Putnam patriot., 1911-03-24
Cdvdndgh, The Great Conserva-
 ton Novel
CHAPTER IT.

lowed his upright figure III be
 X entered one of the shops. He had precisely fhr look and bearing or votlyg lieutenant iu the regular army. She returned to her Owu room strangely hearteued by her talk with the ranger
 She was stili ponderlng when her mothe- came in
 How'd you sleep last nightF
 Lee Virginia could not bring herself to lie. "Not very well" she admitted
 Neither did L Fact of the matter is TOUT coming fairly upset me. I've been .ind Of used up for three months ] don't know vhat ails me I'd ought 10 70 np To sulpbur 10 see doctor. but thare d1n-f sesm 10 be any free time pear to have lost my grip Food don'i gite me any strength. saw you talking with Ross Cavanagh There. man. And Reddg Reddy i+ what you ra4I fancy ra8eher, goes in for ai- t4#fF and fruit and all that He isn't in inc forest service for ilIe pay or Tor graft Hes Fet q regular palace up fhrfe above s8lpbur-bof and cold wHfrr al through the house. furnace su fine cefIar and two bathrooms go tfte{ rell ue. never was in the place Ye4 better keep out of the caffy lt ajat Gt place for you Fact Is, ! wasn't expecting anything so fine as foa are | Hfd awake till : o'cloek last afehf figuring on what to do reckon you'd better % bacE and give this out If nB as a bad iob 1 used 10 teli i'd you didn't belong to neither of us. and pou don't can't see where you did come from =aut how. don't want the responsibility af h84lus you here Why. you'll have half the men iii the county hftrhinp to my e0rr8i You're loo good for any of them You just plan to pack up and pull ont tomorrow.
 She went out with dragging step that softened the girls heart Lize's daughter came nearer to loving her at this moment than at any time since her fifth year.
 in truth. Iize had risen that morn ing intending 10 whirl In and clean ID the house. being suddenly con scious to some degree of the dirt and disorder around her. but she found herself physically unequal 10 the task. Her brain seemed miste0, and her food had been q source of keen pain to her.
 She gave sharp answers to All the men who came up to ask after her hA rod the girls good looks and demanded an introduction she said; Get along You tellers want 10 understand I'll Kill the man that sets out to fool with my girl. tell you thati'
 While yet Lee Virginia was wonder ing how 10 begin the days work some one knocked on her door and in an swer 10 her invitation woman stepped in-n thin blond hag with q weak smile and watery blue eyes. IS this little Lee Virgnny2" she asked.
 The girl rose. ''Yes."
 Well. howdyY" She extended her hand. and Lee took fl My names Jackson Mrs Orlando Jackson. knew yore pa and you before the war Are ye back fer to stay 2a
 No. | don't think so. Wlll you sit down ?''
 Mrs. Jackson took seat. Come back to see how yore ma was. l reck on7 Found her pretty porely, didn't yer" She lowered her voice. ''l think she's got cancer of the stummick- now that's my guess"
 Virginia started. What makes you think so?"
 just that way Had that same tlabhy. funny look and that same distress after eatin l told her this mornln' shed better 70 up to Sulphur and see that new doctor"
 What did you mean by the war; " asked Virginia.
 Why you remember the rustler war2 We date everything out here from that year You was here, for l saw ye
 "Oh" exclaimed Virginia. T under sand now Yes was here saw my father at the head of the cowboys.
 They weren't cowboys They were hired killers from Texas. That's what let yore pa out q, the state He were on the wrong side. and if il hadn't "a heen for he regular soldiers he'd a been wiped out right hyer. As il was he had 10 ~biH the range aud huint never been back don't spose folks will lay it un aein you beiu' a girl but tApy couldn't He son of Ed Weth- erford come back bere and settle. not for minute. Why. we're ma has had io bnG the whole county a 'most-not tha, lay anything up agin her l tell folks she wa that heWitched with Ed sine couldn't see things any way but his way He fought to save his ranch and staWk. hut she couldn't du nothin' and then ta have him go back on her the way he did slip out twlxt two days and never write, that just about shot her Co pieces. l never could under stand thai in Ed he 'peared so mortal. iy fond of you and of her too He sure was fond Of you She shook her head -No, can't anybody make ne believe Ed Wetherford Is alive"
 Lee Virginia started. "Who says he's allvey'
 "Now. dout get excited, girl He amt alive. but yet folks say We don't know he's dead. He jest dropped out So far as yore ma k concerned and St far as the county Is concerned. but ioa4e thought you was with him in the east"
 The ciri was now aware that her visitor wsss hoping to gain some fur tHnr Lufnrtnailnn and So cnrllx an.