The Delta independent., 1911-04-14


stocp. His voice was firm. 81 merely
want to say that if you fool that girl
I'll kill your
Ross stared at him, quite convinced
that he had gone entirely mad. That's
mighty chivalrous of you, Mr.. Sheep
Herder," he replied cuttingly, but I'm
at loss to understand this sudden in
dignation on your part"
You needn't be. I'm her father!"
Cavanagh fairly reeled before this
retort. His head rang as if he had
been struck with a club. He per-
ceived the truth of the mans words
instantly. He gasped. Good God,
man. are you Ed Wetherford?"
The answer was quick, That's who
1 ann Then his voice changed. But
! don't want the women to know I'm
alive. | didn't intend to let anybody
know it. All the same, l mean 1t. If
you or any man tries to abuse her I'll
kill him. I've loaded her up with
trouble. as you say, but I'm going to
do what l can to protect her now that
I'm in the county again"
Ross. confused by this new compli-
cation in the life of the girl he was be-
ginning to love, stared at his compan-
ion in dismay. Was 1t not enough that
Virginia's mother should be a slattern
and a termagant? AT last he spoke.
"Where have you been all these
years?"
''In the Texas pen served nine
years there
What for?"
shooting a man. 1t was a case of
self defense. but his family had more
money and influence than I did, so
went down the road. AS soon as got
out started north-just the way a
dog will point toward home. / didn't
intend to come here. but some way
couldn't keep away. l SHE'D around
the outskirts of the Fork. picking up
odd jobs of sheep herding just to have
time to turn things over. know
what you're thinking abOut-you' re
saying to yourself. WELL here's a nice
father-in-lawr Well. now. I don't
know anything about your people, but
the Wetherfords are as good as any
body. II I hadn't come out into this
cursed country, where even women go
shooting wild. would have been in
congress; but. being hot headed.
must mix in. I'm not excusing my
self. you understand. I'm not a desir
able addition to any mans collection
Of friends. but can promise you this
no one but yourself shall ever know
who am. At the same time, you cant
deceive my girl without my beius
named in the funeral that will follow.
you are only a distant and roman
tic figure to Lee-a part of the deaC
past" said Cavanagh. "She remem
bers you as a bold rider and won
drously brave and chivalrous father
"She must never know. You mus
promise never to tell her"
81 promise that" Cavanagh said, ant
Edwards went on:
If l could bring something to her
prove to her I'm still man-it nigh
do to tell her. but I'm branded mar
now and an old man. and there's n,
hope for me. I worked In one of tn,
machine shops down there. and 1t tool
the life out of me. Then, too, l left
bad name here In the Fork l know
that. Those big cattlemen fooled IN,
into taking their side of the war.
staked everything had on them, an,
then they railroaded me out Of tn
county. So. you see. I'm double cross
ed, no matter where l turn"
Every word he uttered made NOR
apparent to Cavanagh that Lee Viz
ginia would derive nothing but pail
and disheartenment from a knOwledg
that her father lived. "She must b
spared this added burden Of shamefu
Inheritance" he decided.
The other man seemed to under
stand something of the rangers indig
nant pity. for he repeated: ~ wan
you to swear not to let Lee know Pr
alive, no matter what comes. Sh
must not be saddled with my record
Let her go on thinking we'll of me
Give me your word" He held out al
insistent palm.