Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-02-14

A silence followed-so deep a silence
that the ranger was convinced Of the
fact that In the circle Of his listeners
stood those who. II they had not
shared in the slaughter. at least knew
the names Of the guilty men.
At last the sheriff spoke, this time
with a sigh. II hope you're all wrong.
Cavansgh. I'd bate to think any con
stituent OF mine had sanctioned this
Job. Give me that lantern. Curtis"
The group Of ranchers dismounted
and followed the sheriff over to the1
grewsome spot. but RedHeld stayed
with the ranger.
Have you any suspicion, Ressr'
mo. hardly a suspicion. However,
you know as well as | that this was
not a sudden outbreak. This deed was
planned. 1t represents the feeling of
many cattieman-in everything but the
extra horror Of its execution. That |
was the work Of drunken. Infatuated
men. But | am more deeply concern
ed over Miss Wetherford's distress.
Did she reach you by telephone to-
night?"
mo. What's the troubieF"
"Her mother il down again. l tele-
phoned her. and she asked me to come
to her, but l cannot 60. for l have .
case of smallpox up on the hill. Am
bro. the Basque herder, is down with
II. and another herder is up there alone
with him. ] must 20 back to them.
But meanwhile | wish you would 30 to
the Fork ana see what you do for
her."
His voice. filed with emotion. touch
ed Redfeid. and he said. Cant / 60 to
the relief Of the herderr
mo; you must not think Of II. You
are a man with 4 family. But II you
can find any one who has had the
smallpox send him up. The old herder
who Is nursing the patient II not strong
and may drop at any moment. Then
it's up to me-"
The men came back to the campfire
eonversing In low tones, some Of them
cursing In tones OF awe. One OF two
Of them were small farmers from Deer
Creek. recent Corners to the state. or
nlGu WIKI uEkptkfCb Va LAttA CoWBy 0u0
to them this deed was awesome.
The sheriff followed. saying: "Weli.
there's noshfnx to do bur wait till
morning. The rsst Of you men better
90 homa. You can't be Of any use
here."
For more than three hours the sher-
III and Reddeid sat with the ranger,
waiting for daylight. and during this
time the name OF every man In the re-
gion was brought up and discussed
Among others, Ross mentioned the old
man In the ditch
"He wouldn't hurt 4 bumblebee." de
| ciared the sheriff. "He's got a bunch
| Of cattle, but he's the mlldest old man
| IN the stata. He's the last rancher tn
the country to ever stand FOR such
work What mazda you mention himy'
II passed him as ! was riding back"
replied Cavanagh. and he had a scared
look In his eyes,"
The sheriff grunted sYou imagined
all that. The old chap always has a
Kind % meek scnk-"
1t was nearly noon of a glorious day
as Cavanagh. very tired and very hum
CRY. rode up to the sheep herder's tent
wetherford was sitting In the sun
calmly smoking his pipe, the sheep
were feeding not far away, attended
by the dog. and an air Of peace covered
his suniit rocky world
How is the Basque?" asked the
ranger.
Wetherford pointed upward. "An
over"
"Then 1t wasn't smallpox
81 reckon that's what it vast 1t
sure was fierce. / judge it's a case
Of Injun burial-no ceremony-right
here In the rocks. I'll let you dig the
hole Q'm just about all I'M, but mind
you keep to the windward all the time.
/ don't want you spotted"
Cavanagh understood the necessity
for these precautions. but first of all
came his own need of food and rest.
Turning his tired horse to grass, he
stretched himself along a grassy, sun
ny Granny between the rocks and there
ate and afterward slept, while all about
him the lambs called and the comics
whfned
He was awakened by q pebble tossed
upon him, and when be arose. stin and
sore. but feeling stronger and In bet
ter temper. the sun was wearing low.
Setting TO work at his task, he threw
the loose rock out OF a hollow In the
ledge near by, and 90 this rude sepul-
cher Wetherford dragged the dead
man. refusing all aid. and there piled
a cairn of rocks above bis grave.
The ranger took q hand at the end
and rolled some huge powders upon
the grave TO insure the wolves defeat.
Now burn the bedding" he COM
manded. 1.-The whole camp has got to
go. and your clothing. too, after we
get down the hill"
"What will we do with the sheepY"
"Drive them oyer the divide and
leave them
All these things Wetherford did. and.
lea ving the camp In ashes Aehind him.
C~avanagh drove the sheep before him
in his homeward way. AS night fell
the dog. at his command. rounded them
up and pat them to bed. and the men
went on down the valley. leaving
the brave brute on guard. pathetic fg-