“Come on, let’s get out,” said Scott.

They clanked out, leaving Douglas alone with Peter, and he fell into a long sleep.

CHAPTER VIII

JUDITH AT THE RODEO

“If you break the heart of a thoroughbred, she doesn’t even make a good cart horse.”

—­Mary Spencer.

Late in the afternoon, when Douglas awoke, Judith was sitting beside the bed, chin in palm.  Peter was not to be seen.  Douglas stared at the young girl until her gaze lifted from the floor and she smiled at him.

“Judith,” he said, “it’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”

Judith nodded.  “I’ve been sitting here thinking how much you’ve changed.  You were just a boy, last summer.  Now you look like a man, lying there.”

“You’ve changed yourself.  Jude, you’re going to be very beautiful.”

Judith chuckled.  “You and Scott agree on one point, then!”

“Jude!  Honestly, I don’t see how you can stand that crook!”

“He’s a woman’s man,” said Judith shortly.

“I can’t see it!”

“Don’t let’s quarrel the first thing, Douglas.  How is Little Marion?”

“Same as usual.  Did you know that she is engaged to Jimmy Day?”

“I knew she ought to be,” said Judith bluntly.  “They sure make a good-looking pair!  When will they be married?”

“When Jimmy has got a good start with his herd.  Judith, Charleton isn’t a bit like I thought he was.”

“He’s an ornery mean devil, if you ask me,” said Judith succinctly.  “He’s the worst influence that ever came into your life.”

“Did Peter say that?”

“No; I said it.  You are too good to waste on Charleton.  What has finally waked you up about him?”

“He’s always talked to me against marriage and women and children and everything like that.  Said awful hard things about ’em, Jude.  He really got me to the point this winter where I felt as if marriage was wrong.  But do you know, when the boy was born, yesterday morning, he just went plumb loco.  He cried and was sentimental like these young fathers you read about in books.”

Judith’s great eyes widened incredulously.  “He was!” She turned this over in her mind for some time, then shook her head.  “I give it up.  I can’t understand men at all.  I thought I had Charleton’s number.  I always did agree with him about marriage.”

Douglas drew a quick breath.  If men were difficult to understand, how much more so were women, particularly of Judith’s type!  One never got to the end of them.

“How do you mean that, Judith?” he asked.

“I mean I’d rather be dead than married.  Just look at the couples we know, Doug!  Just look at ’em!”

“I’m looking at ’em!  What’s the trouble?” demanded Doug.

“They don’t love each other any more.  That’s all!” Judith tossed her head knowingly.