Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-03-10

was the meaning Of his scared and
sorrowful glance? Why should one
so peacefully employed at such a time
and in such a place wear the look Of
hunted deer? What meant the tre-
NOR I'm his voice?
Was 1t possible that one so gentle
should have taken part In this deedf
'Preposterous suspicion, and yet he
had a guilty look"
At last. far in the night. he heard
the snort of horse and the sound of
voices. The law tsuch as 1t was) was
creeping up the mountain side In the
person of the sheriff of Chauvenet
county and was about to relieve the
ranger from his painful responsibility
| as guardian of the dead.
At last he came, this officer of the
law. attended like a Cheyenne chief
| by dozen lesser warriors of various
conditions and kinds, but among them
indeed, second only to the sheriff
was Hugh Redfeld, the forest super
visor, hot and eager with haste.
As they rode up to the fire the officer
called out: "Howdy, ranger? How
about it?'
Ross stated briefly. succinctly. what
he had discovered, and as he talked
other riders came up the hill and gath
cred closely around to listen In word
less silence-in guilty silence, the
ranger could not help believing.
Redfeld spoke. Sheriff Van Horne.
you and | have been running cattle In
this country for nearly thirty years.
and we've witnessed all kinds of shoot
ing and several kinds of hanging. but
when it comes to chopping and burn
ing men l get off. l shall personally
offer a reward of $1,000 for the ap-
prehension of these miscreants. and
hope you'll make it your solemn duty
to hunt them to earth
You won't have far to CO." remark
ed Ross significantly.
"What do you mean?" asked the
sheriff.
81 mean this slaughter, like the 9TH
ers that have taken place, was the
work of cattlemen who claim this
range. Their names are known to us
ALL"
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, If they had not
shared in the slaughter, at least knew
the names of the guilty men.
AT last the sheriff spoke, this time
with sigh. 81 hope you're all wrong,
Cavanagh. I'd hate 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 the
grewsome spot. but Redfeld stayed
with the ranger.
Have you any suspicion, RossT
mo. hardly a suspicion. However,
you know as well as | that this was
not sudden outbreak. This deed was
planned. 1t represents the feeling Of
many cattlemen-in everything but the
extra horror Of its execution. That
was the work of drunken, infuriated
men. But am more deeply concern
ed over Miss Wetherford's distress.
Did she reach you by telephone to-
nightT
mo. WHAT'S the trouble?"
"Her mother is down again. tele-
phoned her, and she asked me to come
to her, but / cannot go, for l have a
case Of smallpox up on the hill. Am
bro. the Basque herder, is down with
It, and another herder is up there alone
with him. | must go back to them.
But meanwhile | wish you would go to
the Fork and see what you can do for
her."
His voice, filled with emotion. touch
ed Redfield, and he said. Cant go to
the relief of the herder?"
"No; you must not think Of it. You
are man with a family. But If you
can find any one who has had the
mallpox send him up. The old herder
who is nursing the patient is not strong
and may drop at any moment. Then
it's up to me-
The men came back to the campfire
conversing In low tones, some Of them
cursing in tones of awe. One or two
of them We're small farmers from Deer
Creek, recent comers to the state, or
men with punches Of milk cows, and
to them this deed was awesome.
The sheriff followed. saying: "Well
there's nothing to do but wait till
morning. The rest Of you men better
60 home. You can't be Of any use
here"
For more than three hours the sher.
iff and Redt1eld 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 bumblebee," de,
clared the sheriff. Hes got bunch
of cattle. but he's the mildest old man
in the state. He's the last rancher in
the country to even stand for such
work. What made you mention him?'
~ passed him as was riding back
replied Cavanagh. land he had scared
look in his eyes"
The sheriff grunted. "You imagined
all that. The old chap always has a
kind of meek look"
1t was nearly noon of a glorious day
as Cavanagh. very tired and very hun
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 sunlit rocky world.
How is the Basque?" asked the
| ranger