The Marshall republican., 1911-06-02

Sucu meuICiueS US ne pOSseSSeu. uuu
10 at last. Just as night was failing. he
started back over his difficult trail.
wetherford met him Mt the door. no
longer the poor old tramp. but u priest.
one who has devoted himself to
Christ's service.
How IL hep asked the ranger.
"DelIrious." replied the herder. I've
had to hold him to bis bed. I'm glad
you've come. It's lonesome up here
Don't come too near. Set your tent
down there by the trees. ] can't have
you infected. Keep clear Of me and
this camp"
"rve got some food and some extra
clothing for you"
Put 'em down here. and In the
morning drive these sheep away. That
noise dlsturbs the dngo. and ! don't
like II myself: they sound lonesome
and helpless. That dog took EN- away
for awhile. but brought 'em back
ngain. Poor devil, he don't know what
"a think OF II ALL"
Ross did as wetherford commanded
him to do and withdrew a little way
down the slope and without putting
up his tent rolled himself In bis blsn
kcts and went to sleep.
The rangers first duty IN the morn.
ing was 10 feed the faithful collie and
to send him forth with the flock. His
next nj TO build n Gre and cook some
breakfast for wetherford. and rs he
put Il down beside the tent door he
heard the wild pleading Of the Basque.
who was struggling with his nurse,
doubtless In the belief that he wns
being kept n prisoner. Only a few
words like ''go home and sheep
were ineligible TO either the nurse or
the ranger. ~
Cavanagh waited TIL a silence came.
then called softly. Here's your break.
fast, wetberford."
Move away" retorted the man
within Keep your distance"
Ross walked away q little space.
and wetherford came TO the door.
Tho dago In sure sick. There's no
two ways about that. How far u II
TO the nearest doctorT"
Il could reach one BY phone from
the Kettle ranch. about twenty miles
below here"
III he don't get better today ] reck.
on we'll have TO have q doctor" Hs
looked 90 white and old that Cava'
oagh said:
''you need rest. Now. ] think I've
had tho smallpox. know I've beer
s~accinated. and n you 90 10 bed"-
''If you're saying all that prsliminar,
10 o6ering to come In here YOU'RE
wasting your breath. don't Intend
10 Vet you come any pearer than you
are. There N work for you to DO. Be
aides. there's my girl. You're detailed
70 look after her"
|, would q doctor comsr' asked Row
|, quito buskily. moved By wethsrford''
|, words. "lt's hard climb. Wout
they think the dago worth itr'
wstherford's face darkened with |,
look Of doubt 1T IL q hard trip for
city man. hut maybe be would cons
FOR you-for the government"
u doubt q, even II were 70 ole
my next months salsry a. . fee
. 'rhees hills are very remote 10 tb'
townsfoik and one dago more or lss'
Of no importance but III zee What
, 81 DO"
Ross was really more concerned 70
wsthsrford himself than for ID
i BASQUE. "1f the fever Il somsthin,
|. malignant We must have medical aid.
, b. said and went slowly back to hi
} own camp to ponder bis puzzling prot
sm.
one thing could certainly b don't
and that was TO inform Gregg IN
Murphy Of their herder's iiluessI Sur
b they would come to the rescue q
: The collie aud his dock. To reach
telephone involved either a ride owe
into Deer Greek or q return to th
Fork. He was tempted to ride all th
. way to the Fork. for to do 20 woul
permit another meeting with Lee. Blu
; 10 do this would require many hour
: longer. and half a days delay Nigh
prove fatal 10 the Basque, and, b
sides. each hour OF loneliness and TO
, rendered wetherford just 30 niue
moro open to the deadly attack Of til
disease.
e was hard to leave an old an
broken man In such a drear. and win
contested spot. and yet II bad to 2
done; 20. fastening his tent securel
behind a clump Of jumpers. Cavanag
mounted his horse and rode ava
across the boundary OF the forest INF
Deer Greek basin. which had been n
bone OF much contention for nearl
four years. II had once been a part {
the forest. but under pressure the pre-
ident had permitted IL to be restored
tho public lands open for entry.
was not agricultural grounds" |
certain ranchers claimed. but Il VI
excellent summer pasture. and q
shsepmen and cattlemen had leaps
, at once into warfare to possess
sheep were beaten to death With ciul