The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1907-07-04
DANNY DEsM0ND's
FOURTH OF JULY
BY George Cartwright.

accepted the attentions of Frank Car
FOIL If she had not known he was most
heartily disliked by DR.. Bruce Ronald.
And she v would have quarreled
with the doctor but for Danny.
Dorothy had been the head of the
house since. a mere slip of a girl, h
had stood beside her dying mother and,
scarce compromising her responsible
ty, had promised that she would be a
mother to Danny. She had done more
is years rolled around, becoming Dam
ny's abject slave.
1t was because DR.. Ronald had left
Danny's cut finger to hurry to Mrs.
Carson, who was reported to be in a
fit, that Dorothy a quarreled with
him. She could not understand why
Mrs. Carson's fit should be more i'm
portant han her darling's hurt, n
had told Ronald that she could hot
marry a man who would leave a poor
suffering child to minister to the Whinla
of a hypochondriac.
There was nc time for argument.
DR.. Ronald had sprung into his buggy.
and the next day she a returned his
ring. That same night Carroll had
taken the doctors place on the Des-
mond porch to the openly expressed dis
approval of Danny, who found Cara
rolls cheap humor but g. poor exchange
for the absorbing tales Ronald was
won't to tell.
Dorothy herself found little pleasure
In CarroiPs society. His slang and silly
stories grated upon her finer sensibili-
ties, but she would not let Ronald see
that h missed him, and Carroll a
been the first to appear after the quar-
rel.
Carroll was far from a fool. how
ever. and he sought to win Danny
favor with presents. That youth re,
fused to accept a music box and a
~ IA k 1Sntfa hJYf tho nnrrnanhr of tina
Fourth OF July found him graciously
disposed to accept a gigantic pistol
generously supplied with caps of an
extra large size and Of exceptional
welded to his idol, Ronald, but the
donor OF such fascinating toys was not
to be regarded lightly, and for fully ten
minutes he sat upon CarrolPs lap be-
fore he slipped down to try the new
toy.
- Encouraged by the success of this
experiment, Carroll was moved to make
further offering on the morning of the
Fourth of a case Of fireworks and a
fresh supply OF caps in spite Of Doro-
thy's fears of an accident. More than
that, he stayed to help shoot them off,
and all the afternoon he and Danny
made the Desmond front yard rs noisy
as a Japanese battlefield.
He did not receive the Invitation to
supper for which he had been maneu-
NeIlIlS, IlOWeNSFs ne WdS DdCk soon al
ter the evening meal. He was assured
as least one welcome by a fresh supply
Of fireworks. These he assisted Dan
ny to set off in the front yard, serious
1y burning one Of Mr.. Desmond's IA
nous naples with his pinwheels and
smashing a skylight in the conserva-
tory next door with a misdirected
rocket.
Presently Carroll began to regret his
generosity, for he argued that We're the
supply less plentiful he might posi-
bly, be left alone with Dorothy. Be-
ready, when h complained Of the
noise, to flick the ashes carelessly from
his cigar into an open box Of caps. The
expected explosion did not come. and.
disappointed, he turned away just as
Danny reached over for a fresh cap. ,
With a flare the entire supply ex-
ploded in the boys face. The ash with
the live heart had taken 8, me to
heat through and explode the fulmi-
nate. ,
with a cry Dorothy caught him I'm
and carried him into the parlor, refus-
ing all aid from the thoroughly fright.
ened Carroll.
Don't touch him!" she stormed. 1T
you have any decency, go away at
II didn't mean to-" he protested. But
his words fell Upon u%nheeding ears. It
was enough for Dorothy tina her dar-
ling was suffering. She ran to the tel-
ephone to call up old DR.. Bryan, only
to be met with the disheartening re-
Sponse that The doctor had been called
to the country. There was only one
other physician in the town.
For n brief second Dorothy hesi-
tated; then a groan from the huddled
figure on the couch drove from her
mead an FEELINGS Of pride: She took the
receiver down again. No need this
time to look in the book for the num-
Der. She knew 1t by heart.
Ronald answered the call in person.
and with a cry of relief she told him OF
her need and implored him to come
only the click as the receiver at the
other end was hung up. With a crv
she sank to the floor. She was alone
IN the house with her suffering idol.
Her father had gone to the celebration
In the town hall, and Carroll had SUNK
away at her fierce repulse.
She could not believe that a man
Woul be so cruel as to refuse little
Danny help. And DR.. Ronald had pre-
tended to be SO fond of the boy. Hot
men,bered that her first duty was
toward Danny. She struggled to her
feet and started toward the couch in
the other room. In the doorway her
heart gave a great leap. There, bend
ing over the lad, was the stalwart fir-
ure she loved SO well. Without turn
ing from his work he spoke: =
4 thought 1t would be better to come
light over he explained. II was afraid
that his eyes might be in danger. Full
innate makes such a nasty burn"
You might nave told mo that YOU
We're coming" she protested.
DO you Imagine I Would refuse to
answer the call Of distress anywhere %
he asked, as he saturated n stcio OF
cotton batting in sweet oil. was
there need OF hat assurance? Even
yol gave me credit FOR being absorbed
In MY work
Il beg your pardon she said sim
ply, trying to still the beating of her
heart as she came forward and tooL
one Of Danny's hands in her own. us
he much hurt?"
Not as badly as I feared.' was the
assuring answer. The burns are s,,-
pericial and confined to the lower part
of the face. His eyes are unhurt and
he did not breathe the fame"
Thank God" she sale softly. that
you are here!'
Ee shot a quick glance at her as he
raised his eye from his work but he
went quietly on, and by the time he
go - 49,