Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1907-07-08

W T was bound to be the greatest
n celebration Lariat had ever wit
ue..l John llclmor. mayor of
"-' IatiAt. ever since his election had
N.en planning Fourth of July that
would make that of his predecessor
ioQl like prairie dog hunting for
cover The word had gone out through
the Rio Ggaude valley that real
United States senator would grace
ueluers celebration, and the country
was a,0r with patriotic excitement.
rte county band would be ION the
.1t,b." and the school children of Lariat,
"a glit~ino badges and sashes, would
sing Z. r4riotic airs. y barbecue.
.t;lrse ri 1u-. lroncho busting and fire.
ayorl.s vui4. be added attractions.
But IIclmcr kept his coup up his
sleeve. Last year the Declaration Of
Independence had been read monot-
onously by the county superintendent
of schools. This year Helmer had ar
rRngel to have it read by Dave Ewing.
deputy sheriff of Conejos county, at
tired rs lutle sam. He had hired the
uecc. Any costume at Pueblo, even TO
tie gray wiz and goatee.
Not that Dave cared anything about
basllng in the glare of public inter
est a. represented by Lariat and Cone
Jos county. He was not the sort or
tellov to make grand stand play,
bat he loved Lena Helmer, the mayors
daughter and if she wanted him to
don the garments of Pierrot and swing
or The edge OF the moon he would have
made a violent effort to oblige her.
With the night of July 3 came signs
If the morlow's triumph, which We're
as incense to Helmer's spirit. Cow
boys and miners struggling in from
The south and north reported gen
ral movement toward Lariat, while
from the east and west came rumors
ut a general hegira of the ranch popu-
6tion, and all for Lariat and Hell
t1ers celebra ton.
All this had been hilariously dis
assed over the Helmer supper table.
and as Iielmer rose, with forced care
6ssness, he said to his daughter:
"NoW, Lena, you don't see any
gneres that cog might slip, do your
NO, DADDY; everything is going
beautifully. The children sang this
.sttere0Cn without single mistake,
aud Dave knows the Declaration near.
81 by heart
Ills Uncle Sam suit come"
"Yes and it fits like glove"
That's good. Dawes the tallest,
Hkeliest and straightest fellow round
uere"
"Yes. ana Dawes the dearest fellow
that ever lived" murmured Lena as
abe helped her mother with the supper
work.
Suddenly Lena caught the clatter of
hoofs on the ditch bridge. No horse
save Dawes Cyclone had that rhythmic
hoof beat. And a minute later Cyclone
was nibbling block sugar in I.ena's
hand, while his master stood by smil-
ing. his arm around Lena's slender
waist.
"Shall YOU enter Cyclone tomorrow,
Dave, for any of the races! she asked,
rs the horse licked the last scrap of
swcetaesa from her hand.
Dayo drew her closer to him and
said, tribe anXlously:
81 dont know, dear. That's what l
game to you about. Maybe shan't
I'VE in town tomorrow"
"Not be here tomorrow? Why, Dave
EUng, what DO you mean?'
The Declaration of Independence,
Uncle Sans costume, her fathers fine
plans all seemed to crumble at her
seet.
"You see, It's this way, dear: Long
Petc's bocn seen up on the DEVILS Ba-
an t'ail bv some Of the men from the
I'm ranch
At the name of Long Pete Lena gave
~ nervous start.
"You know there's a thousand in re-
ward bune; up for him, and, Lena,
dear, don't you understand that means
ny rtilt Hrch clear and ready for
yvu-aud--l want you SO badly, sweet
murt"
His voice was low and vibrant with
passion, bat Lena was thinking Of her
tuther and that programme.
81 don't care, Dave. Ranch or no
.snch, you've got to get here. Ia
nther wait another year than have
daddy disappointed. He's so set about
everything going right, and now it's
100 late 80 get any one to take your
place. There amt another man in
l.ariul tuat could wear that suit, to
say nothing Of trying to read the piece
You just can't go, Dave, so there"'
! LENA, I'll have to go. It's a matter
d duty. Cleghorn's tied up at court
q Al;IuOsa ana won't be back in time
By tomorrow night Long Pete III be
LGer the range again. There amt an
1ther deputy In the bunch that Cleg-
1ogn woulG trust with this trick, and
Pm going after Pete tonight, Lena, or
give up my job"
Lena sprang from his side in a tu-
2uult of anger and jealousy.
"All right, Dave Ewing, If you think
.Eore of Sheriff Cleghorn than me, go
sAaaad to Devils Basin, but mind this
p you're not here tomorrow to keep
yulr promise TO daddy, You needn't
Asger come Lear me again-neyer!'
For an instant Dave stood stunned.
..hen suddenly he folded her in his
arms.
lena, Lena, you don't know what
7OuHre sa! ing. You don't mean that"