The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-01-16
Judith of Blue Lake Ranch


tempt at the old Judith brightness,
ARE half-burnt bacon and Bud Lee!"
Then, because, though h 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
MS neck, holding him tight to her.
The faintest of flushes 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 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 hungryw
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 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
stronger, when they were near Blue
lake.
Greene, the forester, came at last
up the mountain. He noted the iso-
lated tree, nodded at it approvingly,
made a 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-
fngly pretty girl. Not just the sort
of thing 2 lone forest ranger counts
upon stumbling upon on the top Of
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 a shot at it right now.
If nobody asks you, / need it !"
Now, Lee heard for the first time
something of Judith's adventure. For,
recognizing the ranger in Greene, she
told him swiftly why she had started
the fire, of her trouble with Quinnion.
of the cave where Quinnion had at
tackled her and of Mad Ruth. Greene's
eyes lighted with interest. He swept
off his hat and came forward, sud-
denly apologize and very human,
proffering his brandy, insisting with
Lee upon her taking sip of it.
Yes, he knew Mad Ruth, he knew
where her cabin was. He could find
the cave from Judith's description.
Also, he knew of Quinnion and would
be delighted to break a record get
ting back to his station and to White
Rock. White Rock was in the next
county, but so, for that matter, was
the cave. He'd get the sheriff and
would lose no time cornering Quinnion
if the man had not already slipped
away.
Il don't know you two real weIl,"I
said Greene, with quick smile at the
end, "but If you don't mind, pardner,"
and he put out his hand to Lee, I'D
like to congratulate you'll l don't
know man that's quite as lucky this
morning as you are!"
Thank you." laughed Judith. She
rose and shook hands too. Were at
Blue Lake ranch for the present Come
and see u.s."
Then you're Miss Sanford?" said
Greene. He laughed. 1--WE heard of
you more than once. Greene's my
name"
Lees mine," offered Lee.
bud Lee, Ell? Oh, you two will
do! So long. friends. I'm off to look
up Quinnion."
And, swinging his ak blithely.
Greene took his departure.
There are other things in the world
besides just cliffs to stare at" said
Judith. And / would like a bath and
change of clothes and a chance to
brush my hair. And the bacon doesn't
taste so good as it did and want an
apple and a glass of milk"
So at last they left the mountain
top and made their slow way down.
As they went Lee told her some
thing of what had happened at the