d the finest, cleanest young fellow that ever came into
these hills. Every man was his friend."

"Did you ever know a Mr. Kieser who was a friend of my father's?" asked
Willis, after a moment's thought.

"Seems like I did," replied the miner, "a great many years ago, but he
disappeared from this region long since."

"Did you say the mine which once belonged to my father seemed to be the
best in the canyon?" broke in Willis.

"Yes, it did, the last I knew of it; but nothing ever came of it, except
that there have been two men there to-day, preparing to do this season's
assessment work. You can never tell, you know, about a gold mine, for
most of them have just been 'holes full of hope,' and the hope usually
leaked out sooner or later."

Chuck halloed from up the trail to get under way, or they would never
reach the top by dark.

"Going to camp up in the Park to-night, I presume?" asked the miner.

"Yes, if we can make it," replied Mr. Allen. "Have you been up to the top
lately?" "Yes, I was up yesterday, and it's a grand sight at this season
of the year. The Maraposa lilies are blooming in great profusion, and the
spring is running a fine little stream. I had a very pleasant surprise up
there, too. Years ago there was a large herd of deer which lived in that
park, but they were supposedly all killed off. Yesterday, about this
time, as I sat on a dead log just back from the spring, quietly thinking
over some of the memories of old times when I had hunted on that very
ground, I heard the dry twigs snap, and, turning, I saw a doe and two
tiny, spotted fawns cross the park and enter the timber at the other
side. If you build a fire to-night you may get a glimpse of them."

"I'm coming to have a long talk with you some of these days," called
Willis as they started off.

At last the entrance to the Park was reached, and they came upon a
stretch of level ground. The entire country changed. Instead of the stony
tallus of the canyon, there was soft, black soil under foot. Instead
of the great spruces and firs scenting the air, there were only tall,
stately aspens on every side, their leafy tops lost in the deepening
shadows. Instead of the ground cedar and berry bushes, wild grass grew in
rank profusion. The air was tinged with a faint fragrance, and somewhere
in the distance came the sound of gently-splashing waters, "Like a voice
half-sobbing and half-laughing under the shadows."

The party halted and turned to the