Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1924-11-07
CHAPTER X
Judith Triumphant

Ju0ttn TtumPnQut
Though, under the surface, life upon
Blue Lake ranch was sufficiently tense,
the remaining days of June frivoled
by as bright and bonny as the little
meadow-blues flirting with the field
flowers
Since from the very first the ranch
had been short-handed, the hours from
dawn to dusk were filled with activity.
Carson, who, true to Judith's expecta-
tionS, had brought back some new
ideas from his few days at the expert
mental farm-ideas not to be admitted
by Carson, hOwever-bOught a hun
dred young steers from a neighboring
Overstocked range. In the lower cor
rails the new milking machines were
working smoothly, only a few of the
older cows refusing to have anything
to do with them
Tripp had succeeded in locating and
getting back some of the men who had
worked long under Luke Sanford and
whom Trevors had discharged. 1t was
Joy to see the familiar faces of Sun
ny Harper, Johnny Hodge, Bing Kel-
ley, Tod Bruce The alfalfa acreage
was extended, little more than dou-
bled. Plans were made for an abun-
dance Of dry fodder to be fed with the
lush silage during the coming lean
months. Bud Lee broke his string Of
horses and, with Tommy Burkitt and
one other dependable man, began per-
fecting their education, with an eye
turned toward profitable sale in jan
uary.
Quinnion, perforce, was left undis-
turbed upon the sheep,ranch, whittier
Emmet Sawyer had followed him.
Against Bud Lees word that he had
had hand In the trouble at the old
cabin were the combined oaths of two
of the sheepmen that he had been with
them at the time.
Hampton's guests, who had planned
for month at the ranch, stayed on.
But thev would hn 'n"~'r" 80 ~
Of June. That is, Farris and Rogers
positively; the Langworthys, perhaps.
The major was content here, and to
stay always and always. would be an
unbounded joy-of course, with little
runs to the city for the opera season
and for shopping trips, and a great,
jolly house-party now and then.
The only fly in Marcia's ointment was
Hampton himself She confessed as
much to Judith. She liked him, oh,
ever SO much But was that love? She
yearned for q man who would thrill
her through and through. and Hamp-
ton didn't always do that. Just after
his heroic capture Of the terrible
Shorty, Marcia was thrilled to her
hearts content. But there were other
days when Hampton was just Pollock
Hampton. If it could only be arranged
80 that she could stay on and on, with
no day Of reckoning to come, no matri.
monial ventures on the horizon
That's simple, my DEAR" judith
smiled at her. when you get through
being Pollock Hampton's guest, you
can be mine for while"
Hampton was now great puzzle to
Mrs. Langworthy, and even an object
Of her secret displeasure. Not that
that displeasure ever went to the limit
of changing Mrs. Langworthy's plans.
But she longed for the right to talk to
him as mother should. For, seeking
to emulate those whom he 80 unstint-
edly admired, Bud Lee and Carson
and the rest Of the hard-handed, quick
eyed men in the service Of the ranch,
Hampton was no longer the careless,
frankly inefficient youth who had es-
corted his guests here. He went for
days at time unshaven, having other
matters to think Of, he came to the
table bringing with him the aroma of
the stables He also wore pair OF
trousers as cylindrical In the leg as a
stovepipe; over them he wore pair
Of cheap blue overalls, with the proper
six-inch turn-up at the bottom to show
the stovepipe trousers underneath.
The oyera4s got soiled, then dirty,
then disgracefully blotched with
wagon grease and picturesque stains,
and Hampton made no apologies for
them.
Twice he left the ranch. once to be
gone overnight, intending that 1t
should be a mystery where he went.
But, since he rode the north trail
which led to the Western Lumber
camp, no. one doubted that he had
gone to see Bayne Trevors, In whom
he still stoutly believed.
Between the 10Th and the memor-
able 30th Of June, Bud Lee saw little
Of Judith Sanford. She was here,
there, everywhere; busy, preoccupied.
Marcia he talked with twice; once
when they rode together while Hamp-
ton, racing recklessly down a rocky
slope for a shot at deer got a fall,
sore shoulder and made his debut In
certain new swear-words; once when
all Of the guests, with the exception
of Farris, who was painting the por-
trait Of the stallion, Nightshade, and
the major, who had "letters to write"
came out to watch the horse-breaking.
This time, introduced to Mrs. Lang
worthy. Lee got for his bow remark