Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-02-09
altar Of hate and greed.

All ABOUT on the sod the story was
written all too plain. Two men, pos
sibly three. had been murdered. cut to
pieces and burned not many hours be-
fore. There stood the bloody spade
with which the bodies had been dis
membered, and there lay an empty can
whose oil had been poured upon the
mingled camp utensils. tent and wagon
crate the hacked and dismembered
limbs Of the victims. The lawlessness
Of the range had eliminated. The
ferOcity Of the herder had gone beyond
the savage. Here in the sweet autumn
air the reek Of the cattleman's vengs-
ance rose like some hideous vapor,
poisonous ard ,bscene.
The ranger sickcned rs the bloody
tale unfolded itself before him. Then
fierce hate of such warfare famed
In his heart. Could this enormity be
dag? Would any other government In
termingle so foolishly. so childishly. its
state and federal authority as to per.
NIT such diabollsn?
In his horror. his sense OF revolt. he
cursed the state of which he was a
citizen. He would have resigned his
commission ut the moment. so intense
was his resentment OF the supine. care
less. jovial. slattern government under
which he was serving.
by the Lord" he brrathed. with
solemn intensity. iii this does not
shame the people Of this state into
| revolt, If these fiends are not hound
ed and hung. will myself harry them.
cannot live and do my duty here un-
| less this crime is avenged by law"
Chilled. shaking and numb. he set
spurs to his horse and rode furiouSly
| down the trail toward the nearest
town. SO eager to spread the alarm
| that he could scarcely breathe deep
breath. On the steep slopes he was
forced to walk. and his horse led so
badly that his agony OF impotence
was deepencd. He had vision Of the
murderers riding fast into far coun-
tries. Each hour made their appre-
hension progressively the more diff
cult.
who were they?" he asked himself
again and again. What kind of man
did this thing? Was the leader IL man
like Ballard? Even so. he was hired.
BY whom? BY ranchers covetous OF
the range; that was absolutely GER
tain"
1t was long after noon before he
came to the end Of the telephone line
In little store and postotfice at the
upper falls of Deer creek. The tele-
phone had booth fortunately, and he
soon had Redfield's ear. but his voice
was so strained and unns.ural that his
chief did not recognize it.
us that you. Ross? What's the mat.
ter? Your voice sounds hoarse."
Ross composed himself and told his
story briefly. Elm at Kettle Ranch
postoflice. Now listen. The limi. OF
the cattleman's ferocity has been
reached. AS I'rode down here to get
into communication with doctor for
sick heriler came upon the scene
Of another murder and burning. The
fire is still smoldering. At least two
bodies are in the embers."
At last, bit by bit. from hurried
speech, the supervisor derived the
fact, the location. the hour. and d.
rected the herder to ride back and
guard the remains till the sheriff ar
rived.
keep it dill quiet" warned Ross,
land get the sheriff and doctor to
come up here as. quick as you can.
What is this country coming to:" he
cried in despair. will this deed go
UNPUBLISHED like the rest?"
Redfield's voice had lost its optim;s-
tic ring. 81 don't know; am stun
ned by 1t oil. Don't do anything rash.
Ross. Wait till l come. Perhaps this
is the turning point out here. I'll be
up at the earliest moment"
The imbittered and disheartened
ranger then called up Lee Virginia,
and the sound Of her sweet voice turn
ed his thoughts TO other und In a
sense more important matters, for
when she heard his name she cried
out with such eager longing and ap-
peal that his heart leaped. ''Oh, wish
you were here! Mother has been worse
today. She is asking for you. Can't
you come down and see us? She wants
to tell you something"
81 can't-I can't!" he stammered. II
lin q long way of. and l have
important work to do. Tell her will
come tomorrow. Dear girl. there is
a sick man far up on the mountain
side with no one to care for him but q
poor old herder who Is in danger Of
falling sick himself. l must go back
to them; but, believe me, l will come
Just as soon as my duties will let me.
You understand me. don't you?"
Her voice was fainter as she said.
eyes. but lit seems hard to wait"
81 know. Your voice has helped me.
was In black mood when l came
here. I'm going back now to do my
work. and then I will come to you.
Goodby."
Strangely beautiful and very subtle
was the vibrant stir Of that wire as it
conveyed back to his ear the little sigh
with which she made answer to his
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