Page:Honore Willsie--Judith of the godless valley.djvu/247

 like they are at you? I won't do anything against the old man, Douglas, for your sake. But that's all I'll promise."

"I'm not going to let you off that easy, Jude. Come up to supper to-night. I won't let him talk religion. Honest, he's as interesting as a book when he gets to telling some of his experiences."

Judith shook her head. "I'd rather stay at home with 'Pendennis."

"If I get Inez to come, will you?" urged Douglas.

Judith grinned impishly. "Yes, I'd come with Inez."

They returned from the post-office via the west trail and stopped at Inez' place. She was eating a belated dinner in her slatternly kitchen, and waved a hospitable hand over the table.

"Thanks, no," said Doug. "I just stopped by to see if you and Judith wouldn't come up and have supper with the sky pilot and me. I won't let him talk religion and he's got some good stories to tell."

Inez looked Douglas over. He and the tall Judith seemed to fill the kitchen. Doug finally had covered his big frame with muscles and he was a larger and handsomer man than his father. "Doug," said Inez, "I am truly flattered. What are you trying to do? Convert me?"

Douglas answered with simple sincerity. "I don't care a hang whether you get converted or not."

"O you don't! Well, just to spite you, I'll come and let the old fellow try his hand!"

"Not really, Inez?" gasped Judith.

"I'd do more than that for Doug and for Lost Chief," said Inez soberly. "Doug isn't the only person who loves this old hole in the hills."

Judith turned to Douglas with a sudden wistfulness