CHAPTER X
THE ROUND-UP
Judy Hornby did not return to the Circle O ranch that day nor the next, and when she did she was not nearly so talkative as before. The girl, however, listened eagerly to all that her new-found friends had to say to her, and what they said was intended to be helpful to this unusual young woman who had known little companionship of her own sex.
After a time her tongue loosened a little and she told them that “Pap” had forbidden her to visit them unless he told her to go. Judy declared that she didn’t give a rap whether he liked it or not, and that she was going to ride over to the Circle O ranch whenever she felt like it.
“He don’t dast do nothing to me anyway. I reckon it’s because I tried that ‘impond’able’ thing on him. When he asked me where I got it an’ I told him over here, you ought to seen him git mad. Pap sure was a scream. Lemme look at your hair,” she added abruptly, addressing Miss Briggs, who nodded good-naturedly.
“Gosh! Ain’t that fine? But for the love of Mike, how do you do it?”
“I will do yours if you wish,” offered Elfreda.
“Would you?”
“Of course,” answered J. Elfreda. “Sit down and I will see what I can do with it. You have beautiful hair, and I am not eager to see you wear it any other way than you do now—down your back.”
Greatly to the amusement of her companions, Miss Briggs performed an elaborate piece of hair-dressing, building up a wonderful tower of shining brown on the mountain girl’s head. Then a mirror was brought and Judy was permitted to look at the result, the Overlanders awaiting the verdict in silent expectancy.
Judy gazed into the mirror for some moments before looking up.