“Doug Spencer, as long as I live, I’ll not speak to you again!  You promise breaker, you—­”

“Wait, Jude!  I haven’t told anybody.  Did I tell you, Charleton?”

“I’ve told her that you didn’t but she won’t believe me,” grinned Charleton.

“Scott wouldn’t have told.  Doug was the only one that knew!” Judith paced the floor.

“What the devil has broke loose?” demanded John.

“Now you have started something, Jude,” groaned Douglas.

“Judith!  Do calm down!” pleaded her mother, who had taken her hands out of the biscuit dough and now stood, twisting her fingers, in the doorway.

“Well,” said Charleton, “I don’t know any reason why I should keep quiet after the pretty names Jude has called me.  It was Judith that helped Scott double-cross us up on Lost Chief Peak.  She claims she didn’t know it was our deal.”

“She didn’t, either!” cried Douglas stoutly.

John gasped, “Jude!  She got away with your cattle, Charleton?  That sure-gawd is funny!  Jude!  O Lord!” And John burst into a tornado of laughter that lasted until he dropped weakly on his bed.

Judith stared at him, uncertainly, as did her mother.  Douglas scowled.  Charleton lighted a cigarette.  “Of course, it has its humorous side,” said Charleton, as John’s shouts died down.  “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.”

“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.