The Kevin review., 1924-10-23

l 4
meaning.
Benny growled an answer but di'
not take up the quarrel. He knew
Carson well enough to know that ther
was no man living reader for figh
or abler to conduct his own part o
it.
'Que hay, Bud?" called a voice, ant
old Jose, his face shining with hi:
joy-Bud was certain that Judith haC
actually kissed the leathery cheek an6
wondered how she could do it l-came
down the knoll. 81 senorita wants
your
"Hawl" gurgled Bandy O'Neil face
tiousy. "It's your manly beauty
Bud You oil son,of-a-gun of a lady
killer!"
Bud Lee swung about upon his heel
to glare at Bandy. But suddenly con-
scious of a flush creeping up hotly
ander his tan he turned his back and
strobe away to the house. His face
was flaming when he entered the of
flee.
"What do you want with me?" he
said shortly, angered at Bandy, Judith
Sanford and himself
Bow, WOW p retorted Judith, look
up from Trevors' table "On your
high horse, are you? All right, stay
there. What l want is some informa-
ton. How long have you been on the
Blue Lake pay roll?"
"a little over six months" he an
swered coloressly.
"Over six months" A quick look
of interest came into her eyes. Tire
vors hired you? Or dad?"
Your father"
"Then"-and a sudden, swift smile
came for the first time that morning
into the girls eyes-"you're square!
Thank God for one man to be sure
of
She had risen with a quick impetu-
osity anil put out her hand. Lee took
it into his Cwn, and felt it shut hard,
like a mans.
"Just how do you know I'm
square?" he asked slowly.
Dad was human" she replied
softly. "He made some mistakes. But
he never made q mistake in horse
foreman yet. He has said to me a
dozen times: Judy, watch the way a
man treats his horse if you want to
size him up And never put your
horses into the care of man who
isn't white, clean through Dad knew,
Bud Eeel"
Lee made no answer For little, |
Judith, back at the long table and |
looking strangely small in the big, |
bare room before this massive piece |
of furniture, stared into vacancy with |
reminiscent eyes. Then, with a little |
shrug of her shoulders, she turned !
again to the tall foreman.
"Why did you tell Trevors It's
morning that you were going to quit
work?' she asked with abrupt direct
ness.
Because" he answered, and by
now his flush had subsidized and his
grave good-humor had come back to
him with his customary serenity. 81
felt like moving on"
Because" she insisted, you knew
that there was some dirty work afoot
and did not care to be messed up in
ItY
Now here, most positively, Bud Lee
said within himself was person to
reckon with. How did she know all
that? What business did a kid like
this have of knowing so blamed much :?
you've got your rope on the right
pair of horns," he said after his brief
cause,
How did you know that Trevors
vas working the double-cross on this
leal?" she demanded.
Il didn't know" he said stiff1y. 81
ust guessed. The same as you. He
vas spending too much money; he
vas getting too little to show for it;
lie was selling too much stock too
heap"
whats the matter with you?"
ried the girl, surprising him with the
eat of her words and the sudden
of her eyes. "Why do you
lSlSl ou UciuS So uOWuTlSul Sltuu-
fish and stiff and aloof? What have
done to you that you can't be de- S
ent? Here l am only putting foot
n my land and you make me feel L
Ike an intruder"
Il am answering your questions" 7
Like half-animated trained Ice e
erg, yes. Can't you act like hui
ian being? oh, I've got your num- S
er, Bud Lee, and you are just as p
arrow between the horns as the d
est of the outfit. You are narrow |
nd prejudiced and bindly unreason- S
Die / know as much about ranch Il
lg as any of you; know more about L
lis outfit because the best man that
YER set foot on it, and that's Luke
anford, taught me every crook and IL
end of it; and now, just because I'm v
girl and not a boy, you stand off like n
had the smallpox; just when I need
yalty and understanding and when, >
e Lord knows, I've already got a