The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-02-22
CHAPTER XXI.
wETHERFoKD PASSES ON.

anaEh called to SWensOn: Ihe old man can't last through A another such night as last ! night was, and I wish you would per suade Mrs. wetherford and her daugh-
 ter to return to the valley. They can
 do nothing here-absolutely nothing. Please say that" Swenson repeated his commands l with all the emphasis he could give | them, but neither Lize nor Lee would consent to go. "It would be heathen- ish to leave him alone in this lonesome
 hole." protested Lize.
 "I shall stay till he is free." added Lee And with uneasy heart she
 crossed the bridge and walked on and
 on toward the cabin till she was close ! enough to detect the lines of care on
 her lovers haggard face. 'Stop!' he called sharply. Keep I away. Why don't you obey me? Why
 don't you go back to the valley?" Because l will not leave you alone
 I can'tl Please let me stayr' q beg of you go back" The roar of the stream made it nee | essary to speak loudly. and he could not put into his voice the tenderness | he felt at the moment. but his face was knotted with pain as he asked.
 ~.Den't you see you add to my uneasi- ness-my pain?"
 "We're so anxious about you." she answered "It aeems as though we should be doing something to help you"
 He understood and was grateful for the tenderness which brought her so near to him. but he was forced to be stern
 "There is nothing you can do-noth- ing more than you are doing. 1t helps me to know that you are here, but | you must not cross the bridge. Please go backr' There was pleading as well | as command in his voice. and with a realization of the passion his voice
 conveyed she retraced her steps. her
 heart beating quickly with the joy I which his words conveyed. At sunset Redfieid returned. bringing l with him medicine. but no nurse No I body will come up here." he said. "I reckon Ross Is doomed to fight it out alone. The solitude, the long trail.
 scares the bravest of them away.
 tried and tried-ho use. Eleanor would have come. of course-demanded to
 come--but I would not permit that She commissioned me to bring you
 both down to the ranch" Lee Virginia thanked him. but reit. erated her wish to stay until all pos l sible danger to Cavanagh was over RedfeId crossed the bridge and laid l the medicines down outside the door 'The nurse from Sulphur refused to
 come when she found that her patient was in a mountain cabin. I'm sorry. ] old man. did the best could" "Never mird.' replied Cavanagh. "I'm still free from any touch of 1 fever. I'm tired. of course. but good
 for another night of it. My main anx- iety concerns Lee. Get her to go ! home with you If you can" ''I'll do the best l can" responded
 Redfeid, but meanwhile you must | not think of getting out of the forest service. have some cheering news
 for you. The president has put a
 good man into the chiefs place." cavanagh's face lighted up. "That'n
 help some." be exclaimed. "But who's the man?"
 Redfield uamed him. "He was a
 student under the chief. and the chief
 says hSs all right. which satisfies me Furthermore. he's a real forester and
 not political jobber or a corporation
 attorney"
 That's good" repeated Cavanagh.
 ''and yet" he said sadly. 'it leaves the | chief out just the same" 'No; the chief Is not out. He's where he can fight for the idea to bet ter advantage than when he was a subordinate under another man. Any.
 how. be asks us all to line up for the work and not to mind him. The work.
 he says. Is bigger than any man.
 Here's that resignation of yours," he
 said. taking Cavanaghs letter from his pocket. 'I didn't put it on fIe 1 What shall l do with it?' "Throw it to me-" said Cavanagh
 curtly.
 Redfield tossed 1t over the hitching pole, and Ross took 1t up. looked at il | for moment in silence. then tore it into bits and threw 1t on the ground. What are your orders. MT. Super visor?" he asked. with faint, qui1zi ! cal smile abound his eyes. There's nothing you can do but l 6ake care of this man. But as soon as you are able to ride again I've got 1 some special work for you. I want you to join with young Bingham. the ranger on Rock creek. and line up thr Triangle cattle. Murphy Is reported | to have thrown on the forest nearly thousand head more than his permi. ! calls for. want you to see abou, l that. Then complete your maps SC that I can turn them in on the 1st of November and about the middle of | December you are to IaAe charge of this forest in my stead. Eleanor has | decided to take the children abroad for a couple of years, and as l am to
 be over there part of the time don't ! feel justified in holding down the su- I pcrvisor's position. shall resign in your favor. Wait nowv he called warningly. "The district forester snd I framed all this up as we rode down
 the hill yesterday. and 1t goes. Oh. yes. there's one thing more. Old ,man | Dunn"-
 ''I know"
 dfA pn,s loor