Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-03-17

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
mer' he said.
"Oh, 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
pany?"
"All the same, I'm scared That
man Haines had his eyes on me every
minute. He saw right through me.
They'll get me, and they'll charge me
~ with that killing"
NO, 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 l will now.
l was in for a life sentence. l was
desperate for the open air and home
sick for the mountains, and struck
down one of the guards. | was will
ing to do anything to get out. l
thought if l could get back to this
country and my wife and child I'd be
safe. / said I'd be willing to go back
to the pen if necessary, but I'm not.
| can't do it. I'd die there. You must
save me for my girls sake"
His voice and eyes We're wild with
kind of desperate fury of fear, and
Cavanagh, moved to pity, assured him
of his aid. Now, listen," he said.
I'm going to shield you on account
of your work for that poor shepherd
and for your daughters sake. It's my
duty to apprehend you, of course, but
I'm going to protect you. The safest
thing for you to do is to go back to
my cabin. Ride slow, so as not to get
there till they're gone. They'll ride
over to the sawmill without doubt. If
they come back this way remember
that the deputy saw you only as a
ragged old man with long beard and
that Haines has nothing but printed
description to go by There's no use
trying to flee. You are a marked
man in that uniform, and you are
safer right here with me than any,
where else this side of Chicago.
Haines is likely to cross the divide in
the belief that you have gone that
way, and If he does you have no one
but the deputy to deal with"
He succeeded at last in completely
rousing the older mans courage
Wetherford rose to meet his opportu-
nifty. "I'll do it," he said firmly.
That's the talk" exclaimed Cav
anagh to encourage him. "You can
throw them off the track this time, and
when | come back tomorrow I'll bring
some other clothing for you, and then
we'll plan some kind of scheme that
will get you out Of the country I'll
not let them make scapegoat OF you
The ranger watched the fugitive as
he started back over the trail in this
desperate defiance Of his pursuers with
far less confidence in the outcome than
he had put into words.
''All depends on Wetherford himself.
If his nerve does not fail him, If they
take the uniform for granted and do
not carry the matter to the supervisor,
we will pull the plan through" And