Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-02-13
CHAPTER xvn.

CHAPTER xvu.
cAvANAoH's LAST vyos1 Dro1xs.
~ N his solitary ride upward and
homeward the ranger search
ed his heart and found It bit
- ter and disloyal. Love had
inteefeeed with duty. anA pride had
checked and defeated love. His path.
no longer clear and definite. Hoped
away ailnlsssly. lost IN vague, obscure
mean6aines. a1S world had suddealy
grown gray. He had no trade, no bust
ness, no special SKIN save In the ways
Of the mountaineer. ana to return to
his ancestral home in England at the
moment seemed q woeful confession Of
failure.
It was again dusk az he rode up to
his own hitching pole and slipped from
the saddle.
wetherford came out. indicating by
his manner that he had recovered his
confidence once more. Flow did you
find things in the valley?' he inquired
as they walked away toward the cor
raj
/ Bad" responded the ranger.
I'm what way"
1.-THE chief has been dismissed. and
all the rascals are chuckling with glse.
I've resigned from the service"
Wetherford was aghast. "What for?'
II viii not serve under any other
chief. The best thing for you to do
Is to 60 out when I do. I think by
keeping on that uniform you can get
to the train with me-"
did you see Lie and my grip
mo; only remained In town q min
ute. It was too hot for me. I'm done
with t. Wstherford, I'm going back
to civilization. No more wild west for
me-" The bitterness of his voice touch
ed the older mans heart. but he con-
sidered It merely q mood.
Don't lose your nerve. Mebbe this
ends the reign Of terror
Nothing viii end the moral shift
lessness Of this country but the death
Of the freebooter. That job was done
by men who hated the dagoes-hated
'em because they were rival claimants
for the range. It's nonsense to At
capt 70 fastsn it on men Ike Nell
Ballard. The men who did that piece
Of work are well known stock own
ers."
II reckon that's So"
'Well, now. who's going TO convict
thsm7 can't do 1t. I'm going to pull
out - soon % can put my books in
shape. I'D you'd better 60 too"
They were standing at the gate Of
the corral, and the roar Of the noun
tain stream enveloped them in q cloud
OF sound.
Wsthsfford spoke slowly: II hate to
lose my girl now that I've seen her.
but guess you're right And Lie,
poor old cr1tteri It's shame the way
I've Queered her life. and I'd give my
right arm to be where was twelve
years ago, but with price on my head
and old ags coming on don't see my
self ever again getting up to par. It's
q losing game for me now"
There was resignation Is well -
Despair IN hle voice, and Cavanagh felt
Il, bat DO said: there's one other Ques-
,xioo that may come mp for decision. II
that Basque died Of smallpox you may
Ipossib,y take It."
I've Agureo on that, but It win take
10 day q two to show on me. don't
ifeGl any ache in my bones yet II I
do eoane down you keep away from
me. You've got TO live and take care
sof virginia"
"shs sAuuld never have returned to
this accursed country" Cavanash
ihasshly replied. starting back toward
the cabln.
t The ceostahls, smoking his pipe BE-
side TIE arsplaee, I'D not present an
a1doue face. On the contrary, he
sesned blunply content a. he replied
TO the rangers greeting. He repre-
scented ray well the type Of ofncer
witch these disorderly communities
predueaL Brave and tireless when
WORKING along the line Of his preju-
dices, he could be most laxly inefficient
when hin duties cut across his own o.
biz nslghbor's interests. Being . cat
1110aa ~ traininS, b was glad Of the
red herring which the Texas onees
had tfailed across the line Of his pur.
suit
This attitude seflf furthsr indamed
Usvanagh's Indignant hate Of the coun.
try. The theory which the deputy Dc.
velopo0 was transparent folly. 1T vas
Just . ease Of plain robbery" he ar
gued. zone Of them dagoes had mon
-, ana Nefil Ballard and that man Ed
wards Just naturally follered him and
killed tie whole bunch and scooted.
Thaes NJ gueas."
II A hour latof The sound Of horses
Aoots O. the bejdgs gave warning OF .
visitoe, sand ~ Oavanagh went to the
aeoe 0eegg ro0s up. seeking particu-
lafg % % III Aoath Of the herdse and
the whsteabouts of the sheep.
The ranger was not IN . mood to in-
vite IL ,sheepman. In. and, besides. he
pseuoavSd tho danger 70 which Wether-
1gA WAS exposed; thsrsfors his an
sWoeD wsfe short Gregg, on his part,
~ oe-appear anxious 20 snter.
sW1At happsned 70 that Old hobo
ssat vrf" he asked.
Cavanagh briefly rstold his story, ana
at the end Of It Gregg grunted. "You
eay 20 burned the tent and Ill the
be6dineT
..nvsl5 thread Of Il II wasn't safe
- leav6 e
syavA6f ailsd tie mans"
e Aia.t Know, but It looked and