Cavanagh,
Forest
Ranger
The Great Conservation
Novel
By HAMLIN GARLAND
Copyright, 1910, by Hamlin Garland
CHAPTER XXI.
WETHERFOUD PASSKS OX.
1 OOX after the reporter left Cftv-
an
uingh called to Swenson: "The
old man can't Inst through
another such night as lust
night was, and I wish you would per
suade Mra. Wethcrford and her daugh
ter to return to the valley. They can
do nothing here absolutely nothing.
Please say that."
Swensou repented his commands
with all the emphasis he could give
them, but neither Lize nor Lee would
consent to go. "It would be heathen
ish to leave him alone In this lonesome
aoie," protested Lize.
"I shall stay till he is free," added
Lee.. And with uneasy heart she
crossed the bridge and walked on and
on toward the cubin till she was close
enrugh to detect the Hues of care on
ber lover's haggard face.
"Stop!" he called sharply. "Keep
away! Why don't you obey me? Why
don't you go back to the valley?"
"Beenuse I will not leave you alone
I can't! Please let nie stay!"
"I bog of you go back."
Hie roar of the stream made it nec
essary to speak loudly, and he could
not put into his voice the tenderness
be felt at the moment, but his face
was knotted with pain as be asked,
"Don't you see you add to my uneasi
nessmy pain?"
"We're so anxious about you," she
answered. "It seems as though we
should be doing something to help
you."
lie understood and was grateful for
the tenderness which brought her so
near to him. but be was forced to be
tern.
"There is nothing you can do noth
ing more than you are doing. It helps
me to know that you are here, but
yon must not cross the bridge. IMease
go back!" There was pleading as well
as command in his voice, and with a
realization of tbe passion bis voice
conveyed she retraced her steps, her
heart beating quickly . with the Joy
which his words conveyed.
' At 6Unset Redfleld returned, bringing
with him medlciue, but no nurse. "No
body will come up here," he said. "I
reckon Itoss Is doomed to fight it out
alone. The solitude, the long trail,
scares the bravest of them away. I
tried and tried no use. Eleanor would
Dave come, of course demanded to
cime but I would not permit that.
9he commissioned me to bring you
both down to the ranch."
Lee Virginia thanked bira, but reit
erated ber wish to stay until all pos
sible danger to Cavanagh was over.
Redfleld crossed the bridge and laid
the medicines down outside the door.
"The nurse from Sulphur refused to
come when she found that her patient
wus in a mountain cabin. I'm, sorry,
old mauT T (lid the bcstl couid."
"Never mind." replied Cavanagh.
"lin still free from any touch of
fever. I'm tired, of course, but good
for another night of it My main anx
iety concerns Lee. Get her to go
home with you If you cnn."
"I'll do the best I can," responded
Redfleld, "but meanwhile you must
not think of gettiug out of the forest
wrvlce. I have some cheering news
for you. The president hut put a
jood man Into the chief's place."
Cavanagh's face lighted up. "Thnt'Il
help some." he exclaimed. "Rut who's
the man?"
Redfleld named him. "lie was a
!,.dent miller the thief, and the chief
Ktyt he's all right, which satisfies u:e.
Ft ithoruiure, he's a real forester ni.d
not a K)litical jobber or a corporation
homey."
"That's good," repeated Cavanagh,
"aud yet." he said sadly, "it leaves the
chief out just tbe same."
"No; the chief Is not out. He's
where he can tight for the Idea to bet
ter advantage than when he was a
tmburdliiMie under another man. Any
how, be asks us all to Hue up for the
work and not to mind him. The work,
be suys. Is bigger than any man.
Here's tbnt resignation of yours," he
Mrid. taking Cavanagh's letter from
his pocket. I didn't-put It on flle.
"VVhut shall I do with It?"
"Throw It to me," said Cavanngh
curtly.
Redfleld tossed it over the hitching
pole, and Ross took It up, looked at 11
for a moment In silence, then tore It
into bits and threw It on the ground.
"What are your orders, Mr. Super
visor?" he asked, with a faint, quizzi
cal smile around his eyes.
