Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1920)

Photoplay Magazine 37 Jubilo and Hardy stood together watching the horsemen ride away. As they disappeared Hardy turned to Jubilo with an air of severity. "What do you know of this robbery?" "What do you?" Jubilo rejoined. "Nothing, absolutely," replied Hardy with great firmness. "Well, if you know nothing at a;l, 1 know less," Jubilo answered, his mind made up that Hardy was taking this way out of the situation by carefully thought out design. Hardy and Jubilo stood looking at each other each searching the others' eyes for the truth, when Rose appeared at the door calling them to breakfast. The interruption bridged the moment of doubts. Days of farm routine followed, with Jubilo performing only the outward motions of work. Labor was not natural to him. His first days of zeal cooled rapidly and he did less and less. The day came when Rose sought to put Jubilo to shame by going into the cornfield where he dawdled at his work. She set to the hoeing with capable efficient hands, casting an occasional meaning glance at the fence corner where he idled smoking. " Remember, Rose — he admits lie savv^ one of those train robbers. Meanwhile Hardy, passing through the barnyard with a pail of water, made a discovery as the thirsty stock followed him to the gate. He abandoned his errand and hurried into the field to find Jubilo. "Did you water the stock this morning?" Jubilo evaded Hardy's sharp look and answered, "Yes."' "I have made allowances for you're being a shirker," observed Hardy, his voice smooth and hard like a judge delivering sentence, "but there are two things I won't stand for on this ranch — one of them is abusing animals and the other is lying. I am now going to give you the thrashing that you need." As Hardy stepped forward Jubilo lightly stepped aside and struck the older man. Hardy stumbled under the blow and Jubilo set himself for an onslaught. It came. Rose came running up, and then in silence stood her distance, horrified. She knew her father too well to interfere. Hardy bored in. Jubilo blocked his blows and uppercut back. He missed. Hardy's brawny right shot into the opening and Jubilo went down, sprawling with a cut lip. As he came up Hardy downed him again, this time to stay. Hardy walked over to Jubilo to pick him up. Rose bent over the injured man in an attitude of curious solicitude. Hardy dragged Jubilo to his feet. He staggered a moment, then shook himself and got his feet firm under him. He looked at Hardy and grinned, then looked at Rose and blushed. Hardy pointed to the stock. "Now you can water them and get out." Jubilo moved off and as he left earshot Rose upbraided her father. "You didn't need to half kill the poor fellow because he lied to you," she cried out. "I am ashamed of you." ''Never mind. Rose," the father answered. "If he's a bum he'll go. If he's a man the licking will do him good and he'll stay." Jubilo watered the stock and washed his Jiurts at the well, grinning the while with the sportsmanship of having enjoyed even a fight he had lost. He met Rose in the lane. "Give me that hoe." The girl stepped back with a mingling of pity and alarm on h'?r face, clutching the hoe she carried. "Please give me that hoe. I'm sorry I lied — but if you're willing to keep me I'd like to stick around — " Jubilo paused and blushed up to the roots of his hair. "And — you're not going to do any more man's work — not on my account."