The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1921-05-26

|
ured lakes that seemed to be distritr
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
city named Klamath Falls. He put
the name down in his notebook.
The map showed particularly
high, farspreading range Of noun
tains due west Of the city. OF course
they were the Cascades the map said
SO very plainly. Then Dan knew he
was getting home. His grandfather
had lived and trapped and died III
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. sKnow;cg the usual
ratio between the respective pleasures
Of anticipation and realization, he did
not hurry himself at all. And one
midnight he boarded west.bound
/ train.
He sat for long time ii the vesti-
bule Of the sleeping car. thinking in
anticipation OF this final adventure Of
| his life He was rather tremuIous and
I exultant as he sank down into his
| berth.
| He saw to It that at least meas
ure Of preparation was made Tor his
coming. That night long wire went
cut to the Chamber OF Commerce of
one Of the larger southern Oregon
cities. m It he told the date Of his
arrival and asked certain directions.
Ne 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
/ q Henry in the middle, and a sIIr at
| the end.
He usually didn't sign hts name In
quite this manner. The people Of
Gitcheapolis did not have particular
" vivid memories Of Dams grandfa-
! ther. But 1t might be that legend
Of the gray, straight frontiersnan 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 a positive
Inspiration. The Chamber OF Com
merce of the busy little Oregon city
was not usually exceptionally Inter-
ested In stray hunters that wanted a
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 1t was one Of the traditions OF the
Old West that friendships were not
soon forgotten. Dan Failing had
been a legend In the old trapping and
shooting days when this man was
young. SO It came about TINT when
Dams train stopped ut Cheyenne, he
found telegram waiting him:
"Any relation to Dan Failing Of the
Umpqua dfvidey
Dan had never heard of the imp
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
1 II, thrust It into his desk. and In the
face Of d really important piece Of
business proceeded to forget all about
! 1t. Thus. It came about that, except
for one thing, Dan Failing would have
probably stepped off the train at his
destination wholly unheralded and mn
met. The one thing that changed his
destiny was that az meeting OF d
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 had his home In the farthest
reaches Of the Umpqua divide The
latter asked the former to come up
for few days shooting 1.-The deer be.
| luS lHtlSf anu liOIe uuu1ctVuS tlt1tD
any previous season since the days Of
the grizzlies.
Too busy. I'm afraid" the Cham.
her OF Commerce had replied. "Bui
Lennox- that reminds me- Do you
remember old Dan Failing r
Lennox probed back into the years
for a single instant. Strengthened out
all the kinks OF his memory ID Iesl
time Than the wind straightens gu,
the folds Of flag. and turned mos,
interested face. Remember him |" HI
exclaimed. II should say do" Tn,
middle-aged man half-closed his pierc
ing, gray eyes.
Listen. Steele. he said, Il saw Dal
Failing make bet once. was JUS
a kid, but wake up in my sleep t
marvel at It We had a full loni
glimpse Of a black-tail bounding up ,
long Slope II was just a spike-buck
and Dan Failing said he could taxi,
the left-hand spike on with one sho
from his old Sharpe's. Three OF a
bet hin1-.the whole thing In less thar
two seconds. With the next shot
a 4 80 4 NJ Nspa KL !