story. Yes, the man was Henry
Redmond, an', as I told ye, he suddenly lit out to parts unknown. But
I know what happened to him. He did leave the busy haunts of men, an'
went far off into the wilderness, takin' with him his little child. He
lived alone fer a time in a cabin that he built. He thought that he
could be happy with nature, an' find comfort fer his great heart-ache
in the loneliness of the wild. But he soon found out his mistake. He
needed human companionship more'n he could git from his little child.
After a while he jined himself to a band of Injuns, became their
leader, an' ruled 'em with a strong hand. Fer a time this gave him
some comfort, an' he believed that sich a life was all that he could
desire. He had his books, an' when he wished he could talk with the
natives, whose lingo he soon larned."

Samson paused and gazed for a few minutes steadfastly into the fire.
Reynolds had listened to every word and he could not tolerate the least
delay. A startling thought had come suddenly into his mind which
stirred him to a high pitch of excitement.

"Go on," he ordered. "Finish your story."

Samson aroused from his reverie, and looked keenly into the young man's
eager eyes.

"Whar was I?" he asked. "Oh, yes, I remember. It was jist whar
Redmond had settled down among the Injuns. Me mind was wanderin' a
bit, due, no doubt, to old age. Well, Redmond tried to find peace an'
contentment in the little village. From the loopholes of retreat he
did watch the ways of civilization, an' the more he watched, the more
dissatisfied he became. He longed fer the companionship of people of
his own kind, fer between him an' the Injuns thar was too wide a gap.
He needed the company of white people, an' that he did not have. He
did not care to visit the outside world fer fear of bein' recognized.
Then something happened which made a great change."

"What was it?" Glen eagerly asked, for she, too, was intensely
interested.

"It was the discovery of gold in the very region whar Redmond thought
he was secure from all contact with civilized life. The miners flocked
into the place, pokin' their noses into every hole an' corner, until
Redmond found it necessary to keep them at arm's length an' at the same
time strike terror into their hearts, that he might protect his Injuns
from their evil influence."

"Why, that's just like daddy," Glen remarked. "He won't allow the
miners to come to Glen West."

"Sure