The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-04
The Euening Story
The Dawn's Early Light.
(Bv lola Forrester.)

Ell Rey Pass lay Tom Madigan'S rancn.
Tom was big and good natured. The
tides of war rumors never ruffled his
daily calm or happiness. He had
tidy bunch of Mexicans working Tor
him, good fellows every one, and ne
didn't see why Uncle Sans arguments
should interfere with their friendly
and sociab1e relations
Which was also why he put no OBJ
stac1e in the way OF his customary
spring roundup house party. Every
thing went off as usual, and Tom
beamed at the world and swore there
was no Mexican problem. C1arita
Gomez flashed her quick smile at him
and accepted his invitation to settle at
Sweetwater ranch with her brother
Juan.
There amt better cattleman in
all Texas than Juan" Tom had said,
slapping the tall, lean Sonoran on his
shoulder. I'm 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
1t took Clarita about week to estab-
lish her preference for the YANKEE
rancher. Every quick glance OF her
dark eyes told her secret, but Tom
would ride away from the Gomez
shack on his way to meet the mali
wagon at Muddy Ford and only tninK
of the letter he would get from niue
blue-eyed girl down in Maine
the border was bubbling over with
trouble.
'I'u be back by July" he told Juan,
land we'll 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 MS
boss took the eastbound train was TO
fire the four American cowboys and
substitute Mexicans. The boys rode
over the Ell Rey Pass and joined the
army. Two days later. bunch OF
cattle was driven over the border, cat
tie with Tom Madigan's double U on
their flanks, headed for the mountains:
And there was no one to send WORD
to NepOnsett, Me.
The happy bridegroom was narr1ed
at the little white church, June 20, TIC
Sue Philips, and all the way west he
told her of the roomy, comfortable
rar7eh house lying in the fertile valley
below the pass and how she'd be boss
Of the whole outfit.
Aren't there any women around
US, Tom
well, yes" said Tom truthfully,
but innocently, there's old Galora-
sort of Mexican Indian. she is-that
does the cooking. And there Clarita.
You'll like her. She's the sister of
my foreman"
Pretty asked Sue.
And Tom, being IMMERSED in the
proper code, said she was mighty pref
ty and about IS. Sue read maya
zine for some time after that, her
firm little mouth set rather closer
than usual. They stopped over at Chi
cago for a week, and made for Texas
in time for the Fourth Tom had
sent on big supply of fireworks and
flags from New York.
sFWe'u shoot rockets so high they
can see them at Fort Lomar," he said.
A. he take
them over. 1t 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 a surprised hail at his old boys.
Sue waited impatiently while he talked
to them in low tones. When he came
back, he looked oddly, not like the
good-natured Tom she had known. but
a tense, angry man who meant busl-
ness They started away with the big
box of fireworks strapped to the run
ming board, and a mile down from
Muddy Ford Tom halted the car at a
little clubhouse the boys used when
grazing was good along the river. 1t
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
mighty sorry to bring you home to
this. but you've got to share the sor-
rows as well as the joys, you know.
Promised it, didn't you? And tomor-
time to lose if we're going to raise Old
Glory high. If I amt back for you in
two hours-that'H be 9 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 any,
thing except to get to Lonar juno
ton"
Sue waited, his last kiss fresh on her
lips, her eyes fixed on the silhouette
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 had not told
her, and, some way, she thought of the
girl Clarita. After while she turned
| back from the low shack to find the
boy whistling softly to himself. as he
knelt on the ground, making a little
mound to rest the rockets against
Its two hours" he told her. Here
goes the first"
1t shot up in a long kissing line
like a thrown lariat, higher and
higher until it burst lightly into col
ored stars. a
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, truSSed like
A Thanksgiving turkey up home,
beaten and bruised, gagged and bleed
ing, outSide the ranch house door.
Inside Juan, and his men were drink
ing, singing and bowling derisive yells
at the cursed Americans; not only his
own cowboys, but guests from over
the border, and they planned the
death of Tom Madigan at dawn.
Once a shadow stole out and stood
| beside him. A little slippered toe
touched his check, and Clarita
you have happy bridal homecom-
| ing, yes, senior? Where your wife.