Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-02-02
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81 Ranger
BY HAMLIN GARLAND
Copyright. 1910. by HomlIn Garland

. lLu HuptINlFpI upHOluh llllu III H.
Loo Virginia wondered about all this
supervision, for It was new 10 hor,
Grogg, the shecpmon, won't on; "As
/ tell RedAeld, don't object to the
forest policy--its good thing for mo,
1 get my sheep pastured cheaper than
1 could do any other way, but It makes
mo hot 20 have grazing limos run on
mo aud my herdors lacked up every
time they got over tho line, Ross run
one bunch on the reservation last Fri.
| day, I'm going 10 find out about that,
Hen learn no can't get arbitrary with
me"
Tho old woman chuckled, "'Pears
like you've changed your tune since
'0s, sam"
Ho admitted his conversion shame
lessly, "Tm for whatever will pay
best. Just now, with high tHrlif,
sheep are the boys SO long as / can
get on the reserve Mt 7 cents head
lambs freo-lm going to put every dol
lar I've got into sheep"
"Youre going to get thrown Off al
together one Of these days. said the
young man on tho back seat.
Thorcupon a violent discussion arose
over the question Of tho right OF II
sheepman to claim first grass for his
/ hocks, and Gregg boasted that he cared
nothing for tho dead line" They've
tried to run me out of Deer Creek. but
I'm there to stay l have 10000 more
on the way, and tho man that tries to
stop me viii find trouble"
Tho car was descending into the val.
Icy Of tho Roaring Fork now, and wire
fences aud alfalfa fields on either side
gave further evidence Of the change IN
the lands dominion Down past the
courthouse refurbIshed and deeper
sunk In trees, Lee Virginia rode, re-.
calling the wild night when 300 armed
and vengeful cowboys surrounded It,
holding three cattle barons aud their
hired invaders against all comers, res.
olute 10 he their own judge, jury and
hangman 1t was all as peaceful as a
Sunday afternoon at this moment,
with no sign OF the fierce passions Of
the past
The car crossed tho Roaring Fork
and drew up before two small shacks,
one OF which bore fnded sign, The
Wetherford House" and the other In
fresher paint, "The Wetherford Cafe"
On the sidewalk group Of Indians
were sitting, and hulf dozen slouch-
ing white men stood waiting at the
door.
As Lee went past tho hotel porch
her heart beat hard and her breath
shortened, In flash she dlyined the
truth She understood why her moth.
or had discouraged her coming home
II was not merely on account Of the
money, 1t was because she know that
her business was wrong
What squalId little den 1t was,
How cheap bald and petty the whole
town seemed OF a suddenI Lee Vir-
glnla halted and turned There was
only one thing TO be done, and that
was TO make herself known. She re-
traced her steps, pulled open the bro
ken screen door and entered the cafe.
1t was low dingy dining room filed
with the odor Of ham aud Dad coffee
At the tables ten or fifteen men, a mot
ley throng, were busily feeding their
yoracious Jaws, and on her left, behind
Il showcase filed with cigars, stood
her mother, looking DID, mkempt and
worried The changes in her were SO
great that the girl stood in shocked
alarm At last she raised her veil
Mother" she said, don't You know
meY
A look OF surprise went over the
older woman's dobby face-a glow
which brought back something OF her
other self, us she cried, "Why, Lee
/ NlrgInny, where did you come from?'
The boarders stopped chewing and
stared Ia absorbed interest, while Ylr
clnla kissed her bowsy mother
"By the Lord, It's little Yirglnnyw
said one old fellow IT'S her daugh-
ter"
Upon this q mutter Of astonishment
arose, aud the waiter girls, glggng,
mnvcling and cuvious, paused. their
platcrs iu hand, to exchange comment
on the newcomers Int and gown A
cowboy nt the washing sink IN the
corner suspended his face polishing
and gaped over his shoulder IN silent
ecstasy Some Of the men came for
ward 20 greet her, and though she had
some difficulty In recognizing one or
two Of them $50 hardly had the years
OF her absence used thcml she even
ually succeeded IN placing them ALL
Al length her mother led her through
the orehwuy which connected the two
shanues. thence along a narrow hall
into a small, bedroom, into which the
western sunset fell u was shabby
place, but ns a refuge from the crowd
IN the restaurant It was grateful
Lie looked at her daughter critical
ly " don't know what I'm going to
do with a girl like you Why, you're
purity purity as a picture, You were
skinny ms u child, I'm fair daaed,
Great snakes how you have opened
OUT You're the living image OF your
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