Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-03-31

could infame white men TO such devils
work? When did you first know what
had been doneT"
That night after II was done one Of
the men, my neighbor. who was drawn
on the committee, came TO my house
and asked me TO give him a bed. He
was afraid to go home. I can't face
my wife and children he said He
told me what he'd seen. and then
when I remembered that IL had all
been decided in my stable and the
committee appointed there / began to
tremble. You believe I'm telling the
truth. don't your he again asked. with
piteous accent
Yes. | believe you. You must tell
this story to the Judge. 1t will end
the reign of the cattlemen."
''Oh. no; can't do that"
"You must do that. II is your duty
as a Christian man and citizen"
''No. no; I'll stay and help yOu-Tn
do anything but that. I'm afraid to
tell what | know. They would burn
me alive. I'm not western man.
I've never been in criminal court. !
don't belong to this wild country. !
came out here because my daughter is
not strong, and now He broke
down altogether and, leaning against
his horses side, sobbed pitifully.
Cavanagh. convinced that the old
mans mind was too deeply affected to
enable him to find his way back over
the rough trail that night. spoke to
him gently. I'm get you something to
eat" he said ''Sit down here and
rest and compose yourself"
Wetherford turned wild eye on the
ranger as he re-entered. Who's out
thereY' he asked. as it the marshalT'
mo; it's only one of the rapChers
from below. He's tired and hungry.
and I'm going to feed him." Ross re-
piled. filed with a vivid sense of the
diverse characters of the two men he
was serving.
Dunn received the food with an eager
hand, and after he had finished his re-
freshment Cavanagh remarked: "The
whole country should be obliged to
you for your visit to me. shall send
your information to Supervisor Red
field"
Don't use my name" he begged
"They will kill me If they find out
that | have told. We were all sworn
to secrecy, and If had not seen that
fire, that pile of bodies
81 know. | know! 1t Mortified me
1t made me doubt humanity" respond
ed Cavanagh. I'VE of the north cry
out against the south for It's lynchings
but here under our eyes goes on an
equally horrible display of rage oyeI
the mere question Of temporary ad
vantage. over the appropriation OF
free grass. which is a federal resource
something which belongs neither tc
one claimant nor to the other, but tC
the people, and should be of value tc
the people. You must bring these mer
to punishment"
Dunn could only shiver in his horror
and repeat his fear. They'll kill me
If do"
Cavanagh at last said; you mus
not attempt to ride back tonight.
can't give you lodging in the cabin
because my patient is sick of small
pox. but you can camp in the barn til
morning. then ride straight back tc
my friend Redfield and tell him what
you've told me. He will see that yor
are protected. Make your deposition
and leave the country If you are afrait
to remain"
In the end the rancher promised tt
do this, but his tone was that of bro
ken and distraught dotard. All the
landmarks Of his life seemed suddenly
shifted
Meanwhile the sufferings of Wether
ford were increasing, and Cavanagt
was forced to give up all hope Of get
ting him down the trail next morn
ing, and when Swenson, the fores
guard from the South Fork, knocked
at the door to say that he had been Il
The valley and that the doctor wa!
coming up with Redfield and the dis
trict forester Ross thanked him, bu
ordered him to go into camp acros.
the river and to warn everybody t.
keep clear Of the cabin. put you
packages down outside the door," b,
added. "and take charge of the situa
ton on the outside. I'll take care O.
the business inside"
Wetherford was in great pain, bu
the poison of the disease had mistet
his brain, and he no longer worried
over the possible disclosure of his iden
tity. At times he lost the sense of hi
surroundings and talked of his prisoI
life or of the long ride northward
Once he rose in his bed to beat of
the wolves which he said were attack
ing his pony.
He was a piteous figure as he strug
gled thus, and it needed neither hi
relationship to Lee nor his bravery ii
caring for the Basque herder to fl
the rangers heart with a desire to re
lieve his suffering Perhaps | SHOULD
have sent for Lie at once" he muset
as the light brought out the red sig
natures of the plague.
Once the old man looked up will
wide, dark. unSeeing eyes and mur
INJURED, 81 don't seem to know YOU
I'm friend. My name is Cava
! nagh.' g"
Il can't place you" he sadly admit
ted. Il feel pretty bad. If l ever ge
out of this place I'm going back to tn,
Fork. I'll get a gold mine; then II
go back and make up for what Liz
has gone through. Pm afraid to G,
back now
'All right" Ross soothingly agreed
But you'll have to keep quiet till yol
get over this fever you're suffering