"There's nothing you can do but
take care of this man. Rut ns soon
ns you are able to ride again I've got
some special work fur you. I want
you to Join with young Rlngham. tho
ranger on Rin k creek, and line up the
Triangle cattle. Murphy is reported
to have thrown on the forest nearly a
thousand head more than his permit
rrHs for. 1 wnnt you to see about
that Then complete your maps so
that I cnn turn them In on the 1st of
November, and about the middle of
December you are to take charge of
this forest in my stead. Eleanor has
decided to take tbe children abroad
for a couple of years, and as I am to
be over there part of the time I dou't
feel justified In holding down the su
pervisor's position. I shall resign In
your favor. Wuit now!" he called
waruingly. "The district forester and
T framed all this up as we rode down
the hill yesterday, and It goes. Oh.
yes, there's oue thing more. Old man
Dunn"
"I know."
"How did you learn it?"
"X reporter came boiling over the
ridge about noon today wanting me to
give him the names which Dunn had
given me. I was strongly tempted to
do as he asked me to you know these
newspaper men are sometimes the
best kind of detectives for running
down criminals but on second thought
I concluded to wait until I had dis
cussed the matter with you. I haven't
much faith in the county authorities."
"Ordinarily I would have my doubts
myself," replied R;dfleld. "but the
whole country Is roused, and we're
going to round up these men this time
sure. The best men and big pa-
pers all over the west ure T .inandlng
an exercise of the law, and the re
ward we have offered" lie paused
suddenly. "By tho way, that reward
will come to you if you can bring
about the arrest of the criminals."
"The reward should go to Dunn's
family," replied tbe ranger soberly.
"Poor chap, he's sacrificed himself for
the good of the state."
"That's true. Ills family Is left In
bad shape"
Cavanagh broke off the conversation
suddenly. "I must go back to" He
bad almost said "back to Wethcrford.
"My patient needs me!" he exclaimed.
"How does he seem?"
"He's surely dylnsr. In my Judg
ment he enn't last the night, but so
long as he's conscious It's up to me to
be on the spot."
Redfleld walked slowly back across
the river, thinking on the patient cour
age of the ranger.
"It isn't the obvious kind of thing,
but it's courage all the same." he said
to himself.
Meanwhile Lize and Virginia, left
alone beside the fire, had drawn closer
together.
The girl's face, so sweet and so pen
slve, wrought strongly upon the older
woman's sympathy. Something of her
own elrlhood came back to her. Re-
lng freed from the town and all its ns
80clations, she became more consider
ate, more thoughtful. She wished to
speak, and yet she found It very hard
to begin. At last she said, with
touch of mockery in her, tone, "You
like Ross Cavanngh almost as well as
I do myself, don't you?"
The girl flushed a little, but her eyes
remained steady. "I would not be here
If I did not," she replied.
"Neither would I. Well, now, I have
got something to tell you something
I ought to have told you long ago,
something that Ross ought to know. I
intended to tell you that first day you
came back, but 1 couldn't somehow
get to it. and I kept putting It off till
well, then I got fond of you, and
every day made U harder." Here she
made her supreme effort. "Child, I'm
an old bluff. I'm not your mother at
all."
Lee stared at ber iu amazement.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"I mean your real mother died when
you was a tiny little babe. You see. I
was your father's second wife in
fact, you weren't a year old when we
married. Ed made me promise never
to let you know. We were to bring
"I'M MOT TOCB MOTHKB AT ALL.
you up just the same as If you was a
child to both of us. Nobody knows
but Roddy. I told him the day we
started up here."
The girl's mind ran swiftly over the
past as she llrtened. The truth of the
revelation reached her instantly, ex
plaining a hundred struuge things
which had puzzled her all ber life.
The absence of deep affection between
herself and Lize was explained. Their
difference In hnblt, temperament,
thought nil became plain. "Hut ray
mother, she said at last "who tca$
my mother?"
I never saw her. You see, Ed came
Into the country, bringing you, a little,
motherless babe. He always said your
mother was a fine woman, but I never
so much ns saw a picture of ber. Shi
was an educated woman, he said a
southern woman and her name was
Virginia, but that's about all I can
tell you of her. Now I am going to
let Ross know all of this as soon as I
cnn. It will make n whole lot of dif
ference In what he thinks of you."
