THE END OF THE TRAIL 133 
From time to time I forwarded gifts of money, 
telling Mrs. Weldon whence they came and ex- 
plaining to her how the funds had been intrusted 
to me for her benefit. A year later the Weldons 
moved for the third time, and this change took 
them a long distance from their last abode, quite 
out of touch with the region about my camp. For 
a long period I heard nothing about them, until, 
by inquiring, I learned that they were living in a 
small town, some fifty miles away from their for- 
mer home. 
In order to get into communication with them 
again, I wrote to a provision store in the place, 
to see if by chance the Weldons traded there. It so 
happened that they did, and the grocer knew them 
well. Though he spoke in the highest terms of 
their integrity and worthiness, he had a pathetic 
story to tell of their efforts to keep the wolf from 
the door. This merchant was a very fine man, 
whose heart was in the right place. A plan was 
soon arranged whereby the family could have 
whatever they needed from his store, and never 
know who was connected with the scheme. 
Mr. Weldon’s foot had grown much worse again, 
and instant relief was necessary or he might lose 
his leg. Immediate arrangements were made and 
a date was set for his coming to the Massachusetts 
General Hospital in Boston, when I received a 
