Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-03-24


The sheriff spoke up THE criminal ,
part of IL 10 this. Mr. Daiton-Cava-
nagh didn't report the case when he
came down here, just when about leav
ing a trail of poison. Why didn't he
report IT? He should be arrested"
wait a moment" said Dalton per
haps II wasn't pox; perhaps il was only
mountain fever. Cavanagh is not the
kind of man to involve others in
pestilence. | reckon he knew 1t was
nothing but a fever. and. not wishing
to alarm his friends, he just slid into
town and out again"
A fash 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 u.s." And this conviction
lighted her face with a smile even
while the forester continued his sup
position by saying. "Of course proper
precautions should be taken. and as
we are going up there the supervisor
and | will see that quarantine is es-
tablished If we find 1t 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 be comes down here, injecting ev
erybody he meets" He turned to Lee
You'd better burn the bed he slept
on. He's left trail of germs wher
ever he went. | say the man is Grim.
inally liable and should be Jailed If
he lives to get back to town"
Lees mind was of now on another
tangent. Suppose 1t is truef" 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
got2 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 dOor2
He might have involved me in the dis
ease. l 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 It he did wrong, but you say
he took care of this poor shepherd
nursed 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 brave
man. You wouldn't have done it, he
ended, addressing Gregg sickness
up there two full miles above sea level
is quite different proposition from
sickness I'm Sulphur City or the Fork
shall not condemn Mr.. Cavanagh till
hear his side of the story"
Lee turned a grateful glance upon
him. "You must be right. don't be-
heve Mr.. Cavanagh would deceive any
one"
"Well, we'll soon know the truth"
said Dalton, "for I'm going up there,
If the ranger has been exposed he
must not be left alone"
HE amt alone" declared the sher-
ifr TON phoned me that he had an
assistant"
"Swenson. suppose" said Redfeld,
who entered at this moment. "Swen-
son is his assistant"
81 didn't see him myself" Gregg
continued, but | understood the dep.
uty to say that he was an old man"
"Swenson is a young man." correct
ed Redfeld.
The sheriff insisted. TON said 1t
was an old mana stranger to him
tall. smooth shaven, not very strong,
he said-'peared to be a cook. He had
helped nurse the dago, so Tom said"
THAT'S very curious" mused Red
field. There isn't an old man in the
service of this forest. There's a mis-
take somewhere"
WELL" concluded Gregg, that's
what he said. / thought at first 1t
might be that old hobo Edwards, but
this feller being in uniform and smooth
shaven"- His face changed; his
voice deepened. Say. believe it was
Edwards. and, furthermore. Edwards
is the convict that Texas marshal was
after the other day, and this man
Cavanagh-your prize ranger-is har-
boring him.
What nonsensev' exclaimed Red
field
The sheriff banged his hand upon
the table. That's the whole mystery.
l see 1t all now. He's up there con-
cealing this man. He's given out this
smallpox scare just to keep the off
GERS away from him. Now you've got
it,"
The thunder In his voice drew to-
ward him all those who remained in
the dining room, and Lee found her.
self ringed about by dozen excited
men, but she did not finch She was
too deeply concerned over Cavanagh's
fate to be afraid. and. besides, Red
field and the forester were beside her
The supervisor was staggered by
Gregg's accusation and by certain con-
firmatory facts in his own possession,
but he defended Cavanagh bravely.
you're crazy" he replied "Why
should Ross do such a foolish thing
What is his motive? What interest
would he have in this man Edwards,
whom you call a tramp? He can't he
relative and certainly not a friend
of Cavanagh's, for you say he is q
convict. Come, now, your hatred OF
Cavanagh has gone too far"
Gregg was somewhat cooled by this
dash of reason, but replied Il don't
know what relation he is, but these
are facts. He's concealing an escaped
convict and he knows II F"