She uttered nil this much ns a man
would have done, with steudy voice
and with bright eyes, but Lee Vir
ginia could feel beneath her hnrsh In
flections the deep emotion which vi
brated there, and her heart went out
toward tbe lonely woman In a new
rush of tenderness. Now tbut she was
released from the necessity of excusing
her mother's faults faults she could
qow Ignore now that she could look
upon her as a loyal friend, she wus
moed to pity and to love, and. rising,
a he went to her and put her arms
ibout her neck and said: "This won't
make any difference. 1 am going to
itay with you and help you just tbe
lame."
The tears came to the old woman's
fyes. and her voice broke as she re
plied: "I knew you would say that.
Lee Virginia, but all the same I dou't
Intend to have you do any such thing.
You've got to cut loose from me alto
gether, because some fine chap is go
ing to come along one of these days,
and be won't want me even as a step-mother-in-law.
No; 1 have decided that
you and me had better live apart. I'll
get you a place to live up In Sulphur,
where I can visit you now and again,
but I guess I am elected to stay right
here In the Fork. They don't like me,
and I don't like them, but I have kind
of got used to their ways of looking at
me sidewlse. They don't matter as
much as it would up there in the city
Lee turned back wistfully toward
the story of her mother. "Where did
my mother meet my father? Do you
know that?"
No, I don t It was a runaway
match. Ed said. I never did kuow
who ber folks were, only I know they
thought she was marrying the wroug
man."
The girl sighed as ber mind took iu
the slguillcauce of her mother's com
Ing to this wild country, leaving all
that she knew and loved behind.
"Poor little mother! It must have
been very hard for her."
I am afraid she did have a hard
time, for Ed admitted to me that he
hadn't so much as a saddle when he
lauded In the state. He hadn't much
when I met him first, but everybody
liked him. He was one of the hand
somest men that ever Jumped n sad
dle. Cut he was close mouthed. You
never could get anything out of hlra
that he didn't want to tell, and 1 was
never able to discover what he had
been doing In the southern part of the
state."
As she pondered on her changed re
lationship to Lize, Lee's heart light
ened. It would moke a difference to
Ross. It would make a difference to
tho Redficlds. Traitorous as It seem
ed, it was a great relief, a Joy, to
know that her own mother her real
mother hud been "nice." "She must
have been nice or Lize would not have
said so," she reasoned, recalling that
her stepmother had admitted her feel
ing of Jealousy.
At last Lize rose. "Well. now. dearie,
I reckon we had better turn in. It
Is getting chilly and late."
As they were about to part at the
door of the tent Virginia took Llze's
face between her hands. "Good night,
mother," she Bald and kissed her to
show her that what she had said
would not make any difference.
' Rut Lize was not deceived. This
unwonted caress made perfectly plain
to her the relief which filled the girl's
heart.
Lee lrglnln was awakened some
hours later by a roaring, crackling
sound and by the flare of a yellow
light upon her tent. Peering out, she
saw flames shooting up through the
roof of tbe riwiger'a cublu, while be
side it. wrapped In a blanket, calmly
contemplating it. stood Cavanagh with
folded arms. A little nearer to the
bridge Redfleld was sitting upon an
upturned box.
With a cry of alarm she aroused her
mother and LJze,. beavyeveiL lagjjard
with sleep,. rose slowly and peered out
at the scene with eyes of dull amaze
ment "Why don't they try to put it
out?" she demanded as she took in the
import of the passive figures.
Dressing with tremulous baste, Lee
stepped from the tent just la time to
see Swenson come from behind the
burning building and Join tbe others
In silent contemplation of the scene.
There was something uncanny in the
calm inaction of the three strong men.
Slowly, wonderlngly, the girl drew
near and called to Cavanagh, who
turned quickly, crying out: "Don't
come too close and don't be frighten
ed. I set tbe place on fire myself.
The poor old herder died last night
and is decently buried in the earth,
and now we are burning the cabin and
every thread it contains to prevent the
pread of the plague. Hugh and Swen
son have divided tbelr garments with
me, and this blanket which 1 wear is
my only coat Ail that 1 have is in
that cabin now going up in smoke
my guns, pictures, everything."
"How could you do it?" she cried
out, understanding what his sacrifice
had been.
