Judith of the Godless Valley

on the trigger-but sm

ff Fra

them race toward the post-office. Twilight came on, with the mud of the trail stiffening in the frosty air. An overpowering sense of loneliness urged Douglas across the valley and brought him to pause beside the Rodman corr

o dance, after all, Sco

there in it?"

er to go in here excep

meet Doug!" exclaimed Scot

ence, rushed to Scott's s

th your fists, you thief and murdere

pain in his left shoulder. Simultaneously with the shot, Scott put the spurs to Ginger

did he

He pushed the girl aside

odman called

s sho

him. On and on through the frosty April night, Prince barking joyfully before, the Moose galloping at top speed, the stars sliding overhead. On past the Browns' noisy corral, past Falkner's brightly lighted cabin,

ut his neck, dropped from a gallop to a trot and from a trot to a walk. Shortly, when Judith called, "Whoa-up, Moose!" he stopped an

! Where did

hickly. "Tie me onto the Moose and leave m

ou're hurt too bad. Let

uneasily up and down. Then, breathing heavily and broken

turned to consciousness, Peter and Judith were half

you aren't going to drag him another hour over the trai

er!" grunt

re, Sister. Jude, pass me that bottle of whiskey, then go lock the outs

her with beads of sweat on his lips. Peter in the meantime had thrust his late supper back from the front of the stove and had put a couple of disreputable looking towels to boil in the dishpan. W

x him. Eight years in the regular service is useful sometimes. Come here and hold hi

Go to it!" whi

is very thorough process of sterilization, Douglas quietly fainted. When he came to his sen

resh pot of coffee and

ite as a sheet. How a

me drunk. I'm going

" Peter's lips were gr

he was wearing a middy blouse of dull blue. It was small for her and showed her fine

f his time there with her. Doug must have been behind his horse. He came out like a crazy man, called Scott a liar and told him to come down and fight, and h

er turned to Douglas.

s staring at Judith. "

" he de

ou've been up to? You

ight because I was discouraged. I'd made up my mind that there wasn't anything real about anybody. Ev

n Scott finds he hasn't killed you, he'll be back and then you can settle with him. Pete

ou, Jude, though of course, it'l

hat way," said Judith, "becau

Peter had succeeded in getting Mrs. Spencer on the telephone. All Lost Chief was on a party line and he c

isten, you folks, if you've got to, but don't interrupt!-Scott said something that riled Doug and Doug hit him. Scott drew and got Doug through the left shoulder, bad, but clean, and I've got the wound dressed.-Say, if you women don't keep quiet, I'll sure-gawd hang up. O, hello, Charleton! Yes, Scott made a clean get-away.-Now, listen, Mary. I'm going to keep Judith here

ephone with a wry smil

a wolverine since Do

ng?" asked Peter, sitting

But it's no way to live! I don't see

hn doesn't consider himself ugly-tempered. He'd admit he was

to me, and I don't belong to him!" She sipped a cup of

e over to the bed, where he stood for a moment scowling down at his

out after Scott, tell me all is straight b

! I'm just sticking round for Mother's sake. My mother that once could ride an

t a thing you could make up. It was just one more fact to

lled over his tanned face. For the first time in his life, perhaps,

us nurse you, Doug?" he as

ay with Peter. I never

es I squealed

thing of the kind. She's

r Father!" s

it was me that kept you away from home. I can make Jude apologize as soon as

won't keep me from settli

turned from the bed with the look of su

e loneliness and despondency of the day was gone. He was blindly angry

the nature of Douglas' wound; then with a cheerfu

" said Peter. "I'll keep the fire going and an e

leepy, Peter. And I almost never get a chance t

right, Jude! We'll keep the old coffee

h cocked a knowing ear. "Wolf Cub's in trouble! I'd better let him in, Peter. He a

but go ahead. I always tell h

ble, a yip from Wolf Cub, and he was inside, licking Judith's hand and trying to climb into Peter's lap at the same time. He was two-thirds grown now and as big as a

then turned slowly and crept into the corner indicated and

g. I'm going to wash that wound of Doug's every hou

in City?" asked Jude, in sudden anxie

ed Peter. "But I think I've had more experien

t the door. Douglas opened his eyes. "Better let Prin

ult to Sister! However, if

sed a warning glance at the corner whe

rner and Sister was shoved out the door, snapping at Prince as she went. Prince wagged his tail at Judith and Peter, then put hi

eyes. "It's al

cked Doug

ince by the collar, "and you can just step ou

k against the bed. Peter lighted his pipe and put a fresh panful of

ou a little blue roan that

me. It was pay for so

o you aim to

July rodeo. And, Peter, I'm going to

, I'd say. What

ee! That Sioux weighs a good two thousan

what John Spencer's thin

th. There was a short silence which the girl b

mouth, stared at Judith's earnest eyes

many

ou really be in love m

f saying that to me, P

d Peter, serenely. "Why this in

course I think a lot about it. Yo

feel much mor

d up at him,

yin

ude. I hate to think of y

u think I am. I'll bet I know a

when it's offered you. All you know is the rot you'v

citement. "Well, if you know so m

it, understand, is bred right here." He tapped his forehead. "I

in; then he said, "And when real love comes, it takes po

way it came t

es

many

uldn't want to e

udith, somewhat blushingly, "Do yo

the postmaster. "No, I don't mind

, gave a cautious glan

r love hat

t that c

thousandf

er love

in his soul

hing else

r all that I

high suf

ly sad in his blue eyes, nodded when she h

e it, Peter?"

