The Delta independent., 1911-05-26

ester prepared to return, but Lee, re-
enforced by her mother. refused to ac-
company them. Il shall stay here"
she said, It'll he is safely out of it
till know that he is beyond all dam
ger"
Redfield did not urge her to return
as vigorously as Dalton expected him
to do, but when he understood the
girls desire to be near her lover he
took off his hat and bowed to her.
"You are entirely in the right" he
said. Here is where you belong
Redfield honored Lie for her SYM
pathetic support of her daughters res
olution and expressed his belief that
Ross would escape the plague. Il feel
that his splendid vigor. combined with
the mountain air. will carry him
through, even if he should prove not
to be immune. l shall run up again
day after tomorrow. l shall be very
anxious. What a nuisance that the
telephone line is not extended to this
point Ross has been insisting on its
value for months"
Lee saw the doctor go with some
dismay. Young as he was, he was at
least a reed to cling to in case the
grisly terror seized upon the ranger.
mir. Redfield. can't you send a real
doctor? 1t seems so horrible to be
left here without instructions"
The forester, before going, again be-
sought Cavanagh not to abandon his
work in the forestry service and init
mated that at the proper time ad-
vancement would be offered him. The
whole policy is but beginning" said
he. land u practical ranger with your
experience and education will prove of
greatest value"
To this Ross made reply: AT the
moment l feel that no promise of ad-
vancement could keep me in this coun-
try of grafters. poachers and assassins.
I'm weary of it and all it stands for.
However. If 1 could aid in extending
the supervision of the public ranges
and in stoH.)ing forever this murder
and burning that go on outside the
forestry domain might remain in the
west"
-'Would you accept the supervisor
ship Of the Washable forest?" demand
ed Dalton.
Taken by surprise. he stammered. 81
might. but am l the MANI"
"You are. Your experience fits you
for a position where the fight is hot.
The Washable forest is even more a
bone Of contention than this. We have
laid out the lines Of division between
the sheep and the cows. and 1t will
take man to enforce our regulations.
You will have the support of the best
oft xri1l o1 rally with
as leader. and so end the warfare
there"
1T can never end till Uncle Sam
puts rangers over every section of pub
lie lands and lays out the grazing lines
as we hav' done in this forest" re-
torted Cavanagh.
81 know. but to get that requires a
revolution in the whole order Of
things" Then his fine young face
lighted up. but we'll get it. Public
sentiment is coming our way. The old
order is already so eaten away that
only its shell remains"
at may be. If these assassins are
punished shall feel hopeful of the
change"
Il shall recommend you for the su-
pervisorship of the Washakie forest
concluded Dalton decisively. And SO
goodby and good luck"
England his blood relatives, even
the Redfieds. seemed very remote to
the ranger as he stood in his door that
night and watched the sparkle OF
Swenson's campfire through the trees
With the realization that there waited
hroy yo rir Of hn hnf lpyaG sin
gle heartedly, ready to sacrifice every
thing to the welfare Of her idealized
subject, he felt unworthy. selfish. vain
'If | should fall sick she would in
sist on nursing me. For her sake
must give Swenson the most rigid or
ders not to allow her, no matter what
happens. to approach. l will not have
her touched by this thing"
Beside the blaze Lee and her mother
sat for the most part in silence. with
nothing to do but to wait the issue OF
the struggle going on In the cabin, SC
near and yet so inaccessible to their
VIII. 1t was as If a magic wall. crys
tai clear, yet impenetrable. shut then
away from the man whose quiet hero
fsm was the subject Of their constant
Thought
1t was marvellous, as the dusk fel
and the air nipped keen. to see how
Lie Wetherford renewed her youth
The excitement seemed to have giver
her fresh hold on life. She wa'
wearied, but by no means weakened
by her ride and ate heartily of thu
rude fare which Swenson set befor'
her. "This is what 1 needed" she ex
ultantly said-"the open air and thes'
trout. feel ten years younger al
ready. Many's the night I've campet
on the range with your father wit!