The Delta independent., 1911-01-27
. k6n0Hr
By HAMLIN GARLAND
Copyright. 1910. by Hamlin Garland

Gregg, the sheepman, went on: "As
/ tell Redfield. l don't object to the
forest policy-it's good thing for me:
get my sheep pastured cheaper than
/ l could do any other way, but 1t makes
me hot to have grazing lines run OF
me and my herders lacked up every
time they get over the line. Ross run
one bunch off the reservation last Fri
day. I'm going to find out about that
He'll learn he can't get arbitrary with
me-
The old woman chuckled, "'Pears
like you've changed your tune since
'9S, Sam
He admitted his conversion shame
lessly. I'm for whatever will pay
best. Just now, with a high tariff.
! sheep are the boys. So long as can
get on the reserve at Z cents head
lambs free-Im going to put every dol
lar I've got into sheep"
You're going to get thrown off al
together one of these days." said the
young man on the back seat.
Thereupon a violent discussion arose
over the question of the right of
sheepman to claim first grass for his
focks. and Gregg boasted that he cared
| nothing for "the dead line" They've
tried TO run me out of Deer Creek. but
I'm there to stay. have 10000 more
on the way, and the man that tries to
] stop me will find trouble
The car was descending into the val.
ley of the Roaring Fork now, and wire
/ fences and alfalfa fields on either side
| gave further evidence of the change in
the lands dominion. Down past the
courthouse, refurbished and deeper
sunk in trees, Lee Virginia rode re
calling the wild night when 300 armed
and vengeful cowboys surrounded it,
holding three cattle barons and their
hired invaders against all comers. res
olute to be their own judge. jury and
hangman. 1t was all as peaceful as a
Sunday afternoon at this moment.
with no sign of the fierce passions of
the past.
The car crossed the Roaring Fork
and drew up before two small shacks,
one of which bore a faded sign. The
Wetherford House." and the other iu
fresher paint, THE Wetherford Cafe
On the sidewalk a group of Indians
were sitting. and a half dozen slouch-
ing white men stood waiting ut tho
door
AS Lee went past the hotel porch
her heart beat hard and her breath
shortened. In flash she OWNED the
truth. She understood why her moth
er had discouraged her coming home.
1t was not merely on account Of the
money. 1t was because she knew that
her business was wrong.
What squalid little den 1t was.
How cheap. bald and petty the whole
town seemed of a suddenl Lee Vir-
ginia halted and turned. There was
only one thing to be DONE and that
was to make herself known. She re-
traced her steps. pulled open the bro
ken screen door and entered the cafe.
1t was low. dingy dining room filed
with the odor of ham and bad coffee.
At the tables ten or fifteen men, mot
ley throng. were busily feeding their
voracious jaws, and on her left, behind
a showcase filed with cigars. stood
her mother, looking old. unkempt and
worried. The changes In her were so
great that the girl stood In shocked
alarm. At last she raised her veil.
Mother" she said, don't you know
mey"
A look of surprise went over the
older woman's fiabby face-a glow
which brought back something Of her
other self, as she cried. why. Lee
virginny. where did you come from?"
The boarders stopped chewing and
stared In absorbed interest, while vir.
ginia kissed her blowsy mother.
by the Lord, it's little Virginnyw
said one old fellow. Its her daugh-
ter"
Upon this mutter OF establishment
arose. and the waiter girls, giggling,
marveling and envious, paused, their
platters in hand. to exchange comment
on the newcomers hat and gown. A
cowboy at the washing sink In the
corner suspended his face polishing
and gaped over his shoulder in silent
ecstasy. Some of the men came for
ward to greet her. and. though she had
some difficulty in recognizing one or
two of them $50 hardly had the years
of her absence used them, she even
tually succeeded in placing them all.
At length her mother led her through
the archway which connected the two
shanties, thence along a narrow hall
into a small bedroom, into which the
western sunset fell. 1t was shabby
place, but as a refuge from the crowd
in the restaurant 1t was grateful
LIE looked at her daughter critical.
ly. II don't know what I'm going to
do with girl like you. Why. you're
purty-purty as picture. You were
skinny as n child. I'm fair dazed
Great snakes, how you have opened
out! You're the living image OF your
dad. What started you back? l told
you to stay where you was"