The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current, June 29, 1911, Image 5

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    Cavanagh,
Forest
Ranger
The Great Conservation
Novel
By .HAMLIN GARLAND
Ccyrttflt. I9IO. ky Htmlla GtrUnd
"You feller have to b all round men.
The cowboys think you have a snap,
but I guess you earn your money."
"A man that build trails, lays
bridges, burns brush, fights fire, rides
the roundup and covers seventy-five
miles of trail every week on $80 per
month and feeds himself and his
horses isn't what 1 would call enjoy
ing a soft snap."
"What do you do It forT
"God knows! I've been asking my
self that question-all day today."
"This playing game warden has some
outs too. That was a wild crowd last
night. The town Is the same old hole
It was when I knew U years ago. Fine
girl of IJze Wetherford's. Llze has
channed terribly. I didn't expect to
ee her have such a akein of silk as
that girl. She sure looks the queen to
me."
Cavanagh did not greatly relish this
line Of Conversation hilt- tho mnu an-
THIS ranger was awakened in the abled hInj to 8ar. Mgt Wetherfor(1
first faint dawn by the passing ,8 not muclj we8tern. she t her tra,n.
of the girl's light feet as she ,n , the enst sheg &Q
went across the hall to her 1 .
uiu ever since ner ratner s aeatn.
"II e'8 dead. Is he?"
"So far as anybody knows, he Is."
"Well, he's no loss. 1 kuew him too.
He was all kinds of a fool. He got
on the wrong aide of the rustler line
up. Them Wetherford women think
a whole lot of you. Tears like they'd
both fight for you. Are you sweet on
the girir
"Now, see here, old man," Ross re
torted sharply, "you want to do a lot
of thinking before you comment on
Miss Wetherford. I won't stand for
any nasty clack."
Ld wards meekly answered: "I wasn't
going to say anything out of the way.
I was fixing for to praise her."
"All the same, I don't Ititend to dis
cuss her with you," was Cavanagh's
curt answer.
The herder fell back Into silence
while the ranger prepared his bunk
for the night. The fact that he trans
ferred some of the blankets from his
own bed to that of his visitor did not
escape Edwards' keen eyes, and with
grateful Intent he said:
"I can give you a tip, Mr. Ranger
said he, breaking out of a silence.
"The triangle outfit is holding more
cattle on the forest than their permits
call for."
"How do you know?"
"I heard one of the boys bragging
about It."
"Much obliged," responded Ross.
"I'll look into It."
Edwards went on: "Furthermore,
they're fixing for another sheep kill
over there too. All the sheepmen are
armed. That's why 1 left the coun
try. I don't want to run any more
chances of being shot up. I've had
enough of trouble. I can't afford to
be hobnobbing with judges and juries,
I'm just a broken down old cowpunch
er herding Bheep In order to keep clear
of the liquor belt."
This seemed reasonable, and the
ranger remarked by way of dropping
the subject: "I've nothing to. say fur
ther than this obey the rules of the
forest and you won't get into auy fur
ther trouble with nie. And as for
being shot uq by the cowmen, you'll
not be disturbed on any national for
est There never has been a single
herder shot nor a sheep destroyed on
this forest."
"I'm mighty glad to hear that," re
plied Edwards, with sincere relief.
"I've bad my share of shooting up
and shooting down. All I ask now Is
quiet and the society of sheep. I take
a kind of pleasure lu protecting the
fool brutes. It's about all I'm good
for."
He did indeed look like a man In the
final year of life as he spoke. "Better
turn lu," Cavanagh said In kindlier
tone. "I'm an early riser."
The old fellow rose stiffly and, lay
ing aside his boots aud trousers, rolled
Into his bunk and was asleep In three
minute.
Caviioagh himself was very tired
and went to bed soon after to sleep
dreamlessly till daylight. He sprang
from bis bed aud after a plunge in the
stream set about breakfast, while Ed
wards rose from his bunk groaning
aud sighing aud went forth to wran
gle the horses, rubblug his hands aud
shivering as he met the keen edge of
the mountain wind. Wheu he returned
breakfast was ready, aud again he ex
pressed his gratitude.
