Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-02-10

Al they rode up to the fire the officer
called out: "Howdy, ranger? How
about it?''
Ross stated briefly, succinctly. what
he had discovered. and as he talked
other riders came up the hill and gath.
cred closely around to listen in word.
less silence-in guilty silence, the
ranger could not help believing.
Retfeld spoke. "shcrinr Van Horne.
you and have been running cattle In
this country for nearly thirty years.
and we've witnessed all kinds Of shoot
ing and several kinds Of hanging. but
when 1t comes to chopping and burn
Ing men I get of. shall personally
offer q reward Of $1,000 for the up.
prehension of these miscreants. and l
hope you'll make 1t your solemn duty
to hunt them. to EARTH
'You won't have far to CO." remark
ed Ross significantly.
what do you meanT asked the
sheriff.
II mean this slaughter. like the 9th
ers that have taken place, was the
| work of cattlemen who claim this
range. Their names are known to US
all"
A silence f0llowed-so deep q silence
! that the ranger was convinced of the
fact that in the circle of his listeners
| stood those who. IL they had not
shared in the slaughter. at least knew
the names Of the guilty men.
At last the sheriff spoke. this time
with a sigh. Il hope you're all wrong.
Cavanagh. I'd hate to think any con-
stituent Of mine had sanctioned this:
job. Give me that lantern, Curtis"
The group Of ranchers dismounted
Erewsome spot, but Reddeld stayed
with the ranger.
"Have you any suspicion. Ross?"
'cNo. hardly a suspicion. However.
you know az well as that this was
not sudden outbreak. This deed was
planned. It represents the feeling Of
many cattlemen-in everything but the
extra horror Of its execution. That
was the work Of drunken. infuriated
men. But am more deeply concern
ed over Miss Wetherford's distress.
Did she reach you BY telephone to-
nightT
ANVs w UoS = NAS 4VOUACS
Tier mother Is down again. tele-
phoned her. and she asked me to come
to her. but cannot 80, for I have =
case Of smallpox up on tho hill. Am
bro, the Basque heFder, Is down with
It, and another herder IL up there alone
With him. must 60 back to them.
But meanwhile I wish you would 90 to
the Fork and see Whist you can do for
herr
His voice, filled with emotion. touch.
ed Redneld. and he said. Cant 60 to
the relief Of the herderr'
"No: you must not think Of it. You
are man with . family. But II you
can ind any one who has had tho
smallpox send him up. Tho 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
conversing IN low tones, some Of them
cursing in tones Of awe. One or two
Of them were small farmers from Deer
Greek, recent Corners to the state. Of
men with punches Of milk cows. and
70 them this deed was awesome.
The sheriff followed, saying: "Well.
there's nothing to do but wait TIL
morning. The rest Of you men better
60 home. You can't be Of any use
here"
For more than three hours the sher-
III and Redfield 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 othera, Ross mentioned the old
man in the ditch.
"He wouldn't hurt bumblebee," de-
clared the sheriff. ''He's got bunch
Of 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 hint"
II passed him as was riding back"
replied Cavanagh. ''and he had q scared
look in his eyes,"
The sheriff grunted. "You imagined
all that. The old chap always has .
kind Of meek look"
It was nearly noon Of q glorious day
as Cavanagh. very tired and very hum
Cry. rode up to the sheep herders 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 sunut rocky world.
How Il the BasQue?" asked the
ranger.
.Wetherford pointed upward. "An
over"
Then It wasn't smallpox"
II reckon that's what It was; It
sure was fierce. judge it's . case
Of lnjun burtal-no ceremony-right
here In the rocks. Ill let you dig the
hole U'm just about all in). but mind
you keep to the w1ndward all the time.
! don't want you spotted"
Cavanagh 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 grassy, sun.
ny Granny between the rocks and there
ate and afterwara slept, while III about
him the lambs called and the comics
whined.