The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-02-18

sign after promising to come" She
buried her face in the coverlet of hei
mothers bed and wept in childish grief
and despair.
Lie was forced to acknowledge that
the rangers action was inexplicable
but she did her best to make light OF
1t. HE may have hurried to town Oh
spare. These are exciting days fO,
him, remember. He'll be in tomorrow
sure.''
With a faint hope of this the CIR
rose and went about her daily tasks
but the day passed and another with
out word or sign of the recreant lover
and each day brought deeper sense
OF loss. but her pride would not per
NIT her to show her grief
Young Gregg. without knowing in the
least the cause of her troubled face
took this occasion to offer comfort
His manner toward her had changed
since she no longer had a part in the
management, of the eating house. and
for that reason she did not repulse him
as sharply as she had been wont to
do. He really bore Cavanagh no iii
win and was, indeed, shrewd enough
to understand that Lee admired the
ranger and that his own courtship was
rather hopeless. Nevertheless he per-
sisted. his respect for her growing as
he found her steadfast in her refusal
to permit any familiarity.
"See here. Miss Virginia." he cried
as she was passing him in the hall, 81
can see you're worried about Lize-I
mean your mother-and if / can be
of any use I hope you'll call on me-"
As she thanked him without enthusi-
asm he added, Glow isashe tonightT
81 think she's better"
"Can see her?'
His tone was SO earnest that the girl
was moved to say, I'll ask her."
II wish you would. I want to say
something to her.
Lies voice reached where they
stood. "Come in, Joe; the DOORS
Open"
He accepted her invitation rather
awkwardly, but his face was impas-
sive as he looked down upon her.
"well, how about it?" she asked.
whats doing in the town."
mot much of anything except talk.
The whole country is buzzing over this
dismissal of the chief forester.
They'd better be doing something
about that murder"
"They are. They're going up there
In streams to see where the work was
done. The coroner's inquest was held
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"
IT reckon a hearse Is about my
kind" she replied darkly. eff You
could take me up to Cavanagh's cabin
I'd CO." she added. II want to see
him"
II can take you part way" he an
stantly declared. "But you'd have to
ride horse the last ten miles"
Couldn't do it. joe" she sighed
"These 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?''
mot 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
q 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 ey-
cry eye In the town would be upon her
If she went, and, besides, Ross might
return while she was away. 'No; 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. haven't been much use so far,
but I'm going to reform. If 1 had a
girl like Lee Virginia to live up to I'd
make great citizen. I don't lay my
arrest up against Cayanagh. 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 a bluff
| just a 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 a 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
oil Al ~. ~