Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-02-15
The Hermit
\ A Story Of the Wilderness
y By CHARLES CLARK MUM
Author Of Pocket Island" Uncle Terry
and" Roekhaven.'
Copyright, 1,os, by Les and shepard.)

l ma Nockh2Vo0."
<Copysasht, lbs, by Les and shepard.)
CHAPTER xxx CoNT1NuED.
"Oh, middlin' So" answered old Cy,
his face glowing with excitement; tits
Amzi fast enough, n he owns 1t up,
but he can't make out how or why I'm
here. an he don't low he's got q
brother Dave N grown up gal, Angie.
Hes sane enough so fur's livin' here,
n how he does 1t, n all about the gar
den n squirrels, but jist the mint
shift back to old times, he either gets
wary or don't rec'lect. He thinks I
come here lone, too. n when l come
way, he acted worried for fear I
wouldn't come back, n kept beggin'
would. It's a Gurus case, n can't
make it out. He acts like q man woke
up out OF Sleep"
Had best call on him now" asked
Martin, afteralong pause, ''or wait unit!
tomorrow? He isn't likely to 20 OF
again, is he?"
wal, dunno" answered old Cy.
cautiously shaking his head, Il dunno;
we can't stop him If he does, s'pose
an all We kin do is to be keerful-
mighty keerful. My idee is l best so
back to him bime by n stay spell
longer n mebbe eat with him. Ye've
got to sorter connect him with us by
his feelin's, callate."
Il might so OF with the guides few
days." rejoined Martin, after consid-
ering old Cy's "idee," land give you
chance to renew old ties again." e
Wal, mebbe, though you might
come round thar arter spell, jist ter
git him ulster seem you agin, n then
keep shady"
Would it be best to show him An
sizes picture now or waltz" Querie6
Martin, anxiously. 1--WE got them with
me-"
Pm glad on it," answered old Cy,
eagerly: I'm take 'em n when the
right time comes III use em as sorter
ciincher."
Il AM going to let you manage mat
tiers entirely and exactly as you think
BEST" asserted Martin, after long con-
sideration; ''you know him best, he was
your staunch friend once, brought
you here for that purpose, and now
I'll not speak, move, or show myself
until you say the word
But the question of Martins showing
himself to the hermit settled itself, for
hardly had he ceased speaking when
footsteps in the underground were
heard and the hermit emerged.
How do you do, sir?" was Martins
greeting, as he rose and extended his
hand cordially. You remember me,
don't you?"
For one moment the strange recluse
looked curiously at him, then to old
Cy and back.
Il remember you." he answered
pleasantly grasping the proffered hand:
an the squirrels didn't hurt We, did
they? tanned EN-
1t was a childs answer, and it flashed
on Martin that this recluse had drifted
back to that mental state.
For short time he glanced curiously
at the camp and its belongings, smi!-
ing in vacant way and then at old
Cy. You're going to live with me
now, Cyrus, amt you?" he asked plain
lively. There is room 'nough, and you
can help me cut wood"
Martin sighed and turned away,
He had been in suspense so long,
hoping for the best and dreading the
worst; for two weeks his fears had in
creased daily, and now to find the long
lost AMI, the father of the girl he
loved, mental wreck and in his Sec
end childhood, was pitiful.
1T might be wuss," old Cy responded
10 his regrets later, after the hermit
had LETT them; hes childish now an
sorter wanderin,' but mebbe his mind
II come back arter a spell by coaxin'.
l callate most any on us I'D get that
way Twin all stark lone this 20 years. "
Old Cy, with his homely speech,
kind heart, and horse sense" was
right, and Martin knew it. 1t was none
the less pitiful. however, and that
night as he, left alone with the two
guides, sat by the campfire watching
Its glow and listening to the low wave
wash OF the lake, his thoughts flew
lar away to vine-hid porch, the
rustling of falling leaves, and a fair
face with bewitching eyes.
The fire had burned low and both
guides were asleep in their bark shell
ter when cid Cy returned.
4 think ye best stay round a few
days." he said, on then 20 way a
spell. Amzi is kinder gettin' fond O.
havin' me round helpin', n arter a
few days things II come back to him.
mebbe. l doubt we'll git him back to
Greenvale, though, 'thout we fetch him
back; he's that wonted here"
1t was not reassuring report
For three days Martin passed the
time as best he could. He killed a
deer and sent half up to the hermit.
who, with old Cy was hard at work
utting and riling a winters store Of
food. He added a few brace of part
ridge to this gift-offering later on,
called on the two who were now liv-
ing together, and talked as best he
could with Amzi, and then, at the close
OF one day, as he stood watching Levi
and Jean busy preparing their evening
meal, he heard canoe crate upon the
sandy beach close by, and, looking. up.
saw the two officers just landing.
CHAPTER xxx.