The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-01-27

e =
"l'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 Isl to go back to
ms cabin. Ride slow, So as not 20 get
there till they're gone. They'll ride
over TO the sawmil without doubt. II
they come back this way remember
that the deputy saw you only as a
ragged old man. with a long beard and
that Haines has nothing4but a printed
description to go by. There's no use
trying to flee. You are a marked
man IN that uniform. and you are
sIter right here with me than any
where else this side Of Chicago.
Haines IS likely to. cross the divide in
tic belief that sou have gone that
way! and. if hesdoes you have no one
but the deputy todeal with"
He succeeded at last In completely
rousing the older mans courage. ~
Wetherford rose to meet his opportu-
nifty. ''I'll do It." he said firmly.
That's the talkr exclaimed Cav
anagh to encourage him. you can
throw item on The track this time, and
when come back tomorrow I'll bring
some other clothing for you, and then
wen plan some kind OF scheme that
will get you out Of the country. Ill
not let them make seapegoat Of you .
The ranger watched the fugitive as
he started back over tile trail in this
desperate defiance of his pursuers with
far less confidence in the outcome than
he had put into words.
"AII depends on Wetherford himself.
II 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 his relationship to the
girl waiting for him in the valley. he
had thought Lie n burden. n social
disability, but convict father now
ninde the mothers faults of small nc
count.
The nearer he drew to the meeting
With Lee Virginia the more important
thu. meeting became. Cay0nagl had
seen Virginia hardly more than a score
Of times, and yet she filed his thought,
confused his plans. making Of his brain
a place of doubt and hesitation. For
her sake he had entered upon plan
to shield criminal, to harbor an es-
capped convict. 1t was OF, no avail ia
argue that he was moved to shield
NVetherford because. Of his heroic &C,
tIon on the peak. he knew perfectly
well that 1t was because he could not
see that fair, brave girl further dis,
graced by the discovery Of her fathers
identity, for in the searching inquiry
which would surely follow his secret
would develop.
To marry her, knowing the character
of her father and her mother, was
madness, and the voice within him
warned him Of his folly. "Pure wa.
ter cannot be drawn from corrupt
sources" it is said. Nevertheless the
thought Of having the girl with him
In the wilderness filled him with di.
vine reeklessness. While sdll he de.
Dated, alternately flushed with resolve
to be happy and chilled by some
strange detection, he met Swcnson. the
Young guard who guarded the forest
on the South Fork.
As he rode up Cayalagh perceived
In the other mans face something pro,
fonndly serious. He did not smile in
greeting, as was usual with him, and,
taking some letters from his pocket,
passed them over in ominous silence,
he had face of such bitterness that
it broke through even the "lr:o.8cd
and selfish meditation into whi;n Cav,
anagh had been thrown.
whats the matter. Swenson? You
look as If you had lost friend"
II have" answered the gunrd short,
~, "and so have you. The chief is
"What?"
They've got him" he exclaimed.
Hes out"
Cayanosh sprang up. II don't be.
heve it! For what reason? Why?"
"Don'tthat letter tell you? The whole
town is chuckIlng. Every criminal and
plug ugly in the country is splitting in
our faces this morning. Yes, sir, the
president has fred the chief-the man
that built up this forestry service. Tue
Whole works is going to h.. that's
what 1t is. Wen have all the coal
thieves, water power thieves. poachers
and free grass pirates piling in on us
In mobs. They'll eat up the forest. !
see the finish of the whole business.
They'll put some western man in
somebody they can work. Then where
win we be?'
CaTanagh's young heart burned with
Indignation, but be tried to check the
other mans torrent Of protest.
Il can't believe it. There's some
mistake. Maybe they've made him
the secretary of the department or
something"
No, they haven't. They've thrown
him ont They've fownad him ~.