Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1911-07-20
Cavanagh.
The Great Conserva-
ton Novel
CHAPTER XIX.

watch over Wetherford. aud
when one night the old man
- began To complain OF the
ache In his bones his decision was In.
slant.
You've got It," he said. It's up
10 us 10 move down the valley tomor.
row"
Wetherford protested that he would
ms soon die In the hills as In the val
ley. II don't want Lee Virginia To
know. but II l seem liable TO fade out
I'd like Lie TO be told that l didn't
forget her and that ! came back to
ind out how she was. hate TO be a
nuisance TO you. and so III 20 down
the valley II you say So"
As he was about " turn In that
night Ross heard horse cross the
bridge and. with intent TO warn the
rider Of his danger. went TO the door
aud called out: Halt Who's therof'
"A friend" replied the stranger IN a
weak voice.
Ross permitted the visitor TO ride up
90 the pole Il can't ask you In" he
explained i've sick man inside
Who are you. and what can ! do for
your
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 Greek"
Il know you" responded the ranger.
You're that Yancher ! saw working
In the ditch the day went TO tele
phone. and you've come TO tell me
something about that murder"
The other man broke into within
per. I'm n law abiding man. Mr. Cav
anagh." he began tremulously. I've
always kept the law and never intend.
cd 10 have anything To do with that
business. was dragged into II
against my viii. I've come TO you be-
cause you're an officer OF the federal
law. You don't belong here. ] trust
you. You represent the president. and
I want TO tell you what I know. only
] want you 10 promise not 10 bring me
into Il. I'm a man with n family, and
I can't bear 10 have them know the
tSth"
There were deep agitation and com.
plcto sincerity In the rnncher's choked
and hcsitant utterance, and Cavanagh
turned cold with premonition Of what
he was about 20 disclose. II am not
an officer OF the law. Mr. Dunn. not In
the sense you mean. but I will respect
your wishes"
Il know that you are not an officer
OF the county law. but you're not a
cattlcman. II Is your business 10 keep
the peace In the Wild country. and you
do Il. 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 I'll tell you. ] can't
bear IL any longerl" he walled. II
must tell somebody. I can't sleep. and
! can't eat I've been like a man In
a nightmare ever since. ! had no hand
In the killing-I didn't even see II done
but I knew II was going TO happen.
! saw the committee appointed. The
meeting that decided II was held In
my barn. but I didn't know what they
intended to do. You believe me. don't
. your He pcercd up at Cavanagh with
white face and wild eyes. I'm over
seventy years Of age. Mr.. Cavanagh.
and I've been . law abiding citizen all
my life"
His mind. shattered by the weight of
his CHASTITY secret, was in confusion,
and. percciving 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 be obtained also the list Of
those named on ''the committee Of re-