Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-02-10

couple OF hours OF silent travel
brought them to the rangers cabin,
ami there he ordered a dismount.
As the coffes was boiling he lectured
them briefly. You fellows are not
entirely to blaIe," he remarked philo-
sophically. You've been educated to
think a game warden u joke and Un-
Gle Sam long way of. But things
have changed Il bit The law of the
state has made me game warden. and
I'm going to show you how it works.
It's my duty to see that you go down
the road-and down you go"'
Edwards, the guide, was plainly
very uneasy and made several at
tempts TO reach Cavanagh's private
ear and at last succeeded. i've been
fooled into this" he urged. Il was
hard up and stranger in the country,
and this young fellow hired the to
guide him across the range. didn't
shoot thing. | swear | didn't. II
you'll let me off I'll hit the trail to
the west and never look back. Don't
take me down the road. Let me off,
II can't do that" replied Cavanagh.
but his tone was kindlier. for he per-
ceived that the old fellow was thin.
hollow chested and poorly clad You
knew you We're breaking the laws,
didn't you?''
This the culprit admitted. But I
was working for Sam Gregg, and when
Joe asked me to 90 show him the trail
| didn't expect to get cinched for kill
ing game. | didn't fire shot-now
that's the truth"
Nevertheless" retorted Ross, "you
were packing the head. and | must
count you in the game"
Edwards fell silent then, but some
thing in his look deepened the rangers
pity. His eyes were large and dark,
and his face so emaciated that he
seemed fit only for a sanitarium.
The trip to the Fork (timed to the
gait of lazy pack horse) was tedious
eight hours march, and 1t was nearly
o'clock when they arrived at the out
skirts of the village.
To the casual observer in a town of
this character there was nothing spe-
cially noticeable In three horsemen
driving a pack horse. but to those
tionship of the ranger to his captives
was instantly apparent, and when they
alighted at Judge Higley's Office a
bunch of eager observers quickly COL
lected.
Hello, Joe! What luck? called Bal
lard.
"Our luck was little too good-we
caught game warden" replied the
young scapegrace.
The ranger was chagrined to find the
office of the justice closed for the day
and, turning to his captives, said: Pm
hungry, and I've no doubt you are
I'm going to take you into Mike Hal
sey's saloon for supper, but remember
you are my prisoners"
In fifteen minutes the town was rum
bling with the news. Under Billiards. 8
deyilry all the latent hatred of the
ranger and all the concealed opposition
to the forest service came to the sur
face like the scum on a pot Of broth.
The saloons and eating houses boiled
with indignant protest What busi-
ness is it of Ross Cavanagh's?" they
demanded. What call has he to in
terfere? He's not game warden"
Yes. he is. All these rangers are
game wardens," corrected another.
mo. they're not. They have to be
commissioned by the governor"
We'll, he's been commissioned. He's
warden all right"
Il don't believe it. Anyhow, he's too
fresh. He needs to have halt. Let's
do him. Let's bluff him out"
Lee Virginia was in the kitchen su-
perintending the service when one Of
the walters came In breathless with
excitement. Ross Cavanagh has shot
Joe Gregg for killing sheep!'
Lee faced her with blanched face.
"Who told you so?"
They're all talking about it out
there. Gee. hut they're hot! Some Of
'em want to lynch him."
Lee hurried out into the dining room,
which was crowded with men and
voicing deep excitement.
A half dozen men were standing be-
fore the counter talking with Lie, but
Lee pushed in to inquire with white,
inquiring face: What is it all about ?
What has happened"
Nothing much" Lie replied con-
temptuously, "but you'd think horse
had been stole. Ross has nipped Joe
Gregg and one of his herders for kill
ing mountain sheep"
DO you mean he shot themr
Yes; he took their heads"
Lee stood aghast. what do you
mean? Whose heads"
Lie laughed. THE sleeps heads
Oh. don't be scared! No one is hurt
yet"
The girl flushed with confusion as
the men roared over her blunder. Zone
of the girls told me Mr.. Cavanagh had
killed a man." she explained. Where
is he?"
Lie betrayed annoyance. '"They say
he's taking supper at Mike Halsey's,
though why he didn't come here
don't see. What's he going to do?"
she asked won't the marshal take
the men off his hands?"
Not without warrant from Higley,
and Higley is out of town. Ross II
bova +o hold ,oro t;ll IJioIay pats bocL