Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-09-04
: from which Treyors drank

And then came Judith.
They stared at her as they might
have done had the heavens opened
split and devil sprung up. She looked
in upon them with quick, keen eyes
which sought to take every mans
measure. They returned her regard
with variety of amazed expressions.
Never since these men had come to
work for Bayne Trevors had a woman
SO much as ridden by the door. And
to have her stand there, composed,
utterly at her ease, her air vaguely
authoritative, a vitality vivid being
who might, suddenly, have taken
tangible form from the dawn, bewil-
dered them.
II am Judith Sanford" she said in
her abrupt fashion, quite as she had
made the announcement to Lee and
Trevors. 'This outfit belongs to me.
) have fired Trevors. You take your
orders straight from me from now on.
Cookie, give me some coffee"
She came in without ceremony and
sat down at the head of the table. Benny
hastily brought the coffee. From some
emotion certainly not clear to him he
went a violent red. Perha the emo
ton was just sheer embarrassment.
He brought hot cakes with one hand
while with the other he buttoned his
gaping shirt-collar over bullying,
hairy chest.
Men who had finished their break
fasts rose hastily with a marked awk-
wardness and ill-cOncealed haste and
went outside, whence their low voices
came back In a confused consultation.
Men who had not finished followed
them. In an amazingly short time
there were but the girl, Lee, Trevors
and the cook in the room. Bud Lee,
moving with his usual leisureliress,
was following when Judith's cool
voice said quietly:
you, Lee, wait a moment. want
to talk with you.''
Lee hesitated. Then he came back
and waited.
The men outside naturally grouped
about the general manager. His angry
voice, lifted clearly, reached the two
in, the room.
; ssTm fred" said Trevors harshly.
"As soon as I can get going am leav-
ing for the Western Lumber camp.
Every one Of you boys holds his job
here because I gave it to him. Do
you want to hold It now, with fool
girl telling you what to do? Do you
| want men up and down the state to
laugh at you and jeer at you for a
pack Of softies and imbeciles? Or do
you want to roll your blankets and
7 quit? To every man that jumps the
/ Job here and follows me today prom
: Use a job with the Western. You fell
) lows know the sort of boss I've been
!. to you. You can guess the sort OF
t boss that chicken in there would be.
Now I'm going. It's up to you. Stick
to a white man or fuss around for a
woman?'
He had said what he had to say
, and, cursing when his shoulder strrck
form near him, made his way down
t to the stables. Burkitt was ahead
$ OF him, going for the team.
.Wen, Lee,' said Judith sharply,
: s'where do you get off? Do you want
, to stick? Or shall / count you out?'
} IT guess" said Bud very gently,
you'd better count me out"
you're going with that crookY
mo. I'm going on my own"
? "Why? You're getting good money
5 here. If you're square I'll keep you
+ at the same figure"
But Bud shook his head
' .sPm game to play square," he said
I. slowly. "I'll stick a week, giving you
( a chance 20 get man in my place.
( That's all.
whats the matter with your she
cried holly. "Why won't you stay
with your jcb? IsNit because you don't
z want to takes orders from me?"
Then Lee sifted his grave eyes to
hers and answered simply: That's
1t. I'm not saying you're not all right.
But I got it figured out, there's just
two kinds Of ladies. If you want to
know. I don't see that you've got any
call to tie into a mans job
ooh, scat!" cried the girl angrily.
.'You men make me tired. Two kinds
II
men! You want me to dress like a
doll, I suppose, and keep my hands
soft and white and go around like a
brainless, simpering fool There are
two kinds Of ladies, my fine friend
the kind that can and the kind that
can't! Thank God I'm none Of your
precious, signing, dollhouse little
fools r.
Gulping down a last mouthful of
coffee, she was on her feet and passed
swiftly out among the men,
"You men! r. she cried, and they
turned sober eyes upon her, listen to
me! You've heard that big stiff rant !;
now hear me I'm here because / be-
long here. My dad was Luke Sanford
and he made this ranch. I was raised
here. It's two-thirds mine right now.
Trevors there is crook and told him
so. He's been trying to sell me out,
to make such failure Of the outfit
{ that I'd have to let it go for a comic
] song. He got gay and / fired him.
He tried to manhandle me and