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

"a and hiina.,i viii myself asrry iDrm
! cannon live and do my duty herr IN
less this crime + avenged by law"
CHILLED Sinking and numh he set
Spnrs to his horst aud rode furionsly
down the trail toward The ncn,pSt
town. so cascr 10 Slrcnd The alarm
that he could scarcely brcathr n dr.r
breath. ON the steep slopcs he was
forced to walk. and his horse led so
badly that his agony of impntiencp
was dcepcncd He had vision of the
murlerers riding fast into far com
tries. Each hour made their nppre
hcnsion progressively the more diff
cult
Who were thcy?' hc asked limself r
lgaiu and again. "Whai Kind of mai.
did this thing? Was the leader u man
like Ballard? Evcn Sn he was hired
by whom? By rncherS covetous of
the range: that was absolutely cor.
tain"
II was long after noon before he
came to the end of The telephone line
In little store mud postofice M tho
upper falls OF Deer crock. The tplc
phone had boUth fortunately. and hp
soon had T,cifeld's cor, but his voice
was so strained and unnatural tha; hla
chief did not recognize IL.
"ls that you. Ross: What's the ma,
ter? Your voice sounds honrse
Ross composed himself and told bis
story briefly. I'm ut Kettle Ranch
postoficc. Now listen The limit of
the cuttleman's frroplty has been
reached. Az rode down here to get
into communication with doctor for
a sick hprdpr | came uuun the scene
Of another murder aud burning. The
fire is sill smoldering At least two
bodies are In the cmbcrs"
Al last, bit by bil from hurried
speech. The supervisor derived the
fact. tha location. the hour. and di.
rec'ed the herdcr To ride back and
guard the remaius til the sheriff ar
rived
Keep II all quiet" warned Ross.
"and get the sheriff and doctor to
NN'N h' hNNN 'INAh uN YOU tNllt
What is this country coming toY" he
cried In despair. "Wll this decd go
unpunished like the rest ?''
Rcdlelds voice had lost its optimis
tic ring. IL don't know: | am stun
ned by II all. Don't do anything rash
Ross. Walt till ! come Perhaps thir
is the turning point out here. I'll be
up NJ the earliest moment"
The imbittered and disheartened
ranger then called up Lee Virginia.
and the sound of her sweet voice turn.
cd his thoughts TO other and In n
sense more important matters. for
when she heard his name she cried
oui with such eager longing and ap-
peal that his heart euped "Oh, / wish
you were here. Mother has been worse
today She Is asking for you. Can't
you come down and see us? She wants
to tell you something"
81 can't can't" he stammered. ~
-I-lm long way Off. and have
important work TO do. Tell her 7 will
come tomorrow. Dear girl, there Is
sick man far up on the mountain
side with no one TO care for him but
poor old herdcr who is in danger of
falling sick himself | must 20 back
to them: but. believe me, will come
Just as soon MS my duties will let me
You understand me, don't you?"
Her voice was fainter as sheg said.
"Ncs. but III seems hard to wait"
II know. Your voice has helped me.
| was In n black mood when came
here. I'm going back now 10 do my
work. and then | will come to you
GoOdhy."
Strangely beautiful and very subtle
was the vibrant stir of that wire ms II
conveyed buck to his ear the little sigh
with which she made answer to his
plea. He took his way upward In a
mood which was meditative, but no
longer bitter