th authority. "It's apt to bring on throat trouble."

But Mary did not find Leander's joke amusing. She had suddenly remembered
the pale, gaunt man who had walked into the eating-house the previous
morning and walked out again, his errand turned into farce-comedy by the
cowardice of an unworthy antagonist. The pale man's grievance had had to
do with sheep and cattle. His name had been Rodney, too. She understood
now. He was Judith Rodney's brother, and he was in danger of being hanged.
Mary Carmichael felt first the admiration of a girl, then the pity of a
woman, for the brave young creature who so stoutly carried so unspeakable
a burden. But she could not speak of her new knowledge to Leander.

She glanced towards this childlike person and saw from his stealthy manner
that he had more to impart. He walked towards the kitchen door, saw no
one, and came back to Mary.

"There ain't a man in this Gawd-forsaken country wouldn't lope at the
chance to die for her--but the women!" Leander's pantomimic indication of
absolute feminine antagonism was conclusive.

"The wimmin treats her scabby--just scabby. Don't you go to thinkin' she
ain't a good girl on that account"; and something like an attitude of
chivalrous protection straightened the apologetic crook in his craven
outline.

"She's good, just good, and when a woman's that there's no use in sayin'
it any more fanciful. As I says to my wife, every time she give me a
chance, 'If Judy wasn't a good girl these boys about here would just
natchrally become extinct shootin' each other upon account of her.' But
she don't favor none enough to cause trouble."

"Are the women jealous of her?"

"It's her independence that riles 'em. They take on awful about her ridin'
in pants, an' it certainly is a heap more modest than ridin' straddle in a
hitched up caliker skirt, same as some of them do."

"And do all the women out here ride astride?" Mary gasped.

"A good many does, when you ain't watchin'; horses in these parts ain't
broke for no such lopsided foolishness as side-saddles. But you see she
does it becomin', and that's where the grudge comes in. You can't stir
about these foot-hills without coming across a woman, like as not, holdin'
on to a posse of kids, and ridin' clothes-pin fashion in a looped-up
skirt; when she sees you comin' she'll p'r'aps upset a kid or two
assoomin' a decorous attitood. That's feemi_nine_, and as such is approved
by the ladies, but"--and here Lean