Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1924-08-22

dred and fifty head. The whole
bunch, an easy flfty-seven hundred
little iron men,"
He stared hard at Trevors a mo-
ment. And then, partially voicing the
thought with which he had grappled
upon the corral gate, he added medi
tatively: There's something al
mighty peculiar about an outfit that
will listen to a man offer fifty bucks
on string like that"
His eyes, cool and steady, met
Trevors' In long look which was little
short Of a challenge.
Just how far does that 60, LeeY
asked the manager curtly.
"As far as you like" replied the
horse foreman coolly. Are you going
to sell those three-year-olds for thirty
six hundred?"
"Yes," answered Trevors bluntly, II
am. What are you going to do about
/ it?"
ASK for my time, guess" and
although his voice was gentle and
! even pleasant, his eyes were hard.
''I'll take my own little string and
move on"
Curse ttP' cried Trevors heatedly.
what difference does 1t make to you?
What business is it Of yours how
! sell? You draw down your monthly
pay, don't you? / raised you a notch
last month without your asking for it.
! didn't IT'
That's so," agreed the foreman
equally. "It's cinch none of the
boys have any kick coming at the
wages"
For moment TrevOrs sat frown-
! ing up at Lees inscrutable face. Then
he laughed shortly. 'Look here,
Bud" he said good-humoredly, an OBJ
vious seriousness of purpose under the
light tone. II want to talk with you
before you do anything rash. Sit
down." But Lee remained standing,
merely saying, Shoot"
II wonder" explained Trevors, 'if
the boys understand just the size of
J the Job I've got in my hands2 You
know that the ranch is a million
dollar outfit; you know that you can
ride fifteen miles without getting off
the home-range; you know that we
are doing a dozen different kinds Of
farming and stock-raising But you
don't know Just how short the money
is! There's that young idiot now,
Hampton. He holds third interest
and I've got to consider what he says,
even II he is weak-minded, inbred
pup that can't do anything but spend
an inheritance like the born fool he
is. His share 10 mortgaged; I've tried
to pay the mortgage of. I've got to
keep the interest up. Interest alone
amounts to three thousand dollars a
year. Think Of that! Then there's
Luke Sanford dead and his one third
interest left to another young fool, a
girl Every two weeks she's writing
for report, sternally butting in,
making suggestions, hampering me
until I'm sick Of the job"
THAT would be Luke's girl, Judith p
"Yes. Two Of the three owners
kids, writing me at every turn. And
the third owner, Timothy Gray, the
only sensible one of the lot, has just
up and sold out his share, and sup
pose I'll be hearing pext that some
superannuated female in an old lady's
home has inherited a fortune and
bought him out. And now you, the
F., best man I've got, throw me down !"
II don't see," said Lee slowly, after
brief pause, "just what good 1t does
to sell good string Of horses Like they
we're sheep. Half Of that herd is real
horse-f flesh, tell you"
"Well," snapped Trsvors, suppose
you are right. I've got to raise three
thousand dollars in a hurry. Where
will 1 get .tt'
'Who is Offering fifty dollars Q head
for those horses" asked Lee abruptly
1T might be the Big Western Lumber
company
YES"
"Uh-huh. Well, you can kill the
rats in your own barn, Trsvors. I'll
| go look for job somewhere else"
Bayns Trevors, his lips tightly COM
pressed, his eyes steady, faint, angry
flush In his cheeks. checked what
words were flowing to his tongue and
looked keenly at his foreman. Lee
met his regard with cool uncon-
cern. Then, just as Trevors was about
to speak, there came an interruption.
The quiet Of the morning was
broken by the quick thud Of a horses
shod hoofs on the hard ground Of the
courtyard. Bud Lee in the doorway
turned to see a strange horse drawn
up 30 that upon its four punched
heofs 1t slid 10 q standstill; saw Q
slender figure. which In the early
light he mistook for a boy, slip ouk
or saddle. Ana then, su0oenly, q
girl, the spurs Of her little riding boots
making jingling music on the veranda,
her ridingQuirt swinging from her
wrist. had stepped by him and was
! looking with bright. swapping eyes
from him to Trevors.
II am Judith Sanford" she an
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