ar off the farm and go to school, and I will attend to your affairs
out here."

"I will decide in the morning."

That night Desmond thought over the whole matter. He had become
fascinated with the life in the mountains, but when he revolved the
whole matter in his mind he saw that it was indeed wiser for him to
return to his home; and under what joyful circumstances he would
return! He could clear the farm and have money in the bank; he could go
to school and go to college, and devote his whole attention to study
without any worry or fear, and in the morning he greeted Brooks with the
announcement:

"I have decided to obey you."

CHAPTER VII.

A SAD PARTING--PROPHETIC WORDS--ON THE TRAIN--A
SENATOR'S SON--LEADING UP TO A TRICK--GENUINE
FUN AHEAD.

There came a sad look to the face of Brooks, and he said:

"I shall miss you, Desmond, but I feel it is for the best. You are a
youth of great promise. I do not mean to flatter you, I am speaking the
truth, and it is in your interest that I so warmly advocate your return
to the East. I desire that you become an educated man, a graduate of
college; I wish you to secure your degree. And let me tell you now there
was fate in our meeting, and very remarkable consequences may follow our
acquaintance begun and maintained under such strange circumstances."

Desmond had never beheld his strange friend, the wizard tramp, under a
similar mood. There appeared to be a prophetic spell prompting the words
of the strange man.

"I hope you do not wish to get rid of me."

"No, I am speaking in your interest alone, lad; my life has been a
wasted one, yours is just commencing. You can be of some use in the
world, I have been a nuisance. I have a strange tale to tell--yes,
Desmond, like many others I have encountered a romance in life. I
deliberately threw myself away, but where I failed you can win; there is
a chance for you to become a useful man; great honor may await you
because you possess the qualities that win success. You are brave, firm,
and persistent, also enterprising; with these qualities, in this land,
any young man can win a success against the great throng of unambitious
and careless men like myself."

"Can you trust yourself?"

"I can."

"You are certain?"

"I am."

"You do not need me?"

"I do not."

"Remember, your weakness upon several occasions permitted you to fall."

"I have considered everything; I have an object in life now and a
prospec