Page:Honore Willsie--Judith of the godless valley.djvu/174



OST CHIEF was very proud of Judith's invitation and deeply interested in her preparations for the contest. Every day, now, she put Sioux and Whoop-la through their paces. Late in the afternoon when she was working the animals in the corral, it seldom happened that one of Lost Chief's riders was not perched on the buck fence, watching her and criticizing her and always assuring her, with the cowman's pessimism toward the outer world, that she had no chance of winning a prize.

Douglas watched the preparations with deep interest, but said nothing further against the trip. He usually joined the audience on the buck fence and smoked as he watched the really wonderful work in the corral.

One brilliant afternoon Grandma Brown and old Johnny rode up. Jimmy Day already was perched on the fence.

"Well," called Grandma, "I hear you've finally reached the goal of your ambition, Judith."

Judith, leaving Sioux for the moment, strolled over toward the old lady. "Who told you that, Grandma?"

"Well, ain't you?"

"I don't know what my goal is, but it sure isn't this." 162