Show T Ii i I I Jq Judith of Blue Lake Ran h. h 0 h I j 4 4 4 4 f J By JACKSON GREGORY Copyright by Chare Charl Sons Soni POKER FACE SYNOPSIS Bud Bud Lee horse foreman of or the Blue Lake ranch convinced Bayne Tr Trevore vors man- man ng is dellb deliberately rate Y wrecking wrecking- the property owned by J JUdith a 0 YOl young yoting ng woman her cousin Pollock Hampton and Timothy Gray decides to to U up hi his Job Judith arrives and announce announces she has bought Grays Gray's share In the ranch and will run tun It She discharges after atter shooting him In de self tense The ne men on the ranch dislike taking taking- orders rr from m. m fJ R girl but by br a vicious horse and proving her thorough knowledge of or ranch Ure e. e wins th the b best st st. of or them ov over r. r Lee Lea decides to sta stay for a a while hl at least Judith becomes becomes c convinced that her v veterinarian Bill BiJl Crowdy Crowdy Crow- Crow dy Is treacherous She discharges him and gets sets back back Doc Tripp her dead fathers father's man man Pollock Hampton part owner comes comes' ome to stay for good lr accepts Hamptons Hampton's invitation t to visit the ranch Judiths Judith's messenger Is held up lip and robbed o oC he fhe monthly pay roll B Bud d. d Le Lee Lee goes to the citi for lor mor more mo money money getting batik back safely with It t th though gh his horse hors Is Is' k killed under him both oth he and Judith h see T evors' evors hand handIn In the crime Hog hard to account for breaks out out outon on on the ranch Judith and Lee Investigate invest invest- gate the scene of the holdup A cabin in in Ina a planted flower clearIng clearIng clear- clear Ing log excites Judiths Judith's t o It Is Lees Lee's though he docs not riot say S so They They are fired on on from from ambush Lee amb and andLee d Lee wounded Answering An- An the fire lIrt they make forthe for tor the H Here e they find B 1 Cro Crowdy wounded d Dra Dragging g JW him Into the building the they Sha oba he has the money taken from Ju iu Judith's Judiths Judiths Ju- Ju messenger messenger Th They y ar are be besieged besieged be- be in hi the cabin all all' night H Hampton arrives In time to drive arlve the attack attackers rs off ott and capt captures Shorty who later es escapes apes apes' from the ranch J tells Bud BudLeS Xe Le S her har financial troubles r hl and he ha sa- sa says hell he'll I s p t. t CHAPTER VIII VIlI VIII Continued J 1 9 9 Again Agai she paused Then her eyes sm suddenly deply darkening she he told him hini what after all lay topmost in her her mindI mind I 1 have said that that if If I ani am chance I r can make a go of thi this Its It's up to you ou Bud Lee to help see see ee that I I get t that at chance chanced An An at attempt was as made mad to spread the lung lung my calves Now No Its It's the hogs Do IDo you jou ou know hM the latest hews Is from fromi i the the p pens theres there's cholera cholera among them I Where did It come from he de de- de- de Tripps keen been been keeping health of of our pr stock stock up tight right along 1 n Where did It come from from Judith rep repeated after him what I II I d dont don't t know Weve Weye been been so c careful ref But where did the calf calt sickness calf sickness come from rom Bayne Trevor Trevor Imported IL The rhe In Inference was Was clear He st stared red at i her ler with frowning e eyes res jont don't dont se see how he lie could ha have hae e done It lt w without 10 t Tr Tripp's Tripps pp's getting on rin to toT Jt t. t He lIe lIeb b hasn't haat pt b bought any ue new hogs hos F But lut yo you u understand der and Do now wh why I I wanted to talk to you ou If It UI I out out In the thing tiling I I- I have ave tal taken en on m my should X d dors rs It Js is going to be by a close in m mar r r. r gin lv Ive I've tho thought lit l out W V cant ant nt slip Ilip up In a single nie de deal n But nut its it's up to to you O ou t to t. t J Ive ve me e. e a hand h d i. i To fi find uI