Glen of the High North | Page 3

smiled as he pulled out a drawer in his desk, and brought
forth a fair-sized scrapbook. He slowly turned the pages and stopped at
length where a large newspaper clipping had been carefully pasted.

"I do not think you need a thrashing, Tom," he began. "But I believe I
can suggest something better than that. Here is an entry I made in this
book over fifteen years ago, and the story it contains appeals strongly
to me now. I read it at least once a year, and it has been the cause of
many a day-dream to me, and night-dream as well, for that matter. Did
you ever hear of the mysterious disappearance of Henry Redmond, the
wealthy merchant of this city? But I suppose not, as you were young at
the time."
"No, I never heard of him," Reynolds acknowledged. "Was he killed?"
"Oh, no. He merely disappeared, and left no trace at all. That was, as I
have just said, over fifteen years ago, and no word has been received
from him since."
"What was the trouble? Financial difficulties?"
"Not at all. He simply disappeared. It was due to his wife's death, so I
believe. They were greatly attached to each other, and when she
suddenly died Redmond was a broken-hearted man. I knew him well
and it was pathetic to watch him. He took no interest in his business,
and sold out as soon as possible. Then he vanished, and that was the
last we heard of him. He was an odd man in many ways, and although
one of the shrewdest men in business I ever knew, he was fond of the
simple life. He was a great reader, and at one time possessed a very fine
library. This article which I wish you to read tells the story of his life,
how he built up his business, and of his sudden disappearance."
"How do you know he wasn't killed?" Reynolds asked.
"Because of this," and the editor laid his forefinger upon a small
separate clipping at the bottom of the larger one. A short time after
Redmond disappeared, and when the excitement of all was intense, this
was received and published. Although it bore no name, yet we well
know that it was from Redmond, for it was just like something he
would do. This is what he wrote:
"'I go from the busy haunts of men, far from the bustle and worry of

business life. I may be found, but only he who is worthy will find me,
and whoever finds me, will, I trust, not lose his reward. From the
loopholes of retreat I shall watch the stress and fever of life, but shall
not mingle in the fray.'"
"Queer words, those," Reynolds remarked, when the editor had finished
reading. "What do you make of them?"
"I hardly know, although I have considered them very carefully. I
believe they contain a hidden meaning, and that the finding will consist
of more than the mere discovery of his person. It must refer to
something else, some quality of heart or mind, that is, the real
personality behind the mere outward form."
"A double quest, eh, for anyone who undertakes the venture?"
"It seems so, Tom, and that makes it all the more difficult. But what an
undertaking! How I wish I were young again, and I should be off
to-morrow. I was a fool not to make the try fifteen years ago. I would
not now be chained to this desk, I feel certain of that."
"And as you cannot go yourself, you want----?" Reynolds paused and
looked quizzically at the editor.
"I want you to go in my stead," was the emphatic reply. "You are
young, strong, and anxious for adventure."
"For what purpose, sir? Why do you wish me to undertake this
wild-goose chase? For such it seems to me."
"I wish you to go for three reasons. First, for your own good; as an
outlet to your abundant energy, and to give you some object in life.
Next, to satisfy a curiosity that has been consuming me for years. I am
more than anxious to know what has become of Henry Redmond. And
finally, for the sake of my paper. If you should prove successful, what a
write-up it will make, for you will have a wonderful story to tell.
Doesn't the thing appeal to you? Why, it makes my blood tingle at the
thought of such an undertaking."

"It does stir me a bit," Reynolds acknowledged. "But where am I to go?
Have you any idea where Redmond is? The world is big, remember,
and without any clue, the chase would be absolute folly."
"I am well aware of all that. I have no idea where Redmond is, and that
makes the venture