Page:Fairview Boys at Camp.djvu/119

Rh his eyes, looked strangely about him, gazed in seeming wonder at the boys, and then looked at the young man who was supporting him.

"It's all right. Uncle Frank," said the stranger. "You're all right. You had a little fall, and these boys must have brought you here. But you're not hurt to speak of, and I bring you good news."

"Good—good news," faltered the old man. "You bring me good news, Ed?"

"Yes, the very best. The land is now yours. I have here all the papers. You don't need to live here any longer to claim it. You can come home with me. I have the deeds to the land."

"And the spring—the boiling spring—is the medical spring mine?" gasped Mr. Addison. He seemed to be getting better very quickly.

"The boiling spring is yours," the young man assured him. "Now take it easy—everything is all right."

"Oh, I am so glad—so glad!" murmured the old man, sinking back on the bunk. "Now I won't have to worry about anyone taking my secret away from me. Oh, everything is all right now," and he sighed in contentment.

"Take a little more coffee," urged the young man whom the hermit had called Ed. "It will do you good."

It really seemed to, for soon the aged man was able to sit up again.

He looked at the boys strangely, and they did not know what to do or say. They wondered if the hermit would try to drive them away.

"Are—are you the boys I pushed over the cliff?" he asked.

"Yes," replied Sammy, and he wondered how the old man could explain his queer action.

"Well, I—I'm sorry I did it," went on the hermit. "You