Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-02-21


N AsSsN
HE BROKE DOWN ALTOGETHER N soDBR
BITTERLY.
prisal,' and as the broken man deliy-
cred himself Of these accusing facts
he grew calmer. II didn't know--I
couldn't ~believe-that the men on that
committee could chop and burn His
utterance failed him again, and he fell
silent abruptly.
"They must have been drunk-mad
drunk retorted Cavanagh. "And yet
who would believe that even drink
could infiame white men to such devils
work? When did you first know what
had been done7'
THAT night after 1t was done one of
the men, my neighbor, who was drawn
on the committee, came to my house
and asked me to give him q bed. He
vas afraid to- go home. Il can't face
my wife and children he said. He
told me what he'd seen, and then
when I remembered that it had all
been decided in my stable and the
committee appointed there | began to
tremble. You believe Pm telling the
truth. don't your" he again asked, with
piteous accent.
Eyes, 1 believe you. You mast tell
this story to the Judge. 1t will end
the reign Of the cattlemen."
ooh, no; | can't do that"
"you must do that. 1t Is your duty
as a Christian man and citizen
mo. no; I'll stay and help you'll
DO anything but Mat, I'm afraid to
teil what | know. They would burn
me alive. I'm not a western man..
I've never been In a criminal court. !
don't belong to this wild country. ]
came out here because my daughter Is
not strong, and now He broke
down altogether and, leaning against
his horses side, sobbed pitifully.
Cavanagh, convinced that the old
mans mind was TOO deeply affected TO
enable him to find his way back over
him gently. "Ill get you something to
eat" he said. "Sit down here and
rest and compose yourself"
Wetherford turned a wild eye on the
ranger as he re-entered. sWho's out
there?" he asked. SIS it the marshal?'
mo; it's only n of the ranchers
from below. He's tired and hungry,
and I'm going to feed him. Ross re-
piled, filed with q vivid sense Of the
diverse characters of the two men he
was serving.
Dunn received the food with an eager
hand, and after he had finished his re-
freshment Cavanagh remarked: 1.-THE
whole country should be obliged to
you for your visit to me. / shall send
your information to Supervisor Red
field"
Don't use my name,'' he begged.
"They viii kill me If they find out
that I have told. We were all sworn
to secrecy, and IL l had not seen that
fire, that pile of bodies
~ know, / knowi It Mortified me.
1t made me doubt humanity respond
ed Cavanagh. I'VE OF the north cry
out against the south for its lynchings,
but here under our eyes goes on an
equally horrible display OF rage over
the mere question of temporary ad-
vantage, over the appropriation of
free grass, which Is a federal sourc
-something which belongs neither to
one claimant nor to the other, but to
the people, and should be of value to
the people, You must bring these men
to punishment"
Dunn could only shiyer In his horror
and repeat his fear. They'll kill nae
Il L do"
Cavanagh at last said: "You must
not attempt to ride back tonight.
can't give you lodging in the cabin
because my patient Is sick OF small
pox, but you can camp In the barn till
morning, then ride straight back to
my friend Redfeld and tell him what
you've told me. He will see that you
are protected. Make your deposition
and leave tho country IL you are afraid
to remain
In the end the mncher promised to
do this, but bis tone was that OF a bro
ken and ~distfaught dotard. All the
landmarks Of his life seemed suddenly
shifted.
Meanwhile che suffersngs Of Wether
ford were increasing, and Cavanagh
was forced to give up all hope OF get
ting him down the trail next morn
ing. and when swenson, the forest
guard from the South Fork. knocked
at the door to say that he had been Il
the valley and that the doctor wa
coming up with Redfeld and the dis
trict forester Ross thanked him, bur
ordered him to go into camp across
the river and TO warn everybody d
keep clear Of the cabin. Put YOU
packages down outside the door," h
added, and take charge OF the situa
ton on the outside. I'll take care Q