Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1924-12-12

Wnlle Juulln Is away an"
this outfit. And If the men think I'm
coming straight from her with an or
der they obey it. If they get the no
ton she isn't here, they're apt 10 ask
questions. That's why"
'This sale to Doan, Rockwell Y
Haight," said Lee quickly. "You
didn't cook that up, did you Hamp-
ton?"
Lord, MOI" cried Hampton. From
It's place on file he took yellow slip
of paper, tossing it to Lee. "She sent
me that this morning"
It was Western Union telegram.
saying briefly:
"Pollock Hampton,
"Blue Lake Ranch.
"Am forced to sell heavily. Send
ing Doan, Rockwell & Halght Wednes-
day morning, one hundred horses; as
many beef cattle as Carson can round
up Accept terms made in their letter
to you last week.
JUDITH SANFORD"
The date line upon the message
gave the sending point as San Fran
cisco.
"They wrote you letter offering
to buy?" said Lee thoughtfully, his
ewes rising slowly from the paper In
his fingers. How'd it happen they
didn't write to herr
"Well, it's a natural enough mis-
take, isn't it? Knowing that she and
| were both part-owners, knowing that
we were both here, isn't it quite 20
be expected that they would write to
the man instead Of to the woman? OF
course gave her the letter as sNon as
] had opened it."
"Of course" answered Lee.
But his thoughts were not with his
answer. They were with Bayne Ire
vorS. He knew that Trevors had long
ago sold to these people; he knew, too,
that at least two of the heavy share
holders in the Western Lumber COM
pany were interested in Doan, Rock
well & Haight. Tom Rockwell HIM
self was second vice president of the
lumber company.
"Have you had any other word from
Miss SanfordY' he asked.
mo"
"Know who her lawyers are?"
mo. l don't"
Anything in her papers here that
would tell us?"
mo. Her papers are in the safe
yonder and it's locked and l don't
know the combination"
Know what hotel she is stopping
at in the city,?
mo. Look here, Bud; what are you
driving at? l don't get you"
"No?" answered Lee absently.
What Bud Lee was thinking was
| Here are too many condolences
Little things, each one in itself safe
from suspicion. But when he medi-
tated that the offer had come from
this particular firm, that it had come
just a few days before Judith's first
departure from the ranch, that 1t mad
been addressed not to her but to Hamp'
ton, so that he must have the OppOr-
tunity to read it, that she had been
called suddenly to the city, that that
call had come after the house was
quiet, it's occupants in bed, that nc
letter had come since she had left
that no one knew where to reach ilel
when he passed all of these things
in review the bitterness in his hear
died under them and the first anxiety
sprang up anew, grown almost int
fear for her.
"rheres just one thing, Hampton
he said, his eyes hard on the boy:
face. 1--WE don't sell single hoof IL
the morning Not cow nor horse
until Judith is here herself"
Hampton, new in his role of genera
manager, flushed hotly, his own eye
showing fight.
Il like you, Lee" he said sharply
his tone that Of master to man. "An'
| don't want us to quarrel. But Ju
dith wired me to sell, I've wired Tn
buyers an acceptance and we do sci
in the morning"
For a full minute Bud Lee stoo
stone still, staring into Hampton