The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-02-16

.CAVANAGH.
Forest Ranger
--o---
THE GREAT CONSERVATION NOVEL
By HAMLIN GARLAND
b. Hamln Garland
THE GREAT CONSERVATION NOVEL
By HAMLIN GARLAND
Copyright, 1910, by Hamlin Garland

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES vvoeve5 0OtseteSa -
THAT mi-nt ue too late to see Lie
Lees voice showed great anxiety. She
may be on her deathbed. No: you'C
better so down with me today" h
urged. And at last the old man con
scented.
Putting some bread in his pockets
Ross rode off up the trail to see no,
the dog and his flock were faring. d
had not gone far when \he heard til
tinkle of the bells and the murmur
the lambs. and few moments late
the collie came toward him with til
air of a boy who. having assumed {,
disregard the orders OF his master. ex
poets a scolding. He plainly said
1--we brought my sheep to you because
/ was lonesome. Please forgive me-"
Cavanagh called to him cheerily an(
tossed him piece of bread. which b
caught in his teeth. but did not swai
low. On the contrary. he held it Will,
leaping for joy of the praise he heart
in his new found masters voice.
Turning the flock upward toward th'
higher peaks. the ranger commando
the collie to their heels and so. havin:
redeemed his promise. rode back to tn.
cabin. where he found Wetherford sad
died and ready for his momentous trii
to the valley. He had shaved ava.
his gray beard. and had Ross been un
prepared for these changes he woult
have been puzzled to account for thi,
decidedly military figure sitting statu
esquely on his pony before the door.
You can prove an alibi." he calico
as he drew near. Gregg himself would
never recognize you now"
Wetherford was In no mood for jok-
ing. Lie will. l wore mustache in
the old days, and there's scar on my
chin"
AS he rode he confded this strange
thing to Cavanagh. Il know" said he.
that Lie is old and wrinkled. for I've.
seen her. but all the same | can't re-
arize 1t. That heavy set woman down
there is not Lie. My Lie is slim and
straight. This woman whom you know
has stolen her name and face, that's
ALL I can't explain exactly what /
feel. but Lee Virginia means more to
me now than Lize."
II think | understand you" said
Cavanagh.- with sympathy in his voice
The nearer WetherfOrd came to the
actual meeting with his wife the more
he shook. At last he stopped In the
road Il don't believe I can do it.
he declared. I'll be like ghost t.
her. What's the use of It? She'll ont,
be worried by my story. l reckon I'd
better keep dark TO everybody. Let M.
go back. I'm plum scared cold
While still he argued two men or
horseback rounded a sharp turn il.
the trail and came face to face witt
the ranger. Wetherford's face wen
suddenly gray. There's the deputy.
Keep quiet TIL do the talking,
commanded Cavanagh. who was In
slant in his determination to shield tn
man. Good morning. gentlemen" h
called cheerily. You're abroad early
The man in front was the deput.
sheriff of the county; his companio,
was stranger.
THAT was horrible mess you STUN
bled on over on Deer creek" the DEF,
uty remarked. :.
1T certainly was. Have any arrests
been nader
Not yet. but we're on a clew. This
Is Marshal Haines Of Dallas. Mr.. Cav
anagh. pursued the deputy. The tive
men nodded in token Of the introduc
ton. and the deputy went ON. You
remember that old cuss that used t.
work for GreggT
Again Cavanagh nodded
swell. that chap Ii wanted by the
Texas authorities. Mr.. Haines her.
wants to see him mighty bad. Hes
an escaped convict with bad record"
rs that So" exclaimed Cavanagh.
ST thought he seemed bit gun shy"
1.-THE last seen of him was when Sam
Gregg sent him up to herd sheep.
think he was mixed up in that killing
myself-him and Ballard-and we're
going up to get some track of him.
Didn't turn up at your station, did
hep
Yes; he came by some days ago, on
his way, so he said, to relieve that
sick Basque, Ambro. / went up a
couple of days ago and found the
Basque dead and the old man gone. i
buried the herder the best 1 could. and
I'm on my way down to report the
case"
The deputy unused: "He may be
hanging round some of the lumber
camps. reckon we had better go up
and look the ground over anyhow. We
might just chance to overhaul him"
HE may have pulled out over the
range" suggested the ranger. ANY
how, it's a long way up there, and
you'll probably have to camp at my
place tonight. You'll find the key
hanging over the door. Go in and
make yourself comfortable"
The deputy thanked him and was
about to ride on when Cavanagh add
ed: Il burned that Basque's tent and
bedding for fear Of contagion. His
outfit was worthless anyhow. You'll
find the sheep just above my cabin
and the horse in my corral"
THE old man didn't take the horse.
Ell? Well, that settles it; he's sure at
one of the camps. Much obliged. Good
gay"
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.