Evening star., 1934-04-15
Judith Lane
bv JEANNE BOWMAN

to the camp depot.
This night the engine pulled fats
behind her freight cars and on the
flats were engines, pipes, lumber and
drums of fuel oil.
Shadowy figures jumped from the
cars, communicated with shadowy
figures on the road side Of the depot.
Mule teams backed up, their drays
even with the fats, then the ma
chinery, oil and lumber were trans
ferred.
"Oil them's the makin's Of oil
derricks." The whisper went the
round at the depot when the train
came in. Judith regretted Big Toms
magnanimous insistence that his spur
operate as a general carrier.
"On where do you suppose
they struck it?"
People began running up from the
little town to s.Ind in groups and
discuss it, thread of excitement in
their manner, their voices pitched
higher than usual.
Some who knew something of the
enterprise became the laxative CEN
ter OF a group, assuring the wide
eyed, ignorant ones that no oil could
come in It'll they git. them derricks
up an drill down a piece"
How far?"
Sometimes 1900, sometimes 5000.
sometimes they've gone way down be-
yond that"
| Max and his wife and Judith saun-
tered with apparent unconcern from
one group to another, then Joined
! their party and moved uphill to Ju-
oith's shack.
1T looks like the real thing, doesn't
! it, boys?" observed Judith in a de-
feated voice.
Sure does" agreed Max Larson.
Even Lampere wouldn't buy expen-
sive machinery like that Just to fright
en- us with. He must have pretty
good evidence of a strike"
How will it effect the dam?" Mrs.
Larson questioned.
1T needn't" began Judith, quive-
Of apprehension belying her words.
1T really needn't, but I would
just as soon have the dam completed
before the rush begins. Workmen
aren't as efficient when prospect Of
big money lies just around the cor
ner
mo need of crossing bridges till we
build them" offered Goodwin, and
Judith nodded.
mo need" she repeated, looking
down on the town from her porch
after the others had left. The quiet
ness of harmony lay there. A single
figure was plodding uphill with Pc
cIliarly determined gait Judith
watched, expected him to turn in at
one of the camp tents, but he plodded
on toward her.
Not until he was even with her
porch did she recognize him, and when
she did she felt rush of fear.
''Mr. Scoggins!" sh, cried and. see
ing the expression of his face, What's
wrong?"
I'D like to talk to you, Miss Ju-
dith," he said, his voice worried; like
to talk over some business with you"
Come in take that other chair:
you'll find it more comfortable"
! II amt lookin' for comfort" he
answered. slowly; mot for myself. For
my wife and my Tommy, that's differ
ent."
"Of course" Judith answered quick
". your thought has always been for
your wife and Tommy. I remember
that nice room you built for Tommy
on the house the river washed away.
You can build again now and not
have to worry, can't you, Mr.. Scog-
! gins?"
That's what I've come about" he
said. then sat silent.
Judith waited impatiently. "You
said you'd come to see me about some
thing?" she asked.
Miss Judy" he began, have you
ever been hungry? I mean really hur-
CRY, day after day, goin' without so
the ones you're a carin' about get
something, pretending food gives you
indigestion, so they'll eat it?"
mot like that. Mr. Scoggins."
"And then there's other hunger, the
hunger women folk git for purity
things I mind when we was comm
down here. Mamie and me stopped
off in Shreveport We walked around
the square that night and we saw a
big hotel"
Mr.. Scoggins innocently throws a