Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1911-03-30
Cavanagh.
The Great Conserva-
ton Novel


on the committee. came to my house
and asked me to give him a bed. He
was afraid to go home, Il can't face
my wife and children he said. He
told me what he'd seen. and then
when | remembered that it had all
been decided in my stable and the
committee appointed there / began to
tremble. You believe I'm telling the
truth, don't your" he again asked. with
piteous accent.
Eyes, believe you You must tell
this story to the judge. 1t will end
the reign of the cattlemen."
"Oh. no: can't do that"
"You must do that. 1t Is your duty
as a Christian man and citizen"
mo. no: III stay and help you'll
do anything but that. I'm afraid to
tell what ! know. They would burn
me alive. I'm not a western man.
I've never been in criminal court.
don't belong to this wild country.
came out here because my daughter Is
not strong, and now He broke
down altogether and. leaning against
his horses side. sobbed pitifully.
Cavanagh, convinced that the old
mans mind was too deeply affected to
enable him to find his way back over
the rough trail that night. spoke to
him gently. "Pll get you something to
eat" he said "Sit down here and
rest and compose yourself"
Wetherford turned wild eye on the
ranger as he re-entered who's out
there?" he asked. rs it the marshalT'
mo: it's only one of the ranchers
from below He's tired and hungry.
and I'm going to feed him." Ross re-
piled. filed with a vivid sense of the
diverse characters of the two men he
was serving.
Dunn received sac food with an eager
hand, and after he had finished his re-
freshment Cavanagh remarked: "The
whole country should be obliged to
you for your visit to me- | shall send
your information to Supervisor Red
field"
Don't use my name," he begged.
"They will kill me if they find out
that | have told. We were all sworn
to secrecy, and If l had not seen that
fire. that pile of bodies
81 know. know, 1t Mortified me.
1t made me doubt humanity" respond
ed Cavanagh. 1--WE of the north cry
out against the south for its lynchings
but here under our eyes goes on an
equally horrible display of rage over
the mere question of temporary adj
vantage. over the appropriation OF
free grass. which is federal resource
something which belongs neither tt
one claimant nor to the other. but tC
the people. and should be of value tC
the people. You must bring these mer
to punishment"
Dunn could only shiver in his horror
and repeat his fear They'll kill mt
II Il do
Cavanagh at last said: You mus
not attempt to ride back tonight.
can't give you lodging in the cabir
because my patient Is sick of small
pox. but you can camp in the barn til
morning. then ride straight back Il
my friend Redtield and tell him wha
you've told me. He will see that you
are protected. Make your deposition
aud leave the country If you are afrait
10 remain"
In the end the rancher promised Il
do this, but his tone was that of bro
ken and distraught dotard. All tn
landmarks of his life seemed suddenl
shifted
Meanwhile the sufferings of Wether
ford We're increasing. and Cavanag
was forced to give up all hope of get
ting him down the trail next morn
ing. and when Swenson, the fores
guard from the South Fork. knocke
at the door to say that he had been t
the valley and that the doctor wa
coming up with Redfield and the dis
trict forester Ross thanked him. bu
ordered him to go into camp acroS
the river and to warn everybody t
keep clear of the cabin. Put you
packages down outside the door" h
added, land take charge of the stus
tion on the outside. I'll take care c
the business inside"
w WAS III pam, bu
the poison of the disease had miste
his brain, and he no longer worrie
over the possible disclosure of his ider
tity. At times he lost the sense of hi
surroundings and talked of his prise
life or Of the long ride northwarC
Once he rose in his bed to beat o
the wolves which he said were attach
ing his pony.
He was piteous figure as he sirius
gled thus, and it needed neither hi
relationship to Lee nor his bravery
caring for the Basque herder to fl
the rangers heart with desire to r,
lieve his suffering. Perhaps l shout
have sent for Lie at once" he muse
as the light brought out the red ST,
natures of the plague.
Once the old man looked up wit
wide, dark, unSeeing eyes and mu