Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1925-01-09

DeIore, tnat ne had once been Drutal
with her, that he had crushed her in
his arms and forced upon her lips his
kiss. He had been brutal with Judith,
when now he could kill man for lay
ing little finger on her.
II have been a brute with you, a
brute" he muttered to himself. But
Judith heard him, her eyes futtered
open and into them came again her
glorious smile.
Because you Kissed me that night,
Bud Lee?" she asked him.
"Dont!" he cried sharply. Don't
even remember 1t, Judith"
"Do you know so little Of a girl,
Bud Lee" she went on slowly, ito
think that man can so easily-fnd
her lips with his unless-unless she
wants to be kissed?"
He almost doubted his ears; he
could hardly believe that he had seen
what he had seen in Judith's eyes.
They were closed now, she lay quiet
in his arms, it seemed that she had
tainted, or was asleep, so very white
and still was she. He had forgotten
that he must carry her to where he
could lay her down and bring water
to her, give her something to eat. He
just stood motionless, holding her to
him, staring hungrily down at her.
Are you going to play-Pm your
baby-all day, Bud Lee?' she asked
softly.
He carried her swiftly away from
the ring Of boulders and to a little
grassy, level spot where he put her
down with lingering tenderness. Ju-
dith had not been angry with him all
these months Judith had let him kiss
her because she wanted to be kissed
by him!
He raked some Goals out of the
ashes, hastily set some slices Of bacon
to fry, cursed himself for not having
brought coffee and milk and sugar
and steak and flask Of whisky and
enough other articles to load a mule
He ran down into the canyon and
brought water in his hat, swearing
at himself all the way up that he had
not brought cup. He put his arm
about her while she drank; kept his
arm about her, kneeling at her side,
while he gave her a little, crisp slice
of bacon, held his arm there when
she had finished, watching her solicit
ously.
"The two incest things in the world,
Mr.. Man." she said, with second at
tempt at the old Judith brightness
"are half-burnt bacon and Bud Lee!"
Then, because, though he had been
slow to believe, he was not a fool,
and now did believe, he kissed her
And Judith's lips met his lingeringly
Judith's two arms rose, slipped about
his neck, holding him tight to her.
The faintest Of fiushes had come
at last into her cheeks. He saw it
and grew glad as he held her so that
he could look into her face. But now
she laid a hand against his breast,
holding him back from her.
That's all now," she told him, her
eyes soft upon him. "Just one kiss
for each slice Of bacon, Mr.. Lee. But
I'm so hungry"
For little there was nothing to do
but for Judith to rest and get some
Of her strength back. Lee made Of
his coat and vest a seat for her
against a rock sat at her side, his
arm about her, made her lean against
him and just be happy. Not yet
would he let her tell him of the hor-
rors through which she had gone. And
he saw no need of telling her any
thing Immediately of conditions as he
had left them at the ranch. Time
enough for that when she was
stronger, when they were near Blue
lake.
Greene, the forester, came at last
up the mountain. He noted the iso-
lated tree, nodded at 1t apprOvingly,
made brief tour around the charred
circle, extinguishing a burning brand
here and there
what sort of a fool would want
to climb way up here to start fire,
anyway" he grumbled.
Then, unexpectedly, he came upon
the happiest-looking man he had ever
seen, with his arms about an amaz-
ingly pretty girl. Not just the sort
Of thing a lone forest ranger counts
upon stumbling upon on the top OF
a mountain. Greene stared In bewild-
erment, Bud Lee turning a flaming
red. Judith smiled.
"Good morning, stranger" said Lee.
"Fine day, isn't it?"
Judith laughed Greene continued
to stare. Lee went trifle redder.
"If you two folks Just started that
fire for fun" grunted Greene finally,
"why, then, all I've got to say is
you've got blamed queer idea Of fun.
Here I've been busting myself wide
open to get to It,"
Haven't got a flask of brandy on
you, have your asked Lee.
"Yes, have. And what's more I'm
going to take shot at 1t right now.
If nobody asks you, I need ltv'
Now, Lee heard for the first time