The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1911-06-02
Cavanagh. s Forest ~ Ranger
Gy IlAHll'i Carl AND

cesydfa o.. hy Hsn,'ir Css'sns
-
l~e ~ a~~ s-ass~~~~~-H
the foass shytfe.i IN mnnie rnnvas
hruc N the shepherd. and ciosc be
,ii' 4. rnsfhrd bs lene dor and "
Inc NE ihi sirrnd nprk ~ fimy
imwiders tiifuns nnnfi raiic IN fiieir
fcnt immo'iliiti hid lied the sheep
"fheres four hsnsr." shouted iloss
fo Wethcrforl
The older man. with white face of
dtamay lootcd about him. unable 10
make rcrly.
"Ifcllo. itcrcr' shouted Ross, won.
dcfing " The alisence of human me
about the camp. Hello. thc houscl"
Receiving no answer To- his hail he
turned to Wcthcrfofd. looks ns II
Ambro has pulled ont aud left the col.
lie TO tend tho flock He's been Kind NJ
sec1y for some days
Dlsmountinr he approached the tent.
The collie, who knew him. seemed TO
understand his errand. for he lcaped
upon him as II to kiss his check Ross
put him down gently. You're almost
too Glad TO see me. old fellow ! won
der how long you've been loft here
alone"
Thereupon he opened the tied flap,
but started back with instant pcrcep-
tion Of something wrong. for there, on
his pile Of ragged quilts. lay the
Basque herdcr. with flushed face and
rolling eyes, crazcd with fever and en-
tirely helpless. You'd better not come
In here. Wetherford." Ross warned.
"Joe is here. horribly sick. and I'm
afraid It's something contagious. 1t
may be smallpox"
Wethcrford recci,cd step. "Small-
pox! What makes you think thatY
swell. these Baslucs have been hav-
ing It over In their settlement. and, be-
sides, II smells like it" He listened n
moment. I'm afraid Joes in for It..
He's crazy with it. But he's human
being, and we can't let him die here
alone You rustic some wond for the
stove, and IN ser whit I can do for
him"
Wetherford was old and wasted and
thin blocdcd. but he hid never been a
coward. and In his heart there still
burned small famc Of his youthful,
reckless. generous daring. Pushing
Cayanagh one side. he said with firm
decision: "You keep out Of there I'm
the one to play nurse. This is my
job"
Nonsense! am younger and
stronger than you"
Get away" shouted the older man.
"Gregg hired me to do this work, and
1t don't matter whether | live or die.
But you've got something to do In the
world. My girl needs you, and she
don't need me, SO get out OF here and
stay out. Go bring me that wood and
I'll 60 In and see hats the matter"
Cavanagh looked him In the face an
instant. Every WE'LL" said he, ''1'll dc
as you say. There's no use OF our
both taking chances
1t was beginning to rain. and the
tent was dark and desoIate. but as the
fire In the little stove commenced tc
snarl and the smoke to pour out Of
the pipe the small domicile took on
cheer. Wetherford knew how to care
for the sick and in the shelter Of the
canvas wall developed unforeseen Wig
or and decision. 1t was amazing tt
Cavanagh to witness his change Of
manner.
Soon pan Of water was steaming
and some hot stones were at the sui
ferer's feet. and when Wetherford M
peared at the door Of the tent his face
was almost happy. XIII sheep
There Isn't thing but heel of ba-
con and little -four In the place"
Twenty miles of nsost difficult trail
lay between Cavanagh's cabin md
this spot. To carry the sick man on
his horse would not onIy be painful tc
the sufferer. but dangerous to the res
cuer, for II the Basque were really III
Of smallpox contagion would surely
follow. On the other hand. to leave
him to die here unaided seemed inhu
man, impossible.
There is only one thing to do" be
called to wethcrford. "and that Is FOL
me to ride back to the station and
bring mp some extra bedding and my
own tent and so camp down beside
you"
"All right, but remember rye cstnb
lIshed quarantine. I'll crnck youI
head II you break over the line nr
inch"
There was no longer any feeling ol
reaching up or reaching down between
the two men-they were equals. Weth
erford, altogether admirable, seemet
to have regaincd his manhood ms HI
stood in the door Of the tent vonfvont
ing the ranger. "This Basque ain
much Of a flnd: but. as you say. hc'l
human. and we can't let him lie herr
and die. I'll stay with him I'll yos
can end a doctor or till he dies"
Il take or my hat to you," respond
ed Cavnnagh. you are a man."
Once back at his cabin after ienvini
wetherford. Cavnnagh set himself 4
cooking some food to take back will
him to the peak. He brought in hi
pack horse and burdened him witt
camp OUTFIT and utensils and extr'
clothing. He filled his pockets witt
| such medicines as he possessed, nn'
% st last. Just az nteht ives fslljnG. b