Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1911-03-23
By hAMLIN GARLAND
copyrishs. 1870. BY namlin Garland


yesterday" He grinned. Parties
came to their death by persons un-
known"
Lie scowled Its a wonder they
don't charge it up to Ross Cavanagh
or some other ranger"
THAT would be little too raw,
even for this country. They're all
feeling gay over this change in the for
estry head. But. see here. don't you
want to get out for ride? I've got
my new machine out here. 1t rides
like silk"
II reckon a hearse is about my
kind" she replied darkly. III you
could take me up to Cavanagh's cabln
I'd co. she added. II want to s.ss
him."
II can take you part way" he IN
stantly declared. But you'd have to
ride horse the last ten miles"
Couldn't do It, joe" she sighed.
"chese last few days I've been about
as homeless as an eel Funny the way
a fellow keeps going when he's got
something to do that has to be done.
I'll tell you what. If you want to take
me and Lee up to Sulphur I'll go you"
Sure thing. What day."
Not for day or two. I'm not quite
up to it just now. but by Saturday I'll
be saddlewise again"
Joe turned joyously to Lee. THAT
will be great! Won't you come out for
a spin this minute?''
For moment Lee was tempted.
Anything to get away from this horri-
BILE little den and the people who in
tested it was her feeling. but she dis
trusted Gregg, and she knew that ev-
cry eye in the town would be upon her
If she went, and besides. Ross might
return while she was away. mo; not
today" she replied finally, but her
voice was gentler than it had ever
been to him.
The young fellow was moved to ex-
plain his position to Lie. You don't
think much of me, and don't blame
you. l haven't been much use so far,
but I'm going to reform. If | had a
Shi tlhc Lice ISIlld " i've up " u
make great citizen. | don't lay my
arrest up against Cavanagh. I'm ready
to pass that by. And as for this other
business-this free range war in which
the old man is mixed up-I want you
| to know that I'm against it. Dad
knows his day is short; that's what
makes him SO hot. But he's bluff
| just fussy old bluff. He knows he
has no more right to the government
grass than anybody else, but he's GO
| ing to get ahead of the cattlemen If he
| can
Does he know who burned them
sheep herders?'
| "Of course he knows, but amt 60
| ing to say so. You see. that old
Basque who was killed was monopo-
list too. He went after that grass
without asking anybody's leave. More
over. he belonged to that Mexican
dago outfit that everybody hates. The
old man isn't crying over that job; it's
money in his pocket. All the same,
| it's too good chance to put the hooks
into the cattlemen hence his Offering
a reward, and it looks as if something
would really be done this time. They
say Neill Ballard was mixed up in it
and that old guy that showed me the
/ sheep. But l don't take much stock
in that. Whoever did it was paid by
| the cattlemen. sure thing" The young
fellows tone and bearing made ia
vorable impression upon Lie. She
had never seen this side of him, for
the reason that he had hitherto treat
ed her as a bartender She was acute
enough to understand that her social
status had changed along with her re-
lease from the cash register. and she
was slightly more reconciled, although
she could not see her way to provid-
ing living for herself and Lee. For
all these reasons she was unwontedly
civil to Joe and sent him away highly
elated with the success of his inter
view
Pm going to let him take us up to
Sulphur" she said to Lee. 81 want to
go to town.
Lee was silent, but keen pang ran
through her heart. for she perceived
In this remark by her mother tacit
acknowledgment of Ross Cavanag h's
desertion of them BOTH His invita-
ton to them to come and camp with
him was only polite momentary i'm
pulse. "Pm ready to co. she an
nounced at last. I'm tired of this
place. Let us go tomorrow"