The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1924-10-16


f%ools!"
Gulping down a last mouthful o.
coffee, she was on her feet and passed
swiftly out among the men.
You meni" she cried, and they
turned sober eyes upon her, listen tC
me! You've heard that big stiff rant
now hear me! I'm here because | be.
long here. My dad was Luke Sanford
and he made this ranch. l was raised
here. It's two-thirds mine right now.
1revors there is a crook and l told him
SO. He's been trying to sell m out,
that I'd have to let 1t go for a comic
song. He got gay and l fired him.
he tried TO manhandle me and |
plugged him. And now Tn going to
run my own outfit What have you
got to say about it, you grumbling old
crouch with the crooked facet Put
up or shut upl I'm calling you'll"
The men turned from her to Ward
Harmon, the field foreman, who had
been Trevors' right-hand man and who
now was ~sneering openly.
I'm saying it's no work for a kid
OF a girl" grumbled Harmon. you
run an outfit like this?" He laughed
derlsively. 1T can't be did,"
ut can't, can't it?" cried Judith.
"Tell me why, old smarty. Spit 1t
out lively"
Jake Carson's shrlll cackle cut
through a low rumble of laughter.
That's passing it to him straight"
said the old cattleman. whats the
word, Ward?"
Ward Harmon shrugged his Shout
ders and spat impudently. 81 amt
saying nothing" he growled, 'only
this: I got a right to quit, amt 1?
Well, I'm quitting. Any time you
ketch me working for a female girl
that can't ride a horse 'thout fallinr
Off, that can't see a pig stuck 'thout
fainting, that can't walk a mile 'thout
getting laid up, that can't. 80"
"Slow up therel" called Judith.
Didn't ! stick a pig already this
morning, and have 1 keeled over yet?
Didn't l ride the forty miles from
Rocky Bend last night and get here
before sunup? Listen to me, chief
kicker: If you've got a horse on the
ranch I can't ride I'll quit right now
ana give you my jobi How's that
strike you? / tell you the word on
this ranch is going to be Put up or
shut upr Which Is it, GrowlyT"
Again the men laughed and Han
mons face showed his anger.
Mean that, lady?" he demanded
briefly.
you can just bet your eyes / mean
it !"
Harmon turned toward the stable.
'All right. Well see who's going to
put up or shut up! !" he jeered over his
shoulder. "You ride the Prince just
-wo little minutes and I'll stay and
work for your"
Bud Lee from the doorway inter
He was a man who loved fair
and he knew the Prince. "None
# that, Ward" he called sternly.
Not the Prince |"
But Judith, her eyes aflame, whirled
lpon Lee, her voice like a whip as she
aid: Lee, you keep out of this. The
ooner you learn who's running things
lere the better for you"
Maybe So" said Lee quietly. But
lon't you fool yourself you can ride
Prince. There's not a man on the job
kept me that can ride him." 1t was
lot boastfully said, but with calm as
urance. He's an outlaw, Miss Jud-
tn. He's the horse that killed Jimmy
carpenter last spring, and Jimmy"
go ahead, Ward Judith repeated.
I've got something to do today be-
play pussy-wants-a-corner with
boys"
Ward went, his eyes filled with
lalice. Two or three of the other
Joined their voices to Buds and
expostulating, telling Of that
aarful thing, an outlaw horse. Judith
a scornful silence.
In due time Ward came back. He
as leading a saddled horse, a great,
'ild-eyed roar that snapped viciously
he came on, walking with the wide,
)reading stride of a horse little used
, the saddle. Judith measured him
18th her eyes as she had measured
lie men in the clubhouse.
Hes an ugly devil" she said, and
ee, at her side, smiled again. But
lie girl had not altered her inten-
on. She stepped closer, looking to
nch, bit and reins. She commanded
ard to draw the latlgo tighter, and
ard did so, lodging back as the big {
ute snapped at him. s
Judith laughed. Look out, Ward" t
tainted him. Hes after your
lir! !" t
Two men held the Prince. At Jud-
rs command they shortened the stir
and then blinded him with a ban S
ma handkerchief. Then, moving {
tn incredible swiftness, she was In
e saddle, the reins firmly gripped. :
lie Prince, a sudden trembling thrill
g through him, stood with his four
ct planted. The girl leaned forward
d whipped the blind from his red