"I couldn't," he replied. 'The su
pervisor did it. They had to go. The
cabin wub saturated with poison. It
bad become to me a plague spot and
there was no other way to stamp it
out I should never have felt safe if
I bad carried out even so much as a
letter."
Dumb and shivering with tbe chill
of the morning, Lee Virginia drew
nearer, ever nearer. "I am so sorry,"
she said and yearned toward him
euger to comfort him, but he wnrnlng
ly motioned her away.
"Please don't come any nearer, for I
iare not touch you."
"But you are not ill?" she cried out,
with a note of apprehension in her
voice.
He smiled in response to her ques
tion. "No; I feel nothing but weari
ness and a little depression. I can't
help feeling somehow as If I were
burning up a part of myself In that
fire the saddle I . have ridden for
years, my guns, ropes, spurs. Every
thing relating to the forest is gone,
and with It my youth. I have been
something of a careless freebooter my
self, I fear, but that In all over with
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now. He looked her in the face with
a sad aud resolute glance. "The for
est sci v h e made a man of me, tuuglit
me to regard the future. 1 never ac
cepted responsibility till I became a
ranger, and iu thinking It all over I
have decided to stay with it. as tho
boys say, "till the spring rains."'
"I am very glad of tbut." she said.
"Yes; Dulton thinks 1 can qualify for
the position of supervisor, and Redfleld
mny offer me the supervision of this
forest. If he does I will accept It
If you will go with me aud share .he
small home which the supervisor's pay
provides. Will you go?"
In the light of his burning cabin and
In the shadow of tbe great peaks Lee
Virginia could not full of a certain
largeness and dignity of mood. She
neither blushed nor stammered as she
responded, "I will go anywhere in the
world with you."
He could not touch so much as the
hem of ber garment, but his eyes em
braced her mt he sold. "God bless you
for the faith you seem to have in me!"
Redfleld's voice' Interrupted with
hearty clamor. "And now. Miss Vir
ginia, you go back and rustle some
breakfast for us all. Swenson, brltg
the horses In and harness my team.
I'm going to take these women down
the canyon. And, Ross, you'd better
saddle up as soon as you feel rested
and ride across the divide and go into
camp in that little old cabin by the
dam above my house. You'll have to
be sequestered for a few days. I reck
on, till we see how you're coming out
III telephone over to the Fork aud
have the place made ready for you.
and I'll have the doctor go up there
to meet you and put you straight If
you're going to be sick we'll want yon
where we can look after you. Isn't
that so, Lee Virginia?"
"Indeed it is." replied the girl eni
nestly. "Rut I'm not going to be sick," re
torted Cuvnnagh. "I refuse to be
sick."
"Quite right," replied Redfleld. "but
all the snme we want you where we
"I WILL OO ASTWHIRB IK TH1 WORLD
WITH ion."
can get at you and where medical aid
of tbe right sort is accessible. I'm go
ing to fetch my bed over here and put
you Into it You need rest"
Lee still lingered after Redfleld left
them. "Please do as Mr. Redfleld
tells you," she pleaded, "for I shnll
be very anxious till you get safely
down the mountains. If that poor old
man has any relatives they ought to
be told how kind you have been. You
could not have been kinder to one of
your own people."
These words from her had a poignan
cy of meaning which made his reply
difficult Ills tone was designedly
light as he retorted: "I would be a
fraud if I stood here listening to your
praise without saying, without con
fessing, bow deadly weary I got of
the whole business. It was simply
that there was nothing else to do. I
hod to go on."
Her mind still dwelt on the tragic
event "I wish ho could have bad
some kind of service. It seems sort
of barbarous to bury him without any
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some one ought to mark his grave, for
some of his people may come and want
to kuow where he lies."
He led her thoughts to pleasanter
paths. "I am glad you are going with
the supervisor. You are going, are
you not?"
"Yes, for a few days, till I'm sure
you're safe."
"I shall be tempted to pretend being
sick just to keep you near me," be was
saying when Redfleld returned, bring
ing his sleeping touch. Unrolling this
under a tree beside the creek, the su
pervisor suld. "Now. get into tbut."
Cavanagh resigned Lee with a smile.
"Good night." he said. "Oh. but It's
good to remember that I shall see you
tomorrow!"
With a happy glance and a low
"Goodby" she turned away.
