“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 prospect.”

“A prospect?”

“Yes.”

“Is there anything you are concealing from me?”

“I am considering your interests alone,” was the reply.

“But your revelation?”

“It is not necessary for me to tell you once again that I have provided for you to learn the secret of my life in case anything should happen to me.”

Desmond at once began his arrangements for a return to the East.  He had been away for many months; he had plenty of money; his return would be in great triumph in every way.  He purchased fine clothes, which he was able to do even in the far Western town where he was stopping, and when he arrayed himself in his good clothes even Brooks was surprised at the wonderful transformation well-fitting attire made in the youth.  Desmond was indeed a fine-looking fellow, well educated comparatively, and as is not unusually the case, he was naturally capable of adapting himself to changed conditions.  He did not seem awkward in his good clothes, but appeared as though he had worn fine attire all his life.

At length the hour came when Desmond and Brooks were to part company.  The wizard tramp had a sad look upon his face, although he tried to be cheerful and jovial The attempt, however, was a failure.  He said: 

“I will not go with you to the train, Desmond, we will part here, and you can address your letters to me here; I will arrange to have them forwarded to me in case I go prospecting again.”

“You will go prospecting, I suppose, of course.”

“I cannot tell; but remember, if anything happens to me I have arranged for you to be communicated with.”

There came a look of concern to our hero’s face, and the discerning Brooks said: 

“You have something to say.”

“I have an idea.”

“Well?”

“There is great peril in the wilderness.”

“Yes.”

“There have been cases where men have lost their lives and their deaths have not become known until many years afterward.”