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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (July 6, 1911)
Cavanagh, Forest Ranger The Great Conservation Novel By HAMLIN GARLAND Copyright. 1 9 10. by Hmlin GtrUnd CIIAPTER XT. SHADOWS ON THE MIST. i: UK decision which Cavanaph made between love and duty distinguished the officer from the man, the soldier from the civilian. ' lie did not hesitate to act, and yet he suffered a mental conflict as be rode back toward the acene of that inhuman sacrifice on the altar of greed. "It will be hours before any part of the sheriff's posse can reach the falls, even though they take to the swiftest motors, and then other long hours must Intervene before I can ride down to her. Yes, at least a day and night must drag their slow course before I can hope to be of service to her." And the thought drew a groan of anxiety from him. At such moments of mental stress the trail is a torture and the mountain side an inexorable barrier. Halfway to the hills he was Inter cepted by an old man who was at work on an Irrigating ditch beside the road. He seemed very nervous and very inquisitive, and as he questioned the ranger his eyes were like those of a dog that fears his master's hand. Ross wondered about this afterward, but at the moment his mind was busy with the significance of this patient toller with a spade. He was a prophet ic figure In the most picturesque and sterile land of the stockman. "Here, within twenty miles of this peaceful fruit grower," he said, "Is the crown ing Infamy of the freebooting cowboy." He wondered as he rode on whether the papers of the state would make a Jest of this deed. "Will this be made the theme for caustic comment In the eastern press for a day and then be forgotten?" As his hot blood cooled he lost faith In even this sacrlflce. Could anything change the leopard west Into the tame ness and serenity of the 01? "No," he decided; "nothing but death will do that. This generation, these fierce and bloody hearts, must die. Only In that way can the tradition of violence be overcome and a new state reared." At the foot of the toilsome, upward winding trail be dismounted and led bis weary horse. Over his head and about halfway to the first hilltop lay a roof of fleecy vapor, faint purple In color and seamless in texture. Through this he must pass, and it sym bolized to him the Hue of demarcation between the plain and the mountain. between order and violence. Slowly he led his horse along the mountain side, grasping with eager de sire at every changing aspect of the marvelous mountain scene. It was In finitely more gorgeous, more compel ling, than his moonlight experience the night before. As he led his horse out upon a pro Jocting point of rocky ledge to rest his love for the range came back upon him with such power that tears misted his eyes and his throat ached. "Whore else will I find such sceues at this?" he asked himself. "Where in all the lowlands could such splendors shine? How can I leave this high world in which these wonders come and go? 1 will not! Here will I bring my bride and build my home. This la my world." But the mist grew gray, the aureole of fire faded, the sun went down be hind the hills, and the chill of evening deepened on the trail, and as he re approached the scene of man's inhu manity to man the thought of camping there beside those charred limbs call ed for heroic resolution. He was hun gry, too, and as the air pinched be shivered. "At the bet the sheriff cannot reach here before midnight," he said, and settled down to his unsought, revolting vigil. His one relief lay In the mental com position of a long letter to Lee Vir ginia, whose life at that moment was a comfort to him. "If such purity, such sweetness, can come from vio lence and vulgarity then surely a new and splendid state can rise even out of the ashes of these murdered men. Pertiaps this Is t lie end of the old," he mused, "pel baps t lis Is the begin ning of the new," anil as he pondered the last faint crlmsou died out of the west. "So must the hute and violence die out of America," he said, "leaving the clear, sweet air of liberty behind." He was near to the poet at the imm inent, for he was also the lover. Ills allegiance to the great republic stood the test. His faith lu democracy wa shaken, but not destroyed. "I will wait," he decided. "This shall be the sign. If this deed goes unavenged then will I put off my badge (ind my uniform and go back to the land where for a hundred years at least such deeds as these have been Impossible." He built a tire as night fell to serve both as a beacon and as a defense against the cold. He felt himself weirdly remote In this vigil. From bis