Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-01-04
CHAPTER XIV.

IN THE WILDERNESS ONCE MORE.
Never before, during old Cy's unfor-
tunate and hand-to-mouth existence,
had so much delightful expectation
entered as the morning he left Green
vale as Martins companion, attired in
new brown corduroy. The best of any
pleasure is in anticipation, and the old
man, now barbered into more human
semblance, looked 20 years younger.
Then the busy world they soon en-
tered, the rushing trains, the crowded
cities, the hurrying people, the hasty
meals, the night on train. were one
and all so great change from his
simple life in Greenvale, that he almost
lost his senses. His sleeping-car ex-
perience, and his first one, was almost
ludicrous in its effect upon him.
ct sorter seemed just like bein' in a
coffin n clankin' right along toward
kingdom come" he said next morning
in response to Martins inquiries as to
how he slept, on every time the train
rocked. l thought I'd got thar"
But when the border of the wilder
ness was reached, old Cy felt more at
home, for forest lakes and streams had
been his lifelong companions. He was
somewhat surprised at the extensive
purchases Martin made at the little
village store, and especially at a COM
plete suit OF mems clothing with double
sets of flannel underwear, but asked
no questions. Neither did he have any
idea of the real and ultimate object
OF the trip, and was not told until our
old friends Levi and Jean had pushed
the well-loaded canoes 20 miles up a
broad stream, and the first camp was
made. All that day old Cy had been
like boy in his enjoyment of this
new wonder world of dark bordering
forest disturbed only by the ripping
stream, the cry of an eagle sailing over
mountain top, or the clatter of a flock
of ducks rising out of lagoon; and
then, when the tent was pitched, sup
per eaten, and Martin was reclining
upon his blanket and slowly putting
his pipe, he told the story of the her
nit. and who he was suspected to be.
''The doctor and l had a trip full
of unusual and mysterious experiences
last spring." he said, land it's only a
surmise on my part, even now, who
the hermit was. First we were visited
by the wild man about whom l told
you, then We came upon secluded log
cabin that might have been his lair
and might not A week later we dis
covered a human prowler at night,
, equally mysterious, and finally this
hermit-a mOroSe, harmless, old man,
who had made friends of the squirrels
. and evidently was averse to our COM
pany. l have suspicion he is the
long-vanished AMI, and if SO, you are
the only one who can tell, and also
the only one whom he would be likely
to remember. If it is Amzi, he is,
: without doubt, partially demented.
But whether or no, if he recognizes
you, his old-time companion, we have
established a fact which 1 can use to
bring David to terms. If it is not
AMI, no harm is DONE
can twas fer him We bought tn
extra clothes?" queried old Cy, with
keen interest; then adding, after a
pause, with visible emotion, ''Mr. Fris-
bic. how fer is it to whar he was Twin
n kin We fetch II IN another day! Ii
it turns out TO be AMI, I'll jist squat
down an olubber like baby. I'm su:e
on IT,
Martin smiled.
I'm glad 1 brought you, old friend
he answered, watching his face and
eyes that glistened in the freight
"If it proves to be Amzi, you alone can
reach his memory and maybe induce
him to return to Greenvale." Then
as the astonishing effect such return
would have on that village flashed
into his mind, he added, I'D give q
cool thousand for the chance to walk
up to old Dave and say. Here's your
brother AMI; l found him in the
wilderness.
ITO Be Continued.l