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"But I've served notice on Scott and I serve notice on Judith now, that I'm not the man who kisses the hand that spoils his deals." This remark sobered John. "You're right, too, Charleton. Jude, how'd you come to do such a fool thing?" "How'd Doug and Charleton come to do such a fool thing?" asked Judith. "Scott and I had as good a right to run cattle off them as they had off Elijah Nelson."
Though tall and strong, Dic was by no means the equal of Doug in the matter of bulk, and in a grappling match Doug could soon have killed him. Dic fully understood this, and, being more active than his huge foe, endeavored to keep him at arm's length. In this he was successful for a time; but at last the grapple came, and both men fell to the ground Doug Hill on top.
"He is not my cousin," replied Atterbury with strange sternness. "And, since the fellow is here in disguise, it ought to be our business to ask him some questions. Come on, fellows!" Atterbury strode out of the shadow, followed just a second later by "Durry" and "Doug." The prowler's first instinct was to run, but he dare not; that would proclaim guilt.
Jimmy rose to his good six feet of height and pulled on his gloves. "I feel like I'd been praying," he said. "That is, if I'd ever heard a prayer, I'd say so." He made a face at Judith and followed his father. John Spencer looked from Douglas to Peter and from Peter to Charleton with a little lift of his chin. Then he said, "When are you coming home, Doug?"
Judith looked at Douglas with astonishment not unmixed with admiration. But she returned sturdily to her own line of defense. "Doug, do you see any beautiful marriage around here?" Douglas stared at her tragically, then answered with a groan: "No, I don't! But," with new firmness, "that's not saying I don't firmly believe I couldn't make marriage a lovely thing."
That was really good; why, it was only three per cent short of perfect! Maybe it was the new rule requiring a sound-recorded excuse for absence. Or it could have been his propaganda campaign about the benefits of education. Or, very easily, it could have been the result of sending Doug Yetsko and some of his boys around to talk to recalcitrant parents.
"What's your hurry, old-timers?" shouted Jimmy Day. "A long way to go," called Douglas. "Your hazer needs a shave!" said some one else. "We'll do it for him Sunday!" cried another voice. "Oil up your cannon, Doug," laughed Charleton, "and unchain the dogs of war." Douglas trotted sedately on. "I wonder why it is! I wonder why!" said Fowler, very real pain in his voice.
What was he doing over on Fire Mesa, all night?" "That's right, Doug! What were you doing on Fire Mesa?" asked John, all a broad smile now that infuriated Judith. She jumped up from the table, took down her milking pail and went out. Nor did she give Douglas opportunity to talk to her during the rest of the day. Not until twilight had settled in the valley did Douglas find her alone.
"I'd do more than that for Doug and for Lost Chief," said Inez soberly, "Doug isn't the only person who loves this old hole in the hills." Judith turned to Douglas with a sudden wistfulness in her eyes, a sudden flare of a fire he had not seen in them before. He waited for her to speak but she only turned away toward the door.
"If I can only make you see! Doug, a woman lets down the first bar when she begins to swear and drink. She begins where Judith is beginning. She's mighty apt to end where Inez is ending. You just think about ranching in Lost Chief from your mother's point of view. It's a rough kind of a community, Douglas, compared with the same class of people in other communities.
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