The Delta independent., 1911-04-14

celve sigis - broken camp. Ice
ground was littereu :?,itn utensils. IL
was not an ordinary campfire, .>S -
rangers heart quickened. Another
sheep herder has been driven out and
his tent and provisions burned!' he ex-
claimed wrathfully.
His horse snorted and SHE'D as he
rode nearer. and then a shudder passed
through the rangers heart as he per-
ceived in the edge of the smoldering
embers Il boot heel and then-d charr'ed
hand. In the smoke of that fire was
the reek Of human flesh.
For long time the ranger sat on his
horse, peering down into those ashes
until at last 1t became evident to his
eyes that at least two sheep herders
had been sacrificed on the cattleman's
altar Of hate and greed.
All about on the sod the story was
written all too plain. Two men, pos
sibly three. had been murdered cut to
pieces and burned not many hours be-
fore. There stood the bloody spade
with which the bodies had been dis
membered. and there lay an empty can
whose oil had been poured upon the
mingled camp utensils. tent and wagon
of the herders in the attempt to incin-
crate the hacked and dismembered
limbs of the victims. The lawlessness
of the range had eliminated. The
ferocity of the herder had gone beyond
the savage. Here in the sweet autumn
air the reek of the cattleman's venge-
ance rose like some hideous vapor.
poisonous and obscene.
The ranger sickened as the bloody
tale unfolded itself before him. Then
fierce hate of such warfare famed
in his heart. Could this enormity be
committed under any other civilized
flag? Would any other government in
termingle so fcolishly. so childishly. its
state and federal authority as to per
init such diabolism?
In his horror. his sense of revolt. he
cursed the state of which he was
citizen. He would have resigned his
commission at the moment. so intense
was his resentment of the supine. care
less. jovial. slattern government under
which he was serving.
BY the Lord" he breathed. with
solemn intensity. "if this does not
shame the people of this state into
revolt. If these tiends are not hound
ed and hung. will myself harry them.
| cannot live and do my duty here un-
less this crime is avenged by law"
Chilled. shaking and numb. he set
spurs TO his horse and rode furiously
down the trail toward the nearest
town. so eager to spread the alarm
that he could scarcely breathe n deep
breath. On the steep slopes he was
forced to walk. and his horse led so
badly that his agony of impatience
was deepened. He had vision of the
murderers riding fast into far coun-
tries. Each hour made their appre-
hension progressively the more diff
cult.
who were they?" he asked himself
again and again. What kind OF man
did this thing? Was the leader man
like Ballard? Even so. he was hired
By whom? By ranchers covetous OF
the range: that was absolutely GER
tain"
1t was long after noon before he
came to the end of the telephone line
in little store and postofiice at the
upper falls of Deer creek The tele-
'hObe huu a.
soon had Redfield's ear. but his voice
was so strained and unnatural that his
chief did not recognize II.
"Is that you. Ross? What's the mat
ter? Your voice sounds hoarse."
Ross composed himself and told his
story briefly. I'm ut Kettle Ranch
postoffice. Now listen. The limit Of
the cattleman's ferocity has been
reached. AS rode down here to get
into communication with a doctor for
a sick heyder ! came upon the scene
of another murder and burning. The
fire Is still smoldering. At least two
bodies are in the embers."
At last. bit by bit. from hurried
speech. the supervisor derived the
fact, the location. the hour. and di-
rected the herder to ride back and
guard the remains till the sheriff ar.
rived.
Keep 1t all quiet" warned Ross.
land get the sheriff and n doctor to
come up here as quick as you can.
What is this country coming TOP he
cried In despair. "Will this deed go
unpublished like the rest? p
Redfield's voice had lost Its optimis.
tic ring. ~ don't know; I am stun
ned by 1t all. Don't do anything rash,
Ross. Wait till i come. Perhaps this
is the turning point out here. I'll bc
up at the earliest moment"
The imbittered and disheartened
ranger then called up Lee Virginia.
and the sound OF her sweet voice turn
ed his thoughts to other and in n
sense more important matters. for
when she heard his name she cried
out with such eager longing and ap.
peal that his heart leaped. "Oh, wish
you were here! Mother has been worse
today. She is asking for you. Can't