Evening star., 1934-04-17

tnere is OIL any place, DuC 1 can Tell
you this much. There is every
evidence of Scathborne's having
struck a lucky pool"
And our land here. Scoggins'
land?" interposed Judith.
There isn't any reason, geological
or otherwise, to allow any one to be-
ieve there is oil there"
Then why" began Max Larson.
I'll answer that" said Judith with
sudden conviction. ITS clear now,
the whole thing. Lampere has had
an unbelievably lucky break. If
Scathborne brings in a well and
Scoggins is drilling, Big Toms dream
Of building dam in this valley, will
be outlawed.
If there is oil here and the people
don't need the dam; don't want it
because it will food land from which
they can win more money than they
could in thousand years by farm
ing it, there will be no more need of
my going on with the dam and the
logical procedure Of any jury will be
TO return that Bevins money back TO
Mathile and Mrs. Bevins."
What are you going to do,
Judith?" asked Slim and Larson in
unison.
I'm going up on the rock and I'm
going TO think" said Judith de-
cisively. IF my eyes tell me true,
Scoggins is coming up the hill. Keep
him entertained, don't give him your
report, Mr.. Kane, and Ill be back
SOON"
She slipped out Of the rear door
and in the gathering shadows of twi-
light raced up to the rock. Delphy
had asked if this was where she
communed with Big Tom. Perhaps
it was, however, that great basin Of
shadows and the cupper bowl Of the
sky impressed her with petty problems
from intruding into her analysis of
the important ones.
What would another man, an engi-
neer, do under such circumstances?
Which was the more important, oil,
or growth? But that wasn't up to
her. She had sworn to carry on as
Big Tom had wanted without thought
Of self.
Eyes on the glimmer Of the eve
ming star, silver against the apricot
afterglow, she thought. What would
he do? Suddenly she knew but
without money how could it be done ?
Big Tom would find a way and SO
would she
Judith turned and walked back
down the hill ready to face Scoggins
There was something martial in
the step Of Judith Dale as she strobe
down the hill to her house where
Scoggins, Kane and her two faithful
friends awaited her.
Hello. Mr.. Scoggins," her greeting
was friendly. Il was going to call
you up to hear Mr.. Kane's report
You've met him. of course. the
boys would see to that. Mr.. Kane
you know, is Jackson B. Kane, the
geologist. who free lances among the
big oil companies of the South
you've heard of him, know"
We'll well, yes" admitted
Scoggins reluctantly. Judith knew
that he had because she had taken
pains to see that an oil weekly
printed in Houston and carrying q
picture and story about Mr.. Kane
fell into Scoggins' hands before the
two met.
I'm going to let Mr.. Kane give
you his report in detail. Suppose we
go into the house where there is a
light and he will show you some maps
he has made"
For the ensuing hour they sat about
the table, listening to Kane'S slow
voice speaking in its assured tones
He used words a layman might un-
derstand, and Scoggins nodded from
time to time as if he were being
convinced against his will When the
geologist had concluded the farmer
leaned back against his chair, a queer
baffled look on his face.
But you won't swear before God
there amt oil there" he challenged
NO" agreed Kane, "for only God
knows.
1t was serious moment. Scoggins
nodded. I'm glad you said that
said it the way you did 1t makes
| me sorta believe in you more'n il
you said you did know there weren't
any"
Again few moments of silence
then he spoke again. Course, my
man, the feller who's goin' to rur
the test well for me, he said youc
say there weren't none. he said Miss
Judy'd see to that"
And you believed I'd do such g
thing, Mr.. Scoggins?"
mo, I didn't, and up and tolc
him So"
And how do you feel about this
now?" Judith's voice trembled ir
spite of her effort at controlling it
II Miss Judy if it wasn't
just for Tommy and Name, I'd say
forgit it, but your man here says
maybe that is he wouldn't swear
there weren't no oil. Miss Judy,
just got to go on and see fer myself y
Il don't blame you bit," declared
Judith, to the utter astonishment OF
every one present. Scoggins in
cluded. ITS the only thing to dc
under the circumstances. If we went
ahead and flooded the basin you'd
spend the rest of your life wondering
II you'd done wrong. You'd never
use a yard of water for your orange
trees without wondering If that water
had washed over land that covered
OIL"
That's just 1t, exactly" murmured
Scoggins in wonder, exactly. You
amt mindin' me goin' on then and
you stoppin' work on the DAMP"
"Mr. Scoggins, do you realize II I
stoD work on the dam and voaIr well
doesn't come in, you'll put your plant
ing back one whole year? And you'll
put the planting of every other
farmer along the river back that same
length of time?"