Putnam patriot., 1911-06-30

trail over the hlll'
 Cavanagh made civil answer and re- turned to his patient more than half convinced that Hartley was right. | The power of the press" might prove to be a very real force in this pursuit As the Journalist was about to mount his horse he discovered Lee Virginia on the other side of the creek. "Hellow said he T wonder what this pretty maiden means. And. dropping his bridle rein again, he walked down to the bridge
 Swenson interposed his tall figure. What do you wantY' he asked blunt ly. You don't want to get too close. You've been talking to the ranger" Hartley studied him coolly. Are you a ranger tooT
 No. only q guard"
 "Why are you leaving Cavanagh to play il alone in thereT
 Lee explained He won't let any of us come near him"
 quite right" retorted Hartley promptly They say smallpox has lost it's terrors. but when you're eight hours hard trail from a doctor or hospital it's still what I'd call for midabIe enemy However, Cavanagh's immune. so he says"
 We don't know that" Lee said. and her hands came together in spasm of fear. Are you a doetorF
 NO: I'm only q newspaper man, but I've had lot of experience with plaques of all sorts-had the yellow fever in Porto Rico and the typhoid in South Africa. that's why I'm out here ricochetting over the hills. But who are you. may I ask? You look like the rose of Sharon"
 My name is Lee Wetherford.' she answered. with childish directness, for there was something compelling in the mans voice and eyes. And this Is my mother" She indicated Lize. who was approaching.
 You are not out here for your health." he stated. rather tboughtful- ly. How happens it you're hereY .sI was born herein the Fork" His face remained expressionless .I don't believe it. Can such maidens i come out of Roaring Fork? Nit! But I don't mean that What are you 1 doing up here in this wildernessP
 IiZe took part in the conversation Another inspector?" she asked as she numbered up.
 That's me" he replied-"S Sherlock l Holmes, Yidocq. all rolled into one.
 My mother," again volunteered Lee. | uartley's eyes expressed incredulity. | but he did not put his feelings into | words, for he perceived in Lize type with which he was entirely familiar one to be handled with care. What are you two women doing here2 Are l you related to one of these ranSersF
 I.ize resented this. You're asking a good many questions. MT. Man | That's my trade" was the un- abashed reply. and Pm not so old but l that | can rise to u romantic situa- | ton" Thereupon he dropped all di- rect interrogation and with an air of 1 candor told the story of his mission Lize entirely sympathetic, Invited him 10 lunch, and he was soon in posses don of their story, even to the tender | relationship between Lee Virginia and he plague besieged forest ranger.
 We're not so nightly disinterest- l ed" he said. referring to his paper ''rhe Roundup represents the new west in part but to us the new west means opportunity to loot water sites and pile up unearned increment Oh. yes, we're on the side of the fruit and alfalfa grower. because 1t pays. If the boss of my paper happened to be in the sheep business, as Senator Blank | White is, we would sing different tune. or if were a congressman rep resenting district of cattlemen I'd be very slow about helping to build up Rny system that would make me pay for my grass As it is. I'm commis- stoned to make 1t hot for the ranch CTS that killed those dagoes and I'm going to do it. If this country had a man like Cayanagh for sheriff we'd have the murderers in two days. He knows who the butchers are, and I'd Ike his help But she's nailed down here. and there's no hope of his get
 ing away, X few men like him could l siyilize this country"
 | Thereupon he drew from three pairs of lips statement of the kind of man | Ross Cavauagh was. but most signif cant of all were the few words of the girl. 10 whom this man of the pad and pencil was magician, capable of ex nlunc her hero and 0f advancing light and civilization by the mere motion of his hand She liked him aud grew more and mere willing to eommuui- cate. and he, perreiviHg in her some. thing unusual. fingered on. question | ing Then he rose. Il must he going, he said to Lee You've given me a lovely afternoon"
 Lee Virginia was all too ignorant of the ways of reporters to resent his note taking. and she accepted his hand, believing him to be a sincere admirer of her ranger, What are you g0iag to dos1 she asked
 "tm going back 10 Sulphur to spread tbe report ef eaeanaeh's quarantine ? Again that meaning smile. T don't want any other newspaper men mixed l up in my same I'm Lonesome Ned in stunts Ike thIS and l hope if they do eome up you'll be judieiously silent 6oodby"
 CHATTER XXI. 1 wrsrnFReoRD PASSES IN