Mexico Missouri message., 1908-03-19
CHAPTER XIV.

ChAPIEH NV.
when Old Cy joined the little party
at the lake again he seemed to have
aged years. His sunny smile was
gone. He looked weary, worn and dis.
consulate.
Chips run away from Greenvale."
he said simply. IAN nobody can End
hide nor hair on her. They've fol
Tered the roads for miles In every d.
rection. Nobody can be found that's
seen anybody like her n they've even
dragged the mill-psnd. She left a note
chargin' II to that durn fool, Hannah,
and things she said. which / guess
was true. I'd like to duck her in the
hoss-pondl"
Such news was like a bombshell in
the camp, or IL not, what soon followed
was, for after a few days Old Cy made
another announcement which upset
the entire party.
Il think I'd best go back to Green.
vale" he said, AN begin a sarch for
that gal. ! amt got nobody in the
world that needs me so much, or |
them. I'm a sorter outcast myself, ez
you folks know. That little gal hez
crept Into my heart so, can't take no
more comfort here. AMI don't need
me SO much as need her n I've made
up my mind I'll start trampin' till
find her. I've a notion, too, she'll
head for the wilderness ag'in, n I'm
most sartin she'll fetch up whar her
mother was buried. watched that
gal middlin' clus all last summer.
She's true blue n good grit. She
won't do no fool thing. like maxim
way with herself. n I'll find her some.
whar arnin' her own livin' II live
long nun. From the note she left,
know that was In her mind"
Martin realized that there was no
use in trying TO change Old Cy's in.
tent-in fact, had no heart to do so.
for he too felt much the same toward
Chip.
''I'll give you all the funds you need
old friend" he made answer, "and
wish you God-speed on your mission
I'll do more than that even. I'll pay
some one to watch at Grindstone for
the next year. so II Chip reaches there.
we can learn It,"
That night he held a consultation
with his wife.
Il suspect we are somewhat to
blame for this unfortunate happen.
ing" he said to her, "or. at least, some
thoughtless admissions you may have
made led up to It. It's a matter we
are responsible for or feel SO. any.
way l think as Old Cy does. that this
girl must be found II money can do It,
and propose that we break camp and
return 10 Greenvale. II Amzi can't be
coaxeG to go along. must leave Levi
with him. No power on earth can
keep Old Cy here any longer"
But the old hermit had changed
somewhat since that night he broke
away and returned to this camp. and
when the alternative of remaining
here alone, or going out with them all.
was presented, he soon yielded.
IF Cyrus is goin'. III have to-" he
said. I'D be lonesome without him.
And to this assertion he adhered.
Ray. however. was the most defect.
ed and unhappy one now here. though
fortunately Old Cy- was the only one
who understood why. and he kept
silent.
They were even more sad when Aunt
Comfort showed them Chips message,
and Angie read II with trimming eyes.
And now came Old cy's departure,
ON quest as hopeless as that OF the
Wandering Jew and as pathetic as the
Ancient Mariners.
But the climax was reached when
Old Cy gave Martin his parting mes.
sage and charge:
Here's a bank book" he said that
calls fer bout $4,000. It's the sayin's
o. Mcclure. n belongs to Chip. |
found the cave whaT twas hid. |
found Mcclure n the half.breed, both
dead n fioatin In the lake clus by. an
twas TO keer fer this money I quit ye
three weeks ago.
III ! never come back here,-an' |
never shall thought find Chip.-keep
, II fer her Sometime she may show
up. II ever she does, tell her Old cy
did all he could fer her"