Putnam patriot., 1911-03-24
 ~ Ranger
 By HsMiIN GARLAND
Copyright. 10. by Hamlin Garlsnd

carpenter WdS caleu ih to hiFiiN ~ N' doors and windows. thus preventing | their return New shades were hung to darken ihe runU aud new table
 cloths purchased 10 replace the old ones and fhe whole place had such cleaning as il had not known before in five years.
 In this work the time passed swift ly. and when Redheld and Cayaiagh
 came again to lunch they exclaimed In
 sstonishment. as indeed. every one did
 flows this|' queried Cayanagh hu-
 morously. Has the place changed hands Y'
 Llze was but grimly responsive.
 Seems like Ii has"
 q hope the price has not gone up.'
 Not yet"
 Redfeld asked. Who's responsible for this-Your new daughter.
 "Yonsve hlt il. Shes started right in
 10 polish us all up to city standards She can run the whole blame outfit If she's mind to-even if l 20 broke for 1t The work she got out of them girls is wonder
 Lee Virginia came In flushed and self conscious. but far lighter of spirit than at breakfasi. and stood beside tue table while The waitress laid the dishes before her guests with elaborate as sumption of grace and design. Hither. 10 she had bumped them down with slash of sangy comment The change
 was quite as wonderful as the absence of tbe flies.
 DO we owe these happy reforms 10 youta asked Cayanagh. admring Nir- ginia's neal dress and glowing cheeks.
 Partly she answered T was des- perate had to do something. so | look 10 ordering people around
 "I understand. he said. Wont you
 sit at our table again2"
 "Please do" said Redfeld. "I want 10 talk with you"
 Shp took seat a little hesitatingly. ..You see. I studied domestic science at
 school. and I've never had d chance 10 apply 1t before"
 Heres your opportunity Redheld assured her My respect for the science of domestics is growing. marvel 10 think what another week will bring forth. l think I'll have to come down again just to observe the improvement in the place. Tt can't last lize interjected.
 She'll catch the western habits. Shell sag. same us we all do" NO. she won't" declared Ross. with intent 10 encourage her. If you give
 her q free hand l predict she'll make your place the wonder and boast of the countryside"
 When do you go back to the noun tains?" Lee Virginia asked a little | later.
 "Immediately after my luncheon" he
 replied
 She experienced a pang of regret and could not help showing it little.
 Your talk helped me" she said. i've | decided 10 stay aud be of use to my mother
 Redheld overheard this and turned | toward her
 | "l want Mrs Redheld to know you. | I'm sure her advice will be helpful | | hope you'll come up and see us if you l decide to settle in Sulphur or if you | don't"
 | Il should like to do so.'' she said touched by the tone as well as by the | words of his invitation. "Reddeld'S house is one of the few completely civilized homes in the state" put in Cavanagh. When I get | so weary of cuss words and poaching and graft that 1 cant live without killing some one l go down 10 Elk | Lodge and smoke and read the super l vlsors London and Paris weeklies and recover my tone"
 Redheld smiled When get weak kneed or careless in the service and feel my self respect slipping away 20 up to Ross cabin and talk with a man who represents the impersonal even handed justice of the federal law"
 Cavanagh laughed. There. Hav- Ing handed each other reciprocal bou- quets we can now tell Miss Wether- ford the truth. Each of Us thinks very
 well of himself. and we're both be lievers in the new west.
 What d. you mean by the new
 west:s asked the girl
 Well the work you've been doing
 here this morning is part of it." an Swered RcdHeld Its kind of house. cleaning Ths old west was pictur- esque and iu way manly and fine certain phases of it were heroic-and
 1 hate to see il all pass, but some of | us began 10 realize that 1t was not all poetry. The plain truth Is my com panionS for over twenty years were lawless rutfians. and the cattle busi. | ness as we practiced it in those days was founded on seltishneSs and de | tended at the mouth of the pistol. We were all pensioners on Uncle sam and | lighting to keep the other fellow of l from having a share of his bounty It was all wasteful. half savage. We | 1idn't want settlement; we didn't want l law; we didn't want a state. We want
 ed free range We were line of pi- | rates from beginning to end. and we're
 not wholly reformed yet" | Some one at the table accused Red | field oS being more of town site
 boomer than cattleman.
 He was quite unmoved by this charge.
 "The town site boomer at least believes
 in progress. He does not go so far as
 to shut out settlement. 1 don't care
 to have my children live the life I've
 lived Resides, what right have we to
 stand in the way of community s