The Delta independent., 1911-06-09
Copyright. 1870. by Hamlin Garland

of the hill to the north. and then. with
Cavanagh in the lead. followed by his
pack horse. they set up the long lateral
moraine which led by a wide circle
through the wooded park toward the
pass. The weather was clear and cold
The wind bit. and Cavanagh. scantily
clothed as he was. drew his robe close
about his neck. saying: Il know now
how it feels to be blanket Indian.
must say l prefer an overcoat."
A little later the keen eyes of the
guard. sweeping the mountain side.
were suddenly arrested. There's a
bunch of cowboys coming over the
pass" he called.
81 see tteI,.' responded Cavanagh,
"Get out your glasses and tell me who
they are
Swenson unslung his fieldglasses and
studied the party attentively. Looks
like Van Hornes sorrel in the lead,
and that bald face bay just behind
looks like the one Gregg rides. The
other two | don't seem to know"
perhaps it's the sheriff after me
for harboring Edwards" suggested
Cavanagh.
But Swenson remained sober. He
did not see the humor of the remark.
"What are they doing on the forest.
anyhow he asked
half an hour later the two parties
came face to face on a little stretch of
prairie in the midst of the wooded
valley. In the sheriff's party were
Gregg, the deputy and big man who
was stranger to Cavanagh. Their
horses were all tired. and the big civil
ian looked saddle weary.
Good evening, gentlemen!" called
the sheriff in southern fashion as he
drew near.
Good evening. Mr.. Sheriff." Cava-
nagh civilly answered. What's the
meaning of this invasion of my for
est?"
The sheriff for answer presented the
big stranger Mr.. Cavanagh. this is
Mr.. Simpson. the county attorney"
Cavanagh nodded to the attorney.
'1've heard of Mr.. Simpson" he said.
Simpson answered the question Ross
had asked. I'VE were on our way to
we understand that this old man Dunn
who shot himself had visited you be-
fore his death. giving you information
concerning the killing of the Mexican
sheep herders. Is that true?"
at is
"When did he visit you?"
1.-TWO days ago or maybe three. I
r,iy n
have been pretty closely confined to
my shack for few days"
Gregg threw in query. How is
the old MANI"
Hes all right. That is to say, he's
dead. Died last night"
The sheriff looked at Simpson mean
ingly. "Well. | reckon that settles
his score. judge. Even If he was i'm
plicated he's out of 1t now"
"He couldn't have been implicated"
declared the ranger. for he was with
me at the time the murder was com
mitted. left him high on the noun
tain in the Basque herder's camp. |
can prove an alibi for him. Further
more, he had no motive for such
work.
what did Dunn tell you?" demand
ed the sheriff. What names did he
give you?"
wait moment" replied Cavanagh.
who felt himself to be on his own ter
ritory and not to be hurried. There's
a reward offered for the arrest of these
men. Is there not?'
"There is replied the attorney.
"Well. before l make my statement
I'd like to request that my share Of the
reward If there is any coming to me.
shall be paid over to the widow of the
man who gave me the information.
Poor chap, he sacrificed himself for
the good of the state, and his family
should be spared all the suffering pos
sible.''
"Quite right. Mr.. Cavanagh. You
may consider that request granted.
Now for the facts"
Before going into that. Mr.. Attor-
pey, I'd like to speak to you alone"
every well. SIR" replied the attor-
ney. Then, waving his hand toward
the others. he said, Boys. just ride
off a little piece, will your
When they were alone Cavanagh re-
marked. 81 don't think 1t wise to give
these names to the wind, for II we do
there will be more fugitives."
81 see your point" Simpson agreed
Thereupon rapidly and concisely the
ranger reported what Dunn had said.
and the attorney listened thoughtfully
without speaking to the end. Then he
added. "That tallies with what we
have got from Ballard"
"was Ballard In it?" asked Caya-
nagh.
ayes. We forced n confession from
him"
'If he was in 1t 1t was merely for
the pay. He represented some one
else"