t," found its way
through the snow-drifts to Sherwood's ranch. It was from Harriet Somers.
But no letter came from Francis.

Finally Sherwood suggested a registered letter. In a few days a receipt
came back, followed by a letter in which Francis explained that he had
just returned from a trip to Honolulu for his health, and that he hoped
when he was better to go up into the mountains to see Mr. Palmer.

But the old man's strength was failing, and worry over Francis had
resulted in another paralytic shock. Dr. Mason was summoned, and made
his way into the canon on skis. He found the patient in bad condition,
suffering from miner's paralysis in its worst form. Still, the old man
rallied, affixed his mark in lieu of signature to a letter ordering
medicines and other necessaries from Hintzen, and forbade the writing of
alarming letters to his relatives. He hoped to weather the storm again
as he had done under Dr. Lefevre's treatment.

But patient and nurses had their premonitions. He would call out in
distress, "Mrs. Sherwood, please help my hand," and she, taking the
stiffened fingers in hers, would soothe him so. He came more and more to
depend upon her. Told her he trusted she would do whatever was needful;
and, sure sign of the coming end, spoke of his relatives in the East.
Save for the astronomer nephew, he had seen none of them for more than
thirty years; but his heart went out in tenderness towards them. He
spoke of his brothers and sisters and their promising children. Weeping,
he told of his beloved mother, who died when he was a boy of seven years
and left him heart-broken.

He talked about making legal provision for pet cat and dog, which did
not forsake him in his weakness. Mrs. Sherwood, remarking upon such
extravagance, asked:

"You have considerable means, Mr. Palmer?" And he, grown less secretive
under her patient nursing, replied:

"Why, yes, I have considerable money."

The days went by, and he got no better. But his mind was clear; and he
resolved before it was too late to reward his benefactors. So a justice
of the peace was summoned, and a deed of the old man's claim on Fillmore
Hill was drawn up, making the property over to the Woolsey brothers.
Without hesitation he described his boundaries in legal fashion; and he
signed the deed with his mark, before witnesses. Furthermore, he told
the boys where they would be likely to find rich gravel; and they
afterward had cause to praise the old man's