Gunnison news-champion., 1916-11-10
Mulfs ElnrunT
sy ,zoLA FoRREsTER.

! Dy lzolA FoRResTER.
Just about twenty miles southeast
Of El Rey Pass lay Tom Nadigan's
ranch Tom was big and good-natured.
The tides Of war rumors never ruined
his daily calm OF happiness. He he'd
hdy bunch Of Mexicans working foe
him, good fellows every one. and hs
didn't see why Uncle Sans argu-
ments should Interfere with their
frieDdly and sociable relations
Carita Comes flashed her quick
snile at him and accepted his invita-
tion to settle ut Sweetwater ranch
with her brother Juan.
There ain't . better cattle man IN
all Texas than Juan." Tom had said.
slapping the tall. lean Sonoran on his
shoulder. srm. going back East In
June to bring back the best girl In the
whole UhIte6 ontes a America. and
IN leave things here to Juan"
He let the flrst Of June just wAsa
the border jrss bubb,ins over witA
trouble.
~Tu bsback By July," hs told Juan.
~and well have the biggest knockout
Fourth the old ranch ever saw -
honor Of the bride. understand, Juan
Have everything In good shape"
The first thing Juan did after he
boss took the east-bound train WAS 70
Ore the four American cowsboys and
substitute Mexieano. The boys rode
over the n Rsy Pass and Joined tie
army.
/ The happy bridegroom was married
at the little white church, June 20. to
Sue Phillips. and al 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 nass from New York.
"weTl shoot rockets % high they
can see them at Fort Lomar," he said.
At the station he hired Q car to
take them over. II was late and he
had not let Juan know Of his arrival.
Just a. they were leaving. couple Of
soldiers came up the broad steps and
! Tom. shot out Z surprised hail ut his
reid boys. Sue waited impatiently
whils. he talked to them In low tones.
When he. came back, he looked oddly.
not like the good-natured Tom she had
known, but Q tense. angry man who
meant buslness. They started away
with the biR boz Of fireworks strapped
to the f1nHlht board. and . mile down
/ from 1ddddy Ford Tom halted the car.
I'm going up to the ranch aloue." !"
|ehe tolAaSue, holding her In his arms
and Missing her. IL I amt back. for
ayou I'm two hours-that1l b. nine
|, o'clQck-you set on this bunch Of sky.
eockets one after the other. and hop
for town IN that car ~ fast q The boy
can take you."
Bus waited. his last kiss fresh On
her llpQs Aef- eyee Axed On tho Ill
houetts .of trees outlined Against ths
dear. fair moonlight. They marked
DE river course where Tom stods On
ip 10 the ranch. And awhile she
turned back from tks low shack to nnd
(Ae boy whistline softly to himself q
" khelt M the ground. making lit
t1s hound 10 rest the. rockets against.
''Itss tvs hours" he told her. '.Here
Spes the lnrst."
.Theyii SEQ that clear over to the
fbrt.s. Sue whispered.
IAs the rocket SCARED into the night
shy. Tom lay on his back, trussed like
a Thanksgiving turkey, beaten and
bruised, gagged and bleeding, outside
the ranch house door. Inside Juan
and his men were drinking, singing
nd lLsAling derisive yells at the
cursed Americans. and they planned
the death Of Tom Madigan at dawn.
Once q shadow stole out and stood
beside him. A little slippered toe
touched his cheek. and Clarita laughed
at him.
You have happy bridal homecom-
Ing. yes, senorl Where your wife.
hdhf You going to celebrate your
Fourth fine. yesf"
THAT'S ALL" the boy said when the
last rocket went up. wed bettes
hustle now like he said"
Halfway the boy slowed down and
listened.
'Hear 'em coming7-he grinned--
ssthe soldiers"
They waited till the detachment
rode up. eager. serious-faced young
sfera In khaki rnoaf NJ them. with Ts0d
Nasoh at their head. Tod, who hsd
beea IN every good scrimmage and
chase since the campaign opened :
Lieut1hant Tod, q the rank and iile
called him proudly.
.'w4yl get him all right, Mrs. Madi'
gnp.' Ne promised. "Don't yor worry.
You GIN ride on, to that hill and wait
fofI daylight. Wheh you eee the flas
down pn the ranch house, you can
come back"
Tom Thought he was dreaming when
~ RaIf sosuoono lsphfu0 him fravvltup