Putnam patriot., 1911-05-26

| when it comes 10 chOpping and burn ! ing men I get of shall personally | offer a reward of Sl 600 for the ap- ! prehension of these miscreants. and l | hope you'll make 1t your solemn duty | to hunt them to earth"
 You won't have far 10 go" remark | cd Ross significantly. What do you meanT' a-Ged the | sheriT
 "I mean this slaughter. like the oth- | CTS that have taken place. was the ] work Of cattlemen who claim this 1 range Their names are known to us ! all7
 | \ silence followed-so deep a silence that the ranger was convinced of the fact rhat in the circle of his listeners stood those who. if they had not shared iB tue slaughter. at least knew the names of the guilty men. ! Al last the sheriff spoke, this time with a sigh T hope you're all wrong. ! Caxanaeh. I'd hate 10 think any con ! sutuent of mine had sanctioned this 1 job Give me that lantern. Curtis" ! The group of ranchers dismounted | and followed The sheriff over 10 the grewsome spot. but Red6eld stayed 1 with the ranger
 Have you any suspicion, RossF'
 .'No. hardly suspicion. However. ] you know as well as l that this was uof q sudden outbreak This deed was l planned II represents The feeling of many cattlemen-in everything but the 1 extra horror of Its execution. That was the work of drunken. infuriated ! men But l am more deeply concern | cd over Miss Wetherford's distress ! Did she reach you by telephone to- HieHtE"
 No Whats the trouble?"
 Her mother is down again. l tele- ! phnncd her. and she asked ne to come ! to ber but cannot go. for have tase of smallpox up on the hill. Am lro. the Basqle herder. Is down with f. and another herder is up there alone with him must go back 10 them. 1 But meanwhile l wish you would go 10 the Fork and see what you can do for l her"
 His voice filled with emotion. touch l ed Redheld and be said. Cant l go to the relief of the herder?"
 No: you must not think of 1t. You sre man with a family But if you ,an find any one who has had the smallpox send him up The old herder who is nursing the patient is not strong and may drop 1t any moment. Then it's up to me"
 The men came back to the campfire eonversing in low tones. some Of them cursing in tones of awe One or two of them were small farmers from Deer Creek recent corners to the state. or men with punches of milk cows. and to them this deed was awesome. The sheriff followed, saying: Well. there's nothing 10 do but walt tili morning The rest of you men better 20 hone. You can't be of any use here"
 For more than three hours the sher- if and Redfeld sat with the ranger, waiting for daylight. and during this time the name of every man in the re gion was brought up and discussed. Among others, Ross mentioned the old man in the ditch
 'He wouldn't hurt bumblebee." de clared the sheriff. Hes got bunch If cattle. but he's the mildest old man in the state. He's the last rancher in the country to even stand for such work What made you mention himT | "I passed him as was riding back" replied Cavanagh. and he had a scared look in his eyes"
 The sheriff grunted '.You imagined all that The old chap always has kind of meek look"
 II was nearly noon of a glorious day as Cavanagh. very tired and very hun gry rode up to the sheep herder's tent. Wetherford was sitting in the sun calmly smoking his pipe the sheep were feeding not far away. attended | by the dog. and an air of peace covered his suutit rocky world.
 "IIow is the Bnsque2" asked the ranger
 Wetherford pointed upward. All over"
 Then 1t wasn't smallpoXF'
 Il reckon that's what t was; il sure was fierce judge it's case of lnJuu buriaI-no ceremony right here iii the rocks. I'll let you dig the hole u'm just about ali ini. but mind you keep to the wiudward all the time | don't want you spotted
 Cavauugh understood the necessity for these precautions, but first of ail came his own need of food and rest Turning his tired horse 10 grass, he stretched himself along grassy. sun ny crauny between the rocks and there ate and afterward slept, while all about him the lambs called and the comics whined
 He was awakened by pebble tossed upon him. and ~ hen he arose. stiff and sore but feeling stronger and in bet ter temper tue sun was wearing low Setting to work at his task. he threw the loose rock out of hollow in the ledge near by. aud to this rude sepul- cher Wetherford dragged the dead man. refusing all aid. and there piled cairn of rocks above his grave.
 The ranger took hand at the end and rolled some huge powders upon the grave to Insure the wolves defeat,
 "Now burn the bedding" he com handed. The whole camp has got 10 go, aud your clothing. too. after We get down the hill
 What will We do with the sheepf''
 Drive them over the divide and leave them.
 All these things Wetherford did. and. leaving the camp in ashes behind him.