"Haven't you any slicker?" asked
Cavanagh. "It looks like rain."
"No; I'm run down pretty low," he
replied. "The truth Is, Mr. Ranger, I
blew lu all my wages at roulette last
week."
Ross brought out a canvas coat, well
worn, but serviceable. "Take this
along with you. It's likely to storm
before we reach the sheep camp. And
you don't look very strong. You must
take care of yourself."
Edwards wns visibly moved by this
kindness. "Sure you can spare It?"
"Certain sure; I've another," re
turned the ranger curtly.
It was hardly more than sunrise as
they mounted their ponies and started
on their trail, which led sharply up
ward after they left the canyon. The
wind was strong and stinging cold
Taking pity on Edwards, who was
shivering, Cavanagh turned off the
trail Into a sheltered nook behind some
pine trees.
"How do you happen to be reduced
to herding sheep?" he asked. "You
look like a man who has seen better
days."
Edwards, chafing his thin fingers to
warm thorn, made reluctant answer,
"It's a long Jttory. Mr. Ranger, and It
concerns a whole ot of other people
some of them decent flk so I'd
rather not go Into It."
with unexpected gentility, and as the i "John rtarleycorn was Involved. I
hot coffee sent Its cheerful glow reckon."
through bis body be asked, with liven- "Sure thing. lies generally always
CHAPTER XIII.
THE OLD SHEEP HERDER.
first faint dawn by the passing
of the girl's light feet as she
went across the hall to her
mother's room, and a moment later be
tHatd the low murmur of her voice.
Throwing off his blankets and making
such scaut toilet as he needed, - he
steppod Into the hall and waited for
ber to return.
Soon she came toward him, a smile
of confidence and pleasure on her Hps.
"How Is she?" he asked.
"Quite comfortable."
"And you?" Ills voice was very ten
der. "I am a little tired," she acknowl
edged. "I didn't sleep very well."
"You didn't sleep at all," he declared
regretfully.
"Oh, yes, I did," she replied brightly.
These two ardent souls confronted
each other In absorbed silence with
keener perception, with new daring,
with new intimacy, till he recalled
himself with effort. "You must let me
help yon If there's anything I can do.
Remember, I'm your big brother."
"I remember," she answered smiling
ly, "and I'm going out to see what my
big brother Is to have for breakfast"
Cavanagh found the street empty,
silent and utterly commonplace. He
went forth to his duties with a deep
ened conviction of the essential law
lessness of the state and of America In
general, for this spirit of mob law
was to be found in some form through
out the land. He was disgusted, but
not beaten, nis resolution to carry out
the terms of his contract with the
government remained unshaken.
He carried with him also a final
disturbing glimpse of Eliza Wether
fcfrd's girl that did indeed threaten bis
peace of mind. There was an Invol
untary appeal, 1 wistful depth, to her
Stance which awakened in him an in
dignant pity and also blew Into flame
something not so creditable some
thing which smoldered beneath his
conscious will. She had not escaped
her heritage of passion, and ber
glances, innocent as they were, roused
even in him something lawless.
Ills pony plodded slowly, and the
afternoon was half spent before he
cuine in sight of the long, low log cab
In which was the only home be pos
sessed in all America. For the first
time since he built It the station seem
ed lonely and disheartening. "Would
any woman for love of me come to
Much a hearthstone?" he asked hlm
feelf. "And If she consented to do so
could I be so selfish as to exact such
sacrifice? No; the forest ranger In
these altitudes must be young and
heart free; otherwise his life would be
miserably solitary."
He was Just dishing out his rude
supier when the feet of a horse on
the log bridge announced a visitor.
With a feeling of pleasure as well
as relief be rose to greet the stranger.
"Any visitor Is welcome this night,"
be said.
The horseman proved to be bis for
mer prisoner, the old man Edwards,
who slipped from his saddle with the
never fulling grace of the cow man
aud came slowly toward the cabin.
