Geoffrey's Victory by Mrs Georgie Sheldon — page 175: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

JACK’S STORY CONTINUED. 171 + of sight. Wall, one day I must have fallen asleep, for I woke with a start, and lookin’ out, couldn’t see hide nor hair of the boy. I went to the door, but he wasn’t no- where in sight. I started out to find him, never thinkin’ of danger then. I walked for hours, askin’ people about him, but nobody could tell me anything of him. “Three days I kep’ this up, until I nigh about went crazy, and wore myself out with loss or sleep, travelin’ about, and with my grief for the little fellow. “On the last day before we were to sail, while I was rovin’ about the streets in search of him, I ran against those two men again—the ones who were lookin’ for me. I knew by their quick, keen glances at me that they had got a suspicion I might be their man, and I got out of their way in a hurry. Iwas discouraged about fiudin’ the boy. I didn’t dare to look for him any more. Iwas afraid to go to the police about nim, lest they had been notified to be on the lookout, and should snap meup; so, half crazed with tear and grief, 1 staggered on board the vessel I was to saii in, crawled into my berth, and lay there till we were well out to sea. “Wall, sir, my heart was broke. I thought I never could hold up my head again, and I wouldn’t have turned over my hand to have saved myself from goin’ to the bottom; for I got to lovin’ that poor little chap with my ~ whole soul, and I didn’t know how to get on without him. “But we had a good passage. I was hale and hearty when we landed, and seemed likely to live my lonely life for many a vear. I went into the interior, bought a sheep ranch, and set myself to do the work of three men; nothin’ else would ease the pain and worry that was eatin’ my heart out. “Well, sir, to make a long story short, I’ve been on that sheep ranch ever since, until about six months ago, — when a longin’ seized me to come home and take a last look at my own land. I’ve grown to be a well-to-do farmer; I’ve plenty of money, and no one to spend it on or leave it to, unless I give it to you, Master Geoffrey, now that I have found you. Heaven be praised for that, and that you’ve got your mind back! I’ve been to New Jersey, found my place there neglected and all out of repair, but still a thrifty little farm if *twas well taken care of. I’ve been to Texas for a look at my old ranch there. The man that bought it got rich, sold out, and then went North to live on his money. Then I came on here to see the place where I first found my Margery, GOmicboo Ss (E(0) =}