The Marshall republican., 1911-06-23
Cavanagh,
Forest
Ranger
The Great Conservation
Novel
BY HAMLlN GARLAND
cop,rsh,. 1910. by Hsmiin csnsnd
BY HAMLIN GARLAND
cop,hsh,. 1910. By H.mIin o.n.nd
CHAPTER XVII.
cAvASAoH's LAST VIGIL BEGINS.

hVthtNatu tut tHbktt rttftu~
ed his heart and found IL bit.
ter and disloyal. Love had
interfered with duty, and pride had
checked and defeated love. His path.
no longer clear and definite, looped
away aimlessly, lost in vague, obscure
meanderings. Ills world had suddenly
grown gray. lie bod no trade, no bust.
ness, no special skill a v in the ways
OF the mountaipeer, and 70 return 10
his ancestral home In England Mt the
moment seemed a woeful confession OF
failure.
II was again dusk as he rode up TO
his W hitcbing pole and slipped from
the saddle.
wetherford came out. indicating by
his manner that he had recovered his
confidence once more. "How did you
find things In the Valley" he inquired
as they walkc' away toward the cor.
raj.
Bad" responded the ranger.
ain what wayf'
"The chief has been dismissed. AMI
all the rascals are chuckling with glee.
I've resigned from the service"
wctherford was nghast. "what forf"
II will not serve under any other
chief. The best thing for you TO do
In TO 20 out when I do. I think by
keeping on that uniform you can get
10 the train with me-"
"Did you see Lie and my girlY'
mo: I only remained In town n min
ute. II was too hot for ne. I'm done
18th a. ur.sh.~(Al IT,. ..xl.- A..a.
to civilization. No more wild west for
me-" The bitterness Of his voice touch
ed the older mans heart. but he con
sidered II merely a mood.
"Don't lose your nerve. Mebbe this
ends the reign Of terror"
Nothing will end the moral shift.
lcssness OF this country but the death
OF the freebooter. That Job was done
by men who hated the dagoes-hated
'em because they were rival claimants
for the range It's nonsense 10 at.
tempt to fasten II on men like NELL
Ballard. The men who did that piece
Of work are well known stock own
ers."
~ reckon that's So"
"Well. now. who's going 20 convict
themf can't do Il. I'm going TO pull
out as Don as I can put my books In
shape. and you'd better 20 too"
They were standing at the gate OF
the corral. and the roar OF the noun.
tain stream envelopcd them In q cloud
OF sound.
wetherford spoke slowly: ~ hate TO
lose my girl now that I've seen her.
but ] guess you're right And Lie.
poor old c%ritter! It's a shame the way
I've queered her life, and I'd give my
right arm 10 be where ! was twelve
years ago. but with q price on my head
end old age coming on I don't see my.
self ever again. getting up to par. It's
. losing game for me now"
There was resignation as well rs
despair In his voice. and Cavanagh felt
Il, but he said: There's one other ques-
ton that may come up for decision. II
that Basque died Of smallpox you may
possibly take It,"
"I've figured ON that, but It win take
day or two to show o me. don't
feel any ache In my bones yet. II !
do come down you keep away from
me. You've got to live and take a
Of Virginia"
"she should never have returned 10
this accursed country" Cavanagh
harshly replied, starting back toward
the cabin.
The constable. smoking his pipe be-
side the fireplace, did not present an
anxious face. On the contrary, he
seemed plumply content as he replied
TO the rangers greeting. He repre-
scented very well the type Of officer
which these disorderly communities
produce. Brave and tireless when
working along the line Of his preJu-
ldices, he could be most laxly inefficient
when his duties cut across his W or
his neighbours interests. Being a cat
tleman by training, he was glad Of the
red herring which the Texas officer
had trailed across the line Of bis pur'
suit.
This attitude still further innamed
Cavanngh's indignant hate Of the coun
try. The theory which the deputy de-
veloped was transparent folly. 1T was
! Just a cas- OF plain robbery" he ar
gued. "One Of them dagoes had mon
ey. and NELL Ballard and that man Ed
wards just naturally follcred him and
killed the whole bunch and scooted
That's my guess"
An hour later the sound Of q horses
hoofs on tho bridge gave warning of q
visltor and a. cavanagh went to ths
door 0regK rode up. seeking pQrticul
sa~s 49, ~ sho aoAkh - ana hAs<1>s ~