Sunset Ranch: A Story of a Boy's Adventures in the West — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

morse ihieves. 103 one stone, and, as all trace of Hosmer was lost in an ill-fated wagon train that got into trouble with hostile Indians, I allowed my love for you and for the wild life of a range rider to keep me a year at dear old Sunset Ranch. “Now conscience begins to reproach me when- ever I think of mother and the solemn promise I gave her. “It is time I broke away from the happy life that just suits my temperament, and return once more to the wild-goose chase of this ignis fatuus girl.” Cuthbert ended with a sigh, as though his heart were exceedingly heavy. And Karl was also depressed. Somehow he had never contemplated such a thing as a separation from this dear old chum who had en- tered into his life so fully. “You see,” said Karl, with tears in his eyes, “I ain’t got no close relations or things of that sort. The old man—I mean father—he got down under in a wild stampede of skeered cattle in a ’lectric storm. I must ’a bin a pretty husky kid "bout then. Anyway I guess I was old enough to look after my- self. Mister Kelly says the cowboys adopted me. ’Spose that’s "bout the size of it. They taught me how to sit a broncho and cock a gun. But, Cuth- bert you’re most the only chum I’ve ever had and if you go away He broke off. The thought was too bitter. “Don’t take on so, Karl. I’m rich enough to buy out old Mr. Kelly ten times over, and there’s no earthly reason why you shouldn’t come East and en- ter an academy. Why not? Any time you choose to do that I’m ready to meet all the expense, and would, moreover, consider it a great joy and privi- lege.” | , Karl was so overwhelmed that he couldn’t utter a word of gratitude, though his heart was full. cComiclooks C©