far height he looked abroad upon the tumbled plain as if upon an ocean dimly perceptible, yet august. "At this EToiueiitrr Ue suia. "curious an3 per haps guilty eyes are wondering what my spark of firelight may mean." His mind went again and again to that tall old man In the ditch. Wh.it was the meaning of his scared and sorrowful glance? Why should oue so iH'Mcefully employed at such a time and lu such a place wear the look of a bunted deer? What meant the tre mor In his voice? . Was It possible that oue so gentle should have taken part lu this deed? "Preposterous suspicion, and yet he hud a guilty lok." At last, far in the night, he heard the snort of a horse and the sound of voices. The law (such as It was) was creeping up the mountain side in the person of the sheriff of Chauvenet county and was about to relieve the ranger from his painful responsibility as guardian of the dead. At last he came, this officer of the law, attended (like a Cheyenne chiefi by a dozen lesser warriors of various conditions and kinds, but among them Indeed, second only to the sheriff was Hugh Redfleld. the forest super visor, hot and eager with haste. As they rode up to the fire the officer called out: "Howdy, ranger? How about It?" Ross stated briefly, succinctly, what he bad discovered, and as he talked other riders came up the hill and gath ered closely around to listen lu word less silence In guilty slleuce, the ranger could not help believing. Redfleld spoke. "Sheriff Van Home, you and I have been running cattle In this country for nearly thirty years, and we've witnessed ail kinds of shoot ing and several kinds of hanging, but when It comes to chopping and burn ing men I get off. I shall personally offer a reward of $1,000 for the ap prehension of these miscreants, and I hope you'll mnke it your solemn duty to hunt them to earth." "You won't have far to go." remark ed Ross significantly. "What do you mean?" asked the sheriff. "I mean this slaughter, like the oth ers that have taken place, was the work of cattlemen who claim this range. Their names are known to us all." A silence followed so deep a silence that the ranger was convinced of the fact that in the circle of his listeners stood those who, if they had not shared In the slaughter, at least knew the names of the guilty men. At last the sheriff spoke, this time with a sigh. "I hope you're all wrong, Cavanagb. I'd hate to think any con stituent of mine had sanctioned this Job. Give me that lantern, Curtis." The group of ranchers dismounted and followed the sheriff over to the grewsome spot, but Redfleld stayed with the ranger. "Have you any suspicion, Ross? "No. hardly a suspicion. However, you know as well as I that this was not a sudden outbreak. This deed was planned. It represents the feeling of many cattlemen In everything but the extra horror of its execution. That was the work of drunken, infuriated men. But I am more deeply concern ed over Miss Wetherford's distress. Did she reach you by telephone to night?" "No. What's the trouble?" "Her mother Is down again. I tele phoned her, and she asked me to come to her, but I cannot go. for 1 have a case of smallpox up on the hill. Am bro, the Basque herder, Is down with It, and another herder Is up there alone with 111 tn. I must go back to them. But meanwhile I wish you would go to the Fork and see what you can do for her." His voice, filled with emotion, touch ed Redfleld. and he said. "Can't I go to the relief of the herder?" "No; you must not think of It. You are a man with a family. But if you can find any one who has had the smallpox send him up. The old herder who is nursing the patient Is not strong and may drop at any moment. Then It's up to me." The men enme back to the campflre conversing In low tones, some of them cursing in tones of awe. One or two of them were small farmers from Deer Creek, recent comers to the state, or men with bunches of milk cows, aud to then this deed was awesome. The sheriff followed, saying: "Well, there's notVng to do but wait till morning. The rest of you men better go home. You can't be of any use here." For more than three hours the sher iff and Redfleld sat with the ranger. waiting for daylight, and during this time the nnme of every man In the n glon was brought up and discussed, Among others, Ross mentioned the old man in the ditch. "He wouldu't hurt a bumblebee," de clnred the sheriff. "He's got a bunch of cattle, but he's the mildest old man In the state. He's the last rancher In the country to even stand for such work. What made you mention him?" "I passed him as I was riding back," replied Cavanagh, "and he had a scared look In his eyes." The sheriff grunted. "You Imagined all that. The old chap