Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1924-08-29

foolsi"
Gulping down a last mouthful of
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 to
me You've heard that big stiff rant
now hear me I'm here because be-
long here. Ny dad was Luke Sanford
and he made this ranch. l was raised
here It's two-thirds mine right now.
Trevors there is a crook and l told him
So He's been trying to sell me out,
to make such failure Of the outfit
that I'd have to let it go for comic
song. He got gay and 1 fred him.
He tried to manhandle me and l
plugged him And now I'm going to
run my own outfit What have you
got to say about it, you grumbling old
crouch with the crooked face! Put
up or shut up! I'm calling you"
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 kid
of a girl" grumbled Harmon. "You
run an outfit like this?" He laughed
derisively. "It can't be did,"
"It can't can't itT' cried Judith.
"Tell me why, old smarty Spit it
out lively"
Jake Carson's shrill cackle cut
through a low rumble of laughter
- 70 hi cfnn iCrhf
said the old cattleman. What's the
word, Ward?"
Ward Harmon shrugged his shoul-
ders and spat impudently. 81 amt
saying nothing" he growled, ''only
this: l got a right to quit, amt l?
Well, I'm quitting. Any time you
ketch me working for a female girl
that can't ride a horse 'thout fallino
off, that can't see a pig stuck 'thout
fainting, that can't walk a mile 'thout
getting laid up, that can't, ;"
"Slow up there" called Judith.
Didn't l stick a pig already this
morning, and have l keeled over yet?
Didn't / 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 1 can't ride I'll quit right now
and give you my job How's that
strike you? l tell you the word on
this ranch is going to be Put up or
shut up' Which is it, Growly?"
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 p he jeered over his
shoulder. "You ride the Prince just
two little minutes and I'll stay and
work for you'll"
Bud Lee from the doorway inter-
fered He was a man who loved fair
play and he knew the Prince. "None
of that, Ward" he called sternly.
"Not the Prince!"
But Judith, her eyes afiame, whirled
upon Lee, her voice like whip as she
said: Lee, you keep out of this The
sooner you learn who's running things
| here the better for you"
Maybe So" said Lee quietly. But
| don't you fool yourself you can ride
| Prince. There's not man on the job
| except me that can ride him" 1t was
not boastfully said, but with calm as
| surance. He's an outlaw, Miss Jud-
ith. 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-
sides play pussy-wants-a-corner with
you boys"
Ward went, his eyes filled with
malice. Two or three of the other
| men Joined their voices to Buds and
| Carson's, expostulating, telling Of that
| fearful thing, an outlaw horse, Judith
| maintained scornful silence.
In due time Ward came back. He
was leading a saddled horse, a great,
wild-eyed roam that snapped viciously
as he came on, walking with the wide,
spreading stride of horse little used
| to the saddle. Judith measured him
with her eyes as she had measured
| the men in the bunkhouse.
Hes an ugly devil" she said, and
Lee, at her side, smiled again. But
the girl had not altered her inten-
| ton. She stepped closer, looking to
| cinch, bit and reins. She commanded
Ward to draw the latigo tighter, and
Ward did so, lodging back as the big
brute snapped at him.
Judith laughed. Look out, Ward"
she taunted him. Hes after your
hair !"
Two men held the Prince. At Jud-
this command they shortened the stir
rups and then blinded him with ban
danna handkerchief Then, moving
with incredible swiftness, she was in
the saddle, the reins firmly gripped.
| The Prince, a sudden trembling thrill
| ing through him, stood with his four
| feet planted. The girl leaned forward
| and whipped the blind from his red
trimmed eyes.