Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1924-08-29
Judith OF Blue Lake Ranch
b. Coph Char iss

the swift approach Of Bayne Trevors.
The general managers face was black
with rage and through that dark
wrath showed dull red flush Of
lax at his sides.
"Give me cup Of coffee, Ben" he
commanded curtly, slumping into a
chair. Hurry! !'
Benny, looking at him curiously
brought a steaming cup and offered
it. Trevors moved to lift hand; then
sank back a little farther in his chair,
his face twisting in his pain,
Put some milk in it," he snarled
"Then hold it to my mouth, For the
love Of heaven, hurry, man"
Then no man there doubted longer
them. Down from Trevors' sleeves,
staining each hand, there had come a
broadening trickle Of blood. Trevors
drank swiftly, draining the cup.
"Get this coat off me-" he com
manded. Curse you, don't tear my
arms off Slit the sleeves"
1t was Lee who, pushing the clumsy
cook aside, silently made the two
bandages from strips Of Trevors' shirt.
1t was Lee who brought a SIX Of
brandy from which Trevors drank
deep.
And then came Judith.
They stared at her as they might
have done had the heavens opened
and an angel come down, or the earth
split and a devil sprung up. She looked
in upon them with quick, keen eyes
which sought to take every mans
measure. They returned her regard
with a variety Of amazed expressions.
Never since these men had come to
work for Bayne Trevors had woman
so much as ridden by the door. And
to have her stand there, composed,
utterly at her ease, her air vaguely
authoritative, a vitally 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.
l 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. Perhaps 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 a bulging,
hairy chest.
Men who had finished their break
fasts rose hastily with 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 leisureliness,
was following when Judith's cool
voice said quietly:
"You, Lee, wait moment. l 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.
I'm fred" said Trevors harshly.
"As soon as can get going l am leav-
ing for the Western Lumber camp.
Every one Of you boys holds his job
here because I gave 1t to him. Do
you want to hold it now, with fool
girl telling you what to do7 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
quit? To every man that jumps the
job here and follows me today / prom
ise a Job with the Western. You fell
lows know the sort Of boss I've been
to you. You can guess the sort Of
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
womanT
He had said what he had to say
and, cursing when his shoulder struck
form near him, made his way down
to the stables. Burkitt was ahead
Of him, going for the team.
"Well, Lee" said Judith sharply,
''where do you get off? Do you want
to stickf Or shall l count you out?"
81 guess" said Bud very gently,
ryou'd better count me out"
you're going with that crook?"
"No. I'm going on my own"
why? You're getting good money
here If you're square I'll keep you
at the same figure"
But Bud shook his head.
"I'm game to play square," he said
slowly. "Pll stick a week, giving you
chance to get man in my place.
That's ALL"
"What's the matter with your she