lled Wade, jigging away valiantly at his
fiddle. "We all know who it is you want to kiss--most of us is bettin'
that you're scared to try."

"Play!" echoed Blatchley in a contemptuous tone. "I say play! When I want
to buss a gal, I walk up and take my ruthers--like this."

Again that daunting panther quickness of movement from the big slouching
figure; the powerful lines seemed to melt and flow as he flung himself in
Judith's direction, and cast one arm firmly about her in such a way that
it pinioned both her elbows to her side.

"You turn me a-loose!" she cried, even as Little Buck had cried. "That
ain't fair. I wasn't ready for ye, 'caze ye said ye wouldn't play. You
turn me a-loose or ye'll wish ye had."

"No fair--no fair!" came the cries from the boys in the ring. "Either you
stay out or come in. Jude's right."

"Well, some of ye put me out," suggested Blatchley, significantly. He had
brought a jug of moonshine whiskey over from the still and it was flowing
freely, though unknown to Old Jephthah, in the loft where most of his
possessions were kept.

No man moved to lay finger on him. He held Judith--scarlet of face and
almost in tears--by her elbows, and lowered his mocking countenance to
within a few inches of her angry eyes.

"Now kiss me pretty, and kiss me all yo'self. I ain't got nothin' to do
with this; hit's yo' play. You been wantin' to git a chance to kiss me
this long while," he asserted with derisive humour. "Don't you hold off
becaze the others is here; that ain't the way you do when we're--"

"Wade--Jim Cal! Won't some o' you boys pull this fool man away," appealed
Judith. "I wish somebody'd call Uncle Jep. You can hold yo' ugly old face
there till yo' hair turns grey," she suddenly and furiously addressed her
admirer. "I'll never kiss ye."

"Oh, yes you will--you always do," Blatchley maintained. "Ef I was to
tell the folks how blame lovin' ye are when jest you and me is alone
together----"

He looked over his shoulder to enjoy the triumph of the moment. Blatchley
Turrentine's delight was to traverse the will of every other human being
with his own preference. Judith's gaze, tormented, tear-blurred, followed
his and saw across the shoulders of the others, the shine of Creed
Bonbright's fair hair, in the doorway. The sight brought from her an
inarticulate cry. It fired Blatchley to take the kiss which he had vowed
should be given him. As he bent to do so, Creed stepped forward and laid
a ha