Semi-weekly herald., 1911-03-06

them briefly. you fellows are not
entirely to blame" he remarked philo-
sophically. You've been educated to
think a game warden joke and Un-
Gle Sam u long way of. But things
have changed bit. The law of the
state has made me game warden. and
I'm going to show you how 1t works.
It's my duty to see that you go down
the road-and down you gor
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 thing. | swear 1 didn't. If
you'll let me off I'll hit the trail to
the west and never look back. Don't
take me down the rond. Let me offr'
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. "fou
knew you were breaking the laws,
didn't you?"
This the culprit admitted. But I
was working for Sam Gregg, and when
Joe asked me to go show him the trail
/ i didn't expect to get cinched for kill
ing game. didn't fire a shot-now
that's the truth"
Nevertheless" retorted Ross, you
were packing the head, and | must
count you in the game
Edwards fell silent then. but some
thing In his look deepened the rangers
pity. His eyes were large and dark.
and his face SO emaciated that he
seemed tit only for IA sanitarium.
The trip to the Fork uimed to the
gait OF lazy pack horse) was tedious
eight hours march, and 1t was nearly
o'clock when they arrived at the out
skirts of the village
To the casual observer In a town OF
this character there was nothing spe-
cially noticeable in three hcrsemcn
driving pack horse. but to those
whose eyes were keen the true rela-
tionship of the ranger to his captives
was instantly apparent, and when they
alighted at Judge Higley's office
VI tuStI oDStINtGS uulthly COZ
lected.
Hello. Joe! What luck?" called Bal
lard
Our luck was little too good-we
caught game warden" replied the
young scapegrace.
The ranger was chagrined to find the
office Of the justice closed for the day
and tnruIpu Ia 10
hungry, and I've no doubt you are.
I'm going to take you into Mike Hal
sey's saloon for supper, but remember
you are my prisoners
In fifteen minutes the town was rum
bling with the news. Under Ballard's
devilry all the latent hatred of the
ranger and all the concealed opposition
to the forest service came TO the sur
face like the scum on a pot of broth
The saloons and eating houses boiled
with indignant protest. What busi-
ness is it of Ross Cavanagh's?" they
demanded. what call has he to in
terfere? He's not game warden
Yes, he Is. All these rangers are
game wardens." corrected another.
mo, they're not They have to be
commissioned by the governor"
well. he's been commissioned. He's
warden all right
~ don't believe it. Anyhow, he's too
fresh. He needs to have n halt Let's
do him. Let's bluff him out"
Lee Virginia was in the kitchen su-
perintending the service when one of
the walters came in breathless with
excitement. Ross Cayanagh has shot
Joe Gregg for killing sheepr'
Lee faced her with blanched face.
who told you soi'
They're all talking about 1t out
there. Gee, but they're hotl Some of
'em want to lynch him"
Lee hurried out into the dining room,
which was crowded with men and
voicing deep excitement.
A half dozen men were standing be-
fore the counter talking with Lie. but
Lee pushed In to inquire with white,
inquiring face: What is 1t all about?
What has happened?"
Nothing much" Lie replied con-
temptuously, "but you'd think horse
had been stole. Ross has nipped Joe
Gregg and one of his herders for kill
ing mountain sheep"
DO you mean he shot themi'
"Yes; he took their heads"
Lee stood aghast. "What do you
mean? Whose headsT
Lie laughed. THE Sleeps heads.
oh. don't be scared! No one Is hurt
yet"
The girl flushed with confusion as
the men roared over her blunder. "One
Of the girls told me Mr.. Cavanagb had
killed man" she explained. Where
is he?"
Lie betrayed annoyance. "Tbey say
he's taking supper at Mike Halsey's,
though why he didn't come here
don't see. What's be going to dof"
she asked Wont the marshal take
the men of his handsf"
mot without warrant from Higley,
and Higley Is out of town. Ross ii
have to hold em till Higley gets back
or else take 'em over to Chauvenet."
Lie snorted. "Old Higley! Yes. he's
been known to disappear before when
there was some real work to be done"
Lee went back to her own task with
a vague sense OF alarm. Certainly
hax v.vtI ,at 20 int with N