The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-02-20
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 He seemeu very bitter over the chiefs dismissal. But hope to per suade him to stay in the service. He's too valuable a man to lose just now, when the war is so hot. I realize that his salary is too small. But there are other places for him. Perhaps when he knows that I have a special note to him from the chief he will recon sider He's quite capable of the su- pervisor's position, and MT. Redfield is willing to resign in his favor. I'm telling you all this because MT. Red field has told me of your interest in NIT. Cavanagh, or, rather, his interest in you"
 Sam Gregg, entering the door at this moment, came directly to the forest CTS table. He was followed by the sheriff, bearded old man with a soil ed collar and dim eye.
 Gregg growled out, You'd better keep your man Cavanagh in the hills, NIT. Forester, or somebody will take a pot shot at him."
 "Why, what's newT
 His assistant is down with small pox."
 @Smallpoxw exclaimed Dalton.
 Every jaw was fixed and avery eye turned upon the speaker.
 'SmaIlpoxw gasped Lee.
 Gregg resumed, enjoying the sensa ton he was creating. "Yes, that Basque herder of mine, the one up near Black Tooth, sent word he was sick, so hunted up an old tramp by the name of Edwards to take his place. Edwards found the dago dying of pox and skipped out over the range, leav- ing him to die alone. Cavanagh went up and found the dago dead and took care of him Result is he's full of germs and has brought his apprentice down with it, and both of lem must be quarantined right where they are"
 Good heavens, man," exclaimed Dalton. "this is serious business! Are you sure it's smaIlpoxr s. "One of my men came from there last night. I was there myself on Monday; so was the deputy. The sher- in missed Tom this morning, but I reached him by phone, and lCayanagh admitted to us that the Basque died of smallpox and that he buried him with his own hands" The sheriff spoke up. "The criminal part of it is this, MT. DaltonACava- nagh didn't report the case when he came down here, just when about leav- ing trail of poison. Why didn't he report if? He should be arrested"
 "Wait moment" said Dalton Per haps it wasn't pox; perhaps it was only mountain fever Cayanagh is not the kind of man to involve others in a pestilence. I reckon he knew it was nothing but a fever, and, not wishing to alarm his friends, he just slid into town and out again" - a- A flash of light, of heat, of joy, went through Lees heart as she listened to Dalton's defense of Cavanagh. That was the reason why he rode away" she thought He was afraid of bring ing harm to us." And this conviction lighted her face with a smile even while the forester continued his SUD- position by saying, "Of course proper precautions should be taken. and as we are going up there the supervisor and I will see that a quarantine is es- tabiished if we find it necessary"
 Gregg was not satisfied. "Cavanagh admitted to the deputy and to me that he believed the case to be smallpox and said that he had destroyed the camp and everything connected with 1t except the horse and the dog, and yet he comes down here, infecting ev- erybody he meets" He turned to Lee. You'd better burn the bed he slept on- He's left a trail of germs wher- ever he went. I say the man is crim- inalfy liable and should be jailed If he lives to get back to town"
 Lees mind was of now on another tangent Suppose 1t is true" she asked herself. Suppose he has fallen sick away up there, miles and miles from any nurse or doctor"-
 There's something queer about the whole business" pursued Gregg. "For instance, who is this assistant he's got? Johnson said there was an old man in ranger uniform pottering round. Why didn't he send word by him Why did he let me come to the door He might have involved me in the dis ease I tell you, if you don't take care of him the people of the county will"
 The forester looked grave. "If he knew 1t was smallpox and failed to report 1t he did wrong, but you say he took care of this poor shepherd nnrsed him till he died and buried him, taking all precautions. You can't complain of that, can you? That's the act of good ranger and a brave man. You wouldn't have done itr' he ended, addressing Gregg. Sickness up there two full miles above sea level is quite a different proposition from sickness in Sulphur City or the Fork. shall not condemn MT. Cavanagh till hear his side of the story"
 Lee turned a grateful glance upon him. "You must be right. l don't be- heve MT. Cavanagh would deceive any one"
 -well, we'll soon know the truth D said Dalton, flor I'm going up there. If the ranger has been exposed he mnst not be left alone
 He ain't alone" declared the sher- in- Tom phoned me that he had an assistant"
 Stevenson, I suppose" said Redfield who entered at this moment. "Swen- son is his assistant"
 'T didn't see him myself" Gregg