Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-02-12


had to hold him TO his bed I'm glad
you've come It's lonesome up here.
Don't come too near, Set your tent
down there by the trees can't have
You infected. Keep clear OF me ana
this camp
"Ive got some food and some extra
clothing for YOU"
Put 'em down here, and IN the
morning drive these sheep away. That
noise disturbs the dago, and | don't
like It myself they sound lonesome
and helpless, That dog took EN- away
for awhile, but brought 'cm back
again. Poor devil, he don't know what
to think Of Il ALL"
Ross did as Wcthertord commanded
him TO do and withdrew little way
down the slope and without putting
up his tent rolled himself in his ban-
kets and went TO sleep.
Tho rangers first duty iu the morn
Ing was to feed the faithful collie and
TO send him forth with tho flock. His
next was TO build n fire and cook some
breakfast for Wetherford. ana as he
put 1t down beside the tent door he
heard the wild pleading Of the Basque.
who was struggling with his nurse,
doubtless in the belief that he was
being kept q prisoner Only few
words like "go home and Sheep
were Ineligible TO either the nurse or
the ranger.
Cavanagh waited I'll a silence came.
then called softly, Here's your break
fast, Wetherford."
Move away" retorted the man
within. Keep your distance"
Ross walked away little space,
and Wetherford came to the door.
THE dago is sure sick, There's no
two ways about that, How far Is it
TO the nearest doctorP
Il could reach one by phone from
the Kettle ranch, about twenty miles
below here"
"lf he don't get better today reck
ON Wen have to have Il doctor" He
looked so white and old that Caya-
nagh said:
"You need rest, Now, ] think I've
had the smallpox, | know I've been
yaccinated, and If you 20 to bed
III you're saying all that preliminary
TO offering to come in here you're
wasting your breath. ! don't intend
to let you come any nearer than you
are There is work for you TO do. Be
sides, there's my girl. You're detailed
to look after her.
"Woud a doctor Gomez asked Ross
quite huskily, moved by Wetherford's
words ITS hard climb. Would
they think the d0go worth it?'
Wetherford's face darkened with n
look Of doubt. 1T is hard trip for a
city man, but maybe he would come
for you-for the government
II doubt It, even If ! were to offer
my next months salary as fee.
These hills are very remote to the
townsfolk and one dago more or less
of no Importance but III see what /
can do
Ross was really more concerned for
Wetherford himself than for the
Basque, "If the fever is something
malignant we must have medical aid,
he said and went slowly back TO his
own camp TO ponder his puzzling prob.
lem.
one thing could certainly be done,
and that was 10 inform Gregg and
Murphy Of their herder's illness Sure
ly they would come TO the rescue Of
the collie and his flock, TO reach a
telephone Involved either a ride over
into Deer Creek or return to the
Fork, He was tempted to ride all the
way TO the Fork, for 10 do SO would
permit another meeting with Lee, But
TO do this would require many hours
longer, and half a days delay might
prove fatal to the Basque, and, be-
sides, each hour Of loneliness and toll
rendered Wetherford Just so much
more open to the deadly attack Of the
disease.
II was hard TO leave an old and
broken man In such a drear and wind
contested spot, and yet It had TO be
done; SO, fastening his tent securely
behind a clump Of jumpers, Cavanagh
mounted his horse and rode away
across the boundary Of the forest into
Deer Greek basin, which had been the
bone Of much contention for nearly
four years. IL had once been part Of
the forest, but under pressure the pres
ldent had permitted It to be restored TO
the public lands open for entry, It
was not agricultural grounds" as
certain ranchers claimed, but It was
excellent summer pasture, and the
sheepmen and cattlemen had leaped
az once into warfare TO possess t.
Sheep were beaten to death with clubs
by hundreds, herders were hustled out