Ike smiled wearily as be said: "I'm on
your trail, Mr. Ranger, but I bear no
malice. You were doing your duty.
Can you tell me how far It is to Am
bro's camp?"
There was something forlorn In the
man's attitude, and Cavanagh's heart
softoited. "Turn your horse Into the
corral and come to supper," he com
manded with western blunt ness.
"We'll talk about all that later."
Edwards accepted his hospitality
without hesitation. ' I'm going up to
take Ambro's place." he began after a
lew minutes of silent eating. "Know
wnere his camp Is?"
"I do." replied Ross, to whom the
stranger now appeared In pathetic
guise. "Any man of his age consent
ing to herd sheep Is surelr hard lilt by
the rough hand of the world." he rea
soned. and the closer he studied his
visitor 'lie plainer he felt his ungov
mied past.
"1 suppose firegg paid your fine?" he
said.
"Yes."
"In any other town In the state you'd
have gone down the line."
He roused himself. "See here. Mr.
Ranger, you've no warrant to believe
me, but I told you the truth. Young
Oregg got me to ride Into the range
tuH show him the trail. I dldu't til
tend to get mixed up with a game
warden. I've tad all the confinement
I nerd."
"Well, It's a closed incident now,"
Interposed Ross. "We won't reopen It.
Make yourself ut home."
The stranger, hungry as he was, ate
"You'd better take my gloves. It's
likely to snow In half an hour, Oo
ahead. I'm a younger man than you
are."
The other made a decent show of re
sistance, but finally accepted the offer,
saying: "Yon certainly are white to
me. I want to apologize for making
that attempt to sneak away that night.
I had a powerful good reasou for not
staying any longer."
Ross smiled a little. "You showed
bad Judgment as K turned out."
"I sure did. That girl can shoot. Her
gun was steady as a doorknob. She
filled the door. Where did she learn to
hold a gun like that?"
"Her father taught her, so she said."
"She wouldn't remember me an old
cuss like me but I've seen her with
Wetherford when she was a kldlet. I
never thought she'd grow up Into such
a queen. She's a wonder. I.lze looked
sick to me. She ought to send her girl
away or get out. As you say, the Fork
Is no kind of a p'.ace for such a girl."
He spoke with a good deal of feel
ing, and the ranger studied him with
deepening interest. He had taken on
dignity In the heat of his protest, arid
In his eyes blazed something that was
both manly and admirable.
"You're Just the kind of a figure t
catch a girl's eye. She likes you. I
could see that, but you've got a good
opinion of yourself. You're an edu
cated man. Do you intend to marry
her?"
"See here, Mr. Sheep Herder, you
better ride on up to your camp." And
Ross turned to mount his horse.
"Wait a minute." called the other
man. and his voice surprised the ran
ger with a note of authority. "I was
terribly taken with that girl, and I
owe you a whole lot. but I've got to
kuow one thing. I enn see you're full
of her and jealous as a bear of any
other suitor. Now, I want to know
whether you Intend to marry her or
whether you're Just playing with her."
Ross was angry now. "What I In
tend' to do Is none' of your business."
The other man was suddenly ablaze
with passion. His form had lost Its
"i'm hbk father !"
ARE YOU WILLING TO BUY FOR THE
FOURTH A BETTER SUIT OF CLOTHES FOR
i&4 .IS Hi
"'W
LESS MONEY THAN EVER BE
FORE? Are you from Missouri and are you willing to be
"shown?" Then come at once and let us show you our
4th OF JULY SPECIAL SUITS at $14.75. They're the
marvel of all who see them. They're all-wool, hand
tailored and strictly up-to-date and only $14.75. If you
want to save some money on a suit of clothes you can do
it right here and now on these splendid suits. Ask for a
special 4th of July suit.
hlescoffs Sons
THE HOME OF SATISFACTION
stoop. His voice was firm. "I merely
want to say that if you fool that girl
I'll kill.you:"
Ross stared at him, quite convinced
that he bad gone entirely mad. "That's
mighty chivalrous of you, Mr. Sheep
Herder," he replied cuttingly, "but I'm
at a loss to understand this suddeu lu-
dlgnatlou on your purt."
