The Glenwood post., 1920-12-25

ured lakes that seemed to be distrfb-
uted without reason or sense over the
whole southern end of the state. Near
the klamath lakes, seemingly the
most imposing of all the fresh-water
lakes that the map revealed, he found
a city named Klamath Falls. He put
the name down in his notebook.
The map showed particularly
high, far-spreading range of noun
tains due west of the city. OF course
they We're the Cascades; the map said
SO very plainly. Then Dan knew he
was getting home. His grandfather
had lived and trapped and died in
these same wooded hills. Finally he
located and recorded the name Of the
largest city on the main railroad line
that was adjacent to the Cascades.
The preparation for his departure
took many days. He read many books
on flora and fauna. He bought sport
ing equipment. Knowing the usual
ratio between the respective pleasures
of anticipation and realization, he did
not hurry himself at all. And one
midnight he boarded a west-bound
train.
He sat for long time in the vesti-
bule of the sleeping car thinking in
anticipation of this final adventure Of
his life. He was rather tremulous and
exultant as he sank down into his
berth.
He saw to 1t that at least meas
nf tipn nlnln for hi
coming That night long wire went
out to the Chamber of Commerce of
one of the larger southern Oregon
cities. In it, he told the date of his
arrival and asked certain directions.
He wanted to know the name of some
mountain rancher where possibly he
might find board and room for the re-
mainder of the summer and the fall.
The further back from the paths of
men, he wrote, the greater would be
his pleasure. And he signed the wire
with his full name: Dan Failing, with
a Henry in the middle, and "III'' at
the end.
He usually didn't sign his name in
quite this manner. The people of
Gitcheapolis did not have particular
ly vivid memories of Dams grandfa-
ther. But 1t might be that legend
of the gray, straight frontiersman who
was his ancestor had still survived in
these remote Oregon wilds. The use
of the full name would do no harm.
Instead of hurting, it was positive
inspiration. The Chamber of Com
merce of the busy little Oregon city
was not usually exceptionally inter
ested in stray hunters that wanted
boarding place for the summer, ItS
business was finding country homes
for orchardists in the pleasant river
valleys. But 1t happened that the re-
cipient of the wire was one of the old.
est residents, frontiersman himself
and IT was one of the traditions of the
Old West that friendships were not
soon forgotten. Dan Failing had
been legend in the old trapping and
shooting days when this man was
young. So 1t came about that when
Dams train stopped at Cheyenne, he
found a telegram waiting him:
"Any relation to Dan Failing of the
umpqua dlvideT
Dan had never heard of the Ump-
qua divide, but he couldn't doubt but
that the sender of the wire referred
to his grandfather. He wired In the
affirmative. The head of the Chamber
of Commerce received the wire, read
1t, thrust it into his desk, and in the
face OF a really important piece of
business proceeded to forget all about
1t. Thus 1t came about that, except
for one thing, Dan Failing would have
probably stepped off the train at his
destination wholly unheralded and un-
met. The one thing that changed his
destiny was that Mt meeting of
certain widely known fraternal order
the next night, the Chamber of Com
merce crossed trails with the Frontier
in the person of another old resident
who Ind his home In the farthest
reaches of the Umpqua divide. The
Inter asked the former TO come up
for a few days shooting-the deer be-
ing fatter and more numerous .than
any precious season since the days of
the grizzlies.
TOO busy I'm afraid" the Cham
ber Of Commerce had replied. "But
LennoN-that reminds me. Do you
remember old Dan FaillngY'
LennoT probed back into the years
for a single Instant stralghtened ont
all the kinks of his memory In less
time than the wind strnightens ont
The folds NJ flag, and turned a most
Interested face, 'Remember him p he
exclaimed. 81 should say | do" The
middleaged man half-closed his pierre.
Ing, gray eyes.
Listen. Steele" he said, 81 saw Dan
Failing make bet once. I was lust
n kid, but ! wake up in my sleep to
marvel at II, We had n full long
glimpse Of n. bnck-tall bounding I'M n
long slope. It was Just splse-buc5,
and Dan Fniling said he could take
the left-hand spike off with one shot