The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-03-04

ofey., Tor a resolute ranger with an
excellent weapon Of the latest and
most approved angular pattern stood
ready to enforce his command and
when the pack was recinched Cava.
naRh waved an imperative hand. -
guess I'll have to take charge Of your
guns" he said. aud they yielded with
out word Of protest. NOW march,
Take the left hand trail"
A couple Of hours OF silent travel
brought them to the rangers cabin.
and there he ordered dlsmount.
As the coffee was boiling he lectured
them briefly. "yon fellows are not
entirely to blame" he remarked philo.
sophlcally. You've been educated to
think game warden q joke and I'm
Gle Sam a long way OF. But things
have changed bit The law of the
state has made me game warden. and
I'm going to show you how II works.
It's my duty to see that you go down
the road-and down you gop
Edwards, the guide was plainly
very uneasy and made several at
tempts to reach Cavanagh's private
ear and at last succeeded. 1--WE been
fooled into this he urged II was
hard up and a stranger in the country,
and this young fellow hired me to
guide him across the range. didn't
shoot a thing swear | didn't. II
you'll let me Off I'll hit the trail to
the west aud never look back. Don't
take me down the road Let me offw
II can't do that" replied Cavanagh,
but his tone was kindier, for he per-
ceived that the old fellow was thin,
hollow chested and poorly clad. "You
knew you were breaking the laws,
didn't your $500
This the culprit admitted. But I
was working for Sam Gregg. and when
Joe asked me to go show him the trail
didn't expect to get cinched for kill.
Ing game. didn't fire shot-now
that's the truth"
Nevertheless" retorted Ross, you
were packing the head. and / must
count you In the game"
Edwards fell silent then, but some
thing in his look deepened the rangers
pity. His eyes were large and dark
and his face so emaciated that he
seemed At only for sanitarium.
The trip to the Fork timed to the
gait OF a lazy pack horseI was a tedious
eight hours march. and 1t was nearly
o'clock when they arrived at the out.
skirts OF the village.
To the casual observer In q town OF
this character there was nothing spe.
cially noticeable In three horsemen
driving pack horse. but TO those
whose eyes were keen the true rela.
tionship Of the ranger to his captives
was instantly apparent. and when they
alighted at Judge Higey's office q
bunch of eager observers quickly col.
lected.
Hello. Joe! What luck?" called Bal
lard.
"Our luck was a little too good-we
caught game warden" replied the
young scapegrace.
The ranger was chagrined to find the
office Of the justice closed for the day
and. turning to his captives. said: I'm
hungry, and I've no doubt you are
I'm going to take you into Mike Hal
sey's saloon for supper. but remember
you are my prisoners"
In fifteen minutes the town was rum
bling with the news. Under. Billiards.
deyilry all the latent hatred of the
ranger and all the concealed opposition
to the forest service came to the sur.
| face. like the scum on pot OF broth
The saloons and eating houses boiled
with indignant protest. what bust
ness is II of Ross Cavanagh'sT they
demanded. what call has he to In,
terferel He's not game warden"
"Yes, he is. All these rangers are
game wardens." corrected another.
"No. they're not. They have to be
commissioned by the governor"
well. he's been commissioned. He's
warden all right" lf
~ don't believe 1t. Anyhow. he's toe
fresh. He needs to have a halt. Let's
do him. Let's bluff him out"
Lee Virginia was In the kitchen su
perintending the service when one OF
the walters came In breathless with
Excitement. "Ross Cavanagh has shoi
Joe Gregg for killing sheep!"
Lee faced her with blanched face
who told you so?"
They're all talking about 1t ou
there. Gee. but they're hot! Some Of
'em want to lynch him."
Lee hurried ont into the dining room
which was crowded with men and
voiclng deep excitement. ~
A half dozen men were standing be
fore the counter talking with Lie. but
Lee pushed in TO inquire with white
inquirlng- face: what Is 1t all about
What has happened?"
| Nothing much" Lie replied con
temptuously. "but you'd think horse
had been stole. Ross has nipped Joe
Gregg and one of his herders for kill
ing mountain sheep"
"Do you mean he shot them?"
| "Yes; he took their heads"
| Lee stood aghast. What do Vol
mean? Whose headsf"
| Lie laughed. "The sleeps heads
oh. don't be scared! No one Is hur
yeti
| The girl flushed with confusion a'
/ the men roared over her blunder. "On'