Putnam patriot., 1911-05-12

[ IOEN BiIl that uiO iuueeu threaten ms peace of mind There was an invol- untary appeal a wlstful depth. 10 her glance which awakened in him an in dignant pity and also blew into flame something not so credita ble-some- thing which smoldered beeath his conscious will. She had not escaped ! her heritage of passion. and her glances. innocent as they were, reused even in him something lawless.
 His pony plodded slowly. and the afternoon was half spent before he came in sight of the long low log cab in which was the only home he pos sessed in all America. For the first time since be built It the station seem ed lonely and disheartening. Would any woman for love of me come to such d hearthstone?' he asked him self And If she consented to do so could l be so selfish as to exact such sacrifcef No, the forest ranger in these attitudes must be young and heart free; otherwise his life would be miserably solitary" He was just dishing out his rude supper when the feet of q horse on the log bridge announced visitor
 With d feeling of pleasure as well as relief he rose to greet the stranger. Any visitor is welcome this night" he said
 The horseman proved to be his for mer prisoner. the old man Edwards. who slipped from his saddle with the never failing grace of the COW man and came slowly toward the cabin. He smiled wearily as he said: "I'm on your trail, Mr. Ranger. but bear no malice You were doing your duty. Can you tell me how far it is to Am bros campF
 There was something forlorn in the mans attitude. and Cavanagh's heart softened. Turn your horse into the corral and come to supper" he com manded with western bluntness. Well talk about all that later" Edwards accepted his hospitality without hesitation. Pm going up to take Ambro's place." he began after a few minutes of silent eating. Know where his camp isr'
 eI do." replied Ross. to whom the stranger now appeared in pathetic guise Any man of his age consent ing to herd sheep is surely hard hit by the rough hand of the world" he req soned. and the closer he studied his visitor the planer he felt his ungoy- erned past
 ''I suppose Gregg paid your 1neY' he said
 Yes"
 "In any other town in the state you'd have gone down the line" He reused himself See here. MT Ranger. you've no warrant to believe me. but I told you the truth. Young Gregg got me to ride Into the range and show him the tratl. didn't in- tend to get mixed up with a game warden. I've had all the confinement l need"
 Well, it's closed incident now" interposed Ross. We won't reopen it. Make yourself at home.' The stranger. hungry as he was. ate with unexpected gentility, and as the
 
 through his body he asked, with liven- ing interest a good many questions about the ranger and the forest service You fellers have to be all round men. The cowboys think you have a snap, but l guess you earn your money"
 "A man that builds trails. lays bridges, burns brush. fights fire. rides the roundup and covers seventy-fve miles of trail every week on SS0 per month and feeds himself and his horses isn't what I would call enjoy Ing soft snap.'
 What do you do 1t for?" God knows Eve been asking my self that question all day today"
 This playing game warden has some outs loo, That was wild crowd last night The town is the same old hole it was when knew it years ago Fine girl Of Lize Wetherford's Iize has changed terribly l didn't expect te see her have such skein of silk IS that girl She sure looks the queen to me"
 Cavapash did not greatly relish this line Of conversation. but the pause en- abled hlm to say; Miss Wetherford is not much western: she got her train Ing in the east Shes been with an aunt ever since her fathers death"
 Hes dead Is he?"
 'So fur as anybody knows. he is
 Well. he's no loss. knew him too He was all kinds of a fool He got on the wrong side of the rustler line up. Them Wetherford women think a whole lot of you. Pears like they'd both fght for you Are you sweet on the girlf'
 Now, see here, old man." Ross re- | torted sharply you want 10 do lot of thinking before you comment on Miss Wetherford. l won't stand for any nasty clack."
 Edwards meekly answered: T wasn't going to say anything out of the way
 was fixing for to praise her" "AIl the same, l don't intend to dis | cusS her with you.' was Cavanash's | curt answer
 The herder fell back into silence
 while the ranger prepared his bunk for the night The faet that he trans
 ferred some of the blankets from his own bed 10 that of his visitor did not escape Edwards' keen eyes. and with grateful intent he said:
 "l can give you tip. MT. Ranger" said he. breaking out of a silence
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