The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-03-18


Al last the sheriff spoke. this time
with Il sigh Il hope You're all wrong.
Cavanugh I'd hate 10 think any con.
stituent of mine had sanctioned this
job. Give ne that lantern. Curtis"
The group Of rnnchprS diSmuunted
and followed The sheriff over to the
| grewSOnc spot. but ltedtcld stayed
with the ranger
Have You any suspicion. RosS:"
mo. hardly suspicion However.
YOU know as well as | that this was
not sudden outbreak. This deed was
planned. II represents the feeling OF
many rittlcmrn in everything hnt the
extra hnrrur nf It's execution That
was thu work uf drunken. mfurintcd
men. llui | am more deeply concern
ed over Miss Wclhrrfords distress
Did she reach yuu 10y telephone to
nightT"
'No What's the troublr|
Her mother Is down again. tele.
phoned her. aud she asked me 20 come
10 her. hut ! cannot 20. for | have n
case of smallpox UP on the hill Am.
bro. the Basque herdpr. is down with
II, and another herder is mp there alone
with him. must 20 back TO them
But meanwhile | wish You would 20 10
the Fork and see what you can do for
| her"
His voice. filled with emotion. touch.
ed Rediield. and he said. Cant 20 to
the relief of the hprdcry"
mo; you must not think OF il. You
are man with II family. But II you
can find any one who has had the
smallpox send him up. The old hcrdcf
who is nursing the patient Is not strong
and may drop at any moment Then
it's mp to ne
! The men came back to the cqmpfirc
| conversing In low tones. some of then,
cursing in tones of awe. one or two
of them were small farmers from Deer
| Creek. recent cOmerS To the state. ~
men with lunches Of mix COWS. anC
10 them this deed was awesome.
the sheriff followed, saying, Well
there's nothing &c do but walt I'll
morning. The rest OF you men better
20 home. You can't be OF any use
| here"
For more than three hours the sher.
| iff and Rediield sat with the ranger.
waiting for daylight. aud during thk
time the name OF every man IN the rc.
| gion WAS brought up aud discussed
| Among others, Ross mentioned the old
man in the ditch
He wouldn't hurt bumhlphee." de
| clared the sherif He's got n bunch
Of cattle, but he's the mildeSt old man
In the state. He's the last rnncher IN
the country 10 even stand for such
work What made you mention himT
II passed him MS was riding back"
replied Cavaaugh, and he had scared
look in his eyes"
The sheriff grunted. "You imagined
all that The old chap always has a
kind of meek look"
1t was nearly noon of glorious day
as Cavanagh. very tired and very hun.
CRY. rode up TO the sheep herdcr'S tent
Wetherford wns sitting In the sun
calmly smoking his pipe, the sheer
were feeding not far away, ATTENDED
by the dog, and an air OF peace coyereu
his sunlit rocky world.
How is the Basquey" asked tn,
ranger.
Wetherford pointed upward. Al
over"
Then 1t wasn't smallpox
II reckon that's what it was; il
sure was fierce. | Judge it's Il cast
of lnjun burial-no cercmony-right
here In the rocks. I'll let you dig the
hole Q'm just about all In, but mind
you keep to the windward all the time
| don't want you spotted"
Cavanagb understood the necessity
for these precautions, but drst of all
came his own need of food and rest.
turning his tired horse to grass. he
stretched himself along Il grassy. sun
ny granny between the rocks and there
ate and AfterwaId slept. while ali about
him the lambs called aud the cunlcs
whined.
He was awakened by pebble tosse
upon hlm' ana when he arose. still uuG
sore, but feeling stronger aud In bet
ter temper the sun was wearing low
Setting to work al his task. he threw
the loose rock 0ut of hollow In the
ledge near by, aud tO this rude sepu
cher Wetherford dragged the dead
man. refusing all aid. and there piled
cairn of rocks above his grave.
The ranger took Il hand AT the end
ana rolled some huge powders upon
the grave to insure the wolves defeat.
Now burn the bedding" he com
manded. The whole camp has got Ia
go, and your clothing. too. after We
get down the hill"
What will We do with the sheepy
Drive them over the divide and
leave them"
All these things Wetherford did. and.
leaving the camp in ashes behind him.
Cayanagh drove the sheen before. him