Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1911-08-03
E--' ---''''"-'
50 Ranger
BY HAMlN GARLAND
Copyright. 1910. by Hamlin Garland

windows"
"All wrong According to Finsen.
he wouldn't pit in the dark. However.
IL doesn't matter on II cowboy. You've
n great story yourself. There's fine
situation here. which I'll play up II
you don't object"
Cavanagh smiled. Would my OBJ
! lection have any weichtf"
The reporter laughed. Not much.
I've got TO carry back some sort OF
game. Well. so long must hit the
trail over the hill"
Cavanagh made civil answer and re-
turned TO his patient more than half
convinced TINT Hartley was right
The power OF the press" might prove
10 be very real force In this pursuit
AS the journalist was about to
mount his horse he discovered Lee
Virginia on the other side OF the
creek. Hello" said he. Il wonder
what this pretty maiden means"
And. dropping his bride rein again.
he walked down to the bridge.
Swenson interposed his tall figure.
what do you wantT' he asked blunt
~. you don't want To get too close
You've been talking TO the ranger"
Hartley studied him coolly. "Are you
a ranger too
"No. only guard"
"Why are you leaving Cavanagh 90
play it alone in there?"
Lee explained He won't let any
OF us come near him"
"Qute right" retorted Hartley
promptly They say smallpox has
lost its tcrrors. but when you're eight
hours hard trail from doctor or
hospital it's still what I'd call a for.
midablc enemy. However. Cavanagh's
immune. so he says"
I'VE don't know that" Lee said
and her hands came together in a
spasm Of fear. Are you a doctorf"
'No: I'm only a newspaper man. but
I've had lot OF experience with !
plaques OF all sorts-had the yellow |
fever I'm Porto Rico and the typhoid in |
South Africa: that's why I'm out here |
over the hills. But who |
are you. may ask? You look like the |
rose of Sharon"
MY name il Lee Wetherford." she /
answered. with childish directncsS. for /
there was something compelling In the
mans voice and eyes. And this IS
my mother" she indicated Lie. who
was approaching.
you are not out here for your
health" he stated. rather thoughtful
~. How happens It you're hereT
II was born herein the Fork"
His face remained expresSionless
81 don't believe 1t. Can such maidens
come out OF Roaring Forki Nit. Bur
don't mean that. What are you
doing up here In this Wilderness
Lie took Il part in the conversation
Another inspectors" she asked as she
numbered up
That's me" he replied-"S herior.
Nidocq. all rolled into pur
My mother" again volunteered Lee
Hartleys eyes expressed incr,-. u.!ry.
Iut he did not put his feelings int
words. for he perceived In Lie a typ
with which he was entirely familiar
,ne TO be handled with care. What
|
Tou related TO one OF these ranGersT
Lie resented this. You're asking IA
rood many questions. Mr.. Man"
That's my trade" was the un- ,
dashed reply. "and I'm not so Old but
hat | can rise TO romantic situa-
ion" Thereupon he dropped all di-
ect interrogation and with an air of
andor told the story OF his mission. [
lie, entirely sympathetic. invited him
o lunch, and he was soon In posses
ion of their story, even to the tender
between Lee Virginia and {
he plague besieged forest ranger. u,
Were not SO nightly disinterest-
d." he said. referring TO his paper.
The Roundup represents the new
vest In part. but TO US the new west
means opportunity to loot water sites
nd pile up unearned increment. oh.
es, we're on the side OF the fruit and
Italia grower, because IL pays. IL the
oss OF my paper happened 10 be In &
he sheep business, as Senator Blank n
White Is. we would sing a different O
uue, vi IL 4 were IL COuEItSSlldu | a
district Of cattlemen I'd be .
cry slow about helping to build up =
ny system that would make me pay
Or my grass AS 1t is. I'm commits
loned to make 1t hot for the ranch a
RS that killed those dagoes. and I'm
ding to do 1t. IL this country had a v
ian like Cavanagh for sheriff we'd
ave the murderers In two days. He r
nows who the butchers are, and I'd y
Ike his help. But he's nailed down j
ere. and there's no hope OF his get
ng away. A few men like him could
lvilize this country"
Thereupon he drew from three pairs
lips statement OF the kind OF man
oss Cavanagh was. but most signif- a
ant OF all were the few words Of the >,
lrl, to whom this man of the pad AMI
encil was magician. capable Of ex IL
unS hvf hero ana of advancing ngnt 6,
nd civilization by the mere motion of :.