The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-07-05
+Aren.t there any women around

Aren't there any women around
well yes.s said Tom trithfuily,
but innocentIy, there's old Galora--
sort Of Mexican Indian, she is-that
does the cooking. And there's CIarita.
You'll like her. She's the sister Of
my foreman
"Pretty?s asked Sue.
And Tom, being IMMERSED IN the
proper code. said she was highly pret.i
~ and about eighteen. Sue read q
magazine for some time after! that, her
firm little mouth set rather closer.
than usual. They stopped over at
Chicago for week. and made for
Texas in time for the Fourth. Tom
had sent on a big supply of fireworks,
and flags from New York. '!tlli
We'll shoot rockets 30 high they
can see them at Fort Lomar," he
said. 80 \ II n.
At the station he hired a car to take
them over. II was late and he had not
let Juan know Of his arrived. Just as.
they were leaving, 9 couple OF sol.
diers came up the broad steps and
Tom shot out surprised hail at his
old boys. Sue waited impatientiy
while he talked to them in low tones.
When he came back. heilooked oddly,
not like the good.natured Tom; she
had known, but tense angry man
who meant business. They started
away with the big box OF fireworks
strapped to the running board, and
a mile down from Muddy Ford Tom
halted the car at little bunkhouse
the boys used when grazing was good
along the river. It was empty now.
He put the provisions inside and the
box Of fireworks
I'm going up to the ranch Alone"
he told Sue, holding her in his arms
and kissing her. Girl, dear, I'm nigh.
ty sorry to bring you home to this,
but you've got to share the sorrows
as well as the joys, You know. Promis.
cd II, didn't you? And tomorrow's
the Fourth. w amt got any time to
lose II we're going to raise Old Glory
high. II l amt back for you in two
hours-that'll be nine o'clock-you set
off this bunch Of skyrockets one after
the other. and hop for town in that car
as fast as the boy can take you. Son
= he turned to the boy-''you don't
have to worry about anything except to
get to Lo mar Junction"
Sue waited, his last kiss fresh on
her lips, her eyes fixed on the sill.
houette of trees outlined against the
clear, fair moonlight. They marked
the river course where Tom stole on
up to the ranch. She wondered what
lay ahead of him, What It was he
mad not told her some way she thought
OF the girl Clarita. After awhile she
turned back from the low shack to find
the boy whistling softly to himself as
he knelt on the ground, making little
mound to rest the rockets against.
Its two hours he told her "Here
goes the first"
1t shot up in long kissing line like
a thrown lariat, higher and niger un.
til 1t burst light yinto colored stars
They'll see that clear over to the
fort" Sue whispered. LET me send
off the next"
AS the rocket scared into the night
sky. Tom lay on his back, trused like
q Thanksgiving turkey, up home. beat.
en- and bruised, gagged and bleed.
ing. outside tho ranch house door. In.
side Juan and his men were drinking,
singing and bowling derisivc yells at
the cursed Americans. not only his
own cowboys, but guests from over tho
border, and they planned the death
of Tom Madlgan at dawn.
Once a shadow stole out and stood
hncfHa txttS, A Ittf1n 81
touched his check, and Clarita laughed
at him.
"You have happy bridal homecom.
ing, yes, senior? Where your wife,
huh? You going to celebrate your
Fourth fine. yes?"
THAT'S ALL" the boy said when the
last rocket went UP. WED better
hustle now like he said"
She never forgot that ride. Low
over the wheel crouched the thin, lit
tie figure of the Texas boy, and she
beside him hatless. the wind blow.
ing her fair hair loose across her face.
Halfway the boy slowed down and list.
ened.
Hear 'em coming" he gr1ned-rtne
soldiers?'
They waited till the detachment.
rode up, eager. serious.faced youngs.
ters in khaki most Of them, with Tod
Mason at their head. Tod, who had
been in every good scrimmage and
chase since the campaign opened;
Lieutenant Tod, as the rank and file
called him proudly.
We'll get him all right. Mrs. Madi.
gan" he promised. Don't you wor.