I out for yourself such uch ch us as where did the the cholera cOme come from I To see gee ee 1 th that t nothing happens to your horses To keep your two e eyes es wide Ide de open To help me rne find the m man n working with us Is right now who la Is crossing double us who turned Shorty loose wo o I is Is watch watch- watchIng J Ing I a chance to do knife re ac act again somewhere el else ise e I Do- Do pu get get ine me Bud BudLee Lee LeeI Lee Lee- T. T I get you ou replied Lee I II I From without ga gay v voices kes calling 4 merrily interrupted them Lee went swiftly to the door while Judith Judth fin- fin v cj her coffee and pulled her broad broadh h hat t a I little lower to throw Its Us shadow In her eyes C Ahoy there It was Pollock i Hamptons Hampton's voice olce We Ve saw your horses find and thought wed we'd catch you ou lag ing Get a fire going too 1 Sa Say that's bull bully Y Come ahead Marcia Marcin Marcin Marcia a long riding habit gathered In one hand her cheeks flushed with t her ride her hr eyes ees bright as us they rested rested rest rest- ed d upon pon tall forn form In lii the d doorway I came a me on behind Hampton As the eyes of ot the two girls met a sudden I hot flush flooded Judith's Judiths cheeks She Sher Shep r p hated bated herself herselt for toE it she he won won- red dered Just how bow r readier il h r. r eyes ees were Suy Say Judith c called ll d Hampton Im glad as the dickens hs e we- found you ou Oll S Sawyer vy r the sheriff sherler telephoned Just now Said Sald lo tell you IJ hed he'd d located lo 10 Quinnion The fUlin funny part of ot it itis is that we made a J mistake It wasn't Quinnion n at all tHat rr tried ed to o sho shoot you you- And Bud up the of other her nl night ht Hows that demanded Lee Who says It It wasn't Sawyer r. r Found Quinnion at a place II ace thirty 01 OJ forty miles miles' I 4 north of here The swore r O had lied been with him two with with hIm him that n was nl night ht A can lie grumbled Lee Judith hr hrC f moment of ot confusion lon passed s li TIered Into the Ive ve tl ten n simply rily din dying to see ee r fried el ar nr s i. Impetuously 1 told Pollock lIi Mint H Ii ws IS a as u a s sure st t sign b b be did didn't love Iove me me ny more tt tit fL f- f fh h he bel L 1 wouldn't bring me mc And you ou and and and- I an and one me of th the men her eyes on JudIths JudIth's Judith's Judiths Ju Ju- Ju- Ju actually were In here being shot at Judith dear you are just the bravest girl girlin in the world If It Id I'd been here Id I'd have simply died I i know know- I would Perhaps Perhaps- she would At any rate sh she abc shuddered delightfully She found a a hole bullet In the door ane and put a a pink forefinger Into It It giving a se second ond little shIver ver And An now sh she cr cried ed going to a chair near the table do tell eli me all ail about that terrible terrible night n But f do you think we m are e quite afe here heie ere now loW Mr Lee S To Judith was sa sayIn ln Just f the type to be Bud Lees Lee's Iden J lady When they left th the cabin cabin an an hour lQ r later Judith challenged jit Hampton mp t ta rp a ride and so left Marcia Murcia and Bud BudLee Lee Leet Lep t to f follow leisurely t S t 1 CHAPTER HAER IX r r Poker Poker Poker- F Face and a White Whit r. r Mrs Ir Simpson had made niad it a discovery discover Jt t t was wa epoch wg was tre pen pen- dous rN hort of So so at atthe atthe the very very- least least Mr Mrs Sh as prepared pre pared to maintain stoutly in n the face of ot possible r ridicule d ht t O One e morning g very early s. Mj-s. Simpson Simp- Simp son souI from the curtains of ot the living living liv liv- I ing room s' s saw Jose Jose Jost Pr around rO in suspicious like ls Io h ill the c She She had hid had sens t Juas Jua's s 's dislike lC and and thrilled t. qt t the he sight i lt Shi Sh She 3 always rat to Jose Iose The I le half ree ha hac g gone ne silent silently silently silent silent- Ie t- t ly Iy like b by y Judith's