The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-03-08


air the reek Of the cattleman's venge-
ance rose like some hideous vapor,
poisonous and obscene
The ranger sickened as the bloody
tale unfolded itself before him. Then
q fierce hate Of such warfare famed
In his heart. Could this enormity be
committed under any other civilized
hagf Would any other government In
termingle so foolishly. so childishly. its
state and federal authority as to per-
NIT such diabolism?
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, IF this does not
shame the people OF this state into
revolt. If these flends are not hound
ed and hung, VIII myself harry them.
/ cannot live and do my duty here I'M
less this crime is avenged by law"
Chilled. shaking and numb. he set
spurs to his horse and rode furiously
down the trail toward the nearest
town, so eager to spread the alarm
that he could scarcely breathe a deep
breath. On the steep slopes he was
forced to walk, and his horse led so
badly that his agony Of impatience
was deepened. He had vision OF the
murderers riding fast into far coun-
tries Each hour made their appre-
hension progressively the more dim
cult.
who were theyf" he asked himself
again and again. What kind of man
did this thing? Was the leader a man
like Ballard? Even so, he was hired
By whom? By ranchers covetous of
the range; that was absolutely GER
tain"
It was long after noon before he
came to the end Of the telephone line
In little store and postoffice at the
upper falls OF Deer creek. The. tele-
phone had booth fortunately, and he
soon had Redfleld's ear. but his voice
was so strained and unnatural that his
chief did not recognize It.
els that you. Ross? What's the mat
ter? Your voice sounds hoarse."
Ross composed himself and told his
story briefly. I'm at Kettle Ranch
postoffice. Now listen The limit of
the cattleman's ferocity hag 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 smoldering. 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 d.
rected the herder to ride back and
guard the remains till the sheriff ar
rived
Keep 1t all quiet" warned Ross,
'tand get the sheriff and a doctor to
come up here as quick as you can.
What Is this country coming tor he
cried In despair. 'swill this deed go
UNPUBLISHED like the restT'
Redfeld's voice had lost fits optimis-
dc ring. II don't know; I am stun
ned by 1t all DON'T do anything rash
Ross. Wait till I come. Perhaps this
is the turning point out here. I'll be
mp at the earliest moment"
The imbittered and disheartened
ranger then called up Lee Virginia.
and the sound of her sweet voice turn
ed his thoughts to other and in a
sense more important matters. for
when she heard hts name she cried
out with such eager longing and ap-
peal that his heart leaped. "Oh. I wish
you were here! Mother has been worse
today. She Is asking for you. Can't
you come down and see US? She wants
to tell you something"
ST can't can'tp' he stammered. 'T
lin a long way OF, and I have
important work to do. Tell her ] will
come tomorrow. Dear girl, there Is
a sick man far up on the mountain
side with no one to care for him but a
poor old herder who il in danger Of
falling sick himself. I must 60 back
to them; but, believe me, 1 Will come
Just as soon as my duties win let me.
You understand me, don't you?"
Her voice was fainter as she said.
Eyes, but lit seems hard to wait"
II know. Your voice has helped me-
was In a black mood when / came
here. I'm going back now to do my
work, and then I win come to you.
Goodby."
Strangely beautiful and very subtle
was the vibrant stir of that wire as it
conveyed back to bis ear the little sigh
with which she made answer to his
plea. He took his way upward in a
mood which was meditative, but NO
longer bitter.