West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-10-18


comes out of Jail. but would you guess
II from her blunT"
There was no mistaklng the fate OF
a rustler after Mr. Dax's grlsly demon.
stration, but OF the quality OF his call
Ing Mary was rs ignorant MS before.
And why should they do thatf" she
inquired, with tenderfoot simplicity.
stealth cattle amt good for the
health hereabouts." said Leander rs
one who spoke with authority. ITS
apt TO bring on thront trouble"
But Mary did not find Lenders
joke amusing. She had suddenly re-
membered the pale, gaunt man who
had walked into the eating house the
previous morning and walked out
again, his errand turned into farce
comedy 10y the cowardice OF an un-
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 I'm danger OF being hanged. Mary
Carmichael felt first the admiration
OF girl, then the pity of woman.
Tor the brave young creature who so
stoutly carried so unspeakable bur
den. But she could not speak of her
new knowledge to Leander
There amt man IN this Gawd
forsaken country wouldn't lopo Mt the
chance to die for her-but the vim
men" Lenders pantom.mlc indica-
ton of absolute feminine antagonism
was conclusive
The wimmen treats her scabby-
just scabby Don't YOU 20 70 thInkin'
she amt n good girl on that account
If Judy wasn't II good girl these boys
about here would just materially be-
come extinct shootln' each other upon
account of her" And something like
an attitude OF chivalrous protection
Strengthened the apologize crook in bis
craven outline.
Are the women Jealous OF herr"
ITS her Independence that rifles 'em.
They take on awful about her ridln'
In pants, and 1t certainly is heap
more modest thnn ridin' straddle in a
hitched up cal!ker skirt, same as some
of 'em do"
"Leanderl Leandcrr' came in ac-
cusing accents from the kitchen.
Rum! gasped Mrs. Dax's hand
maiden. Don't let her catch us
chlnnln."
Mary Carmichael ran round one side
OF the house, as she was hidden. but.
like Lots wife, could not resist the
temptation of looking back. Leander
with incredible rapidity, grabbed two
clothesplns off the line. clutched dish
towel and shook 1t. Comm! Com
in'!' he called as lie went through the
farce OF rehanging Il.
The lonesomeness of plain and foot.
hill, the utter lack Of the human ele
ment that gives TO this country fits
character of penetrating desolntIon,
had been changed while Mary Carui-
chael foregathered with Lender by the
clothesline. From the four quarters OF
the compass men In sombreros, aanncI
shirts and all manner OF strange habil.
lments came gdlloplng over the roads
as II their horses were as keen on
reaching DaX's as their riders. The lit
tie pintos, buckskins, bays and chest.
nuts dashed to the door and stopped
short In a full gaIlop. As n bit OF STAG
cato equestrianism II was superb.
And then the wherefore of all this
dashing horsemanship was apparent.
Judith Rodney had opened postodlce.
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 nlkau
wastes 10 see. The room was packed
Win men. One unconsciOusly got the
impression that fire, fight or some
crowd collecting casualty had han
pened.
Judith managed them allow punch.
ers' sheep herders, prospectors. freight
ers-with IN impersonal skill that sug.
gested a little solitary exercise In the
bowling alley. The tenpins took their
tumbles I'm good part-no one could
congratulate himself on escapina the
leveling ball-and where there's a INF.
Versal lack Or luck doubtless nlgo there
VIII 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
Old not depend ON the scarcity Of WON.
On ID the desert for her pre-opIuence I'm
the Interests Of this hot headed gropp
Her personality through mo- CON
sciOus effort OF hers would have boer
pre-einiuent anywhere. As IL was I'm
THIS woman-fOrsaken wilderness she
might have stirred NJ "a modern edition
on me Trojan war at any moment.
That she did not, despite the lurking
suggestion Of temptation written All
over her brought back the words 81
Leander. IF Judy wasn't O. good girl
hese boys would Just materially be.
come extinct shootln' each other upon
account Of her"
And yet what q woman she wasf 70
struck Miss Carmichael ns she watched
judith hold these warning elements in
me hollow OF her hand that her interest
night be due TO certain temperament
tai fusion, that there might lie M the
essence Of her being a subtle coublna.
ton OF saint and devil One could fan.
cy her leading an army on "a crusade
or provoking O. barrOOm brawI The
challenging quality Of her beauty. the
livldness Of color. the suggestion Of en-.
orfance and radiating health in every
Nne were comparable 10 the great
primevai forces about her.
AZ present neither pole Of her charac.
''r, ai 10 had been hastily estimated,
was even remotely suggested. The at.
mo- ihere in the postofico was. con.
slaerinH tle potential violence Of It's
visitors, singuiarly calm. And Judttb
Ieeding these wild border lads On
scfaps Of char and banter and retain
ing their absolute LOYALTY. wos a sight