Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1911-07-13
. Ranger
BY HAMuN GARLAND
Copyright. 1910. by Hamlin Garland

The sheriff insisted TON said II
was an old mana stranger TO him
tall. smooth sbaven. not very strong.
he said-'penred to be cook. He had
helped nurse the dago. 80 Tom said"
That's very ctirious.- unused Red
field There isn't an old man In the
scrvire Of this forest There's a mis-
take somew here-
-well." concluded Gregg. that's
what be said I thought nj FIRST It
might be that Old hobo Edwards but
this Teller being In uniform and smooth
shaven"- His face changed: his
voice dcepened -Say. i.beiieve II was
Eiwavfs. and. furthermore. Edwards
IL the convict that Texas marshal was
AMER the other day. and this man
Cnvanagh-your prize sanger-<s har-
boring him.
what nonsenser exclaimed Red-
fieh
The sheriff hanged his band upon
the table. THAT'S the whole mystery.
I zee n ali now. He's up there CON
cealing this man He's given out this
smallpox scare Just TO keep the on
GERS away from him Nov you've got
IT.
The thunder IN fyfs voice drvw %
wurd him all those who remained In
tho dining room. and Lee found her
self r1Aeed atout by a dozen excfted
men. but she did nos finch She was
too deepiy concerned over CavaDagh's
fate to be afrnid. and. besides. Red
1eld and tho forester were beside her.
Tns supervisor vns staggered by
oreggs accusation and by certain con-
nrimtory fscts IN bis own possession.
bot he defended Cnvanagh bravely.
-You're crazy h replied why
should Ross do sucA . foolish thingi
What b hs motvef What fntesest
would he have IN this man Edwards.
whom yuu call q tyampf He can't he
. relative and certainly NOT q friend
of CAvanaGh'A Coz you say be n
conv1cS Coma now. your hatred Of
CavsnAgh has pons too far
0regH yas somewhat cooled BY thh
oAsh q reason. but replied: Il don't
know what relation he ia. but these
ere fnctx HeS concsafing an escaped
cou~1cS. and he knows Il"
DaitOa pus In Q quiet word what
y the uae q shouting a judgment
acainss a man like Cavanagh before
you know the factsf He's one Of the
best and sbiest rangers on this forest
don't know why he has resigned.
but I'm sure
-Hm b resignedY' asked 0rees -
gerry.
He haa-
"A good JOB for him wus about 10
circulate . petition 70 have him ~
moved
IF an me stockmen IN the valley
had signed Q petition against him II
wouldn't have done any good re-
piled Dalton. We know a good man
when W SEQ HIM I'm here 70 offer
him prvmotion. noa To punish him"
tHa hooking about at tho faces Of
these men and seeing disappointment
IN the1s fsces. lost the keen sting Of
her own humiliation In the midst Of
such a light as this bow can he give
tfms o. thought TO meT Painful as
thu admission vas. she was forced to
admit thA1 she was q very humble
fsctos In . very large campaign But
suppose he falls nr Her face grew
white and set and her lips bitter
'~rhat would be the enal tragic touch"
she tbought. 10 have him cone down
Of = plague from nursing one Of Sam
Gfegg's sheep herderA- Aloud she
saids His resignation comes Just In
time. Doesn't ~ He can now be SICK
without loss b the service
Dalton answered her. The super
visor has not excepted his resignation.
On the contrary. shall offer him q
higher position His career as for
ester Is only beginning. He would be
foolish 10 give up the work now. when
the avenues Of promotion are just
opening. can offer him very soon
the supesvfsion OF forest"
As they talked Lee felt herself sink
ing the while her lover rose. II was
all true. Tho forester was right.
Ross was capable Of any work they
might demand Of him. He was too
skilled, too intelligent. too manly. to
remain In the forest heroic as Its du-
ties seemed.
Upon this discussion Lie. hobbiing
painfully. appeared. With q cry VI
surprise Lee rose to meet her.
Mother. you must not do thisr'
She waved her away. Pm all
right" she said, barring the big mar
bles in my slippers" Then she turned
to Dalton Now. what's 1t all about?
Is II true that Ross Is DOWN.
"No. So far as we know, he is
we'll"
"Well, I'm going to find out. don't
intend to set here and have him up
there without a cook or a nurse"
At this moment a tall. fair young
fellow. dressed In a rangers uniform.
entered the room and made his way
directly to the spot where Lee, her
1 H..