Evening times-Republican., 1911-02-07
CHAPTER XIII.
OxlzA1 4 IZXS AA111s
fHE OLD nHEEP HERDER.

= went across the hall to her
mothers room, and 4 poment later he
heard the low murmuf Of her voice.
Throwing on his blankets and making
such scant toilet as he needed. he
stepped into the hall and waited for
her to return.
Soon she came toward him. q smile
Of confidence and pleasure on her lips.
| "How Ia she?" he asked.
"Quite comfortable"
"And you?" His voice was very ten
der.
II am a little tired" she acknowl-
edged. II didn't sleep very we'll"
| "You didn't sleep ut ALL" he declared
regretfully.
"Oh, yes. I did," she replied brightly.
These two ardent souls confronted
each other in absorbed silence with
keener perception, with new daring.
with new intimacy, till he recalled
himself with effort. "You must let me
help you If there's anything can do
| Remember, I'm your big brother"
II remember" she answered smiling
", land I'm going out to see what my
big brother is to have for breakfast"
Cavanagh found the street empty,
silent and utterly commonplace. He
went forth to his duties with deep
ened conviction of the essential law
lessness Of the state and of America In
general, for this spirit Of mob law
was to be found in some form through
out the land. He was disgusted. but
not beaten. His resolution to carry out
the terms Of his contract with the
| government remained unshaken.
He carried with him also a dnal
disturbing glimpse Of Eliza Wether-
ford's girl that did indeed threaten his
peace Of mind. There was an invol-
untary appeal, a wistful depth. to her
glance which awakened in him an in
dignant pity and also blew into fame
something not 80 reditable-s0mo-
thing which smoldered beneath his
conscious win. She had not escaped
her heritage Of passion, and her
2lances, innocent as they were. reused
even In him something lawless.
His pony plodded slowly, and the
afternoon was half spent before he
came In sight Of the long. low log cab
in which was the only home he pos
sessed in all America. For the first
time since he built It the station SEEM
ed lonely and disheartening. would
any woman for love Of me come to
such q hearthstoneY he asked him
self. "And If she consented to do so
could be SO selfish as to exact such
sacrifice? No; the forest ranger in
these attitudes must be young and
heart free; otherwise his life would be
miserably solitary"
He was just dishing out his rude
supper when the feet of a horse on
the log bridge announced visitor.
With a feeling Of pleasure as well
as relief he rose to greet the stranger.
"Any visitor Is welcome this night"
he said.
The horseman proved to be his for
mer prisoner. the old man Edwards.
who slipped from his saddle with the
never failing grace Of the COW man
and came slowly toward the cabin.
He smiled wearily as he said: I'm on
your TRAIL Mr.. Ranger. but bear no
malice. You were doing your duty.
Can you tell me how far it Is to Am
bros campo"
There was something forlorn In the
mans attitude, and Cavanagh's heart
softe2ed. Turn your horse into the
corral and come to supper he COM
manded with western bluntness.
"We'n talk about all that later"
Edwards accepted his hospitality
without hesitation. "I'm going up to
take Ambro's place." he began after a
few minutes of silent eating. Know
wnere his camp is!''
II do." replied Ross. to whom the
stranger now appeared in pathetic
guise. "Any man Of his age consent
ing to herd sheep 10 surely hard hit by
the rough hand Of tie world" he rea-
soned. and the closer he studied his
visitor the palmer he felt his ungov-
erned past.
II suppose Gregg paid your flne?" he
said.
"Yes."
"1n any other town in the state you'd
have gone down the line"
He reused himself "See here, Mr..
Ranger, you've no warrant to believe
me, but told you the truth. Young
Gregg got me to ride into the range
and show him the trail. didn't in
tend to get mixed up with game
warden. I've had all the confinement
/ need"
'Well. it's a closed incident now"
interposed Ross. I'VE won't reopen 1t.
Make yourself at home"
The stranger, hungry as he was, ate
with unexpected gentility. and as the
hot coffee sent its cheerful glow
through his body he asked, with liven-
ing interest, good many questions
about the ranger and the forest service.
''You fellers have to be all round men.
The cowboys think you have snap.
but guess you earn your money"
"A man that builds trails, lays
bridges. burns brush, fights fire, rides
the roundup and covers seventy.fye
miles Of tran every week on $50 per
month and feeds himself and his
horses isn't what I would call enjoy
Ing soft snap"
What do ron do II for7.
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