Judiths filter door iI He h had paus ts r listening He ha had r 9 g I to o th the courtyard a J hesitating pretending that Jie lie was wasl l looking ok ng at at tiie theu t S I S' S Such li a the I part of qt so hearted black baek I Inspired in the scarcely breathIng Mrs Sh Simpson a iT vast disgust AS rt he co could hl fool fool fool h her r I like hike l e that that pottering around among the r roses ses She SIe sought to move si silently en y lI In his wake vake val e though under li her hir r ample weight I the veranda creaked audibly Still mald making less n noise lse U than m usual she peered through the U lilacs acs Sh She saw sav- Jose at the base of the knoll kno I go going gol golin i in ing g swift swiftly y toward the stables She saw sa saw another another man man mail who evidently was wasa wasa a a third of ot the gang and who of course had lund risen early to creep out of the mens men's bunkhouse before the others others were awake e to meet ros fos Jose Screening herself behind the lilacs her ber h heart art throbbing as It It- had not done for man many a long longyear year ear she watched Jose and the thi orl other er man mall did not meet J Jose se stopped The two exchanged a 11 few fe words too J Ji JV w V for Mrs Simpson to hear heal at that distance But flut she made out that the lie other i man had something In hi his hand something white A pigeon on F 1 retE released ased It fluttered It-fluttered out Ot f the m mans man's ns n's h hands and circling high l above bove bov Mrs Irs Simpson's Simpsons head flew fiew t tp join th the other Bother birds cooing cooing- on on- the A uA 4 carier carrier pigeon 1 gaspe gasped Mrs Simpson n Taking a message to to t the theother other cutthroats ts r Q that lat instant there wa was no no d doubt h In h her Iier r mind This fitted In n too T Bud Lees Lee's Ideal Lady Thought Judith well vell with her many suspicions tons not to tobe tobe be be the Clew she he hud ud 80 sought long and unceasingly Jose w wont nt on on the tue man from the house bunk went V ent bl back k to to It and Mrs Simpson fled fied to the hc house and hastened ned excitedly to Judiths Judith's ro roOm m. m Judith rudel rudely awakened came hurriedly y to her door In her gown dressing her eye i lids hea heavy with sleep When sh she heard she laughed You dear old goose gooe cried Judith J Joyously I 1 just love loe you ou to death You put fresh Interest Into life lite Despite Mrs Simpsons Simpson's earnest protests protests pro tests Judith hu hugged ged her lier and pushed her out again saying haying that since she was awake now she would want her just as soon as she could coult I I get et It The llie housekeeper housekeep r shook her bead head and retreated heavily Youve got to show some folks u a man cutting their throats she muttered mut mut- t to herself before they'll believe It It Is a pigeon carrier and I know I It And that hat Black Spanish ugh Spanish s ugh ugh I lie He ma males makes es my blood curd curdle ie Just to look at af him pigeons Carrier geon laughed Judith as she began a a. hurried dres dressing ing The Tile dear old goode goosie And nd p poor or old Jos Jose Shell She'll g get t something on him yet I Iwonder wonder onder why hy she she she- Suddenly Judith broke off She was was standing In front of of-a of a tall mirror still only half hulf As sl she abc looked into tl the e bright ht face h he r smiling gIrt Inthe in inthe the glass f ss a sudden m change caro came i s 1 Doc TrIpp h had d s said tit that Tre vt vors had got t l lund nd remarked on the Incongruity b of a II man like e Trevor Lu in for fr litt little col cooing g birds It was wast t rItu rather j E odd pigeons Carrier carri carrier r.