Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-02-11
CHAPTER XIV.

(LA8uE AND ApNDEh.
Y Upon leaving timber line Cav
anagh ana Wetherford entered
upon 4 wide and sterile slope
high on the rocky breast OF
the great peak whose splintered crest
orded the range. Snow fields lay ali
about, and a few feet higher up the
canyons were filed with fee. 1t was q
savage and tempest swept spot If
which to pitch = tent, but there among
the rocks shivered the minute canvas
home Of the shepherd, and close be-
side It guarded by = lone dog and "
ing like i thick spread flock Of rimy
powders almost unnoticeable in their
silent ~immobility) huddled the sheep.
There's -FOUR house." shouted Ross
to Wetherford.
The older man, with white face OF
dismay, looked about him. unable to
make reply.
Hello, therer' shouted Ross, won.
dering at the absence OF human life
about the camp. Hello, the housed"
Receiving no answer to his hail, he
turned to Wetherford. "Iooks as If
Ambro has pulled out and left the col
| lie to tend the flock. Hes been kind of
seedy for some days"
Dismounting, he approached the tent.
The collie. who knew him, seemed to
understand his errand, for he leaped
upon him rs II to kiss his cheek. Ross
put him down gently. You're almost
too glad to see me, old fellow. I won
der how long you've been left here
alone"
Thereupon he opened the tied nap,
but started back with instant percep-
ton Of something wrong, for there, on
his pile of ragged quilts, lay the
Basque herder. with flushed face and
rolling eyes, crazed with fever and en-
tirely helpless. you'd better not come
in here, Wetherford," Ross warned.
Joe Is here, horribly sick, and I'm
afraid it's something contagious. 1t
may be smallpox
Wetherfort recoiled a step. Small
poxl What makes you think thatr"
"Well, these Basques have been hav-
ing 1t over In their settlement, and, be-
sides, 1t smells Ike it, He listened a
moment. I'm afraid Joe's In for 1t.
He's crazy with 1t. But he's a human
being, and we can't let him die here
alone. You rustic some wood for the
stove, and I'll see what ! can do for
him."
Wetherford was old and wasted and
thin blooded, but he had never been a
coward. and In his heart there still
burned a small fame Of his youthful,
reckless, generous daring. Pushing
Cayanagh one side, he said with firm
decision: "You Keep out of there. I'm
the one to play nurse. This Is my
job.
Nonsense! am younger and
stronger than you.p
Get awayt1 shouted the older man.
"Gregg hired me to do this work, and
1t don't matter whether / live or die.
But you've got something to do In the
world. My girl needs you, and she
don't need me, so get out OF here and
stay out. Go bring me that wood and
I'll 60 In and see v hats the matter"
oh loci him n tho saca an
instant syaru wen > said hn am a.
"a Won saw There's M nsa ~ orr
hoth taxing cbopnaa
1t was beginning to rain, ana the
tent was dark and de.olate bnt ~ tho
Arc n tha little stova commencad e
snarI and tha smoke 70 nour o,f of
| tba nine the small dom,cila took an
| cheer Wetherfora knexv how "a care
| for the sick and in the shelter Of the
canvas wall deyeloped unforeseen Wig
or and decision. II was amazing to
| Cavanagh to witness his change OF
manner.
Soon a pan Of water was steaming.
and some hot stones were at the suf-
ferer's feet, and when Wetherford ap-
nasrad 81 tha d,,or a. tha t.nt h,s face
was almost nanny. aKm : sheen.
There isn,t a thing put q heel OF ba.
con and q little Jour ia the place
Twenty miles OF most difficult trail
Law between Cayanaph,s cabin and
tbia spoi. To carry tha stcg man on
his horse would not only be painful to
the sufferer. but dangerous to the res.
cuer, for IL the Basque were really III
Of smallpox contagion would surely
follow. On the other hand, to leave