Putnam patriot., 1911-06-09

Ross took a step toward him. I'm at your service"
 Keep of 70 shouted the sheriff.
 Ross smiled. then became very SC rious. T took every precaution. Mr. Deputy. destroyed everything that could possibly carry the disease. l burned every utensil. including the saddle- everything but the man 8 horse and his dog"
 The officer caught up his hat and coat and started for the door. "It's me for the open air" said he
 As the men withdrew Ross followed them and. standing in his door. de lvercd his final yolley. If this state does not punish those fends every de cent man should enigrate out of it, turning the land over to the wolves, the wildcats and other beasts of prey"
 Gregg as h. retreated called back: That's all right, MT. Ranger. but you'd better keep 10 the hills for q few weeks The settlers down below won't enjoy having a man with small pox chassaying around town. They might rope and lie you"
 Wetherferd came out of his hiding place with il grave face.
 They're right about our staying Hear of town." said Cavanagh. They'll quarantine Us sure"
 Wefhcrford now that ihe danger of lrreSt was over was disposed 10 be grimly humorous There's no great loss without some small gain. I don't think we'll be troubled by any more visitors. not even by sheriffs or doc tors. reckon you and l are in for rafple of months of the quiet life=the kind we rcad about"
 Caeauagh now Chat ae WIS definite v out of the forest service perceived fbe weight of every objection which hig friends and relatives had made aeaiust his going into it. It was uneIy life and must ever be SO lt Aas all very well for a young unmar fied man who loved the woods and hills beyond all things else and who could walt for advancement, but il was q sad place for one who desired | wife The rangers place was on The trail and in the hills. and to bring | woman into these higl silences. Into these lone reaches of forest and fell, would be cruel. To bring children into hem would be criminal
 All the next duy. while Wetherford pottered about the cabin or the yard, Gavanagh toiled at hls papers. resolv- d to leave everything in the perfect order which he loved. Whenever he looked round upon his belongings, each md nll 80 redolent of the wilderness, hc found them very dear. His chairs, which he had rived out of slabs; his aceouterments- meant much to him Some of them must go with me" he said. and when 1 am settled down fin the old home I'll have one room to myself which shall be so com pletely of the mountain America that when am within 1t I can fancy my self back in the camp"
 He thought of South Africa as pos sihility and put it aside. knowing well that no other place could have the same indetinable charm that the Rocky mountains possessed for the reason that he had come to them at his most impressionable age. Then, too. the United States. for all it's faults. seem cd merely an extension of the English form of government.
 Wetherford was also moving fin deep thought and at last put his perplexity Into question. What am l to do? I'm beginning 10 feel queer. l reckon the chances for my having smallpox are purty fair. Maybe I'd better drop down to sulphur and report to the au- thorlties. I've got dny or two be fore the blossoms will begin to show on me
 Cayanagh studied him c.osety NOW, don't get 10 thinking you've got it. I don't see how you could attach q germ The high altitude and the winds up there ought to prevent in. lection. I'm not afraid for myself. but if Xou're able perhaps we'd better pull out tomorrow"
 Later in the day Wotherford express ed deeper deIeetion. "l don't see any thing ahead ot me anyhow" he con fessed 'If l go haek to the pen Ill die of hung trouble. and l don't know how I'm going to earn a living in the city Mehhe the best thing l could dc would be to take the poN and go un der I'm afraid of hig towns he con tinued "l always was, even when | had money Now that am old aud broke l daren't go. Ne city for me-
 CaVauagh's patience gave way. But, man. you cant stay here, I'm pack ing up to leave. Your only chance of getting cut sf the country is to go when l 20 and in my company" His voice was harsh and keen, and the old man felt its edge. but he made uo re- ply and this sad silence moved Cav anagh to rcpeutance His irritahihcS warned him of something deeply changing in his own nature.
 Approaching the breeding felon. he spoke gently and sadly. I'm sorry for you. Wetherford l sure am. but it's up Co you to get clear away so that Lee will never by any possible chance dud out that you are alive She has a romantic notion of you as a repre- sentative of the old time west. and it would be dreadful shock Co her if she knew you Us you are It's hard to leave her, l know, now that you've seen her, but that's the manly thing to do the onty thing Co do"
 "oh, you're right-of course you're right Rnt ] wish l eonLl De of some