Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1911-03-09
CHAPTER XIV.


upon wide and sterile slope
high on the rocky breast Of
tn great peak whose splintered crest
lotded the range. Snow fields lay all
about, and a few feet higher up the
canyons were filed with ice. 1t was a
"a wage and tempest swept spot In
which to pitch tent but there among
the rocks shivered the minute canvas
home of the shepherd, and close be-
side 1t, guarded by lone dog and ~
ing like thick spread flock Of rimy
powders almost unnoticeable In their
silent immobility) huddled the sheep.
There's your 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. Looks as If
Ambro has pulled out and left the col
uc u lcnu Tie uOCh. Ilc DceAal hluN VI
seedy for some days"
Dismounting, he approached the tent.
The collie, who knew him, seemed to
understand his errand, for he leaped
upon him as If to kiss his cheek. Ross
put him down gently you're almost
too glad to see me. old fellow. won
der how long you've been left here
alone"
Thereupon he opened the tied flap.
but started back with instant percep-
tion 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
"Jpe is here, horribly sick. and I'm
afraid it's something contagious. 1t
may be smallpox
Wetherford rccoiled step Small
pOk! What makes You think that?"
We'll, these BasTues have been hav-
Ing 1t over in their settlement, and, be-
sides. it smells like it, He listened a
moment. TIN afraid Joe's in for 1t.
He's crazy with it. But he's human
being. and we can't let him die here
alone. You rustic some wood for the
stove. and I'll see what l can do for
him
Wetherford was old and wasted and
thin blooded. but he had never been Il
coward, and in his heart there still
burned small flame 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"
Get away" 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 go In and see hats the matter"
& avanagh looked him in the face an
ins tant. Very WELL" said he. IN do
as you say. There's 10 use of our
boz h taking chances
was beginning to rain. and the
len was dark and desolate. but as the
frf in the little stove commenced TO
smart and the smoke to pour out of
the pipe the small domicile took on
cheer. Wetherford knew how to care
fci he sick and in the shelter OF tie
canvas wall developed unforeseen Wig
or and decision. 1t was amazing TO
CaFanagh to witness his change of
manner
and some hot stones were at the suf-
ferer's feet. and when wetherford ap,
is';lr,1 at the door of the tent his fac
@as almost happy. XIII sheer
There isn't thing but Il heel of ba
con and n little flour in the place"
Twenty miles of most difficult trai
lay between Cavanagh's cabin ani
this spot. To carry the sick man o
bis horse would not only be painful I
the sufferer, but dangerous TO the res
cuer. for II the Basque were really i
Of smallpox eontagion would surel
follow. On the other hand. to leav
him to die here unaided seemed inh.
man. impossible.
There Is only one thing to do" h
called to WetherfOrd. land that is fo
me to ride back to the station aIs
bring up some extra bedding and IN
own tent and SO camp down besid
Jou.''
'All right. but remember I've eStal
lshed quarantine. I'll crack 70,
head II you break over the line u
inch"
\ There was no longer any feeling I
Seaching up Or reaching down betwee