- r. I T Judith on her dressing dressing- gown and sli her warm hare l f patting pat t-p t upon the c cold d surfaces surfaces' s' s 0 of or Pl Vie the polished floors she lie he ran ran to th the theoflice Send Send Jose t to tome me sl she e c called ll d to 10 Mrs 1 Simpson In n the office I I 1 want Im ft tel Immediately n c A warm glow c clime came ni Into Irs Simpson's Simpsons Simpsons Simp Simp- sons son's breast With a big kitchen poker b behind her broad ba back l. l she hastened out out to call Jose Jos Judith JudIt at t the tele tele- ph ne calI called d Doc Doe Tripp I C Come me up lP Immediately sh she commanded corn com prepared to make mak a a test for hog cholera germs Doc Dog No I am not not sure sur ur of f t anything but bu butI I r think I begino begin to o see W where ere It J came darne a e from and how Hurry Irry will y you U h of f f. f T To J Jose se sh she said abruptly ly Go do down to the mens men's quarters Jose Tell Carson Carson- and Lee Leei to td come right up And as Jose Jos turned to to- togo go she ad added carelessly Seen Seen apy of i the ie m men men n yet ei t Si st s senorita answered Jose Poky is' is Fac up Poker Face Face All right Ight Jose The others will be e abo about t then Jose to took l little more more time for his errand than for his elaborate elaborate bow Carson a son and Lee came am promptly Carson Curd Cur son a score of steps In advance for forLee forLee Lee had tarried Just long enough to wash vash his face and brush his ilis hair Carson had not Tell me demanded Judith looking at her cattleman with wim Intent t L eagerness eagerness eagerness eager eager- eager eager- ness ness what wha do you ou know about pok Poker r F Face FaceT ce One of ot the best men Ive I've got answered answered answered an an- Carson heartily Square you think Yes If it I r didn't think so hed he'd have been on hi his wa way a lon long time ago How long has hashe he been here Who took him him on hired him About the same sarn time he hired me Bud Lee entering then wondered what bat new thing was as af afoot ot He Be gl glanced down and saw sawn a bare f foot ot peeping out from the hem of Judiths Judith's heavy r red d drobe robe h he saw the hair tumbled inglorious In in- ina a glorious brown confusion P cr over her shoulders She was was amazingly ing pretty prett this way S I want you tw two men to just stI stick lUck k around until I I. I send for for you again said Judith her eyes eyes ejes upon upon Carson alone a little pink naked foot sudden foot sudden suddenly IS ly Is Withdrawn and tucked somewhere under under- her her hei in her her chair And nd k keep ep your your- eyes on P Poker ker Face F Ke Keep p him hip h here t too o Carson By y the way way V did any iny of ot you bo boys c come corne in In tat late last last nl night t Or early his morning Why Vh no answered Carson slowly An yes es None of 01 the boys bors but a man fr from m down the river lookIng lookIng looking look- look Ing for a Job Heard w we wc was hort- hort handed Blew In early Just Just got In a af afew afew f few w moments ago ago P Poker Ju r Race Face s said id Quick new Interest flew fiew Into j Ju Judith's Judiths eyes es Keel Keep him here too she she cried And Ill I'll give you ou something to do while you you wait walt bring me all the pigeons you can get your our hands on on- on white ones Shoot them If it you OU nave nu to And be careful you jou d dont don't nt rub the dust dust ofT off their feet f Carsons Carson's ey eyes s went swiftly to Bud Lees In Carsons Carson's mind there was a a quick suspicion The strain of ot life lite on the ranch was proving too much for forthe forthe forthe the girl after all Judith reading his hula thought lt turne turned l lup up her hel nose at him and see seeking ing to o keep her feet teet hidden as she sire walked b by sagging a little at t tIre the le knees aces went vent to to- the Ioor Turning there there- she saIn saw saw- In Lees Lee's eyes eje the hint of of a smile a very approving ln admiring smile Impudent she cried within h her her- r- r self Looking very tiny her knees bent hent so that her robe ml might ht sweep the floor 1 0 1 she sire continued with all nil possible dignity to to the tire hallway Once there sire she nUl ran |