for
he invalid. One man travelled sixteen
miles to Silverton to secure n can or
and the men almost fought IN
the anxiety to act as nurses and watchers.
Georgia thanked the boys, but kept them
away, admitting only one or two to AID
him n the care of the old man. But
DESPITE all this attention the old fellow
sank and sank, and it soon became eyl-
dent that the mountain fever had one
more victim.
One night Georgia sat smoking hispipe
and musing. The owner OF the letter
had been found, for In his rawlings the
old man had often mentioned the name
Hammer, but the boys feared lest he
should die before reading it, and this
perplexed George sadly. What was 90
to 10 with 1t aud might it not contain
matters of importance? Had the old
old man any friends or relatives living,
and where were they to be foond? All
these things and many more came fitting
his brain, aud he did not hear
his patient slowly raise himself IN bed
and stare about him. The old man