The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1911-10-07
the Hermit
By LAWRENCE ALFRED CLAY

| just why he was missing. but she
wasn't chasing around to volunteer in
| formation. Widows know when to kaep
/ quiet Besides, after several days had
gone by she received a letter from a
friend in the country containing news
| that relieved her mind considerably
and brought smile to her face and
plan to her mind
81 wish you were here" wrote the
correspondent We have a romantic
mystery on hand. There's an old log
house in the woods half a mile down
the road. 1t has not been occupied
for years, and is sadly out of repair.
but behold! a hermit came a day or
two ago to take up his quarters. No
! old rags! No venerable whiskers!
Middle-aged and decently dressed, and
they say he spends most of his time
E-oontng and signing. Lives mostly
on turnips, l guess. and sleeps on a
| brush bed Uncle Jim was over
see him yesterday. but could not get
much out Of him. Seems to be some
one who has been disappointed in love,
and thinks the world has gone to
smash. Hurry down and help US to
solve the mystery by finding the guilty
party who gave him the shake"
The widow smiled and nodded as
she read the letter. She even said to
herself: Yes. that would be just like
him" Then she went to packing so
as to leave for the country sooner
than she had planned for. She started,
arrived. and was welcomed She had
scarcely Rugged her friend when she
was greeted with:
1.-The hermit is there yet We heard
him grooming a love song last night,
after stealing onions and turnips for
| his supper"
Some escaped lunatic, probably"
"Oh, no, he can't be- He's just break
ing his heart over some woman. What
| a wicked wretch she must be to drive
! him out of the world in this way!"
Yes. And what nfnny he must
be to have been driven
Now, then, hurry up and change
and get lunch and Wen go over to the
hut Perhaps we can encourage and
console him."
An hour later the widow an
nounced that she was going to see
| the hermit. She might or might not
know him, but she had an idea she
did. There was considerable argu-
ment about her going alone, but she
prevailed, and got directions and
| started of. It was an ideal place for
a hermit. The woods and brush were
dense, the old house almost roof1ess,
and more lonely spot could not have
been found for ten miles around From
| the shelter of a brush the widow took
a long look. Only woodpecker was
to be seen and heard, and he was Ger
| tafnly detected looking bird. After
a time an advance was made to the
gaping doorway, and the hermit of the
wilderness was made out to be seat
ed in a dark corner with his head
on his knees.
'Bascom, come out!"
The figure never stirred
Come out. 1 say!"
''Who-what?''
Come out and don't play the
ninny''
/ rs it you, Nina?" was asked in
mournful voice as a disheveled figure
arose and came to the door.
"Of course it is. Come along!"
Its too latei'
| Too late, nOthinZi"
And she took the hermit's hand and
led him to little glade and sat him
down and seated herself beside him
| and said:
"Al 1 said that night was that a
man with your money and brains
ought to do something to make your
self known to the world, and you be-
came angry and took your departure"
But you-you intimated-"
Yes, but that's all passed. You have
done something. and that's all l ask
ed You are in all the papers. You
are the talk of the town You are be-
| ing searched for. Bascom, no woman
wants to marry a nonentity. You are