The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-02-15
CHAPTER XIV,
SHADOWS ON THE MIST.

made between love and duty
distinguished the officer from
= the man. the soldier from the
civilian. He did not hesitate to act.
and yet be suffered a mental conflict
as he rode back toward the scene of
that thurman sacrifice on the altar of
greed.
1T will be hours before any part of
the sheriff's posse can reach the falls,
even though they take to the swiftest
motors. and then other long hours
to her. Yes. at least day and a night
must drag their slow course before
can hope to be of service to her." And
the thought drew groan Of anxiety
from him At such moments OF menta
stress the trail is torture and the
mountain side an inexorable barrier.
Halfway to the hills he was inter
cepted by an old man who was al
work ON an irrigating ditch beside the
road. He seemed very nervous and
very inquisitive. and as he questioned
the ranger bis eyes were like those Of
dog that fears his masters hand
Ross wondered about this afterward
but at the moment his mind was busy
with the significance of this patien.
toiler with spade. He was prophet
ic figure in the most picturesque and
sterile land of the stockman. Here.
within twenty miles of this peaceful
fruit grower" be said. lis the crown
ing infamy of the freebooting cowboy"
He wondered as he rode on whether
the papers of the state would make a
jest Of this deed. will this be made
the theme for caustic comment in the
eastern press for day and then be
forgotten
As his hot blood cooled he lost faith
in even this sacrifice. Could anything
change the leopard west into the tame
ness and serenity of the OK? NO" he
decided; nothing but death will do
that. This generation. these fierce and
bloody hearts. must die. Only in that
way can the tradition of violence be
overcome and a new state reared"
At the foot Of the toilsome, upward
winding trail be dismOunted and led
his weary horse. over his head and
about halfway to the first hilltop lay
roof of fleecy vapor. faint purple
in color and seamless in texture
Through this he must pass. and ii sym
bolized to him the line of demarcation
between the plain and the mountain.
between order and violence.
Slowly he led his horse along the
mountain side. grasping with eager de
sire at every changing aspect Of the
marvellous mountain scene. 1t was In
finitely more gorgeous. more compel
ling. than his moonlight experience the
might before.
AS he led his horse out upon pro
jecting point of rocky ledge to rest his
| love for the range came back upon
| him with such power that tears misted
his eyes and his throat ached. Where
else will I find such scenes at this? p
iowlands could such splendors shine:
How can l leave this high world in
| which these wonders come and go?
| will not. Here will l bring my bride
and build my home. This Is my
world
But the mist grew gray. the aureole
of Ere faded. the sun went down be-
hind the hills. and the chill Of evening
deepened ON the trail. and as he re-
approached the scene of mans inhu-
manity to man the thought of camping
there beside those c6arred limbs call
ed for heroic resolution. He was hun
cry. too. and as the air pinched he
shivered.
| "At the best the sheriff cannot reach
here before midnight" be said. and
settled down to his unsought. revolving
vigil.
His one relief .ay in the mental com
| position of long letter to Lee Wiz
ginia. whose life at that moment was
! a comfort to him. IF such purity
such sweetness. can come from VIC
lence and vulgarity then surely new
i and splendid state can rise even out
| of the ashes Of these murdered men
4 Dophonc fbiS 90 fho ond nf tho pId