Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1912-12-12

past the mill and hailed the miller's
little lad who was fishing in the tum
bling stream.
DO you want to gr on q picnic
with me. Lon?" she called.
yes. maam." he called delighted
ly and after obtaining permission from
his mother he joined his teacher and
together they walked through the
woods where the fallen leaves crisped
under foot and where the odor OF
birch and sassafras smelled strong
and sweet.
Lon. do you know the way to the
hermit's cave!" she asked quietly.
Lon stared at her with paling
cheeks. You're not going there. Miss
Grace?" he faltered.
Yes. am. my dear. II you don't
90 with me and show the way must
60 alone. for an old man 10 hurt there
and perhaps dying. Before we enjoy
our own picnic We must see him. You
can turn back now II you want to. !"
She looked at him. confident Of his an
swer.
Lon Strengthened his shoulders anc
his ears redeemed with pride and en-
barrassment AZ he led the way
through a tangled thicket and by
devious other ways until they stood In
q narrow path. we'll defined and COW
cred with a clear white sand.
THAT leads to the cave" whispered
Lon cautiously. me and some fel-
lows found 1t one day-it comes from
over the mountain-I guess that's the
way he goes to and fro. We was
after birds eggs last summer-there's
millions of birds around here-and
the old man came and chased us on"
who is there?" called a feeble
voice from within the cave.
"Friends!" replied Grace cheerily.
Are you In trouble?"
"Yes-fell and sprained my ankle
yesterday and I've been suffering tor
lures since then. I've tried to get help
from outside but everyone acts 20 con-
foundedly idiotic every time stone
rattles down the hillside that I'd
about given it up. Wait a moment
please and I'll come out"
Hes got a nice voice." whispered
Lon to his teacher az they waited for
the hermit's appearance.
Every likely he's the incest old
gentleman you ever met" she smiled
back at him. Here he comes now"
With that expression of tenderest
pity lighting her face Grace Winton
saw a man drag himself painfully
from the opening of the cave. Her
eyes widened as she realized that this
was no old man-young. handsome
and athletic looking. the picture of
health. save for a certain drawn look
In his face that intense suffering
might have placed there. he half
crept, half hobbled to q sitting posi-
ton In the mouth of the cave and
then no tainted dead away
When Grace and Lon had recovered
from their establishment and bent
themselves to resuscitate the stranger,
the boy spoke:
This isn't the hermit. Miss Grace"
Never mind" she said absently, AZ
she propped his head against her
shoulder and forced some Of the
blackberry wine between his lips.
Hes In need Of help anyway. Un-
bandage his ankle. Lon-carefully my
dear-there, It II black and blue and
dreadfully swelled. Can you fetch
water from the streamf Doesn't It
run above heref"
Lon dashed away with = pail and
whom be returned with tho icy water
he found tho young man recovered
and r&thor ashamed Of his momentary
weakness. Sitting With his injured
foot In the cold water he told the two
that his uncle, tho hermit. was none
other than Waynsvood Stone. we'll
known ornithologist who had used the
cave a. q summer point Of observation
to study his beloved birds. Now that
the old man was crippled with rheu.
matism and confined to his beautiful
city home. this nephew. Frank Stone.
had come to take his uncle's place and
gather the necessary data for the old
mans forthcoming book Of bird-lore.
Nov We must got q doctor up to
you at once" said Grace, preparing to
leave after Mr.. Stone had wrung the
story of their coming from her un.
willing lips. And you will want
man to keep house for you II you In
sist on remaining up here-Mrs. Stew.
ems son might como and take care OF
you"
II believe Ill get the doctor to taks
me down to tho hotel In Pendleton,"
said Stone thoughtfully.
There amt no birds down thero,"
ventured Lon dimdently. "Leastways
not new ones"
There 10 ono new to me-a vintar
rod bird" returned Stone without