Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-01-17

said when Ray proposed ~ go to the
wilderness and. with Levi and cou-
pie OF other ASSISTANTS. make bust
ness OF gnm-gathering and trar.sot
ting. but you can't lose mach by IL
You are welcome to the camp: Levi
win see that you have sans. enough
20 eat. and boss the expedition. viii
loan you Ave hundred. and with what
you have. that is capital enough and
you ought to do we'll 1t would be bet.
ter n Old Cy could take charge, but as
II is. you must 10 1t alone" And so
II alone BAY cid.
Lewis services were easily secure
Two yonng fellows whom he ku
-
were hired az Greenvale. A BE- 40
was purchased. together with NOR,
traps and supplies. and after Ray had
written Chip his plan. the party start.
ed for Martins camp. They had been
taslished there month and were
ise well. The first Ice had begun
forming in shallow coves when one
afternoon. who should enter the lake
and paddle rapidly across but Old Cy.
"Ye can't git rid o. me when trap
pins goin' on" he said cheerily. as
Ray and Levi met him ~ the landing.
Il fetched into the settlement kinder
homesick fer the woods last week.
heard the good news bout Chips beln
found N you'd come here fer the win
ter, n didn't wait minute fore
hfrad a ranna ~ nfa,tea Ara tNas.
in the exuberance OF his joy, he shook
hands with Ray and Levi once more
That evening, Ray. who had hare
work to keep the secret so long. told
Old Cy who lived Ia Peaceful Valley.
II was like thunderboit out Of d
clear sky. a shock Of Joyful news that
made Old cy gasp.
Why, feel Jest like 8coit once
more" he said after the exclamation
stage had passed IAN. do We know.
boys, ] felt all the way comm In ex
though good news was waitin' fer me-
s'pose twas from hearin' Chip was
all right agin."
That evening was one that none who
were in that wildwood camp ever for
got, for Old Cy was tho central figure.
and told Az only he could the story Of
his years wan derlng In search VI
Chip.
II was humorous, pathetic and tragic
all in one. and tale that held its It's
tenera srgiIbound for three delightful
hours
4 had dogs set on me. hundreds
on 'enl," Old Cy said In conclusion
IAN ! never knew afore how many
kinds n sizes o dogs thar was in this
world. ] Ulster think thar wafn't
moren fwo dozen or SO kinds. knew
now thar's two million III few more
didn't walt 10 count. / got rested a
few times on account o. not havin' Wis
ibIe means O support. I've been
hauled over the Goals by doctors trSin
to make me out a lunatic, nj I'd a.
done time In Jail II hadn't had money
to show. tell We, boys. this IL nm aw.
full 'spicious world fer strangers. n
the milk o. human kindness IL mostly
old cheese, m all rind at that. had
little fun, too, mixed In with all the
trouble, n one woman who owned a
place whore piled for lodgin Jest
bout told me she'd be willin' to marry
me II I'd stay m work the farm. She
had red hair, hard eyes. m bossy sort
o. ways. an that's dangerous combs
nation. / watched my chance when
she want lookin. n lit out middlin
lively"
And now life Mt this wilderness
camp. less restrained than when wom-
ankfnd were here. became one OF work,
and persistent, steady, no time-wasted
work at that. Martin had said that
Levi could boss matters. but II was
Ray who assumed management In
stead Two years had changed him
almost from boy to man. His new
ambition was the controlling power.
He wes here to make his mark. as 1t
were. and the haifhearted, boyish In
teregt In work had changed into a tire
less leadership Then. too. an mn
spoken. taeit interest in his ambition
was felt by those who helped. They
knew what he was striving for. and
that Chip was the ultimate object.
Her history, known al 1t now was to
all who came into the wilderness. In
huenced the woodsmen She had been
IF them and from them, and as an en-
tire village VIII gather to help at a
houseraising, so these three. Levi and
the two helpers, now felt the same In.
centive
Success usually comes to all who
strive for 1t, and now, with four will
ing workers to aid him, Ray was rapid
iy making success OF this venture
Old Cy. the most valuable assistant,
was indefatigable. He not only kept
the larder well supplied with game.
but tended and set traps, worked tn
the woods with the rest between
times. and his cheerful optimism and
droll humor bridged many a stormy
day and shortened many weary
tramp. And he seemed to grow
younger in this new, helpful life for