always has a kind of meek look." It was nearly noon of a glorious day as Cavanngb. very tired and very hun gry, rode up to the sheep herder's tent. Wetherford was sitting In the sun calmly smoking his pipe, the sheep were feeding not far away, attended by the dog, mid uu air of peace covered his sunlit rocky world. "How Is the Basque?" asked the ranger. .Wetherford poluted upward. "All over." "Then it wasn't smallpox?" "I reckon that's what It was; It sure was fierce. I Judge It's a case of Injun burial- no , ceremony right here in T.ie ukIs. TUM youHlg wie hole il'iu Jnt about all lui. but uilud you keep to the wludward all tU time. I don't want you spotted." t'avanngh understood the necessity for these precautious, but first of all came his own need of fotid aud rest. Turning his tiivd horse to grass, he stretched himself along a grassy, sun ny cranny between the rocks and there ate aud afterward slept, while nil about him the lambs culled aud the conies whined. He was awakened by a pebble tossed upon him, and when he arose, stiff and sore, but feeling stronger and in bet ter temper, the sun was wearing low. Setting to work at his tusk, he threw the loose rock out of a hollow lu the ledge near by, and to this rude sepul- cher Wetherford dragged the dead nm u, refusing all aid, and there piled a cairn of rocks alove his grave. The ranger took a band at the etui aud rolled some huge bowlders upou the grave to Insure the wolves' defeat. 'Now burn the bedding," he com-. manded. "The whole camp has got to go. and your clothing, too, after we get down the hill." "What will we do with the sheep?" "Irlve them over the divide and leave them." All these thlugs Wetherford did, and. leaving the camp In ashes behind him. Cavanagh drove the sheep before him on his homeward way. As night felt the dog, at his command, rounded them up and put them to bed, and the men went on down the valley, leaving the brave brute on guard, pathetic fig ure of faithful guardianship. "It hurts me to desert you, old fel low," culled the ranger, looking back, "but there's no help for It. I'll come up In Hie morning ami bring you some biscuit." It was long after dark when they entered the canyon Just above the cab in, aud Wetherford was shivering from cold and weakuess. "Now. you pull up Just outside the gate and wait there till I bring out some blankets. Then you've got to strip to the skin and start the world "ill OVKH " ail over again." said Cavanagh. "I'll build a Are here, and we'll cremate your past. How about It?" "I'm willing." responded Wether ford. "You can burn everything that belongs to me but my wife a nil my girl." All through the ceremony which fol lowed ran this self hunter. "I'll be all ranger, barring a commission." be said, with a grin as he put on the olive jellow shirt aud a pair of dusty green trousers. "Aud here goes my pastl" he added as he loswd his con taminated rags upon the fire. "What, a corking opportunity to make a fresh start." commented Cavanagh. "I hope you see It." "I see It, but It's hard to live up to your mark." When every precaution had been taken the ranger led the freshly scrub bed, sciured and transform! d fugitive to his cabin. "Why, man, you're fit for the state legislature," he exclaimed as they came into the full light. "My clothes don't precisely meet every demand you make upon them, but they give you an ur tf commnnd. I wish your wife could see you now." Then, seeing that Wetherford was really in earnest, he added: "You can tiny with me as long as you wish. Perhaps In time you might le able to work into the service as a guard, although the chief Is get ting more and more Insistent on real foresters." There were tears in Wetherford's eyes as he said: "You cannot realize what this clean, warm uniform means to me. For nine years 1 wore the prison strles. It Is ten years since I was dressed like n mnu." "You need not worry about food or shelter for the present," replied Cava nngh gently. "Lirub is not costly here, aud house rent Is less than nominal so make yourself at home ami 'get strong." Wetherford lifted his head. "Hut I want to do something, I want to re deem myself in some way. I don't want my girl to know who I am, but I'd like to win her respect. I can't be what you say she thinks I was, but if I had a chance I might show my self a man again. I wouldn't mind Ll.o knowing that I ntn alive. It might be a comfort to her. Rut 1 don't want even her to be told till I can go to her In my own duds." "She's pretty sick." said Cnvanngh. "I telephoned Lee Virginia last night, and If you wish you may rlc'e down with me tomorrow and see hr." The old man fell a trenilde. "I daren't do that. I can't bear to ' " her where I've