The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-10-03
Judith of Blue Lake Ranch

that can't ride a horse 'thout fallin
off, that can't see a pig stuck 'thout
| fainting, that can't walk mile 'thout
getting laid up, that can't. :. :"
"Slow up therel' called Judith.
Didn't / stick pig already this
morning, and have keeled over yet?
Didn't l ride the forty miles from
Rocky Bend last night and get here
before sunup? Listen to me, chief
kicker: If you've got horse on the
ranch I can't ride I'll quit right now
and give you my job! How's that
strike you? tell you the word on
this ranch is going to be Put up or
shut up! Which is it, Growly?"
! Again the men laughed and Han
mons face showed his anger.
"Mean that, lady?" he demanded
briefly.
you can just bet your eyes l mean
] itw
Harmon turned toward the stable.
"All right Wen see who's going to
put up or shut up!" he jeered over his
shoulder. "You ride the Prince just
two little minutes and I'll stay and
work for you'll"
Bud Lee from the doorway inter-
fered. He was a man who loved fair
play and he knew the Prince. "None
of that, Ward" he called sternly.
"Not the Prince"
But Judith, her eyes afiame, whirled
upon Lee her voice like a whip as she
said: 'Lee, you keep out of this. The
sooner you learn who's running things
here the better for you"
Maybe So" said Lee quietly. But
don't you fool yourself you can ride
Prince. There's not man on the job
except me that can ride him." 1t was
not boastfully said, but with calm as
surance. Hes an outlaw, Miss judi
18th. He's the horse that killed Jimmy
Carpenter last spring, and Jimmy"
go ahead, Ward" Judith repeated.
1--we got something to do today be-
sides play y-wants-a-corner with
you boys"
Ward went, his eyes filed with
malice. Two or three of the other
men joined their voices to Buds and
Carson's, expostulating, telling of that
fearful thing, an outlaw horse. Judith
maintained a scornful silence
In due time Ward came back. He
was leading saddled horse, a great,
wild-eyed roam that snapped viciously
as he came on, walking with the wide,
spreading stride of horse little used
70 70 i'm,
| with her eyes as she had measured
the men in the clubhouse.
Hes an ugly devil" she said, and
Lee, at her side, smiled again. But
| the girl had not altered her inten-
ton. She stepped closer, looking to
| cinch, bit and reins. She commanded
Ward to draw the latigO tighter, and
Ward did so, lodging back as the big
brute snapped at him.
| Judith laughed Look out, Ward"
she tainted him. Hes after your
| hairl''
Two men held the Prince At judi
| this command they shortened the STIR
rups and then blinded him With ban
danna handkerchief Then, moving
with incredible swiftness, she was in
the saddle, the reins firmly gripped.
The Prince, sudden trembling thrill
ing through him, stood with his four
feet planted. The girl leaned forward
and whipped the blind from his red
trimmed eyes.
There's good boy!" said Judith
coolly. "Buck little for the lady,
Prince!"
Slowly the great muscles of
Princes leg and shoulder and flank
corded. The trembling passed; he was
like horse carven in blush granite.
He shook his head a little. Judith,
her hand tightening upon the reins,
held his head well UP, the severe bit
thwarting the attempt to get his nose
down between his forelegs.
1 Then suddenly, without warning, the
horse whirled, leaping far out 20 thu
! left striking with hard hoofs punched,
gathering himself as he landed, swerv-
| ing with the quickness of light, plung-
ing again to the right. And again he
stood STILL Judith, sitting securely on
Ills TeDelllOuS udCh, IduSueU Ilci
laughter, cool and unafraid, sent a
strange little thrill through Bud Lee
who, with fear In his heart, was
watching her.
'Look out for him nowI" he called
warningly.
In truth the Prince had not yet be-
gun. He plunged toward the corral,
his purpose plain, the one desire in his
heart to crush his rider against the
high fence. But Judiths spurs an
swered him, and the bit, savage in his
jaws, brought him about, whirling
siding, striking, bucking as only a
strong, fearless, devil-hearted horse
knows how to buck. He doubled up
under her; he rose and fell in quick
series of short jumps which tore and
jerked at her body, which strove to
tear her knees away from his sides
and break the grip of her hand on the
reins But it seemed to the mer
watching that the girl knew before the
horse which way he would jump, that
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