"You needn't be. I'm her father!"
Cavanagh fairly reeled before this
retort. His bead rang as If he had
been struck with a club. He per
ceived the truth of the man's words
Instantly. He gasped. "Good God,
man, are you Ed Wetherford?"
The answer was quick, "That's who
I am!" Then his voice changed. "But
I don't want the women to know I'm
alive. I didn't Intend to let anybody
know it All tho same, I mean It. If
you or any man tries to abuse her I'll
kill him! I've loaded her up with
trouble, as you say, but I'm going to
do what I can to protect her now that
I'm In the county again."
Ross, confused by this new compli
cation In the life of the girl he was be
ginning to love, stared at his compan
ion In dismay. Was It not enough that
Virginia's mother should be a slattern
and a termagant? At last he spoke,
"Where have you been all these
years?"
"In the Texas 'pen.' I served nine
years there."
"What for?"
"Shooting a man. It was a case of
self defense, but bis family had more
money and Influence than I did, so I
went down the road. As soon as I got
out I started north Just the way a
dog will point toward home. I didn't
Intend to come here, but some way I
couldn't keep away. I shied around
the outskirts of the Fork, picking up
odd Jobs of sheep herding just to have
time to turn things over. I know
what you're thinking about you're
saying to yourself, 'Well, here's a nice
father-in-law!' Well, now, I don't
know anything about your people, but
the Wetherfords are ns good as any
body. If I hadn't come out Into tUU
cursed country, where even women go
shooting wild, I would have been in
congress: but, being hot headed, I
must mix In. I'm not excusing my
self, you understand. I'm not a desir
able addition to any man's collection
of friends, but I can pronflse you this
no one but yourself shall ever know
who I am. At the same time, you can't
deceive my girl without my being
named In the funeral that will follow."
"You are only a distant and roman
tic figure to Lee a part of the dead
past," said Cavanagh. "She remem
bers you as a bold rider and a won
drously brave and chivalrous father."
"She must never know. You must
promise never to tell her."
"I promise that," Cavanagh said, and
Edwards went on:
"U 1 could bring something to her
prove "to Tier Tui Sim a fniTl TnTlit
do to tell her. but I'm a branded man
now and an old man, and there's no
hope for me. I worked In one of the
machine shops down there, and It took
the life out of me. Then, too, I left a
bnd name here in the Fork. I know
that. Those big cattlemen fooled me
Into taking their side of the war. 1
staked everything I bad on them, and
then they railroaded me out of the
county. So, you see, I'm double cross
ed, no matter where I turn."
Every word he uttered made more
apparent to Cavanagh that Lee Vlr
glnla would derive nothing but pain
and dlshearteumeiit from a knowledge
that her father lived. "She must be
spared this added burden of shameful
Inheritance," be decided.
The other mau seemed to under
stand something of the ranger's Indig
nant pity, for he repented: "I waut
you to swear not to let Lee know I'm
alive, no matter what comes. She
must not be saddled with my record.
Let her go on thinking well of nie.
Give me your word." He held out an
Insistent palm.
Ross yielded his hand, and In spite
of himself his tenderness for the bro
ken man deepened. The sky was dark
enlng In the west, and. with, a glance
upward, he said. "I reckon we'd better
make your camp soon or you'll be
chilled to the bone." t
They mounted hastily and rode
away, each feeling that his relation
ship to the -other had completely
changed. Wetherford marveled over
the evident culture and refinement of
the ranger. "He's none too good for
her, no matter who he Is." he said.
NEARLY ALL SCHOOL TEACH
ERS ARE AMERICAN BORN
And Show That Nearly All
Them Come From Large
Families.
of
Tho musses tiro beginning to pro
lost nnd demand reforms and tha
power of litis protest is growing
ovory day.
(To Do Continued.)
