Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1924-11-14
Judith Of Blue Lake Ranch
By soi"ers
Copyright by Charles Scribner's Sons


had helped pluck me to feather their
own nests. 1t hurt, Dick; hurt like
HI. Losing the big ranch In the
South was a jolt, I'll admit; seeing
those fellows take 1t over and split It
two ways between them, sort Of
knocked the props out from under me.
/ believed In them, you see. After
that 1 just wanted to get away and
sort of think things over"
"You went to EuropeT
IT did not / don't know how that
report got out, but If people chose to
think l had gone to take hand in
the fighting over there, saw no need
to contradict a harmless rumor.
took a horse and beat it up into the
coast mountains. l tell you, Dick, L
wanted to think And l found out
before / was through thinking that l.
was sick Of the old life, that l was
sick Of people, the sort Of people you:
and l knew, that there was nothing
in the world but horses that 1 cared
the snap of my finger about, that the
only life worth living-for me-was
life in the open. I drifted up this
way. I've been living my own life In
my own way for five years. l am
happier at it than I used to be. That's
all Of the fiat little story, Dick"
"You might have let me know, 1t
seems to me-" said Farris bit stifly
$50 might" answered Lee thought
fully. 81 was going to in the first
place. But you'll remember you were
off somewhere travelling when the
bubble broke. When Dick Farris trav-
els," and his grave smile came back
to him, "let no mad letter think that
it can track him down. Then hit my
stride in this sort of life; grew away
from the old news; the years passed
as years do after a man Is twenty
Ave; and just didn't write. But
didn't forget, Dickis, old man." he said
warmly, and his hand rested on Far
,ris' shoulder. "You can put it in that
old black pipe of yours and smoke it,
that | didn't forget. Some day
planned to hit town again, heeled, you
know, and remind you of auld lang
syne"
you are a fool, David Burrill Lee"
said Farris with conviction. Look
here: you can take a new start, pull
yourself together, come back-where
you belong"
But Lee shook his head.
That's like the old Dick Farris used
to know" he said gently. But this is
where l belong, Dick. l don't want
to start over, 1 don't want to come
back to the sort Of thing we knew.
The only thing in the world l do want
Is right here. And)I don't see that
it would do any good for you to go
stirring up any memories about the
old Lee that was shot somewhere in
France"
When Farris had to go and claim
a dance, Lee watched him with eyes
soft with affection Then he, too, left
the room and went back to the outer
door, to his old spot, looking for Ju-
dith.
"The only thing 1 want is right
here" he repeated softly.
He watched Farris join Marcia and
Judith. He noted the eager excite
ment in Marcia's eyes, saw her turn
impulsively to Farris The ar-ist shook
his head and left them, ostensibly 60
ing in search of his partner. Marcia
was speaking excitedly to Judith.
Lee frowned.
Once more that night he held Judith
in his arms. He meant to make
amends for his brusque way with her
before But again the magic of her
presence was like glorious mist,
shutting them In together, shutting all
of the world out. They spoke little
and the music had its will with them.
Judith did not know that she sighed
as the dance ended. She seemed NOV
ing in a dream as Lee led her through
the door. They were out in the court
yard, the stars shining softly down
on them. In the subdued light here he
stood still, looking down into her
pleasure flushed face. Again the in
sistent tremor shot down his blood.
Here In this tender light she looked
TO MIN the masterpiece OF GOu StrlV-
ing for the perfect In a wOman's form.
Her gown, gently stirred by the warm
breeze, seemed part of her, elusive,
alive, feminine The milk-white Of
bare throat and shoulder and rounded
arm, the rise and fall of her breast,
the soft lure of her eyes, the tender
smile upon her lips, drew him slowly
closer, closer to her. She lifted her
face a little, raising her eyes until
they shone straight into his.
judith" he said very quietly, very
gravely, making her wonder at the
tone and the words to follow: "You
have had your way with me tonight.
Do you understand all that means
And now-I am going to have my way
with you"
He caught her In his arms, crushed
her to him, kissed her. Then he let
her go and stood, stern-faced, watch
ing her.
For moment he thought that the
hand at her side was rising to strike
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