be-';." flhe needn't know. I will till her you've been out of your mind. I'll say anything you wish. You can go to hoi In the clothes you have on if you like 3C SOME - United , , rtep OIL OHIP iM- y i 1 I W' i n Plattsmouth, Nebraska. DC -oq oj ju.id, i jmi o.M nor em jou in. i no.i ,ois i jno spiou itimj iui j puy -o.ioa j.mun b u pojuja op aq ,,'noS oj u.ipjnn u oq joa.)u ll.In 'lxoi Suuoi spi pouitqi on; o.)OA itunoip i).vi pun 'jju.iu s.piauoj am jo ino poisUB.v pui oajos.u hy ,noA mou .u a.))sn( otu mud jou puo 'peuiuii.il pjuoq mo& eAoq uuo no "juSiu j.mW oi Pioq I Jouo -.nl oqi su.no.f a'tuXo.M.i iu iuja oqg (To Pe Continued.) POLICY IRKS Great Feature of the Policies Is sued by the Reliance Life In surance Co. of Pittsburg. John M. Patterson, a railroad conductor, of Sedalia, Missouri, took a policy with the Reliance for $2,000 on the 15-Year Endow ment Plan, April 13, 1907. A note hy the inspector received at the. time says: "Mr. Patterson has a family; lie. is a healthy, stout man." In September, 1007, Mr. Pat terson had a stroke of paralysis, which totally disabled him. Sub sequently his Reliance Policy was either destroyed or lost, as it was considered of no value. Recently Mr. V. L. Phipps, of the Renew ing Division, while in Sedalia, dis covered this situation. The at tention of Mrs. Patterson was railed to the fact that her hus band's policy had not lapsed, but was still in force tinder Hie Total and Permanent Disability Clause. Her own letter is mora eloquent praise of the Reliance policy than anything else can be. II says: "Sedalia, Mo. "Mr. Scott Dear Sir: Mr. Patterson is unable to write. Ho was running out of Jefferson City at the limn he look out I ho policy, and I did not know any thing about it. The policy is oil her lost or misplaced. I feel sure Mr. Patterson will never be able to work again. He has been under the doctor's care nearly all the time since September, 1907. It will surely be a great benefit to me and the children. Please advise nie what to do. We, neither of us, knew of the Dis ability Clause. It Is very kind of you to look us up and tell us of It, and I surely appreciate it. This has been a trying; ordeal to nie to see my husband fighting so hard to regain his health. Thanking you again for your kindness. Re spectfully yours, "Mrs. J. M. Patterson, "305 W. 5th St., Sedalia, Mo." The company, upon receipt of affidavit that policy had been lost, issued a duplicate endorsed fully paid up. A Reliance Policy may be lost, destroyed or forgotten. It works just tbo same, nKCAUSH it is the policy of Hie Reliance Life. In surance Company to seo that it does. The Reliance: Life Insurance Company of Pittsburg is repre sented in Plattsmouth and south eastern Nebraska by General Agent W. J. Thomas. They refer, by permission, to II. N. Dovey, Cashier of tbo First National Hank of Plattsmouth. Thomas Amick of Louisville was among the nuumber who came from Louisville to help make Uie cattle scream in tho county seat. DC OF THE REASONS WHY States Separator - IS THE DEST IN THE WORLD! The United States Separator employs a feeding device to deliver the whole milk beyound the cream zone preventing any remixing of cream and skimmilkand any conflict of cur rents. No other device of any other Separator will do this work so well, as the records show. This device is patented and can be used on no other Separator. The United States uses non-aligned channels for. the cur rents of milk through the separator bowl. This is covered by strong patents. No discs or other construction can equal its perfection in separation. It won the world's record for skim ming, in 50 consecutive runs continuing 30 days, with the milk of ten different breeds of cows, 9999-100 of the creameries use cream gathered from United States Separators and are eager for more. Cream from the United States is smooth and perfect for butter mak ing. The United States skims cleaner, runs easier, washes easier and lasts longer than any other separator. Ask the man who runs one. Ask for catalogue at once cur ri PAN PAH THE 5 C 3aC 3f LOCAL NEWS From Wednesday's Dally. Harry Graves, wife and baby of Union took in the celebration here on the Fourth. Mr. W. H. Hessentlow of Cedar Creek celebrated the Fourth in .Plattsmouth. O. V. Hailey and family of Eight Mile Grove came in on tho Fourth to see the sights. George Lehnhof of Omaha cele brated the Fourth in this city w ith bis mother and sister. Mrs. II. A. Schneider and chil dren are at Sterling, Nebraska, visiting relatives for a few days. Mr. Philip Meisinger and wife of Itenson visited relatives and celebrated tho Fourth in Platts jnouth. Jame9 Gilmoro of Omaha re turned to his home this after noon, having visited Sam