The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-31
DAWN's EARLY LIGHT
BY lzoLA FORESTER.

Just about twenty miles southeast
of FL Rey Pass lay Tom Madigans
ranch. Tom was big and good-natured.
The tides of war rumors never rufhed
his daily calm or happiness. He had
a tidy bunch of Mexicans working for
| him, good fellows every one, and he
| didn't see why Uncle Sans argu-
| ments should interfere with their
friendly and sociable relations.
Clarita Gomez flashed her quick
smile at him and accepted his invita- |
tien to settle at Sweetwater ranch
with her brother Juan.
There amt a better cattle man in
all Texas than Juan" Tom had said,
slapping the tall, lean Sonoran on his
shoulder. "rm going back East In
June to bring back the best girl In the
whole United States of America, and
I'll leave things here to JUAN"
He left the first of June just when
the border was bubbling over with,
trouble.
"Pll be back by July" he told Juan,
"and Wen have the biggest Knockout
Fourth the old ranch ever saw In
honor of the BRIDE understand, Juan.
Have everything in good shape"
The first thing Juan did after his
boss took the east-bound train was to
fire the four American cowsboys and
substitute Mexicans. The boys rode
over the Ell Rey Pass and Joined the
army.
The happy bridegroom was married
at the little white church, June 20, to
Sue Phillips, and all the way west he
told her of the roomy, comfortable
ranch house lying in the fertile val
: ley below.
Tom had sent on big supply OF
fireworks and flags from New York.
"We1l shoot rockets so high they
: can see them at Fort Lomar," he said.
At the station he hired car to
n take them over. II was late and he
had not let Juan know Of his arrival.
Just as they were leaving, couple of
soldiers came up the broad steps and
Tom shot out surprised hail at his
n old boys. Sue waited impatientiy
while he talked to them In low tones
r. When he came back, he looked oddly
not like the good-natured Tom she had
!, known, but tense, angry man wnt
meant business. They started ava,
with the big box of fireworks strapped
to the running board, and mile dowr
IN from Muddy Ford Tom halted the car
"rm going up to the ranch alone,
he told Sue, holding her in his arm
- and kissing her. If / amt back TO
= you in two hours-that'll be min
o'clock-you set off this bunch of sky
rockets one after the other, and no
d. for town in that car as fast as the bo
can take YOU"
Sue waited, his last kiss fresh o
m her lips, her eyes fixed on the 81
houette of trees outlined against tn
clear, fair. moonlight. They marke
the river course where Tom stode o
up to the ranch. And awhile sh
turned back from the low shack to fin
the boy whistling softly to himself o
er' he -knelt on the ground, making IL
tie mound to rest the rockets agains
er, Its two hours" he told her. "Her
goes the first"
I'm they'll see that clear over to tn
fort" Sue whispered.
"a AS the rocket scared into the nigl
sky, Tom lay on his back, trussed lib
Thanksgiving turkey, beaten an
'm bruised, gagged and bleeding, outsit
the ranch house door. Inside Jua
pm and his men were drinking, singh
and bowling derisive yells at Il
IN cursed Americans, and they planne
the death of Tom Madigan at dawn.
-, Once a shadow stole out and stoC
beside him. A little slippered t
touched his cheek, and Clarita laugh'
at him.
er' "You have happy bridal homecor
ing, yes, senorI Where your wifi
le; huh? You going to celebrate yo'
lily Fourth fine, yesf"
ng.
'sThat's ALL" the boy said when Il
last rocket went up. WED bett
hustle now like he said"
on Halfway the boy slowed down al
'0'' listened.
"Hear 'em comlng"-he grinned
fy' "the soldiers"
They waited till the detachme
Der, rode up, eager, serious-faced youn
STEERS In khaki most of them, with 4
,ry. Mason at their head. Tod, who h
been in every good scrimmage a
,ou, chase since the campaign opene
Lieutenant Tod, as the rank and
oaIlod him nroudly
VI" "Wen get him all right, Mrs. Ma
gam he promised. Don't you worl
TALL. You can ride on to that hill and WI
UNI for daylight. When you see the n
down on the ranch house, you
come back"
Tom thought he was dreaming VIII
he felt someone behind him, crawl
by inches until his bonds were
- and a revolver thrust in his achi
-~A hand Than came the attack, the 81