The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-02-26


MEN, n1gOLUTE AND READY TO ACT.
recognize In the leader young Gregg.
The other man was stranger, an old
er man, with q grizzled beard, and tall
and STOPPING figure.
''HellO. Joer' called the ranger.
You're astir earlyY'
The YOUTHS fat face remained imper-
turbable, but his eyes betrayed uneasi
ness. Yes, It's long pull into town"
'Been hunting?' queried the ranger.
st1ll with CHEEKY, polite interest
"Oh. no; just visiting one Of my
sheep camps"
Cavanagh's voice was little less
suave. mot on this creek" he de-
clared. Il moved your herder last
week" He walked forward. That's
q heavy load for a short trip to q
sheep camp" He put his hand on the
pack. II guess you'll have to open
this. FOR ! heard two shots yesterday
morning up where that dock Of noun
tain sheep is running, and, further
more, I can see blood stains on this
saddle blanket"
Gregg threw out Z hand In COM
mand. "Open It up. Edwardsr' he
said sullenly.
On came the outfit, and under the
tent lay the noble head Of a wild ram,
Z look Of reproach still in his splendid
yellow eyes.
Cavanagh's face hardened. Il
thought 50. Now heave Il back and
cinch up It's you to the nearest
magistrate, which happens to be Hig-
icy OF Roaring Fork. I'll make an ex-
ample Of you fellows"
There was nothing for Gregg to say
and nothing for Edwards to do but
obey. for 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-
nagh waved an imperative hand. II
guess TIL have to take charge Of your
guns" he said. and 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 a dismount.
As the coffee was boiling he lectured
them briefly. You fellows are not
entirely to blame" he remarked philo-
sophically. you've been educated to
think game warden q joke and Un-
Gle Sam long way OF. But things
have changed q bit. The law Of the
state has made me game warden. and
I'm going to show you how It works.
It's my duty to see that you 60 down
the road-and down you gov'
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 stranger in the country.
and this young fellow hired me to
guide him across the range. didn't
shoot a thing. I swear I didn't. If
you'll let me OF I'll hit the trail to
the west and never look back. Don't
take me down the road. Let me OIL"
81 can't do that" replied Cavanagh,
but his tone was kindlier, 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
This the culprit admitted "But ]
was working for Sam Gregg. and when
Joe asked me to 60 show him the trail
didn't expect to get cinched for kill
| ing game. didn't IRE shot-now
that's the truth"
Nevertheless" retorted Ross, "yor
were packing the head. and must
count you in the g;0ne."
Edwards fell silent then, but some
thing In his look deepened the ranger.
pity. His eyes were large and dark
and his face 50 emaciated that hs
seemed at only for a sanitarium.
| The trip to the Fork Nimed to thu
gait Of lazy pack horseA was tediou;
| eight hours march. and It was nearly
z o'clock when they arrived at the out
skirts Of the VILLAGE.
To the casual observer In q town o.
this character there was nothing spe
cially noticeable in three horsemeI
| driving a pack horse. but to thoS,
| whose eyes were keen the true rela
tionship of the ranger to his captive!
was instantly apparent and when the,
| alighted at Judge Higiey's Office /,
bunch Of eager observers quickly col
lected-
Hello, Joe! What luckT called Bal
lard.
| "Our luck was a little too good-w,
| caught a game warden" replied tn,
young scapegrace.
The ranger was chagrined to find tn
Office Of the justice closed for the da,
and. turning to his captives. said: ''I'n
hungry, and I've no doubt you are
I'm going to take you into Mike Hal
sey's saloon for supper. but remembe
you are my prisoners"
In fifteen minutes the town was rum
bling with the news. Under Ballard