The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-03-11

I'm HER FATHERp
stoop. His voice was firm. IL merely |
want to say that II You fool that girl
III kill your
Ross stared at him, quite convinced
that he had gone entirely mad. That's
mighty chivalrous of you, Mr.. Sheep
Herder." he replied cuttingly. "but I'm
at loss to understand this sudden in
dignation on your part"
"You needn't be. I'm her fatherW
Cavanagh fairly reeled before this
retort. His head rang as IL he had
been struck with club. He per
ceived the truth Of the mans words
Instantly. He gasped. Good God.
man, are yon Ed Wetherford?"
The answer was quick, That's who
amp Then his voice changed. But
| I don't want the women TO know I'm
alive. I didn't intend 10 let anybody
know It. All the same, | mean 1t. III
you or any man tries to abuse her I'll
kill him I've loaded her up with
trouble. as you say, but I'm going to
do what can to protect her now that
| I'm in the county again.
Ross. confused by this new comph-
cation in the life Of the girl he was be-
ginning to love, stared at his compan-
ion in dismay. Was it not enough that
virginia's mother should be a slattern
and a termagant? At last he spoke,
"where have you been all these
years?
.In the Texas pen l served nine
years there"
"What for1"
shooting a man. II was a case OF
self defense. but his family had more
money and influence than did, so
went down the road. AS soon as got
out | started north-just the way a
dog will point toward home. / didn't
intend to come here, but some way
couldn't keep away. l SHE'D around
the outskirts OF the Fork. picking up
odd jobs of sheep herding just to have
time TO turn things over. ] know
what you're thinking about-you're
saying to yourself. We'll. here's a nice
father-in-lawr Well. now. | don't
know anything about your people, but
the Wetherfords are as good as any
body. II hadn't come out into this
cursed country, where even women 90
shooting wild, ! would have been In
congress-: but. being hot headed. ]
must mix in. I'm not excusing my
self. you understand. I'm not desir'
! able addition to any mans collection
of friends, but | can promise you this
no one but yourself shall ever know
who am. At the same time. you can't
, deceive my girl without my being
named In the funeral that will follow"
"You are only distant and roman
tic figure to Lee-a part Of the dead
, past" said Cavanagh. "She remem-
bers you as a bold rider and u won
drously brave and chlvalrous father"
"She must never know. You must
promise never to tell her."
al promise that" Cavanagh said, and
: Edwards went on:
IF could bring something to her
prove to her I'm still man-it might
do to tell her, but I'm branded man
now and an old man, and there's no
hope for me. / worked In one of the
machine shops down there, and It took
3 the life out OF me- Then, too. l left a
bad name here In the Fork. know
8 that. Those big cattlemen fooled me
0 into taking their side OF the war. !
u staked everything | had on them, and
then they railroaded me out OF the
= county. So you see, I'm double cross
:, ed, no matter where turn"
o Every word he uttered made more
z apparent TO Cavanagh that Lee Vir.
/. glnia would derive nothing but pain
Il and dIsheartenment from knowledge
that her father lived. "She must be
d spared this added burden or shameful
inheritance" he decided.
n The other man seemed to under
% stand something of the rangers indig
o nant pity, for he repeated: 81 want
YOU to swear not to let Lee know I'm
" alive, no matter what comes. She
a must not be saddled with my record
n Let her so on thinking well OF me
Give me your word" He held out al
/, insistent palm.
- Ross yielded his hand. and in spite
y of himself his tenderness for the bro
- ken man deepened. The sky was dark
ening in the west, and. with a glance
upward. he said II reckon we'd bette
/, make your camp soon or you'll b.
= = chilled to the bone"
= They mountedS lhastily and rod
~ | aach. faaltno that hls rala stf.t,