The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-04-01
CHAPTER XIX.
THE PEsTHousE.

n
A watch over Wetherford and
when Que night the old man
began to complain OF the
ache In his bones his decision was in
slant.
you've got IT," he said. ITS up
to us to move down the valley tomor.
row"
wetherford protested that he would
as soon die in the hills an In the val.
ley. II don't want Lee Virginia to
know. but II seem liable TO fade out
Id like Lie to be told thar | didn't
forget her and that ! came back to
find out how she was. hate to be
nuisance to you. and so III go down
the valley II you say So"
AS he was about to turn ic that
night Ross heard horse cross ne
bridge and. with intent to warn the
rider Of his danger, went to the door
and called out: Halt! Who's thereT.
"A friend" replied the stranger In
weak voice.
Ross permitted the visitor to ride up
to the pole. II can't ask you in" he
explained. "Tve sick man inside
Who are you. and what can ! do Cor
you"
Notwithstanding this warning the
rider dropped from his saddle and
came into the light which streamed
from the door.
my name is Dunn" he began. I'm
from Deer Creek" ,
81 know you." responded the rangari
you're that raucher ! saw working
In the ditch the day ! went to teel
phone. and you've come to tell me
something ABOUT chat murder" e'
The other man .hroke into a whim-
per. I'm n law. abiding man. Mr.. Cav
auagh." he began tremulously. live
always kept the law and never intend,
ed TO have anything to do with that
business III was dragged into It
againet my viii, I've come 10 you be.
cause you're an officer Of the federal
law. You don't belong here trust
you. You represent the president and
! want to tell you what ! know only
I want you to promise not to bring me
Into II. I'm a man with family. and
can't bear to have them know the
| truth"
There were deep agitation and com.
plete sincerity In the ranchers choked
and hesltant utterance. and Cavanagh
turned cold with premonition of what
he was about to disclose. II am not
an officer Of the law. Mr.. Dunn. not In
the sense you mean. but will respect
your wishes
II know that YOU are not an officer
OF the county law, but you're not o
| cattleman. II Is your business TO keep
the peace In the wild country, and you
do It. Everybody knows that But !
! can't trust the officers of this country:
they're all afraid Of the cowboys. You
are not afraid. and you represent the
United States, and IN tellyou. can't
bear II any longerl" he walled II
must tell somebody. can't sleep, and
can't eat I've been like q man IN
a nightmare ever since ! had no hand
| In the killing-I didn't even see It done
but I knew It was going TO happen
! saw the committee appointed. The
meeting that decided II was held In
my barn. but ! didn't know what they
intended TO do You believe me. don't
your" He peered up at Csyanagh with
white face and wild eyes I'm over
seventy years Of age. Mr.. Cavanagh,
and I've been a law abiding citizen all
my life"
His mind. shattered by the weight Of
bis CHASTITY secret, was In confusion,
and, perceiving this, Cavanagh began
to question him gently. One by one
he procured the names OF those who
voted to "deal with" the herders. One
by one he obtained also the list of
those named op "the committee of re-
prisal." and as the broken man deliv
cred himself Of these accusing facts
he grew calmer II didn't know-I
couldn't believe--that the men ON that
committee could chop and burn" His
utterance failed him again. and he fell
silent abruptly.
"1hey must have been drunk mad
drunk" retorted Cavanagh. And YET
who would believe that even drink
could inhame white men to s'ich devils
work; When did you first know what
had been done?"
THAT night after II was done one OF
the men. my neighbor who was drawn
on the committee, came TO my house
and asked me to give him'a bed II,
was afraid to so home. 4 can't face
my wife and children he said He
told me what bed seen, aud then
when remembered that II had all
been decided in my stable and the
committee appointed there began "a
tremble. You believe I'm telling the
truth, don't youT he again asked, with
piteous accent.