Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-01-18
CHAPTER xxx.
AMI CURTIS.

At sight of the hermit Martin quick
ly stepped into hiding behind the tree,
mOtiOning old Cy to do the same. This
strange recluse was not a dangerous
beast, and yet so monientous was the
question of approaching him, and
whether or not he would admit himself
to be AMI. that Martin hesitated.
You go first, Cy," he said in low
tone after thinking for a moment,
land I'll keep out of sight. Just walk
up to him naturally and say, 'Hullo,
AmZi,' or accost him as you were ac-
customed TO, and if you take him una
wares, the chances are he will admit
that he knows YOU
1t was with nervous dread that Mar
tin watched the denouement of this
forest drama For months now he
had thought of but little else except
Angie, and proving this hermit to be
her father, and thus obtain her rights.
Now that the critical moment had ar
rived and the mystery was to be solved
for good or never, well might he feel
nervous. And as he watched old Cy
le1surely approaching the cabin, he was
by step old Cy drew nearer, now to
the little gateway in the stake fence,
now up the winding path among the
stumps, until the hermit looked up
and old Cy halted.
The critical moment had come.
Twenty years had been bridged.
For a minute that seemed an hour
the two looked at each other. Then
the hermit rose, and for another-to
Martin-breathless moment faced old
Cy, motionless. Martin could see him
quite distinctly, his shrunken features,
white beard, all awry, scanty hair, long
arms hanging listlessly, gray shirt
wide open at the throat, and patched
trousers. He was like pathetic statue
| of old age gone to seed, and outlined
against log cabin, half hid beneath
scarlet vines.
Now old Cy took step forward, both
hands extended, the hermit raised his,
their hands met, then up and down
| again and again in hearty shake of
| old friendship.
The suspense was over and the long
| missing AMI found.
And now Martin, keeping out of
sight, returned to his camp content
to leave the two old friends by them
selves, and while he waited he drew
from a small handbag fiat package
and opened it. 1t contained two pict-
ures of Angie, one as girl of 16 with
hair in curls, the other a maturer face,
sweet, yet dignified.
We'll little girl" he almost whis-
pered, glancing from one face to the
other, "I've found your father, but God
only knows what we can do with him
or how it will affect YOU.
For long time he looked at the two
| faces Of one who now held the key of
his life's happiness, and then folding
them carefully, put the package in an
inside pocket and glanced around. The
mornings campfire still smouldered,
| thin film of smoke rose from it, van
ishing in the overhanging fir boughs
above. The open tent just back dis
closed confusion of flattened bough
beds, blankets, boxes, and clothing
Two rifles lay side by side in one
corner, in front one canoe half out OF
water on the sandy shore, while across
the rippled, sparkling lake, and in a
cove, rested the other with Levi and
Jean casting for trout a collective
wilderness picture which he never for
got.
/ For half hour he sat in the mellow
autumn sunshine, as if in trance, and
then came a rustling in the under
growth and old Cy appeared.
''Well," said Martin, anxiously, "is
he sane and all right?"
ITO Be Continued