The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-03-11
CHAPTER XIII.

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4 went across the hall to her
mothers room, and moment later he
heard the low murmur of her voice.
Throwing off his blankets and making
such scant toilet as he needed, he
stepped into the hall and waited for
her to return.
Soon she came toward him. smile
of confidence and pleasure on her lips.
How is sheT' he asked.
"Quite comfortable"
"And your His voice was very ten
der.
IT am a little tired" she acknowl.
edged. II didn't sleep very WELL"
"You didn't sleep at all" he declared
regretfully.
"Oh. yes, I did" she replied brightly
These two ardent souls confronted
each other In absorbed silence with
keener perception, with new daring,
with new intimacy, till he recalled
himself with effort You must let me
help you II there's anything l can do.
Remember. I'm your big brother"
| "I remember" she answered smiling
ly, "and I'm going out to see what my
big brother Is to have for breakfast"
Cavanagh found the street empty,
silent and utterly commonplace. He
went forth to his duties with q deep
ened conviction of the essential law
lessness Of the state and of America In
general, for this spirit of mob law
was to be found In some form through
out the land. He was dlsgusted. but
not beaten. His resolution to carry out
the terms of his contract with the
government remained mistaken.
He carried with him also fnal
disturbing glimpse of Eliza wether-
ford's girl that did indeed threaten his
peace OF mind. There was an invol-
untary appeal, a wistful depth, to her
glance which awakened in him an In
dignant pity and also blew into fame
something not so creditable-some-
thing which smoldered beneath his
conscious will. She had not escaped
her heritage Of passion. and her
glances. innocent as they were. reused
even In him something lawless.
His pony plodded slowly. and the
afternoon was half spent before he
came In sight of the long. low log cab.
in which was the only home he pos
sessed in all America. For the first
time since he built 1t the station SEEM
ed lonely and disheartening. 'Would
any woman for love of me come to
such a hearthstoner' he asked him
self. And II she consented TO do 80
could ! be so selfish as to exact such
sacrifice? No; the forest ranger In
these attitudes must be young and
heart free; otherwise his life would be
miserably solitary"
He was just dlshing out his rude
supper when the feet Of horse on
the log bridge announced visitor.
With u feeling Of pleasure as well
as relief he rose to greet the stranger
Any visitor Is welcome this night
he said
The horseman proved to be his for
mer prisoner, the old man Edwards
who slipped from his saddle with the
never falling grace Of the COW mar
and came slowly toward the cabin
He smiled wearily as he said; I'm oil
your trail. Mr.. Ranger. but bear nj
malice. You were doing your duty
Can you tell me how far 1t is TO Am
bros campW
There was something forlorn In thu
mans attitude, and Cavanagh's hear
softened. Turn your horse into thu
I corral and come to supper" he com
manded with western bluntness
n "We'll talk about all that later"
, Edwards accepted his hospitalit!
! without hesitation. I'm going up Z
= take Ambros place." he began after ,
few minutes of silent eating. "Knov
wnere his camp isf"
II do" replied Ross. to whom tn,
stranger now appeared in pathetic
guise. ANY man Of his age consent
Ing to herd sheep is surely hard hit b.
the rough hand Of the world" he rea
soned. and the closer he studied hi
I visitor the palmer he felt his ungoy
erned past.
! ~ suppose Gregg paid your fne?" b
said.
yes"
"ln any other town In the state you
!, have gone down the line"
He reused himself. "See here. MI
2 Ranger. you've no warrant TO believ
. the. but told you the truth. Youn
Gregg got me TO ride into the rang
and show him the trail. didn't in
e tend to get mixed up with a gam
I warden. I've had all the confinemen
; l need"
"Well, It's a closed incident now.
interposed Ross. I'VE won't reopen II
Make yourself at home"
The stranger. hungry as he was. at
with unexpected gentility. and as tn
hot coffee sent It's cheerful glo,
!. through his body he asked. with liver
ing interest. good many question
about the ranger and the forest servic,
"You fellers have to be all round mer
The cowboys think you have snaI
!, but ] guess you earn your money"
"A man that builds trails, lay
bridges, burns brush. fights fire. ride
the roundup and covers seventy nv
:. miles OF trail every week on $50 Dc