Kate, that night there was tears in my eyes when I thought of how that kid had been out there on the hills walkin' along so happy an' independent.
"But the next mornin' he was gone.

I sent my cowpunchers out to look for him.
"'Which way shall we ride ?' they asked.
"I don't know why, but I thought of the wild geese that Dan had seemed to be followin'.
"'Ride north,' I said.
"An' sure enough, they rode north an' found him.

After that I didn't have no trouble with him about runnin' away--at least not durin' the summer.

An' all those months I kept plannin' how I would take care of this boy who had come wanderin' to me.

It seemed like he was sort of a gift of God to make up for me havin' no son.