The Delta independent., 1911-05-12

reached him by phone. and Cavanagb
admitted to us that the Basque died
of smallpox and that he buried him
with his own hands,"
The sheriff spoke up. ''The criminal
part of II IL this. MIR. Dalton-Caya-
nagh didn't report the case when he
came down here. just when about leav
ing a trail Of poison. Why didn't he
report 1t? He should be arrested"
wait a moment" said Dalton "Per
haps 1t wasn't pox: perhaps 1t was only
mountain fever. Cavanagh is not the
kind Of man to involve others in
pestilence. l reckon he knew 1t was
nothing hut a fever. and. not wishing
to alarm his friends. he just slid into
town and out again.
flash Of light. Of heat. of Joy. went
through Lees heart as she listened to
Dalton's defense of Cavanagh THAT
was the reason why he rode away"
she thought He was afraid Of bring
ing harm to u.s." And this conviction
lighted her face with smile even
while the forester continued his sup
position by saying. "Of course proper
precautions should be taken. and as
we are going up there the supervisor.
and will see that a quarantine is es-
tablished II we find 1t necessary"
Gregg was not satisfied "Cavanagh
admitted to the deputy and to me that
he believed the case to be smallpox
and said that he had destroyed the
camp and everything connected with
It except the horse and the dog. and
yet he comes down here. injecting ev
erybody he meets" He turned to Lee
You'd better burn the bed he slept
on. He's left tail of germs wi,er
ever he went. say the man Is Grim
inally liable and should be Jailed II
he lives to get back to town"
Lees mind was of now on another
tangent. Suppose 1t is true?" she
asked herself suppose he has fallen
sick away up there, miles and miles
from any nurse or doctor
There's something queer about the
whole business" pursued Gregg. For
instance. who is this assistant he's
got? Jobnson said there was an old
man in ranger uniform pottering round
Why didn't he send word by him?
Why did he let me come to the door:
He might have involved me in the dis
ease. | tell you, If you don't take care
of him the people of the county will"
The forester looked grave. IF he
knew 1t WAS smallpox and failed to
report 1t he did wrong. but you say
he took care of this poor shepherd
nursed him till he died and buried
him. taking all precautions. You can't
complain OF that. can you? That's
the act of good ranger and a brave
man. You wouldn't have done it," he
ended. addressing Gregg. Sickness
up there two full miles above sea level
is quite a different proposition from
sickness in Sulphur City or the Fork
l shall not condemn Mr. Cavanagh till
I hear his side of the story"
Lee turned grateful glance upen
him. You must be right l don't be-
lieve Mr.. Cavanagh would deceive any
one"
"Well. we'll soon know the truth"
said Dalton. for I'm going up there
II the ranger has been exposed he
must not be left alone"
HE amt Alone" declared the sher-
III. TON phoned me that he had an
assistant"
'swenson. suppose" said Redfield.
who entered at this moment "Swen-
son is his assistant
Il didn't see him myself" Gregg
continued. but I understood the dep
uty to say that he was an old man"
''Swenson Is a young man." correct
ed Redied
The sheriff insisted. TON said II
was an old mana stranger to him
tall. smooth shaven. not very strong.
he said-'peared to be a cook. He had
helped nurse the dago. so Tom said"
That's very curious" mused Red
field There isn't an old man In the
service of this forest There's mis-
take somewhere"
We'll" concluded Gregg. that's
what he said. thought at first It
might be that old hobo Edwards but
this feller being in uniform and smooth
shaven"- His face changed; his
voice deepened. Say. believe 1t was
Edwards and. Furthermore. Edwards
is the convict that Texas marshal was
after the other day. and this man
Cavanagh-your prize ranger-is har-
boring him.
field.
TIE sheriff banged his hand upon
the table That's the whole mystery
I see 1t all now. He's up there con-
cealing this man. He's given out this
smallpox scare Just to keep the ofi
GERS away from him. Now you've got
itw
The thunder in his voice drew to-
ward him all those who remained In
the dining room. and Lee found her
self ringed about by a dozen excited
men. but she did not finch She was