Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-02-08

Yoa Hi IS, !" responded az u, -,
didly, "'n' lot me stay here m watch
fer ANIL 4lx.won't be lunsome, n
maybe he may come any day. I'd liz
to- ketch sight O. that wild man, but
pdsa good deal rather ketch sight I. o..
AMI" ~ il ~
r we might gozsdown to- the lake
where wesslept in the bushes and camp
there while waiting" said Martin.
thoughtfully. "he's likely to return that
way"
Then Levi suggested that they take
possession Of the y hcrmit's hut. since
it had been left unlocked But Martin
said no to that promptly, and, as leav-
ing the spot at all had obvious draw
backs, in the end they decided to camp
in little cove just around from the
hermit's landing spot and there await
him. To take possession Of even his
miserable hovel was against Martins
feelings, and more than that, while tho
guides were establishing permanent
camp, he and old Cy returned to the
cabin, and tried to remove ali. evidence
of the other mems visit. Like many
who hesitate at no vandalism, they
used part of the stake fence for fuel.
dug up and carried of many of the po-
tatoes and onions, and left the debris
OF 'thairs meals to mould on, the table.
Dr." muttered Martin. a. he
looked ut the dissertation Of this pitt
full home. I'd like to kick them. ono
ut = time. from here to tho lake and
then pitch them In"
mo use gittin' ruffled," answered old
Cy. hogs Is hogs the world over, n
always leave their tracks," Then he
seated himself on a stump and chirped
to one OF the squirrels who frisked and
chartered. and then leaped into his lap
And now ensued a week of pleasant
camp life, devoid Of incident, but de-
lightful to old Cy. and, as may: be sur
missed from his method of life in Green
vale, where he was content to live alone
in howell, work for Aunt Comfort part
Of the time and fish and hunt the rest.
he borrowed no trouble and had few
wants. II it rained he remained under
shelter; if it was cold, he kept close to
the fire, oblivious to whether he had
more than a days fuel on hanG. and
as for clothes-well, if they covered his
nakedness and kept him warm, why,
patches were as serviceable as the orig
inal material. And yet he was honest
and kind-hearted to a fault, loving his
fellow-man-ifi in sympathy with him
far better than himself, and keenly
alive to the beauties of nature and not
devoid of reverence for the Almighty.
Beyond that and like Aunt Comfort.
he had an abiding faith that all wrongs
would be righted sooner or later, and
everybody get what they deserved. And
now he firmly believed that the long
missing AMI would in due time re-
turn in the person of this old hermit;
and meanwhile they had q chance to
enjoy this hunters paradise.
THE only critter l miss here ID. my
dog he observed at the close IT the
first day. when they returned to camp
with q handsome buck and q dozen par
fridge; 1--WE sorter got used to talking
10 him, when I'm content, n he allus
understands me. A dogs better n
most humans fer company, n ketchin'
the drift o. yer feelin's quicker. Once
dog loves yer, it's allus the same
never changes, and ye don't have to
keep warmin' it up. Me n AMI use
TO be that way, an I'D be SO now. II he
hadn't gone queer
To: Martin also, now that he was
forced to remain content, old Cy was
charming company, and hts cheerful
optimism, keen enjoyment OF wood life,
and childish gratitude for this, the one
supreme and altogether glorious cpl
sode of his life, daily source of pleas
IRE.
And SO the balmy Indian summer
days wore on.
Each morning and night they Wis
tied the hut, lest its owner return una
wares, and on these calls old Cy always
had handful of nuts ready for the
squirrels, who soon recognized friend
and Invariably ran to meet him. And
how short these halcyon days were.
even to impatient Martin! They Jour-
neyed up the stream that entered this
lake. watched the deer feeding in the
woods, surprised otter, mink, and
muskrat in their haurts. and by patient
waiting saw beavers at work on the::
dam. They caught a few trout in the
spring hole that the hermit had located
for Martin, and, when more meat waa
needed. killed another deer.
One week and then another of this
matchless existence passed, and then
one morning, as they drew near to the
hut, there, sitting on the bench in front
hatless, coatless, with tangled hair and
beard, was the hermit!