Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-02-12
me- pEnoEIyED A cHAnnrD nAvDl

NE PERCEIVED A CHARRTD HAND
horses head, he rode toward II to
stamp II out II was not upon his
patrol but that did not matter. His
duty was clear.
As he drew near he began TO per-
ceive signs of broken camp. The
ground was Uttered with utensils 1t
was not an ordinary campfire, and the
rangers heart quickened, Another
sheep herder has been driven out and
his tent aud provisions burncd!n he ex-
claimed wrathfully
His horse snorted and SHE'D as he
rode nearer, and then shudder passed
through the rangers heart as he per
ceiyed in the edge Of the smoldering
embers boot heel and then-d ckGrrod
hdRdi In the smoke Of that Ere 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 cattlemans
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 70
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 incln-
I crate the hacked and dsfnembered
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 yenge-
ance rose like some hldeous vapor,
poisonous and obscene.
The ranger slckened as the bloody
tale unfolded itself before him. Then
a fierce hate Of such warfare famed
IN his heart Could this enormity be
committed under any other civilized
nagf Would any other government in
termingle so foolishly, so chlldishly, its
state and federal authority as TO per
NIT such dlabollsm?
In his horror, his sense Of revolt, he
cursed the state Of which he was a
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, III this does not
shame the people Of this state into
revolt, If these fends 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 70 his horse and rode furlously
down the trail toward the nearest
town, SO eager to spread the alarm
that he could scarcely breathe deep
breath. On the steep slopes he was
forced TO walk, aud his horse led so
badly that his agony Of impauence
was deepened. He had vision Of the
murderers riding fast into far coun.
tries, Each hour made their appre-
henslon progressively the more dlfi-
cult
"Who were theyT he asked himself
again and again what kind Of man
did this thing? Was the leader Il man
like Ballard2 Even so, he was hired
BY whom2 BY ranchers covetous OF
the range; that was absolutely GER
tain
II was long after noon before he
came TO the end Of the telephone line
in little store and postofIlce at the
upper falls of Deer creek. The tele-
phone had booth fortunately, and he
soon had Red6eld's ear but his voice
was so strained and unnatural that bis
chief did not recognize II.
els that you, Ross7 What's the mat.
teri Your voice sounds hoarse."
Ross composed himself and told his
story briefly. "I'm at Kettle Ranch
postofilce. 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 herder came upon the scene
Of another murder and burning. The
FIRE is still smolderlng. 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 TIL the sheriff ar
rived
Keep II all quiet" warned Ross,
"and get the sheriff and doctor TO
come up here as quick az you can.
What Is this country coming tof" he
cried In despair "Wlll this deed 20