Gilinore over the Fourth. Misses Mabel and Una Erwin of Union were Plattsmouth visit ors over tho Fourth and regis tered at tho Perkins. Park Criswisser of Dunbar riiini! in Monday afternoon to visit Jiis parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hennetl Criswisser, over the Fourth. Miss Flossie Neil of Waterloo, Nebraska, who has been a guest cl the Wolfarth homo for a few days, departed for her homo this morning. Mr. R. A. Flanegan, rnshler of the Union bank, and J. V. Ilan ning, merchant, of Union, were in the' city yesterday taking in t lj.fi huge celebration. Don C, Rhoden, democratic can didate for the nomination for sheriff, and Mae Churchill were in'nenz car, IiIh b-nt time bolng 2:37:38. tnwn last eveninir. cnminir no on Nine, events were on the program. - n the evening train. Miss Kalherine Howland of Wymore, who has been a guest of her brother, Mr. William How land, and family for a short time, returned to her home this morn ing. John Doughty, wife and daugh ter of near Union spent tho Fourth in this city and wero ac companied by a brother of Mr, Dmigbly's from Pennsylvania, w ho is spending I be summer at Ihe Doughty home. R. C. Ilailey and children of Maple Grove were in tho city to seo the sisrhls on the Fourth. Mr. Bailey is the Maple Grove black smith, and while shoeing a horse Monday was kicked in tho head and was carrying a patch over the left eye in consequence. George Lloyd, a prosperous farmer and an elegant gentleman, residing two miles southwest of Murray, was in the city to see tho siKhls on tho Fourth, and while here called and renewed his faith in the Old Reliable for another year. Harry Medler and Walter Sal berg of Cedar Creek and F. C. Peterson and Will Ingram of .Louisville were guests of tho Riley yesterday, having come down to witness the Fourth of July parade and join in the celebration. George P. Harlon, democratic candidate for sheriff, and Mr. Roy Flannagan, assistant cashier of the Union bank of Union, were here to tako in the sights on the Fourth. Mr. Flannagan is a Silver City, Iowa, hoy and a friend of tho publisher of the D4 n THE u n i n ft. HARDWARE MAM DC 3& Journal. Frank McNurlin and wife of Ml. Pleasant precinct were her to spend the Fourth. They were jnet here by Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Harrclt and liltlo son of Have lock, who came down from Have lock to celebrate. Mrs. Darrett is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mo Nurlin. Happiest Girl in Lincoln. A Lincoln, Neb., girl writes: "I had been ailing for some time) .with chronic- constipation and stomach trouble. I began taking Chamberlain's Stomach and Liver Tablets and in three' days I was ablo to be up and got better right along. I am tho proudest girl In Lincoln to find such a good medi cine." For sale by F. G. Fri0k A Co. HEW WORLD'S RECORD FORMjTO RACES Burman Makes Circuit cl Mill Track In 4a 72 Seconds. New York. July 5. A new world's tutomobillng record for one mile was CHtabllshcd by Hob Burman at th HilRhton Heach motordrome at tha conclusion of the two days' race meet" liiK. llurninn, In his Hlltzen Bent, with a flying start, made a circuit of the mile track In 48 72 seconds ona fifth of a Becond better than Ie Palm In a Pint car, made last year at Syra. cuae. llurninn lo won the Reniey-Rr sard trophy hy taklnir two atralght hciiU of three miles each with tha Ien Honnle, driving a National of 500 Inches dlBplaccnient, won the ta mile event and alno the Austrian pur race, after covering nearly twentf four miles. Never leave home on a journey without a bottle of Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedy. It is almost certain to be needed and cannot bo obtained; when on board the cars or steam ships. For sale by F. G. Fricke A Co. New Dltcui Record. Kansas City, July 5. Lee Talbot, welghtman with the American team to tho Olympic gamei In Ijondon In 1908, established a new dlscu record her. In a local track and field meet ha hurled the weight 141 feet and. 1 Inches, bettering the former Olytnplo mark of 138 feet 8 Inches, held by Mar tin Sheridan of New York. Pritoner Kllli Deputy Sheriff. Liberty, Mo., July B. Andrew King, a deputy Bherlff, died as the result of a blow dealt him by John Cannon In the Jail here. Cannon, who gav Leavenworth as his home, wu arrest ed for fighting. Sprains require careful treat ment. Keep quiet and apply Chamberlain's Liniment freely. It will remove the soreness and quickly restore tho parts to a healthy condition. For salo by F. G. Fricke A Co. Miss Kathryn Windham went to Omaha yesterday to meet a num ber of her sister members of the Kappa Alpha Thate, who are on their way from tho cast to Cali fornia to spend the summor. DC