A Dreacful Wound
from a knifo, gun, tin can, rusty
nail, fireworks, or of any other
nature, demands prompt treat
ment with Bucklen's Arnica Salve
to prevent blood poison or gan
grene. It's the quickest, surest
healer for all such wounds as also
for Burns, Boils, Sores, Skin
Eruptions, Eczema, Chapped
Hands, Corns or Piles. 2!5c at
F. ft. Frieko & Co.
In County Court.
Tho case of tho State vs. Itcise,
which was to have had an airing
in Judge Becsou's court today,
was, by consent of the parties,
continued tinl.il July lith.
Dr. L. I). ColTinan of the Teach
ers' college of Columbia uni
versity has been making a long
and exhaustive study of the con
ditions surrounding the teachers
in our common schools. They
are American born with the ex
ception of 9 per cent. Tho sta
tistics show that the teachers
nearly all come from large
families and 09 per cent of tho
men and 45 per cent of the wom
en teachers are children of farm
ers and only 7 per cent are chil
dren of the professional class.
Tho families from which they
come are large, but the incomes
of Ihoir parents are very meager.
In families where the income was
$.r00 they gave I lie future teacher
four years of . training and in
families where the income was
-'SO they gave two years of train
ing. What suerilleos must those
fathers and mothers have made to
give their children an education
sulllciont to enter tho leaching
profession? It makes one sad to
think of it, especially when he re
flects upon the millions wasted by
tho idle rich in Irving to entertain
themselves. Those husbands and
fathers are tho ones who make
this country groat and not the
magnates of swollen fortunes.
Then what return is there for
all those years of sacrillce by par
ents and teachers? Tho average
annual salary paid to teachers
was, for men, $1K), and for wom
en, $i.rn. Ten per cent of tho
women receive 25(1, and 13 per
cent of the men as low as $.150.
There is one tiling certain. The
men and I lie women who make
the nation are forced to live lives
of sacrifice and self-denial and
the men who exploit it, spend mil
lions in wasteful living. Hut the
conditions are not all hopeless.
Recovered Stolen Tobacco.
Deputy Sheriff Roy Fisher,
while talking to one of the prison
ers in tho county jail yesterday
was informed by him that Ray
mond Myers, tho youth who was
sent to the reform school for rob
bing Johnson Brothers' grocery
story throe times, confessed that
ho robbed the cars that wera
broken into on the Missouri Pa
cific and Burlington railways,
while the youth was out awaiting
his final hearing. He confessed,
that the tobacco taken from tha
Missouri Pacific cars was hidden
under tho platform at the Mis
souri Pacific depot. Mr. Fischer
wont there and recovered tha
stolen property. Nebraska City
News.
ml. IL.i
mere is out) iiicuiciiiu Hint
every family should bo provided)
with and especially during tha
summer months; viz, Chamber
lain's Colic, Cholera and Diar
rhoea Remedy. It is almost cer
tain to be needed. It costs but a
quarter. Can you afford to ba
without it? For sale by F. Q.
Frieko & Co
Material Shipped Soon.
Mr. J. J. Cox of Lincoln, gen
eral freight agent of the Burling
ton, was in the city yesterday to
make arrangements to route tha
twenty-live cars of material for
the new wugon bridge to be built
over the Pintle river north of th
city. Arrangements will prob
ably be made to drop the cars on
oil her bank of the river for tha
convenience of both tho company
and (lie contractor.
The uniform success that has
attended tho use of Chamberlain's
Colic, Cholera and Diarrhoa
Remedy has made it a favorita
everywhere. It can. always be de
ponded upon. For sale by F. 0.
Fricke & Co.
DC
DC
DC
DC
DC
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0' CM
OfASJ ACL V J VvuAf PM
II Ul U'W.''l .SIM'Ll
IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD!
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any remixing of cream and skimmilk and any conflict of cur
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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
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mM BAUEIn!
9
Plattsmouth, Nebraska.
THE HARDWARE MAN
lng Interest, a good matiyguestious In It." .