Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-29

keep your promise to daddy. you needn't
ever come near me again-never!"
Her little head was thrown back defiantly
and her slim fingers ClutChed the picket
fence. For an instant Dave stood stunned,
then suddenly he folded her in his arms.
Lena, Lena, you don't know what your re
saying. You don't mean that!'
We'll, / just do" and, pushing his arms
apart, she sprang forward into the dark
ness, ran into the house and closed the door
with defiant slam.
Slowly Dave mounted Cyclone and rode to
his little cabin. His ranch lay the edge
of the town. When Lariat became division
headquarters for the railroad that ranch
would sell as town lots, and Dave had
entered the house, lit the lamp, and his eye
fell on the gaudy Uncle Sam costume. Be
side 1t was copy Of the Declaration Of In
dependence in clear, large print.
We'll. 1 may get back in time, II Long
Pete's where the boys think he is; but he's
a tricky cuss, and, perhaps''-he set his
lips firmly-'yes. 1 will come back; not to
please her. but to show her what can do
no right to treat me like this. She don't
understand how I love her"
He strobe moodily to the table. built.
bachelor fashion, from a packing box
There stood Lena's picture in a linen frame.
gaily embroidered with forget-me-nots, the
single feminine touch in his deSOlate cabin.
He gazed into her face with hungry eyes,
then suddenly the hard look faded from his
mouth. and he kissed the photograph pas
sionately.
Poor little girl; she's all worked up over
this silly celebration. l don't believe she
meant a word she said. And I'll get back
tomorrow on time if L have to lariat old
Pete to do it"
Then he carefully filed his cartridge belt.
looked over his guns fastened a stout coil
of rope on Cyclones saddle and swept off
toward Devils Basin.
In Lariat, Independence day dawned
fair as Venetian morning. Against the
| Adriatic blue of distant mountain ranges
rose sparkling mirage, a thousand tur-
rets and castles cleaning like diamonds
And Helmer, seeing that. took heart 1t
| was a glorious omen. By o'clock every
hftching post in town circled by
horses. By 10 people were forced to walk
| in the streets, and when the special ar
| rived at 1870 the river grove was packed
| with humanity
Yet John Helmer, mayor Of Lariat and
master of ceremonies, was not quite at
| ease. His brand new suit of light gray
| cloth seemed to weigh him down. He
| feared he might in his nervousness, over
| look some number ON the program, and to
| avert such calamity he held a pencil to
| check off each number as 1t was given
| Neither was he quite certain whether he
| should introduce the senator as United
States senator Our senator" And
| worse OF all, he was not sure that Dave
| Ewing would be back in time to read the
I Declaration. 1t was next to the last num-
| Der on the program. however, and Helmer
| a catcher of horse thieves in particular
Helmer had said little when Lena, tired
| eyed and with set, hard look about her
| mouth. had crept into his room while he
| was dressing and had given him the I'M
| welcome news.
That's bad-very bad" he had mutt
| tered. stroking his chin nervously. ITS
liable to upset the whole program and
| that program was a winner I'd ought to
| have had substitute" Then, with an
| effort at cheerfuiness, he patted Lena's
| cheek.
| Never mind, Lena, maybe he'll get back
| on time, and If he don't-well-Pd done as
| much at his age for your mother. A
| thousand dollars will clear the ranch
| don't blame him much" Helmer sighed
then suddenly frightened excitedly.
| Gee whilikers, suppose he'd get Pete,
| and bring him in for a sort of wind-up
for the whole thing. That would make my
1 celebration AL Talk about fireworks thew
| wouldn't be In 1t alongside of falling Peter
| But when Lena went back to her room
| to dress for the exercises she was not
| thinking Of Long Pete, nor Of fireworks,
| but OF her fathers words, which rang like
| minor refrain through her aching head:
I'D have done as much at his age for
| your mother"
| Then it had been for her-for HEREAFTER
1 ALL
| When Mrs. Helmer called fretfully from
\ the foot of the stairs the girl answered in
| mufied tones that she'd be ready In a
minute, but they might we'll go on with
| And Mrs. Helmer, harassed with the re-
| sponsibility of being the better half Of the
| master Of ceremonies. gladly awaited her
| self of the privilege, and FASTENED to Join
| the stream Of humanity setting in toward
| the river and the shady grove Ten min
| utes later girlish figure stole round the
Helmer house to the barn, mounted a stout
| little pony. and started. not toward the
| grove. but straight for Dave Ewing
| ranch.
And while she rode the exercises in the
| grove commenced. The band played riot
| ously, the children sang rapturously, the
| master of ceremonies read his address of
| welcome without a single pause, and then
| glanced gratefully toward the school teach