The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1905-12-16


him for shore this time. soon as he
comes out Of Jail, but would you guess
1t from her bluff?"
There was no installing the fate of
a ruster after Mr.. Dax's grisly demon
stration, but of the quality of his call
Ing Mary was as ignorant as before
And why should they do that?" she
inquired with tenderfoot simplicity.
stealth cattle amt good for the
health hereabouts." said Leander as
one who spoke with authority. It's
apt to bring on throat trouble"
But Mary did not find Leander's
joke amusing She had suddenly re-
membercd the pale, gaunt man who
had walked Into the eating house the
previous morning and walked out
again. his errand turned into farce
comedy by the cowardice OF an I'M
worthy antagonist. The pale mans
grievance had had to do with sheep
and cattle. His name had been Rod
ney too. She understood now. He
was Judith Rodney's brother and he
was In danger Of being hanged Mary
Carmichael felt first the admiration
of girl. then the pity Of woman.
FOR the brave young creature who 30
stoutly carried so unspeakable a bur
den But she could not speak Of her
new knowledge to Leander.
There amt a man in this Gawd
forsakcn country wouldn't lope AT the
chance TO die for her-but the vim
men, Lenders panton. mic indica-
ton of absolute feminine antagonism
was conclusive.
The wimmen treats her scabby-.
just scabby. Don't you go to thlnkin'
she amt II good girl on that account.
If Judy wasn't good girl these boys
about here would just Materially be-
come extinct shootin each other upon
account OF her" And something like
an attitude of chivalrous protection
Strengthened the apologize crook in his
craven outline.
Are the women jealous of her?"
ITS her Independence that rifles 'em.
They take on awful about her rdin'
In pants, and II certainly Is heap
more modest than ridin strnddle in
hitched up caliker skirt, same as some
OF 'em do"
'Leander. Leanderr came in ac-
cuslng accents from the kitchen.
Run" gasped Mrs. Dax's hand
maiden Don't let her catch us
chinnin'."
Mary Carmichael ran round one side
OF the house, ms she was hidden. but.
like Lots wife, could not resist the
temptation of looking back. Leander,
with incredible rapldity, grabbed two
clothesplns off the line clutched dish
towel and shook It. Comm! Com
in'"' he called as he went through the
farce of rehanglng it.
The lonesomeness of plain and foot
hill the utter lack of the human ele-
ment that gives TO this country its
character of penetrating desolatlou,
had been changed while Mary Carmi-
chael foregathered with Leander by the
clothesline From the four quarters of
the compass men in sombreros, flannel
shirts and all manner of strange habit
iments came galloping over the roads
as II their horses were as keen OH
reaching DaX's as their riders. The lit
tie pintos. buckskins. bays and chest
nuts dashed TO the door and stopped
short in u full gallop. As a bit of STAG
cato equestrianism 1t was superb
And then the wherefore of all this
dashing horsemanship was apparent.
Judith Rodney had opened postoffice.
She had changed her riding clothes, or,
rather, that portion of them TO which
the ladies took exception was now
concealed by long black skirt. Her
wonderful braids OF black hair had
been twisted high on her head. She
was well worth a trip across the alkali
wastes TO see The room was packed
with men. One unconsciously got the
impression that a fire, fight or some
crowd collecting casualty had hap
pened.
Judith managed them all-cow punch
ers, sheep herders, prospectors, freight
ers-with an impersonal skill that sug-
gested little solitary exercise In the
bowling alley. The tenpins took their
tumbles In good part-no one could
congratulate himself on escaping the
levellng ball-and where there's uni
versal lack of luck doubtless also there
will be found sort OF grim fellow
ship.
That they were all more or less In
love with her there could be no doubt.
As matter of fact, Judith Rodney
did not depend on the scarcity of wom-
EN- In the desert for her pre-eminence in
the interests of this hot headed group.
Her personality-andt through no con
scious effort of hers-would have been
pre-eminent anywhere. AS 1t was. In
ibis Moman.forsaken wilderness abe