The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-02-21

Christ's service.
How is hep" asked the ranger.
"Delirious." replied the herder. "Ive
had TO hold him to his bed. I'm glad
you've come. It's lonesome up here.
Don't come too near Set your tent
down there by the trees. can't have
you infected. Keep clear of. me and
this camp"
"Pve got some food and some extra
clothing for you"
Put 'em down here. and In the
morning drive these sheep away. That
noise dsturbs the dago, and don't
like II myself; they sound lonesome
and helpless. That dog took 'em away
for awhile, but brought 'em back
again. Poor devil, he don't know what
to think of It ALL"
Ross did as Wetherford commanded
him to do and withdrew little way
down the slope and without putting
up his tent rolled himself In his ban
kets and went to sleep.
The rangers first duty I'm the morn
Ing was TO feed the faithful collie and
to send him forth with the flock His
next was TO build fire and cook some
breakfast for Wetherford, and as he
put IL down beside the tent door he
heard the wild pleading of the Basque.
who was struggling with his nurse
doubtless In the belief that he was
being Kept prisoner Only few
words like ''go home" and sheep"
were Ineligible to either the nurse or
the ranger.
Cavanagh waited till silence came.
then called softly. Here's your break
fast, Wetherford'
Move away" retorted the man
within. keep your distance"
Ross walked away little space.
and Wetherford came to the door.
"The dago is sure sick There's no
two ways about that. How far is 1t
to the nearest doctor?"
II could reach one by phone from
the Kettle ranch, about twenty miles
below here
IF he don't get better today | reck-
Oh We'll have 10 have u Doctor" He
looked SO white and old that Cava-
nagh said:
"You need rest Now, think I've
had the smallpox. | know I've been
vaccinated. and If you go to bed
IF you're saying all that preliminary
to Offering to come in here you're
wasting your breath. | don't intend
to let you come any nearer than you
are. There is work for you to do. Be
sides, there's my girl. You're detailed
to look after her."
would doctor Gomez" asked Ross
quite huskily, moved by Wetherford's
words. ITS Il hard climb. Would
they think the dago worth it,"
Wetherford's face darkened with
look Of doubt. 1T Is a hard trip for a
city man, but maybe he would come
for you-for the government"
II doubt 1t, even IL were to offer
my next months salary as fee.
These hills are very remote to the
t0wnsfolk and one dago more or less
Of no Importance. but I'll see what
can do"
Ross was really more concerned for
Basque. "If the fever is something
malignant we must have medical aid"
he said and went slowly back to his
own camp to ponder his puzzling prob.
lem.
One thing could certainly be done.
and that was to inform Gregg and
Murphy Of their herder's illness, Sure
ly they would come to the rescue of
the collie and his flock. To reach
telephone involved either ride over
into Deer Creek or "A return to the
Fork. He was tempted to ride all the
way to The Fork, for to do so would
permit another meeting with Lee. But
to do this would require many hours
longer, and half a days delay might
prove fatal to the Basque, and, be-
sides, each hour Of loneliness and toll
rendered Wetherford Just so much
more open to the deadly attack OF the
disease
1t was hard TO leave an old and
contested spot, and yet 1t had to be
done; so, fastening his tent securely
behind clump of jumpers, Cavanagh
mounted his horse and rode away
across the boundary Of the forest into
Deer Greek basin, which had been the
bone OF much contention for nearly
four years. II had once been a part OF
the forest, but under pressure the pres
ident had permitted it to be restored TO
the public lands open for entry. II
was not agricultural grounds" as
certain ranchers claimed, but 1t wns
excellent summer pasture, and the
sheepmen and cattlemen had leaped
at once into warfare to possess It,
Sheep were beaten to death with clubs
by hundreds, herders were hustled out
of the park with ropes about their
necks and ,heir outfits destroyed and
all this whS'n few miles Of the for
est boundary, where one small sentinel