gh suffering will you get out

t all,

wenty years youn

s younger you wouldn't b

has wisdom brought m

ine to really know t

ind of

all that ki

water, please!" Dou

stening, Douglas?

d any of it," Doug smi

de

nversation with another man!" And although she and Peter talked in a des

fs sounded without, a wrangling of dogs began, and John Spencer thrust open the door to Peter's living quarters. He was spattered with m

e dish-water out of the window. Charleton, with his fa

im in here for, John?"

no state

oolly. "I don't have to talk or listen with

impatiently. "He's here. What

dsome mouth, Scott leaned easily against the table, eying Judith. Douglas looked from Scott to Judith and from Judith out of the window where be

draw on me li

you'd pulle

left. You knew I hadn't

o free and easy with tha

the sheriff, scrat

est guy in the Rockie

that when I get use of my shooting arm

' tanned face beneath t

fully. Scott's leading with the wrong foot in this valley,

foot of the bed. The others found chairs. Doug stared at Pe

ested John. "Scott's worn his welcome out i

did, John," retorted Scott. "I've got as

rted Douglas. "I suppose you think because your grandfather killed Indians here y

him anything except perhaps what is over

ghed sard

in this case," announced the she

aimed Douglas; "not i

oug," said Charleton. "I've got a smal

ot several,

Scott, winking openly at Judith o

"Jude, you clear out!

dith, you stay right where you are. You're at the bottom

ouglas!" protest

said Jude. "I sure-gawd

next?" inqui

then very deliberately, P

I can't help thinking how much he looks like

ears to get her to marry me. But

use of me, Frank!" exclaimed John,

the postmaster with

er dad, I've hear

eriff. "He ran the vall

he made a speech abou

Rock of t

roared. "I remembe

from what I've heard I believe he came migh

ck?" demanded D

answered Pet

" asked John with a guf

te

ithout it. And I know if old Bill Douglas had built a church up there beside the schoolhouse, the chances are that Scott would

ou driving at, Peter

hn, "is this a tr

gs over. My idea is that Doug shall sort of sit in judg

d Scott. "This may be a funn

with you, Peter. Only th

ride toward his son's set, white face. "I'm

act plumb loco!

it over, let me add something to what we were saying about old Bill

hers n

to look to the good and the future of Lost Chief? At least, I gathered that f

s a just man. They don't m

"He was forward looking. But he led with

. "Why not? Remember old Fowler

urch up in. But I don't laugh at the system of ethics Christ taught. I'm here to tell you folks, He put out the fines

't subscribe to 'em, P

t realize clearly that I've failed in life bec

n's lips

aints and Sage

lds so wisely-

phets forth: the

their mouths are

s destined sooner or later to deal squarely with right and wrong. Sooner or later every community has

y. "I believe in fate. You can't ride these

hat shoulder of Lost Chief mountain that cuts off Elijah Nelson from our valley. If we don't, he will. I can't do it because I'm not of age. But Scott can, and he can find p

Douglas with a mixture of contempt,

's no punishment, and it don

guy for running after Jude. That's a fair fight. What I'm sore ab

place from the Browns. They've got more than they can carry a

os of yours, they each might have three or four slicks every spring,

claimed Peter. "What do

an

eriff slowly, "though I ain't a

Valley by any straight or crooked method they can think up. With an ornery devil

, Scott?" ask

I'd just as soon say th

good ones and I did wha

n time t

going to kick if you don't take time

I've got to get to the alfalfa f

I feel like I'd been praying," he said. "That is, if I'd ever heard a

m Peter to Charleton with a little lift of his ch

eves I didn't tell

f Scott!" exclaimed John,

Scott. "I told Charleton, Jude. He paid me for the inf

e you go up that Mormon valley and that they

rn. "I hate you all, every one of you!" she cried. "What chance has

ynx-cat, Jude!

he room. The men laughed hugely as she ban

suppose you'll be home

can find some

half time," vol

rleton. "Nobody gets a secon

ent on, "Of course, Charleton, Jr. won't be able to ride for

e yet?" a

on my neighbors, I haven't got round to teaching h

t's get out,

ouglas alone with Peter, an