The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-04-21
Judith Lane
by JEANNE B0WsfAN

goin' to do anything we got to do 1, now"
 Then what did you mean he wouldn't get out an injunction un. less he had to?"
 Unless you'd agree to quit work without it."
 Judith sat a few moments in si- lence. A crisis like this needed man like Big Tom; not Justin Cunard, Judge Morgan nor any man she knew could handle it.
 She was Big Toms stenographer, she repeated to herself and she was going to act as she had acted in his office when things came up she couldn't handle during his absence. She would pretend he was temper. arily absent.
 "Mr. Scoggins, have you signed any papers?" she asked.
 No, Miss Judith, they was egging me on to do it, this man and Mamie, but I says no, I'm not signin' noth. ing"
 That's fine, MT. Scoggins. tried to talk Big Tom into getting you to sign an agreement for our use oi your land in the flood basin and he wouldn't do it. He said he would bank everything he had on your word"
 "He said that?" came the pleased. incredulous question.
 Yes"
 Miss Judy, I I don't want to do this. It's just TommJ and Mamie and being able to give them things. I've got to Miss Judy I owe it to them, that fish-scale dress and car for Tommy" fT KNOW" Judith, like Big Tom
 | was putting her trust in the mar as she spoke, q do understand how you feel, but I'm going to ask you to do something for Big Tom. No not give up your oil. MT. Bevins would never have asked you to sac. rifice yourself for him, would he. And you could have depended upon him to play fair with you, always, couldn't you?'
 "Yes, indeed, Miss Judith"
 Well, MT. Scoggins, I'm acting as his secretary now and I'm goins to carry out his orders, so think oi yourself as dealing with him. Give me few days to think this over. want to explore an angle I've just thought about, and then I'll meet you and give you my decision. Is that fair?"
 Yes it is.'
 And you will give me your word that you will not sign anything un til after I've talked with you, noi go ahead with any of the plans this man offers?"
 "Supposin' he won't wait?" of he's honest and there is oil OF your land, he will wait"
 "Of course :. yes, of course he will, won't hep
 They shook hands. Scoggins started to go but Judith had mo tioned Delphy and the old woman ap peared with coffee pot and g frosted cake. They talked of every. thing excepting oil and dams and when Scoggins left he had forgotten his dogged, half-shamed manner of the earlier evening.
 After he had left, Judith slipped light sweater over her head and trudged up to the Ship Rock. Wearily she stretched out on the rock and looked out on the plains, a blue-black bowl topped by blue black sky.
 Was it worth the heartache and worry, this building of Diablo Dam? Surely it seemed that el didblo was at the bottom of it, something devil. ish seemed to dog her footsteps as she sought to carry out her in. structions.
 She had sacrificed her husband, her home, herself on the altar of Big Toms ideal and for what? He had been building for the people and now they didn't want the prof ect that had indirectly robbed him of his life.
 She laughed, a broken catch in her voice as she realized it was memory of Scoggins' house being swept from its foundations in the storm, that had sent her away from Norman in the moment of her de cision. And now Scoggins she heard a noise and looked up. A huge figure was silhouetted against the milky glow of million stars.
 "Delphy," she cried, startled.
 "Yassam," came the plaintive re. ply.
 What are you doing up here? I thought you were in bed"
 Nome"
 Without words tkey went back to the house, Judith meekly accepting her bedtime drink and massage, which she suffered in an effort to repay Delphy for her devotion. E Morning brought Slim Sanford, and with him one of the foremost geologists of the country.
 Monday, Judith and Slim go
 on a scouting trip.