The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-22
A WOMAN Halter.

.
s'No, no, dear, - answered the girl. cit
amt dat. knows you'll do yer duty in
de scrap. Wot fears are dem Spanish
goirls. Youse know yer awful soft on
Wimmen an Wot fears is dat you'll get
sweet on one of dem dago goirls an marry
her. Oh, Dannie, if youse brings any dis
grace like dat on de name OF Dugan de blow
would all but kill mudder, an I'd never
hold up me head ag'in. Promise dat you
won't do it. Promise me on de book,
Dannie.''
Dannie gave the promise with a laugh
and was rewarded with a sisterly kiss. An
hour later he started on his journey to the
seat of war.
During the first eventfuI hour of the
battle at San Juan hill Dannie Dugan's
life was twice saved by COwpuncher
Grimes.
''Grimsey, me boy, I'll never fergit
youse for plunkin dat last dago who had
de bead on me wen me back was turned, -
said Dannie. Yer dead white guy an
a butte at handlin a gum
Before that historic day was three hours
older vagrant Mauser bullet tunneled
its way through OewpuRoher Grimes left
side and gave Dann1s an opportunity to
show his gratitude. It WAS nasty wound,
and at first Mr.. Grimes expressed the
opinion chat it would be best to leave him
in the trenches.
81 guess I've made my last gun play"
he said to Dannie. 1.-THE best thing you
can do, old pal, is to shake my fipper aud
let me cash in.
"Cash imp growled Dannie. ''I'm
a-goin ter carry yer back ter dem doctors
an have 'eln putty up dat hole in yer liver.
Youse too good partner fer Dannie
Dugan ter t'row down.
Grimes was in the hospital when San
tiago surrendered, but a week later the
surgeons decided that he was strong
enough to make the journey to New York.
Then it was that he sent for Dannie. When
the latter materialized, the wounded troop
er raised his head from the pillow and put
out his hand.
'sDannie," he said, they're goin to
send us up to your town-to New York.
You have been awful kind to me, and I
want to square accounts somehow.
didn't know but what might do some
thing for you when I got back to Gods
countrywide message up to your people
or anything else
''Grimesey, old pal, - replied Dannie,
''youse kin do me an awful good turn in
old New York. You kin go ter my sister
Name an try an square me wild de family"
Square you, Dannie?"
eyes, square me. Youse see, it's like
dis: Just before 1 left de folks Name she
gets me inter de front room, puts me flip
isin dat I wouldn't get stuck on any Of
desc Spanish goirls down here. Well, say,
Whin I gave Name me promise I'd never
seen de little Spanish goirl wot 1 found
a-moanin over her dead mudder out back
of Ell Caney de udder mornin. Dere amt
no use of chewin de rag over it. De fact
is dat I m dead stuck ON Marie, an as soon
as dis scraps finished I'm goin to take
her TO de church an get spliced. But,
hully gee! I can't rest easy till knows
dat things have bin squared wild me sister
Name, an youse bes de only guy as kin
do it."
"Dannie, reckon I'm what you east
erners call a woman hater 1 don't like
the female breed, and it don't like me. I
may make mess of the job, but III do it.
If 1 don't cash in before the transport gets
to New York, III see your sister and try
and square it. Here's my hand on it.
Write me a letter to show her that I'm
your pal.
There came knock at the door of tho
Dugan fat, and Name answered it. As
she opened the door a tall, slender man in
a faded uniform of blue staggered in and
all but fell into her arms.
For Gods sake give me a glass of wa
ter, miss I ran away from the hospital,
and I'm nearly knocked out. If you arc
Dannie Dugan's sister Name, read this
letter If
The wounded trooper never finished
that speech. With a moan of pain he fell
face downward on the floor. Name called
in Mickie and her mother. They laid
their unconscious guest on the sofa, and
while Name bathed his fever heated brow
with ice water her brother Mickie started
on a still hunt for whisky. Old Mrs.
Dugan said that it was shame to sit by
and let a man die without sending for
priest.
1.-The man amt goin to die, mudder,"
exclaimed Name. ''See, he's comm to his
senses now. Let's read de letter dat our
Dannie sent by him"
She broke the seal and recognized her
brothers. handwriting.
After Name had read the letter she took
a second look at the man on the lounge.
She saw that he was young and fairly
good looking. Then she remem bered that
Dannie in his letter had said something
about bullet hole in Grimesey's side.
''Mudder," she cried, The may be a
woman hater an he mayn't have any
manners, but he saved our Dannie from
croal1in, an it's only fair dat we should
keep him right here an nurse him. Tell
Mickie to go fer de doc"
God knows" moaned Mrs. DuRsn,
''if de best we got ain t too poor fer him.
An only to tink de pity of such hand
some lad as dat a-gettin bullet holes in his
sides an a hatin winmen like = heather.
Mickie, dear, make haste fer de doctor. -"
One day last week this letter was sent
by special delivery to Trooper Dugan in
Santiago:
DEAR DANIEL have seen Name and squar-
ed things for you. I'm thinking of settling
here in New York Tired of cow punching
Besides Name won't stand for moving
west. Your mother and all the folks sezs@
love. The hole in my side has healed nicely,
20 rraira
to II AIRY me Sun lay after nextI Send us
your blessing. Yours, GRIMES.
P. S.-Dannie, dear, I'm jiJt addin a word
to tank youse fer sendin me de COW puncher
-nA l,-nta III II, Ill