When he had placed a safe distance between himself and the man who
appeared so willing and able to make good his threat, Judy's father
turned, and, shaking his uninjured fist at Brian, delivered a volley
of curses, with: "I'll sure git you-all for this! Jap Taylor ain't
a-lettin' no man come between him an' his'n. I'll fix you, an' I'll fix
that there schoolma'am, too! She's nothin' but a damned old--"
But Brian started toward him, and Jap Taylor beat a hasty retreat.
"Never mind, Judy," said Brian, when the native had disappeared in the
brush and timber that covered the steep mountain-side. "I'll not let
him touch you. Come, let us sit down and talk a little until you are
yourself again. Auntie Sue must not see you like this. We don't want to
let her know anything about it. You won't tell her, will you?"
"I ain't aimin' ter tell nobody," said Judy, between sobs. "I sure ain't
a-wantin' ter make no trouble,--not for Auntie Sue, nohow. She's been
powerful good ter me."
When they were seated on convenient rocks at the brink of the cliff
overlooking the river, Judy gradually ceased crying, and presently said,
in her normal, querulous monotone: "Did you-all mind what pap 'lowed
he'd do ter Auntie Sue, Mr. Burns?"
"Yes, Judy; but don't worry, child. He is not going to harm any one
while I am around."
"You-all are aimin' ter stay then, be you? I'm sure powerful glad," said
Judy, simply.
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