Semi-weekly herald., 1911-03-27

an escaped convict with a bad record" !"
rs that so?" exclaimed Cavanagh
II thought he seemed bit gun shy"
THE last seen of him was when Sam
Gregg sent him up to herd sheep.
think he was mixed up in that killing
myself-him and Ballard-and we're
going up to get some track. of him
Didn't turn up at your station, did
he?"
Yes; he came by some days ago, on
his way, so he said, to relieve that
sick Basque, Ambro. l went up a
couple of days ago and found the
Basque dead and the old man gone.
buried the herder the best could, and
I'm on my way down to report the
case"
The deputy mused: He may be
hanging round some of the lumber
camps. I reckon we had better go up
and look the ground over anyhow. Wo
might just chance to overhaul him"
He may have pulled out over the
range" suggested the ranger. ANY
how. it's long way up there. and
you'll probably have to camp at my
place tonight. You'll find the key
hanging over the door. Go in and
make yourself comfortable"
The deputy thanked him and was
about to ride on when Cavanagh add
ed: II burned that Basque's tent and
bedding for fear of contagion. His
outfit was worthless anyhow. You'll
find the sheep just above my cabin
and the horse in my corral"
1.-The old man didn't take the horse,
eh? Well. that settles II; he's sure at
one of the camps. Much obliged Good
day"
AS the two officers rode away Weth-
erford leaned heavily on his pommel
and stared at the ranger with wide
eyes. His face was drawn and his
lips dry. They'll get mel They'll get
mer' he said.
"oh. no. they won't" rejoined Cava-
nagh. You're all right yet They
suspect nothing How could they
with you in uniform and in my com
pany"
'All the same, I'm scared. That
man Haines had his eyes ON me every
minute. He saw right through me.
They'll get me, and they'll charge me
up with that killing"
NO, they won't, | tell you" insisted
the ranger. "Hainas suspected nothing.
i had his eye. He never saw you be
fore and has nothing but descrip-
tion to go by, so cheer up. Your uni
form and your position with me will
make you safe-perfectly safe. They'll
find the Basque's camp burned and
the sheep In charge Of the dog. and
they'll fancy that you have skipped
across the range. But see here, old
man." and he turned on him sharply,
you didn't tell me the whole truth
You said you were out on PAROLE
81 couldn't tell you the whole truth"
was in for life sentence. / was
desperate for the open air and home
sick for the mountains. and l struck
down one of the guards. | was will
ing to do anything to get out
thought If | could get back to this
country and my wife and child I'd be
safe. i said I'd be willing to go back
to the pen II necessary, but I'm not
/ can't do 1t. I'd die there. You must
save me for my girls sake"
His voice and eyes were wild with
kind Of desperate fury of fear, and
Cavanagh, moved to pity, assured him
of his aid. Now. listen" he said
I'm going to shield you on account
of your work for that poor shepherd
and for your daughters sake. It's my
duty to apprehend you, of course, but
I'm going to protect you. The safest
thing for you to do is to go back to
my cabin. Ride slow. SO as not to get
there till they're gone. They'll ride
over to the sawmill without doubt. II
they come back this way remember
that the deputy saw you only as
ragged old man with a long beard and
that Haines has nothing but a printed
description to go by. There's no use
trying to flee. You are a marked
man In that uniform, and you are
safer right here with me than any
where else this side Of Chicago.
Haines is likely to cross the divide In
the belief that you have gone that
way, and II he does you have no one
but the deputy to deal with"
He succeeded at last in completely
EOuSlDS tDe OlueT IuHu h COuFuBe.
Wetherford rose to meet his opportu-
nifty. 'I'll do it." he said firmly.
"That's the talkl" exclaimed Cav
anagh to encourage him. You can
throw them off the track this time, and
when l come back tomorrow III bring
some other clothing for you, and then
we'll plan some kind of scheme that
will get you out of the country. I'll
not let them make a scapegoat of you"
The ranger watched the fugitive as
he started back over the trail in this
desperate defiance Of his pursuers with
far less confidence In the outcome than
he had put into words.
"All depends on Wetherford himself
IL his nerve does not fail him, If they
take the uniform for granted and do
not carry the matter to the supervisor,
we will pull the plan through" And
In this hope he rode away down the
trail with bent head, for all this bore
heavily upon bis relationship to the
girl waiting for him in the valley. He
had thought Lie burden. a social
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