The Irish standard., 1905-12-09
CHAPTER XVII.
OLD CY WALKER


breaker, an unregenerate old scofcer,
outcast, vagabond, and one best to
avoid. From the boys point of view
he was most delightful old comrade,
whose knowledge of woodcraft was
marvellous, whose method of exist
ence was the only right and proper
one, and whose companionship was to
be sought at all times.
He knew where all the best trout
the bee trees, set snares and traps;
where nuts, berries, and wild grapes
could be found; and more than all
this, he was ready at all times to
share this lore with them. He was
to them veritable Misunderstanding
outlined on background of forest.
field, and stream, and his shapeless
hat, patched raiment, kindly face, and
quaint speech were familiar to aH.
With dog and gun always and So: o
OF the village boys ccc-'~'- .lv ior
companions. he roauicd ~ Y > :
and followed the strea...-; AZ, t
Greenvale. or worked for Aunt COM
fort when needed He lived in I
howell on her premises. was temperate
honest, and n friend to everybody ex-
ccpt David Curtis. There was ample
reason for that exception. In the
long ago, old Cy, schoolmate, friend,
and companion of AMI Curtis, and
! later working for him in the mill, had
aspred to own a respectable dwell
ing. He bought small tract of land
on the village outskirts, contracted
with David Curtis for lumber, and{
when the house was built, gave him
a mortgage to secure payment. That
was almost accomplished when ANIL
SO mysterionsly vanished. But lacl1}
of employment and illness fell to Cy's
lot; he failed to pay as agreed; them
David forcclosed, and after that oldi
Cy became vagabond, rs it we're.
Martin had been one OF his boyi
admirers. and now since his return3
had induced the old man to take him
fishing, and later to superintend the!
building OF his dam and the clearing
of land for trout preserve. 1t was|
| while thus engaged that a new thought
came To Matchmaking less than to
buy the Mizzy falls and swamp above, !
build "A low dam where the falls were,
and flood Il large area for trout and
pleasure purposes.
There was also another consider
alton
Those falls, the Keynote 70 any,
Misunderstanding opportunities or future1
growth OF Greenvaie, were valuable]
power that might become more SOD
| and as purely business investment.
it seemed wise one to Martin. Forl
! few days he thought about it. and]
the more he thought, the more tempt-I
ing in many ways the investment
seemed.
"Cy," he said. when they were by |
| themselves. how much of the MizzyI
swamp does Dave Curtis own, and
what do YOU imagine he would aslSl
for the falls and the land above
them?"
Old Cy looked at him in astonish-
ment. Il know every rod he owns
above en- lie answered finally, "brt
ye couldn't buy one 'thout payin' t, 1.
times what it's wuth, m then a fco !
| IS
slgnin'."
"Oh. expect that" answered Mar
tin. indiffcrently. "and as far as
Amzi's sisnature-why, he'll never
come back. 1t must be twenty years
since he disappeared.
I'm not so sure o. that" responded
old Cy. resoutely; I've allus held he
was still alive, m believe it yit. Ez
fer Dawes seltin' price on the Mizzy
falls N his land, he's been figgering
with some out O. town already. l
heerd him."
"YOn heard hint"
II did, fer sartin. was up the
Mizzy one day last spring, huntin'
fer mink trap that had got dragged
off, m heard some one comm
through the brush m laid low.
Twas Dave N a city man. n Dave
was sl!owin' him round and tellin'
him how handy twas to float logs
down the Mizzy in spring freshets, m
about how much he owned. They sot
down on log n talked more n an
hour, n becrd it all. The city man
had a scheme ia build mill n grind
up wood n make paper, but they
didn't make dicker, fer Dave sot
such an uns0lly price. the man
wouldn't pay it,"
low much?"
''Thirty thousand dollars!"
Martin gave low whistle. He had
heard Curtis was considered SHARP"
but this was such a fabulous sum for
the impossible Misery swamp and
water power that it took his breath
away.
''l've kept watch fer that man
shown up ever SINCE" continued old
Cy, "an' IL he ever does, I'll open his
eyes bout AMI n one or two other
matters. I've been roostin' round ON
back fences DOW fer a good many
years, waitin' TO git square with Davs
Curtis! Why, all his medder land M
houses n both mills n woodland
amt taxed fer but six thousand dol
lars. n askin' thirty fer the Nizzy
swamp n them tumble down mills
amt no better n stealin'.''
Then Martin laughed, for old Cys
Ideas of business were as primitive as
his method of living.
ITO BE Continued.l
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