Douglas shrugged his shoulders. The bull was tied to the fence and Scott
rode slowly away with his escort. When John returned from telephoning he
gave a grudging consent to Judith's taking the bull, and the dehorning
went on. Not until the blue velvet shadow of Falkner's Peak lay heavy on
the incarnadined corral and the last bellowing steer had found solace at
the haystacks did the riders start homeward. Douglas followed Judith, as
she led the scare-crow bull.

"He's a good mate for Swift," he said.

"You're just jealous!" retorted Judith.

"Of what?" demanded Douglas.

"Of me starting a herd before you do!"

"Ha! Ha!" ejaculated Doug, without a smile, and nothing more was said
until they reached the house.

At supper that night John asked Judith why she had shown so much
friendship for Scott Parsons.

"I was sorry for him," she replied.

"But he killed our old neighbor!" exclaimed John.

"Yes, and Oscar had a notch on his gun, Dad; and you have one on yours."

"We put those notches there in the early days," returned John, "when
every cowman carried the law on his hip. It's different now. You're