Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-07-04

sudden rush Of sympathy for the
reader 1t has been a hard ride and a
close shave. And where was Long
Pete?
AS the reader gained confidence and
his voice became firner, there was al
most ring Of triumph tri-
umph-in the tones.
I'VE mutually pledge to each other
our lives, our fortunes and our sacred
honorw
As the famous peroration rang out
the audience rose and cheered. The
children waved their flags frantically,
and even the United States senator
started forward and shook hands
heartily with the flushed and perspir-
ing reader. Some one offered him q
chair at the senator's elbow, but he
shook his head and muttered hoarsely;
"Sorry, but / can't stop. It's time
was going"
With a wave of his hand to the
amazed master Of ceremonies, he
sprang from the platform and threaded
his way rapidly to the trembling horse,
which stood in the center of an admir-
ing group Of cowboys. The crowd
around Cyclone broke. and the horse
plunged forward. Then above the
mur1nur of voices rose a clear call In
a girls voice:
Stop him! Stop himr'
Helmer stihed a profane exclamation
of astonishment as he saw his daugh-
ter urging her pony through the crowd.
ITS Long Pete, and he's killed Dave
Ewingm
The agonized words scarcely reached
beyond the edge of the crowd, but
people in the crush realized that some
thing was happening. One of the cow
boys, gazing blankly after the fleeing
figure, shouted derisiyely:
What you givin' us? That's Dave
Ewingg'
With a cry of baff1ed anger and de-
spair the girl dropped the reins, raised
the rifle slung across her saddle and
fred upon the fugitive. A howl rose
from the throng as Uncle Sam swayed
in the saddle. The shot seemed like
an insult to the flag. There was tu-
multi in the grove, and the master of
ceremonies, shading his eyes with one
hand and protesting for quiet with the
other, saw something which made his
heart stand still, for Lena lurched for
ward suddenly and would have fallen
had not a man at her side caught her.
Helmer pushed through the crowd to
Lena's side.
Nothing but a faint Give her air."
said burly miner, ramming his bulk
right and left against the press of
human beings. 'sPlucky little girl and
an all fred good shotr'
Out on the stretch Of alkali dust be-
yond the grove men were bending over
a form in gaudy red, white and blue
raiment. One arm hung limp and use
less at his side and thin streak of
blood showed against the blue coat.
The hat had fallen off, the gray wig
and goatee were snatched away by
eager hands, and one Of the men
Strengthened up suddenly, with an
oath.
Long Pete, by thunderl How'd the
kid know it?"
When Lena regained consciousness
she was looking into her fathers face.
His lips twitched neryously as she
fixed her great eyes on his face.
Daddy, | didn't kill him-tell me
didn't kill him!'
mo, no, Lena, just winged him."
Helmer was still chatting her hands
tsyJybarasc nova2,,
The girls lips quivered piteously.
"Choked, gagged and shot, out at his
cabin
And sobs choked of further words.
An angry murmur arose from the
ranchmen and cowboys gathered near
the girl, but Long Pete, with grim,
white lips, snarled at his captors:
HE amt hurt much. Just a flesh
wound. It's just my internal luck.
Thought I'd do it for joke and teach
that young upstart of a deputy few
tricks. Drat that girli''
A bevy of sympathizing women es-
corted Lena from the field of battle,
and gang Of hooting cowboys and
ranchers started for the Jail with Long
Pete. Then the master of ceremonies
mounted the platform, raised bis hand
for silence and announced:
ladies and gentlemen, while we
wanted to give you a first class cele-
bration, we wasn't counting on this
here little exhibition of fireworks. But
If you'll stay over for this evening we'll
show you the real thing. And we hope
this here little exhibition Of short range
shooting amt spoiled your appetite for
some Of the finest beef that ever come
off the range. The barbecue will fol
low this programme. And the exercises
will now close with The Star Span
gled Banner sung by chorus and band.
Will the audience please rise and join
in?'
And the audience did.
That night Dave Ewing and Lena
Helmer watched the fireworks from
the doorway of Dawes cabin. One Of
Dawes arms was In sling and his