The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1911-06-02

How fs hef' asked fhe fHnFnr
"beilrlous. replied Ne heffar afes
had 70 hold him ~ his bed I'm aiad
You've come its LONESOME Hp tefs
Don't come tco ncnr sot your tent
down there ~ the trecs can't have
you infected Keep cieaf of me md
this camp"
i've got some food ohd some osirs
clothing for you"
Put 'em down hero. ana I'M ibe
morning drive these sheer away. That
noise disturbs the daro. and don't
like Il myself; they sound lonesome
and helpless That dog look EN- away
for awhile, but brought 'em back
again. Poor dovil. he don't know what
to think Of II ALL"
Ross did as wetherford commanded
him to do and Withdrew little way
down the slope and without putting
up his tent rolled himself In his bIan.
kets and went 10 sleep.
The rangers first duty in the morn.
Ing was to feed the faithful collie ana
to send him forth with the flock. Ills
next was to build FIRE and cook some
breakfast for Wetherford, and as he
put II down beside the tent door he
heard tho Wild pleading OF the BASQUE.
who was struggling with his nurse,
doubtless In tho belief that he was
being kept prisoner. Only few
words like "go home and Sheep
were Ineligible to either the nurse or
the ranger.
Cavanagh waited till silence came,
then called softly, Here's your break.
fast, Wetherford"
Move away" retorted tho man
within. Keep your distance"
Ross walked away little space,
and Wetherford came to the door.
! The dago is sure sick. There's no
two ways about that. How far is II
to the nearest doctorT
Il could reach one by phone from
tho Kettle ranch, about twenty miles
below here"
III he don't get better today l reck-
on we'll have to have doctor" He
looked SO white and old that Cava-
nagh said:
"You need rest Now, l think I've
had the smallpox. I know I've been
vaccinated, and If you go to bed
III you're saying all that preliminary
to Offering to come in here you're
wasting your breath. don't intend
to let you come any nearer than you
are. There is work for you to do. Be
sides, there's my girl. You're detailed
to look after her."
Would doctor GOMEZ" asked Ross
quite huskily, moved by Wetherfords
words. tits a hard climb. Would
they think the dago worth it?'
Wetherford's face darkened with Il
look Of doubt. ut is a hard trip for q
city man, but maybe he would come
for you--for the government"
II doubt it, even If were to offer
my next months salary as fee.
These hills are very remote to the
townsfolk and one dago more or less
Of no Importance, but I'll see what
can do"
Ross was really more concerned for
| Wetherford himself thnn for the
Basque. III the fever is something
malignant we must have medical aid :
he said and went slowly back to bis
own camp to ponder his puzzling prob
lem.
One thing could certainly be done
and that was to inform Gregg and
Murphy of their herder's Illness. Sure
ly they would come TO the rescue al
the collie and his flock. To reach u
telephone involved either ride owe,
into Deer Creek or return TO the
Fork. He was tempted TO ride all tbe
way to the Fork. for to do so would
permit another meeting with Lee. Bul
to do this would require many hours
longer. and ha1f days delay might
prove fatal to the Basque. and, be
sides. each hour OF loneliness and toi
rendered Wetherford Just so mucl
more open to the deadly attack Of the
disease.
II was hard to leave nm old end
broken man In such drenr and wind
contested spot. aud yet II hud 10 be
done; so. fastening his tent securely
behind clump of jumpers, Cavanagl
mounted his horse and rode away
across the boundary Of the forest into
Deer Creek basin. which had been the
bone of much contention for nearly
four years. II had once been Il part OF
the forest, but under pressure the pres
ident had permitted IT, TO lie restored tc
the public lands open for entry. Il
was not agricultural grounds" a,
certmin rnnchers claimed. but II wa.
excellent summer pasture. and thl
theepmen and cnttlcmcn had lpapet
nt once into warfare to possess Il
Sheep were beaten 10 death with club,
by hundreds. lierders were hustled OH
of the park with ropes about thcI
necks and their outfits destroyed, nnt
all this within few miles of the for
est boundary. where one small sentine
kept effective watch and ward.
Cavnnngh had never been over thi
trail but once. and he was trying I,
locate the cliff from which flock 0
sheep had been hurled by cnttIcmei
some years before when he perceive,
a thin column Of smoke rising from
rocky hillside. With habitual watch
fuIness MS to fire, he raised his glns
10 bis eyes and studied the spot.
was evidently campfire and smoldei
ing dangerously. and. turning hi
norsc's head, be rode toward It .
stamp 1t out. 1t was not upon hi
patrol but that did not matter. ~