The newspaper., 1908-01-31
CHAPTER III.


the canoes, when Angie and Chip
emerged that morning; and now while
breakfast is under way, moment
may be seized to explain who the peo-
pie were and their mission in this
wilderness.
Many years before, in distant VII
lage called Greenvale, two brothers,
David and Amzi Curtis. had quarreled
over an unfortunate division OF in
herited land. The outcome was that
AmZi. somewhat misanthropic over
the death of his wife, and of peculiar
makeup. deserted his home and little
daughter Angeline, and vanished. For
many years no one knew of his where
abouts, and he was given up as dead.
In the meantime his child. cared for
by kindly woman known as Aunt
Comfort, had grown to womanhood.
About this time boyhood sweetheart
of Angeline's. named Martin Frisbie.
who had been gathering wealth in a
distant city. invited former school
mate. now the village doctor in Green
vale, to join him on an outing trip into
the wilderness.
Here something of the history of a
notorious outlaw named Mcclure be-
came known to Martin, and more i'm
portant than that, queer old hermit
was discovered, dwelling in solitude
on the shore of small lake. Who he
was, and why this strange manner of
life, Martin could not learn, and not
until later. when he returned TO Green
vale to WOO his former sweetheart
4.
however. from a description furnished
by a village nonedscript.-a sort of
Natty Bumpo and philosopher com
bined. known as Old Cy Walker. who
had been Martins youthful companion.
he was led to believe that the queer
hermit and the long g-missing AMI were
one and the same.
Another trip into this wilderness
with Old Cy. taken to identify the her
NIT, resulted in proving the correct
ness of the surmise. Then Martin set
about making this misanthropic re-
cluse more comfortable in all ways
possible: and then. leaving Old Cy to
keep him company. he returned to
Greenvale and Angie.
A marriage was the outcome of his
return to his native village. and then.
with his nephew. Ray. and long-tried
guide. Levi. as helpers on this unique
wedding trip. the hermit was visited.
1t was hoped that meeting his child
once more would result in inducing
him to abandon his wildwood exist
ence and to return to civilization; and
IL did-partially. He seemed happy to
meet his daughter again. consented to
return with them when ready, and
after a couple of weeks sojourn here.
the canoes were packed and all set out
for civilization and Greenyale once
more.
But home, sweet home" albeit Il
was. as in this case. lonely log cabin
in vast wilderness. proved stronger
than parental love or aught else; and
sometime during first nights camp on
the way out. this strange recluse stole
away in his canoe and returned.
Its natur" Old Cy observed when
morning came. AN home is the hard
est spot in the world to fergit- Amzi's
lived in that old shack all lone for 20
years. He's got wonted to 1t like a
dog to his kennel. an all the powers
o. the univarse can't break up the
feelin'.'
1t seemed an indisputable. II disap-
pointing. fact and Martin led his party
back to the hermit's home once more.
Another plan was now considered
by Martin-to buy the township. or at
least a large tract enclosing this lake.
build a more commodious log cabin for
the use of himself and his wife. and
spend a portion of each summer there.
There were several reasons other than
those of affection for this decision.
This lake. perhaps half mile In
diameter, teemed with trout. The low
mountains enclosing It were thickly
covered with fine spruce and fir.
groves of pine with some beech and
birch grew in the valleys; deer. moose
and feathered game abounded here.
and best of all, no vandal lumbermen
ever encroached upon this region.
1t was. all considered. a veritable
sportsman's paradise. Most likely a
few thousand dollars would purchase
1t. and so. for these collective reasons.
Martin decided to buy 1t.
Old Cy was left to keep the hermit
company: Martin. his wife. and Ray,
with Levi, started for civilization to
obtain needed supplies. and had been
four days upon the way when this
much-abused waif appeared on the
scene. The party we're journeying in