The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-10-09

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"You can take the girl back II you
/ want to. but now that I'm getting my
chance nj you may not 60"
Redheld's tone was entirely cordial
as he turned to Lee. II came hoping
to carry you away. VIII you conner
I'm afraid | can't unless mother
goes" she replied sadly.
Lie waved an imperative hand.
FADE away, child. I want to talk
with Mr.. Rcdheld alone. Go-seer'
Thus dismissed. Lee went back to
the restaurant, where she found the
forester just sitting down TO his lunch
con. mir. Redheld will he out in
few minutes" she explained.
won't you join meT' he asked in
the frank accent Of one to whom WON
en- are comrades. The supervisor has
been telling me about you"
She took scat facing him. feeling
something refined in his long. smooth
ly shaver. boyish face He seemed
very young 10 be district forester. and
his eyes were a soft brown. with small
wrinkles of laughter playing round
their corners.
He began at once on the subject OF
his visit. "Redheld tells me you are
friend Of Mr. Cavanagh's. Did you
know that he had resignedT'
She faced him with startled eyes.
"No, indeed. Has he done sop
"Yes. The supervisor got a letter
yesterday inclosing his resignation
and asking to be relieved at once.
And when | heard of II l asked the
supervisor to bring me down TO see
him. He's too good man to lose"
"Why did he resignT"
"He seemed very bitter over the
chiefs dismissal. But | hope to per-
suade him to stay in the service. He's
too valuable man to lose just now.
when the war is so hot. | realize that
his salary Is too small But there are
other places for him. Perhaps when
he knows that have a special note
to him from the chief he will recon
slider. He's quite capable Of the SUI
pervisors position. and Mr. Redfeld is
willing TO resign in his favor. I'm
telling you all this because Mr.. Red
field has told me Of your interest in
Mr.. CavanGgh. or. rather. his interest
In you"
Sam Gregg. entering the door at this
moment. came directly to the forest
ers table. He was followed by the
sheriff. a bearded old man with a soil
ed collar and dim eye.
Gregg growled out, You'd better
keep your man Cavanagh In the hills,
Mr.. Forester. or somebody will take a
pot shot at him."
"Why. what's newr
"Hls assistant is down with small
pox."
SMALLPOX" exclaimed Dalton.
Every jaw was fixed and every eye
turned upon the speaker.
smallpox gasped Lee.
Gregg resumed, enjoying the sensa-
ton he was creating. "Yes, that
Basque herder of mine, the one up
near Black Tooth. sent word he was
sick, so l hunted up an old tramp by
the name of Edwards TO take his place.
Edwards found the dago dying of pox
and skipped out over the range, leav-
ing him to die alone. Cavanagh went
up and found the dago dead and took
care of him Result is he's full Of
germs and has brought his apprentice
down with ii. and both of 'em must be
quaraDtined right where they are"
Good heavens, man." exclaimed
Dalton. this is serious business! Are
you sure it's smallpox"
zone of my men came from there
last night. was there myself on
Monday; so was the deputy. The sher
III missed Tom this morning. but |
reached him by phone. and Cavanagh
admitted to us that the Basque died
of smallpox and that he buried him
with his own hands"
The sheriff spoke up. THE criminal
part of IL Is this. Mr.. Dalton-Cava-
nagh didn't report the case when he
came down here. just when about leav-
ing a trail of poison. Why didn't he
report it? lie should be arrested"
"Wait moment" said Dalton. per
haps 1t wasn't pox: perhaps 1t was only
mountain fever. Cayanagh Is not the
kind of man TO involve others in a
pestilence. reckon he knew II was
nothing but fever. and. not wishing
to alarm his friends. he just slid into
town and out again"
A fash of light. of heat. of Joy. went
through Lees heart as she listened to
Dalton's defense Of Cavanagh. THAT
was the reason why he rode away"
she thought. "He was afraid of bring
ing harm 10 us" And this conviction
lighted her face with a smile even
while the forester continued his sup
position by saying. "Of course proper
precautions should be taken. and as
We are going up there the supervisor
and ] will see that n quarantine Is es-
tablished II We find II necessary"
Gregg was not satisfied. "Cavanagh
admitted to the deputy and TO me that
he believed the case to be smallpox
and said that he had destroyed the
camp and everything connected with
II except the horse and the dog. and
yet he comes down here. injecting ev-
erybody he meets" He turned to Lee.
"You'd better burn the bed he slept
on He's left a trail of germs wher.
h.. n. L. -.