Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-04-06

SICK away up there, miles and miles
IRON any nurse or DOCTOR
There's something queer about the
whole business" pursued Gregg. For
instance, who is this assistant he's
got? Johnson said there was an old
man In ranger uniform pottering round.
why didn't he send word by him?
why did he let me come to the door?
lie might have involved me in the dis
ease. l tell you, if you don't take care
or him the people of the county will"
The forester looked grave. eff he
knew it was smallpox and failed to
report it he did wrong, but you say
ne took care of this poor shepherd
nursed him till he died and buried
him, taking all precautions. You can't
complain of that, can you? That's
the act of a good ranger and a brave
man. You wouldn't have done it," he
ended, addressing Gregg. sickness
up there two full miles above sea level
IS quite a different proposition from
sickness in Sulphur City or the Fork.
L shall not condemn Mr.. Cavanagh till
1 AcdI LIS Sue OIL Tie SlOIy.
Lee turned a grateful glance upon
him, you must be right. / don't be-
lieve Mr.. Cavanagh would deceive any
one"
"Well, We'll soon know the truth"
said Dalton, ''for I'm going up there.
1t the ranger has been exposed he
must not be left alone"
He amt alone" declared the sher-
if. tom phoned me that he had an
assistant"
"Swenson, 1 suppose" said Redfield,
who entered at this moment. "Swen-
son is his assistant"
II didn't see him myself" Gregg
continued, but l understood the dep
uty to say that he was IN old man."
"Swenson is a young man." correct
ed Redfeld.
The sheriff insisted. "Tom said 1t
was an old mana stranger to him
tall, smooth shaven, not very strong,
he said-'peared to be a cook. He had
helped nurse the dago, so Tom said"
THAT'S very curious" unused Red
field. "There isn't an old man in the
service of this forest. There's a mis-
take somewhere"
"Well," concluded Gregg, that's
what he said. l thought at first it
might be that old hobo Edwards, but
this Teller being in uniform and smooth
shaven"- His face changed; his
voice deepened. Say, l believe it was
Edwards, and, furthermore, Edwards
is the convict that Texas marshal was
after the other day, and this man
Cavanagh-your prize ranger-is har-
boring him."
What n~onsense!" exclaimed Red
field.
The sheriff banged his hand upon
the table. "That's the whole mystery.
[ see it all now. He's up there con-
cealing this man. He's given out this
smallpox scare just to keep the off
GERS away from him. Now you've got
it,"
The thunder in his voice drew to-
ward him all those who remained in
the dining room, and Lee found her.
self ringed about by a dozen excited
men. but she did not finch. She was
too deeply concerned over Cavanagh's
fate to be afraid, and. besides, Red
field and the forester were beside her.
The supervisor was staggered by
Gregg's accusation and by certain con-
firmatory facts in his W possession,
but he defended Cavanagh bravely.
you're crazy" he replied. "Why
should Ross do such a foolish thing?
What is his motive? What interest
would he have in this man Edwards.
whom you cali a tramp? He can't be
a relative and certainly not a friend
of Cavanagh's, for you say he is a
convict. Come, now, your hatred of
C~avanagh has gone too far"
Gregg was somewhat cooled by this
dash of reason, but replied: II don't
know what relation he is, but these
are facts. He's concealing ar escaped
convict, and he knows it."
Dalton put in a quiet word. "What
is the use of shouting a judgment
against a man like Cavanagh before
you know the facts? He's one Of the
best and ablest rangers on this forest.
/ don't know why he has resigned.
but I'm sure
HAS he resigned?" asked Gregg ca
gerly.
He has"
"A good job for him. l was about to
circulate a petition to have him re-
moved"
eff all the stockmen in the valley
had signed a petition against him it
wouldn't have done any good" re-
piled Dalton. 1--WE know a good man
when we see him. I'm here to offer
him promotion, not to punish him"
Lee, looking about at the faces of
these men and seeing disappointment
in their faces, lost the keen sting OF
her w humiliation. Gin the midst of
such a fight as this how can he give
time or thought to meY" Painful as
the admission was, she was forced to
admit that she was a very humble
factor in a very large campaign. But