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
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Plattsmouth, Nebraska.
DC
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ll.In 'lxoi Suuoi spi pouitqi on; o.)OA
itunoip i).vi pun 'jju.iu s.piauoj
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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
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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
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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
