The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-12-19
II see." answered Lee slowl,.


His eyes left Hampton's flushed face
and went TO the distant cliffs. II 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 walt
| ed until now 10 repay his rude insult
with this cool little slap in the face.
She had not consulted him, she had
not mentioned a sale to him, and now
she sent Hampton and did not even
come 10 him with word of explana-
ton. 1t was quite as If she had said:
you are just 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
a 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, L. knew them all
like human friends planned the flu
ture for each, the safe of each would
be no sorrow but rather a triumph
of success. And now, to sec 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. "Oh, Cd. what
fooli''
1.-The buyers will be here the first
| thing tomorrow" said Hampton. Jul
dith says we're to have everything
ready for them"
I'll not keep her waiting" an
swered Lee quietly And with a 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.
1t was early In the afternoon when
Hampton carried his messages to Car
son and Lee 1t was after dark wheB
Lee, his work done, his heart still
sore and heavy, came into the mems
clubhouse. 1t was very still, though
close to dozen men were in the room.
Lees eyes found Carson and he
guessed the reason for the silence.
Carson was in a towering rage that
famed red-hot in his eyes; under the
spell of his dominating emotion, the
men sat and stared at him.
"Well, 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 sny.
thing that amt the matter an yoaT
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 il
goes"
Rather a nice way for cattle
foreman to talk about his ranch. isn't
it?'' asked Lee colorlessly.
Cattle foreman?' shifted Carson
with further explosives. Now. will you
STAN on your two feet an explain to
me how in blue bIazes a man can be
a cattle foreman when there amt
no cattle J"
$50 that's 1t, is it? didn't know
how close you were selling off"
Don't say me sellingi Why, 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 III and
smoke with the boys, and perhaps
play a 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 hrd not set
foot here for ovex two months, not
since that night which he knew he
should forget and yet to whose mem
DRY he chung desperately. This was
the first time in many a long week
that he had gone out Of his way to
seek Judith. And now words which
Judith herself had spoken TO him one
day were now at least part OF the
cause sending him to- speak with her.
/ She had said that he was loyal, that
she needed loyal men. He still took
her wage. he was still a Blue Lake
| raneh-hand. he still owed her his 10y
atty, though it came froIl a sore
heart.
GRO BE CoNTINUEDo
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