The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1921-09-09
How Jud Surprised
the Boys
(@. 1921. Western Newspaper Unionl
BY CLARKE.

he last really characteristic occasion
IN the career of JudsOn Ransom where
he somewhat promiscuous mining Gle
ment OF the brisk border town fol
lowed their leader with old-time pride
and enthusiasm. 1t came tbout when
Higbee, a rival settlement thirty miles
distant, sent over what there was of a
frontier temperance league. The act
was resented at once by the Cap pco-
PIE. A covert %insinuatiOn was CON
Heyed that they were within the
heather pale, and Jud and his crowd,
holding high festival at the settlement
bar, marched Ell masse to the village
hall"
They were somewhat awed when
they found the visiting hayrack load
under the care and encouragement OF
MISS Ina Tappan. She was the daugh-
ter of Judge Tappan of Hlgbee, and
highly respected. Her father had
made "a ten strike" two years since,
but the vein was lost and he was no
longer wealthy.
Pm going to stick" announced Jud
to the loyal ones. Start the ball roll
ing and you'll find me pushing it,"
In the midst of an address ONE Of
the u~nregenerates broke into a wild
dance. declaring he was reformed
Then Jud gave the word. Instantly
four revolvers blazed forth, filling the
room with clamor and smoke.
No nnn nf thA ,tr;tt,r ,n Yf ~
finched. Miss Tappan gave. out a
song, where Is My Wandering Bay
Tonight" 1t made Jud mad. 1t
caused him to think Of his mother
Shoot her up again" he shouted,
leaplng upright on a bench and pro
ducing a bottle. Here, all hands take
q drink !"
There was no shooting and no drink
ing. Jud had missed his footing.
When Jud Ransom returned to con
seriousness the meeting was over. Only
the visiting crusaders were in evil
dence. He was lying on a bench, and
gentle hands were cooling his wound
ed head with u wet handkerchief. His
eyes met those of Miss Tappan. Half
sobered, as he sat up he scOwled at his
grave-faced nurse.
II was thinking of your mother"
almost whispered the lady. Il was
wondering if she was longing to see
her wandering boy tonight"
Jud broke past her as, if she had APP
piled a singing whiplash. Mother
hcme-the past! AS if pursued, he
made for the tavern.
it was a ques ion of varied discus
sion, the weeks after that, what had
come over Jud Ransom. He lay in a
weak, dumpish daZe. When he got
about he evaded his Old comrades, did
10 work and wandered about in soil
tary places. The leader of the camp,
he felt himself becoming a weakling.
and one dark night Jud left the Gap
a broken a ,
He got as far as Higbee. He had
TO keep going, nerve lost or not, he
told himself. A prospecting company
offered him a grubstake to try and
locate new claims. Jud had been
educated as a mining engineer. THAI
had drifted him West. He took up
the work offered. He turned in one or
two fair prospects. One day he came
back from the hills alive with sup
pressed excitement, tidied up the best
he knew how, and went to the Tap
pan home.
He had tried to evade Miss Tappan
since he had been located at Higbee;
it stirred him up to meet her. She
greeted him always with a friendly
smile.
1t was she who net him at the door
as he asked for Judge Tappan. She
looked interested as she took him to
her father.
I'm a square man, judge said Jud
bluntly. you know I've been loca ing
prospects for those eastern people.
Yesterday l ran across a rich one and
l thought l had good news for my
crowd, when 1 found this" and he pro-
duced q piece of ore.
ITS rich all right" observed the
nudge. "Where did it come from?"
"The ravine end Of your claim" re-
piled Jud promptly. Il reckon I've
found the lost vein Of your Little Jew
ell mine"
He had, and proved it next day, and
became the partner of the judge in
working it. Hope, hard work and so
briefly did wonders during the next
month in banishing the nervous break
down, and Judson Ransom came down
the mountain side at the Gap n glo-
rious morning, singing as he went, his
face radiant.
II suppose you've heard of the we'd
ding, boys ne said. "Tve come to in
vite you, because l never forget old
friends. Wen have a dance, but no
riot. I can't fight or drink any more,
but if any Of you want to argue on the
moral questions Of the day, Tp here
with the goods"
Nothing More to Add.
A witty dean was staying at the
bo,ca of q friend I'm London whose