Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-02-15
Cavanaqh, = Forest : Ranger
BY HAMLIN GARLAND
copynshs. 1910. by HamIin Garland


aiize 1t. That heavy set woman down
there Is not Lie. Ny Lie is slim and
straight. This woman whom you know
has stolen her name and face, that's
all. l can't explain exactly what l
feel, but Lee Virginia means more to
me now than Lize."
81 think | understand you." said
Cavanagh. with sympathy in his voice
The nearer Wesherford came to the
actual meeting with his wife the more
he shook. AT last be stopped In the
road. 4 don't believe l can do IT."
he declared. I'll be like a ghost to
her. What's the use Of tt? She'll only
be worried by my story. / reckon I'd
better keep dark to everybody. Let me
go back. I'm plum scared cold"
While still be argued two men on
horseback rounded a sharp turn In
the trail and came face to face with
the ranger. Wetherford's face went
suddenly gray. There's the Deputy"
Keep quiet. I'll do the talking"
commanded Cavanagh, who was In
slant in his determination to shield the
a Good morning. gentlemen" he
called cheerily. You're abroad early.'
The mar In front was deputy
sheriff Of the county: his %comnanion
was q stranger.
THAT was a horrible mess you STUN
bled on over on Deer creek" the dep
uty remarked.
1T certainly was. Have any arrests
been nader"
mot yet. but we're on a clew. This
is Marshal Haines OF Dallas, MI. Cav
anagh." pursued the deputy. The two
men nodded In token Of the introduce
ton. and the deputy went on. You
remember that old cuss that used to
work for Greggrs
Again Cavanagh nodded.
well. that chap h wanted by the
Texas authorities. Mr.. Haines here
wants to see him mighty bad. Hes
an escaped convict with a bad record"
.'Is that 500" exclaimed Cavanagh.
III thought he seemed a bit gun shy"
1.-THE last seen of him was when Sam
Gregg sent him up to herd sheep. /
think be was mixed up In that killing
myself-him and Ballard-and we're
going up to get some track of him.
Didn't turn up at your station, did
he?"
Eyes; be came by some days ago. on
his way, SO he said, to relieve that
sick Basque, Ambro. l went up a
couple OF days e and found the
Basque dead and the old man gone. I
buried the herder the best I could, and
I'm on my way down to report the
case"
The deputy unused: HE may be
hanging round some of the lumber
camps. / reckon we had better go up
and look the ground over anyhow. We
might just chance to overhaul him"
HE may have pulled out over the
range suggested the ranger. ANY
how, it's a long way up there, and
you'll probably have to camp at my
place tonight. You'll find the key
hanging over the door. Go in and
make yourself comfortable"
The deputy thanked him and was
! about to ride On when-Cavanagh add
ed: IT burned that Basque's tent and
bedding for fear Of contagton. His
outfit was worthless anyhow. You'll
find the sheep Just above my cabin
and the horse In my corral"
.aThe old man didn't take the horse.
eh? Well, that settles it; he's sure at
one OF the camps. Much obliged. Good
day"
AS the two officers rode away Weth-
erford leaned heavily on his pommel
and stared at the ranger with wide
eyes. His face was drawn and his
lips dry. They'll get me! They'll get
me-" he said.
ooh. no. they won't" rejoined Cava-
nagh. You're all right yet. They
suspect nothing. How could they,
with you In uniform and In my COM
panyT
"All the same, I'm scared. That
ma Haines had his eyes on me every
minute. He saw right through me.
They'll get nae. and they'll charge me
up with that killing"
mo, they won't. / tell you." insisted
the ranger. "Haines suspected nothing.
/ had his eye. He never saw you be-
fore and has nothing but a descrip-
ton to go by, so cheer up. Your uni
form and your position with me will
make you safe-perfectly safe. They'll
find the Basque's camp burned and
the sheep in charge of the dog, and
they'll fancy that you have skipped
across the range. But see here. old
man." and he turned ON him SHARPLY.
you didn't tell me the whole truth.
You said you were out on parole"
II couldn't tell you the whole truth"
replied the fugitive. but | Will now.
I was In for a life sentence. Was
desperate for the open sir and home
sick Tor the mountains. and / struck
down one of the guards. ! was Will
Ing to do anything TO get out. 1
thought II / could get back to this
country and my wife and child I'd be
safe. I said I'd be willing to go back
to the pen II necessary. but I'm not.
1 can't do H. I'd dis there. Tou must
save me for my girls sake"