Laying aside his btauket and hi
shoes. Cavanagh crept Into the snug
little camp bed. "Ah," he breathed,
with a delicious sense of relief, "I feel
as if I could sleep a week!" And in
an instant bis eyes closed in slumber
so profound that It was barren even
of dreams.
(To Bo Continued.)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
For County Treasurer.
Kdilor Journal:
Please announce my name as a
candidate for the office of county
treasurer of Cass county, subject
to tbe will of the democratic vot
ers at the primary election Tues
day, August 15, 1911.
Carl 0. Frlcke.
For County Treasurer.
I hereby announce my can-,
didacy on tho republican ticket for
tho office of county treasurer,
subject to tho decision of the re
publican voters at tbe August 15,
1911, primaries.
L. II. Kgenberger.
For County Treasurer.
I hereby announce my can
didacy lor tbe nomination on the
republican ticket for the office of
county treasurer, subject to 1 lie
decision of (he voters at the
primaries to be held August 15
next. Charles Warner.
For Commissioner.
We are authomed to announce
C. M. Seybert of Louisville as a
candidate for commissioner from
the Second district, subject to the
will of the dembcratic voters at
the primary election in August.
For Commissioner.
I hereby announce myself as a
candidate on the republican ticket
for tbe nomination for the office
of county commissioner of the
Second Commisisoner district,
subject to the decision of the vol
ers at the coming primary elec
tion. C. 15. Heebner.
For County Judge.
I lake ih is method of inform
ing the voters of Cass county that
I am a candidate for tho nomina
tion to the office of county judge
on tbe republican ticket, subject
to the will of tbe voters at the
primaries August 15.
Win. Delles Dernier.
For District Clerk.
I hereby announce my can
didacy for Ihe nomination of dis
trict clerk on (be republican
ticket, subject lo the will of tho
voters of Cass county at tho
primaries to bo.held on August 15
James Robertson.
For Clerk of the District Court.
I hereby announce myself a
candidal e for the office of Clerk
of I be District Court, subject to
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HARDWARE MAN
the will of the republican voters,
expressed at Hie primary August
15,1911. J.K.Douglass.
District Clerk.
At the solicitation ol numerous
friends, and after due considera
tion, I have finally decided to be
come a candidate for clerk of the
district court, subject to tho will
of tbe democratic voters of Cass
county at the primary on August
15, 1911, and solicit the support
of my friends.
James T. Reynolds.
For Sheriff.
1 nereny announco mysclr as a
candidate for the nomination of
the office of sheriff, subject to the.
decision of the voters at tho com
ing primary. I ask them to plaoa
me in nominal ion on tho demo
cratic ticket. 1). C. Rhoden,
For Sheriff.
I hereby announce myself aa
candidato for the nomination for
111, office of sheriff of Cass county,
Nebraska, subject to tbe decision
of the voters at the coming
primary election. I ask tho voters
to place mo in nomination on th
democratic ticket.
0. P. llarton, Union, Neb,
False Representation.
Platlsmoulh, Neb., July 14, 1911.
To tbe public:
Certain representatives of other
makes of gasoline engines hava
spread abroad in this vicinity
many faleshoods und misrep
resentations as to "Tho Chopts
Gasoline Engine," and "The
Cbopie Gasoline Engine com
pany." Therefore, we, tbe under
signed Hoard of Directors of the
Platlsmoulh Commercial club,
hereby inform the public that
The Chopio Gasoline Engine
Company" is permanently located
here. "Tho Cbopie" gasoline en
gines are guaranteed in work
manship, material and horse
power rating. If it is not as rep
resented your money will bo re
funded by the company. We have
no hesitancy in giving "The
Cbopie" gasoline engine our full
est endorsement.
T. II. Pollock. President.
J. P. Falter, Vice President.
E. II. Wescott, Secretary.
Fl. V. Patterson, Treasurer.
C. C. Parmele,
K. A. Wurl,
Philip Thierolf,
II. A. Schneider,
J. II. McMacken,
A. S. Tidd,
Hoard of Directors.
7-14-3td-4tw.
Mr. John lieckman and wife and
children of near Murray were la
tho city today on a business mis
sion. mSLWL
The Best Flour in tho
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Leading Dealers
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