Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-05-28
CHAPTER XIV.

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@aid simply, IAN nobody a find
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 wen
dragged the mill-pond. She left a note
chargin' it to that durn fool, Hannah,
and things she said, which l guess
was true. I'd like to duck her in the
hoss-pondi"
Such news was like a bombshell in
the camp, or if 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, IAN. begin a sarch for
that gal. l amt got nobody in the
world that needs me so much, or l
them. I'm a sorter outcast myself, ez
you folks know. That little gal hez
crept into my heart SO, l can't take nc
more comfort here. Amzi don't need
me so much az l need her m I've made
up my mind I'll start trampin' till l
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. l 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 Twin if / live
long huff. 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 if Chip reaches there,
W. 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 l feel so, any
way. I think as Old Cy does, that this
girl must be found if money can do it
and l propose that we break camp anG
return to Greenvale. If AMI can't be
coaxed to go along, l must leave Lev
with him. No power on earth car
keep Old Cy here any longer"
But the old hermit had changed
somewhat since that night he broke
away and returned to this camp, anG
when the alternative of remaining
here alone, OF going out with them all
was presented, he soon yielded.
IF Cyrus is goin', I'll have to-" ht
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 ont
who understood why, and he KEEP
silent.
They were we more sad when Aun
Comfort showed them Chips message
and Angie read it with trimming eyes
And now came Old Cy's departure
on a quest as hopeless as that of thu
Wandering Jew and as pathetic as tn,
Ancient Mariners.
But the climax was reached whel
Old Cy gave Martin his parting mes
sage and charge:
Here's a bank book" he said "tha
calls fer bout 100000. It's the savin'
O. Mcclure, n belongs to Chip.
found the cave whar twas hid.
found MCGUIRE n the half-breed, bot
dead n floatin in the lake clus by, an
twas to keer fer this money l quit y
three weeks ago.
IF l never come back here,-an'
never shall thought l find Chip,-kee
it fer her. Sometime she may shoy
up. If eve she does, tell her Old G;
did all he could fer her"