"An', Collie--now I must tell you somethin'." "Yes, dad," she had replied, with strong clasp of the heavy hand on her shoulder.
"Thet's just it, lass.

I ain't your dad.

I've tried to be a dad to you an' I've loved you as my own.

But you're not flesh an' blood of mine.
An' now I must tell you." The brief story followed.

Seventeen years ago miners working a claim of Belllounds's in the mountains above Middle Park had found a child asleep in the columbines along the trail.