The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-02-17
CiAPr,,ER XVII.

~ LAS SOiItdIS tue upWdIO duu
homeward the ranger search
Y ed his heart and found it Bit
ter and disloyal. Love had
interfered with duty, and pride had
checked and defeated love: His path.
no longer clear and definite, loopeG
away aimlessly. lost in vague. obscure
meRnderings. His world had suddenl.
grown gray. He had no trade, no bust
ness, no special skill save in the way.
of the mountaineer, and to return t.
his ancestral home in England at the
moment seemed woeful confession o.
failure.
1t was again dusk as 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. "How did you
find things in the valleyY he inquired
as they walked away toward the cor
raj.
Bad" responded the ranger.
SIN what way?"
"The chief has been dismissed. and
all the rascals are chuckling with glee
I've resigned from the service"
Wetherford was aghast. "What for?'
81 will not serve under any other
chief. The best thing for you to do
is to go out when I do. I think by
keeping ON that uniform you can get
to the train with me-"
ibid you see Lie and my girir
"No: only remained In town min
ute. 1t was too hot for me. I'm done
with it. Wetherford. 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 mood
Don't lose your nerve. Mebbe this
ends the reign Of terror"
Nothing will 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
tempt to fasten 1t on men like Neili
Ballard. The men who did that piece
of work are well known stock own
ers."
81 reckon that's So"
"Well. now. who's going to convict
them? can't do 1t. I'm going to pull
out as soon as can put my books In
shape. and you'd better go too"
They were standing at the gate of
The corral, and the roar of the noun
tain stream enveloped them in cloud
of sound
Wetherford spoke slowly: 'I hate to
lose my girl now that I've seen her.
but I guess you're right. And Lie.
poor old critter! 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 age coming on don't see my
self ever again getting up to par. It's
a losing game for me now"
There was resignation as well as
despair in his voice, and Cavanagh felt
it. but be said: There's one other ques-
ton that may come up for decision. If
that Basque died Of smallpox you may
possibly take it."
i've figured on that, but It will take
a day or two to show on me. I don't
feel any ache in my bones yet. If
DO come down you keep away from
me. You've got to live and take care
of Virginia"
this accused country" Cavanagh
harshly replied, starting back toward
the cabin.
The constable. smoking his pipe be-
side the fireplace. did not present an
anxious face. On the contrary, he
seemed plumply content as he replied
to the rangers greeting He repre-
scented very well the type Of officer
which these disorderly communities
produce. Brave and tireless when
working along the line Of his preju-
dices. he could be most laxly inefficient
when his duties cut across his own or
his nefghbors interests. Being a cat
tleman by training, he was glad of the
red herring which the Texas officer
had trailed across the line of his pur-
suit.
Cavanagh's indignant hate of the coun-
try. The theory which the deputy de-
veloped was transparent folly. cit was
just case OF plain robbery" he ar
gued. Zone of them dagoes had mon
ey, and Neill Ballard and that man Ed
wards just naturally follered him and
killed the whole bunch and scooted.
That's my guess"
An hour later the sound Of a horses
hoofs on the bridge gave warning of a
visitor, and as Cavanagh went to the
door Gregg rode up. seeking particu
lars as to the death Of the herder and
the whereabouts of the sheep.
The ranger was not in a mood to in
vite the sheepman in, and, besides, he
perceived the danger to which Wether-
ford was exposed; therefore his an
swers were short. Gregg. on his part,
did not appear anxious to enter.
What happened to that old hobo ]
sent up?' he asked.
Cayanagh briefly retold his story, and
at the end of it Gregg grunted. ''You
say you burned the tent and all the
beddingT'
Every thread Of it. 1t wasn't safe
to leave It."
what allied the man:"
aT don't know h1f If 1ooIxod and