The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-03-18

peared al the door of the lcnt his face
was almost happy. XIII Il sheep.
There isn't thing but Il heel OF ba.
con and u little hUur IN the plnce."
Twenty miles Of most dnicult trail
lay between Cavanaghs cabin and
this spot. TO carry the sick man on
his horse would not ony be- painful To
the sufferer. but dangerous 10 the res
cuer. for II the Basque were really III
of smallpox contagiun would surely
follow. On the other hand. to leave
him to die here unaided seemed inhu-
man. impossible.
There IL only one thing to do," he
called to Wetherford. and that Il for
me to ride back to the station and
bring up some extra bedding and my
own tent and so camp down beside
YOU"
IAN right. but remember I'VE estab.
head If you break over the line nu
inch"
There was no longer amy feeling Of
reaching mp or reaching down between
the two men-thcy were equals weth-
erford. altogether admirable seemed
to have regained his manhood as hr
stood I'm the door of the tent confront
ing the ranger This BASQUE mint
much of a find: but, ms you say. he's
human. and we can't let him lie here
aud die. I'll stay with him til you
can find doctor or till he dies"
Il take off my hat to yGu." respond
ed Cavanagh You are man."
| Once back nt his cabin after leaving
Wetherford. Caynna.h set himself to
cooking some food 10 take back with
him 10 the peak. He brought In his
pack horse and burdened him with
camp outfit and utensils and extra
clothing lie filled his pockets with
such medicines as he possessed. and
so Mt last. just MS night was falling he
started back over his difficult trail.
Wetherford met him Mt the door. no
longer the poor old tramp. but priest
one who has devoted himself to
Christ's service
"How is hep" asked the ranger.
"DelriOus." replied the herder. "I'vp
had TO hold him to his bed I'm glad
| you've come. It's lonesome up here
Don't come too near. Set your tent
| down there by the trees. ! can't have
you infected. Keep clear OF me and
| this camp"
i've got some food aud some extra
clothing for YOU
Put 'em down here. and In the
morning drive these sheep away. Tint
noise dlsturbs the dago and don't
like II myself: they sound lonesome
and helpless. That dog took em away
| for awhile. but brought 'em back
| again. Poor devil. he don't know what
| to think of It all"
Ross did as Wetherford commanded
him TO do ana withdrew II little way
down the slope and without putting
| up his tent rolled himself in his blan.
kets and went to sleep.
The rangers first duty in the morn.
| Ing was TO feed the faithful collie and
to send hlia forth with the flock. His
next was TO build fire and cook some
breakfast for WetherfOrd and as he
put 1t down beside the tent door he
heard the wild pleading OF the BASQUE
who was struggling with his nurse.
doubtless in the belief that he was
being Kept Il prisoner. Only few
words like "go home" and sheep"
were Ineligible to either the nurse or
the ranger.
Cavanagh waited till silence came
then called softly. Here's your break
fast. Wetherford"
Move away" retorted the man
within. Keep your distance"
Ross walked away II little space.
and Wetherford came to the door
The dago Is sure sick, There's no
two ways about that. How far is 1t
10 the nearest doctor?"
II could reach one by phone from
the Kettle ranch, about twenty miles
below here"
IF he don't get better today | reck
on we'll have 10 have II doctor" He
looked so white and old that Cava-
nagh said
"You need rest. Now think I've
had the smallpox, | know I've been
vaccinated. and II you go to bed
IF you're saying all that preliminary
TO Offering TO come In here you're
wasting your breath. | don't intend
to let you come any nearer than you
are. There is work for you to do. Be
sides, there's my girl. You're detailed
to look after her"
would doctor Gomez asked Ross
quite hnskily. moved by Weiherford's
words ITS hard climb. Would
they think the dago worth ~"
Wetherford's face darkeued with II
look Of doubt. III Is II hard "trip for n
city man. hut maybe he would come
for you--for the government"
IL doubt II. even II were to Offer
my next months salary MS a fee
These bills are very remote 10 the
townsfolk and one dago more or less
"f no Importance. but III see what
ran do"
Ross was really more concerned for
welherforl himself than for. The