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."
"O Judith! Judith!" exclaimed her mother.
"You know how I feel about Scott Parsons!" cried John. "Jude, I'm going to punish you for this so you'll never forget it."
"In other words, if Doug runs cattle, he's admired. If I run cattle, I'm punished!" Jude's fine eyes were flashing, her tanned cheeks burning.
"Doug's a boy; you're a girl," replied John. "And I've told you to let Scott Parsons alone."
"I wish I were dead!" exclaimed Jude.
"Well," said Charleton casually, "I must be getting back home." No one heeded him as he clanked out the door.
"How are you going to punish Jude, Dad?" demanded Douglas.
"Doug," cried Judith, "you keep out of my affairs from now on! I'll show you that you can't break a promise to me."
"Judith, I tell you that I never breathed a word."
"I know better. Scott wouldn't be such a fool. And he told me not an hour ago that Charleton said you'd given me away. And, anyhow, I think more of Scott Parsons than I do of you and Dad put together! He's not always jawing at me. He thinks I'm just right as I am."
Douglas drew himself up, angry and offended.
