JUDITH OF THE GODLESS VALLEY – 1922, – CONTENTS … … PAGE I LOST CHIEF SCHOOLI-IOUSE I V111 JUDITH AT THE RODEO … … . 142 … . . IX THE TRIP M MOUNTAIN CITY 162 X WILD HORSES … … … 181 XI THE LOG CHAPEL … … . 202 XI1 THE FIRST SERMON … … . . 221 XI11 PRINCE GOES MARCHING 242 ON … . . XIV THE BATTLE OF THE BULLS … . . 259 XV THE FLAME … . . IN THE VALLEY 276 V1 TIIE TRAIL OVER THE PASS … . 295 XrII BLACK DEVIL PASS … 312 XVIII ELIJAH NELSONS RANCH . . 322 XIX HOME … … … … 340 JUDITH OF THE GODLESS VALLEY CHAPTER I LOST CHIEF SCHOOLHOUSE To believe in a living God to preach His Holy Writ without fear or favor to sacrifice self that others may find eternal life this is true happiness. -The Rev. Javzes Fowler. I T was Sunday in Lost Chief Sunday and mid-winter. For the first time in nearly ten years there was to be a sermon preached in the valley and every one who could move was making his way to the schoolhouse. Douglas Spencer drove his spurs into Euster and finished the last hundred yards at a gallop. Judith, his foster sister, stood up in her stirrups, lashed Swift vigor- ously over the flanks with the knotted reins and when Buster slid on his haunches to the very doorstep, Swift brought her gnarled fore legs down on his sweeping tail and slid with him. She brought up when he did with her nose under his saddle blanket. The boy and girl avoided a mix-up by leaping from their saddles and jerking their mounts apart. Now look at here, Jude shouted Douglas, you keep that ornery cow-pony of yours off of me or Ill make you sorry for it Judith put her thumb to her small red nose, and with- out touching thestirrups leaped back into the saddle. Then she looked calmly allout her. First ones here she said complacently. Even the preacher hasnt come. I suppose, -Dougs voice was bitter-that if I rode over toward Days to meet Jimmy youd have to tag Cl I sure-gawd would. Swift would like the extra ex- ercise. Douglas swept Judiths thin bay mare with a withering glance. That thing Looks like the coyotes had been at it Judith wore but one spur and this had a broken rowell, but she kicked Swift wit11 it and Swift whirled against the nervous Buster and bit hirn on the cheek. Buster reared. Take that back, you dogy coivboy you shrieked Judith. Douglas brought Buster round and raised his hand to strike the girl. She eyed him fearlessly. The hoy slowly ion-ered the threatening hand and returned her gaze, belligerently. Prince, a gray, short-haired dog, of intricate ancestry, squatted on his haunches in the snow with his tongue between his teeth and his eyes on the two horses. Swift sagged with a sigh onto three legs. Perhaps the little mare deserved some of the aspersions Douglas and his father daily cast upon her. She was a half-broken, half -fed little mare which Douglas father had cast off. She did not look strong enough to bear even Judiths slim weight. But as the orlly horse Judith was permit- ted to call her own, the little bay was the lTery apple of the young girls eyes, and she wheedled wonderful perform- ances from Swift in endurance ancl cat-like cluickness. Buster was a black which the older Spencer hacl bred as a cow-pony but had given up because he could not be broken of bucking. Doug had benget1 his father for the horse, and Buster, nervous, irritable and speedy, was a joy to the boyssixteen-year-old heart. Douglas sat tall in the saddle. He measured, in fact, a full five feet ten inches without his high-heeled riding-boots…
