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Meantime, at the ranch, when Judkins's news had sent Venters on the trail of the rustlers, Jane Withersteen led the injured unshot wound in his arm

"Judkins, what do you think happened to my riders?"

"I--I d rather not say," he replied

"Tellto worry about more than the loss of a herd of cattle

Venters hinted of-- but tell me, Judkins"

"Well, Miss Withersteen, I think as Venters thinks--your riders have been called in"

"Judkins!By whom?"

"You knoho handles the reins of your Mormon riders"

"Do you dare insinuate that my churchmen have ordered in my riders?"

"I ain't insinuatin' nothin', Miss Withersteen," answered Judkins, with spirit "I knohat I' about I didn't want to tell you"

"Oh, I can't believe that! I'll not believe it! Would Tull leave my herds at the mercy of rustlers and wolves just because--because--? No, no! It's unbelievable"

"Yes, thet particular thing's onheard of around Cottonwoods But, beggin' pardon, Miss Withersteen, there never was any other rich Mormon woman here on the border, let alone one thet's taken the bit between her teeth"

That was a bold thing for the reserved Judkins to say, but it did not anger her This rider's crude hint of her spirit gave her a gliht think Humility and obedience had been hers always But had she taken the bit between her teeth?

Still she wavered And then, with quick spurt of warot the bit fast between his iron jaws and ran wild in the sage If she ever started to run! Jane slow and burn within her, ashamed of a passion for freedoe," she said, "and when you have learned anything definite about one Jane resolutely applied her lected Her father had trained her in the ardens and fields; and to keep record of the movements of cattle and riders And beside the many duties she had added to this as one of extreenuity It was an unobtrusive, almost secret aid which she rendered to the Gentile fah Jane Withersteen never admitted so to herself, it amounted to no less than a system of charity But for her invention of numberless kinds of employment, for which there was no actual need, these families of Gentiles, who had failed in a Mormon community, would have starved