Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1924-12-05
Judith Of Blue Lake Ranch
B Copyright
Copyright by Charles Scribner's Sons

Then they went hard as polished
agate.
II didn't quite get you, Hampton"
he said softly. "YOu say we're selling
a hundred horses? Nowf"
Hampton nodded understanding
nothing Of what lay in Lees heart.
"On the jump, just as fast as we
can get them on the rum" he said tri-
ulpphantly. judith wanted me to
tell you"
81 see," answered Lee slowly.
His eyes left Hampton's flushed face
and went to the distant cliffs. 1t was
no way of Bud Lees to hide his eyes
from man, and yet now he did hide
them. He did not want Hampton to
see what they showed so plainly, in
spite of his attempt to master his
emotion He was hurt Long ago he
offended Judith, and she had wait
ed until now to repay his rude insult
with this cool little slap. in the face.
She had not consulted him, she had
not mentioned sale to him, and now
she sent Hampton and did not even
come to him with word of explana-
ton. 1t was quite as if she had said:
You are just q servant of mine,
like the rest, Bud Lee, and treat you
accordingly"
Until Judith had come, there had
been nothing that this man loved as
he did his work among his horses. He
watched them as day after day they
grew into clean-blooded perfection;
he appraised their values he saw per-
sonally to their education, helping
each one of them individually to be-
come the true representative of the
proudest species Of animal life. Had
he turned his eye now to the herd
down yonder he could have seen
the animal he had selected for
brood-mare next year, the three-year-
old destined to draw all eyes as he
stepped daintily among the best of
the single-footers In Golden Gate
Park, the rich red bay gelding that
he would mate for a splendid carriage
team. Oh, he knew them all
like human friends, planned the flu
ture for each, the sale of each would
be no sorrow but rather a triumph
of success. And now, to see them
Jumped and sold to DOan, Rockwell
& Haight-even that hurt. But most
of all did Judith's treatment of him
cut, cut deep.
you're a fool, Bud Lee" he told
himself softly. ooh, Cd, what
fool! !"
"The buyers will be here the first
thing tomorrow" said Hampton. "Ju-
dith says we're to have everything
ready for them"
'Pll not keep her waiting" an
swered Lee quietly. And with quick
touch Of the spur he whirled his horse
and left Hampton abruptly, going
straight to the plateau.
Round 'em up, Tommy" he said
sharply. every d-n hoof Of them.
They go back to the cOrrals."
Though quick questions surged up
in Tommy's brain, none of them was
asked just yet for he had seen the
look on Lees face.
It was early in the afternoon when
Hampton carried his messages to Car
son and Lee. 1t was after dark when
Lee, his work done, his heart still
sore and heavy, came into the mems
bunkhouse. 1t was very STILL though
close to a dozen men were In the room.
Lees eyes found Carson and he
guessed the reason for the silence.
Carson was in towering rage that
famed red-hot In his eyes; under the
spell Of his dominating emotion, the
men sat and stared at him.
swell, what's wrong?" asked Lee
coolly from the door.
Good goddlemighty growled Car
son snappishly. "You stan there an
ask what's the matter. If they's any
thing that amt the matter an you'll
spell its name TO me I'll put in with
YOU. The whole outfits going to pot,
an |, for one, don't care how soon 1t
goes"
Rather q nice way for cattle
foreman to talk about his ranch, isn't
it," asked Lee colorlessly.
Cattle foreman?" shifted Carson
with further expletives. "Now, will you
stan on your two feet an explain to
me how in blue blazes man can be
cattle foreman when there amt
no cattle !"
$50 that's it, is it? didn't know
how close you were selling off"
Don't say me selling Why, l got
silage to run my COW brutes all win
ter, what with the dry feed in them
canyons"
Lee didn't hear the rest. 1t had
been his intention to come in and
smoke with the boys, and perhaps
play game of whist Anything to
keep from thinking. But now, moving
on impulse, he turned and left the
shack, going swiftly up the knoll to
the ranch-house.
Just stepping into the courtyard
soft under the moon, tinkling with the
play Of the fountains. stirred his heart
to quicker beating. He had not set
foot here for over two months, not
since that night which he knew he
l.