The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-07-04
DESMOND'S
FOURTH OF JULY
BY osorae cartMriaht.

heartliy ulSllkeQ Dy Dr. Bruce Ronald,
And she never would have quarreled
with the doctor but for Danny.
Dorothy had been the head of the
house since. mere slip of a girl, she
had stood beside her dying mother and,
scarce comprehending her responsible
tty, had promised that she would be a
mother to Danny. She had done more
rs years rolled around, becoming Dam
ny's abject slave.
It was because DR.. Ronald had left
Danny's cut fingerH to hurry to Mrs.
Carson, who was reported to be in a.
ht that Dorothy had quarreled with
him. She could not understand why
Mrs. Carson's fit should be more inn
portant than her darling's hurt, and
had told Ronald that she could not
marry man who would leave a poor
suffering child to minister to the whims
of a hypochondriac.
There was no time for argument.
Or. Ronald had sprung into his buggy,
and the next day she had returned his
ring That same night Carroll had
taken the doctors place on the Desl
niOnd porch to the openly expressed dis
approval of Danny, who found Cara
rolls cheap humor but poor exchange
for the absorbing tales Ronald was
wont TO tell. a
Dorothy herself found little pleasure
stories grated upon her finer sensibili7
ties, but she would not let Ronald see
that she missed him, and Carroll had
been the first to appear after the quar-
rel. -.
Carroll was far from a fool, how
ever, and he sought to win Danny's
favor with presents. That youth re-
fused to accept music box and
jack knife, but the approach of the
Fourth of July found him graciously
disposed ito accept gigantic pistol
generously supplied with caps OF an
noise producing qualities. He was still
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 Carrolls, lap be-
fore he slipped down to try the new
toy. .-. i
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 as noisy
as Japanese battlefield.
He did not receive the invitation to
supper for which he had been maneu-
vering; however, he was back soon af-
ter the evening meal. He was assured
as least one welcome by fresh supply
OF fireworks. These he assisted Dan
ny to set off In the front yard, serious
ly burning one of Mr.. Desmond's IA
nous naples with his pinwheels and
smashing skylight in the conserva-
tory next door with a misdirected
rocket ...... 49,
Presently Carroll began to regret his
generosity, for he argued that were the
supply less plentiful he might possi
bly, be left alone with Dorothy. Be-
cause Of this hope he was only too
ready, when she 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 Hare the entire supply ex1
ploded in the boys face. The ash with
the live heart had taken a moment to
heat through and explode the fulmi.
nate.
With a cry Dorothy caught him up
and carried him into the parlor, refus-
ing all aid from the thoroughly fright.
ened Carroll.
Don't touch him!" she stormed. III
You have any decency, go away at
once"
II didn't mean to-" he protested. But
his words fell upon unheeding ears II
was enough for Dorothy that her dar
ling was suffering. She ran to the tel
ephone to call up old DR.. Bryan, only
TO be met with the disheaTtening re-
sponse that the doctor had been called
to the country. There was only one
other physician in the town.
For one brief second Dorothy hest
tated; then a groan from the huddled
figure on the couch drove from hei
head all feelings of pride. She took the
Hnr dsNNuVW nfY, L..
time to look in the book for the num-
Der. She knew 1t by heart.
Ronald answered the call in person,
and with q cry of relief she told him of
her need and implored him to come.
There was no answer to her request
only the click as the receiver at the
other end was hung up. With a cry
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 skunk
away at her fierce repulse.
She could not believe that a man
would be so cruel as to refuse little
Danny help. And DR.. Ronald had pre-
tended to be so fond of the boy. Hot
anger burned in her heart, but she re-
membered that her first duty was
toward Danny. She struggled to her
feet and started toward the couch In
the other room. In the doorway heI
heart gave great leap There, bend
ing over the lad, was the stalWart ng--
ure she loved so we'll Without turn
ing from his work he spoke:
Z II thought 1t would be better. to como
right over" he explained. Il was afraid.
that his eyes might be in danger. Full
inmate makes such a nasty burn"
You might have told ME that you
We're coming" she protested.
do you imagine / would refuse TO
answer the call Of distress anyWhere""
he asked, as he saturated I strip OF
cotton batting in sweet oil. WAS
There need OIL that assurance? Even
yoL gave me credit for tciag absorbed
In MY work.
II beg your pardon" she said SIM
ply, trying to still the beating Of her
heart as she came forward and took
one OF Danny's hands in her own. rs
he much hurt?"
Not as badly as I feared" was the
assuring answer. The burns are SUI
perfcial and confined to the lower part
OF the face. His eyes are unhurt, and
k.,x x5t \ l. 81 hA 90