The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-08-02


herself that 1t was brave of him to
! obey her injunctions so literally and to
leave her uncmbarrnsscd by his pres
! cnce ut this particular time. 1t In
Spircd her to be equally brave and to
wait patiently for the day when she
could welcome him with clean hands
and Il soul unashamcd.
III the midst Of Alaire's uncertainty
of mind 1t grntified her to realize that
Dave alone would know OF her where
nbouts. She wondered if he would |
como to see her. He was Il reckless,
hradStr"ng lover, and his desires were
all too likely to overcome his dclib-
crate resolves. She rather hoped that |
in spite Of his promise he would ven
turn to cross the border SO that she
could see and be near him, If only for
Il day or for IN hour. The possibility
frightened and yet pleased her. The
conventional woman within her
frowncd but her outlaw heart beat
fast ut the thought.
Alairc did not explain her plans even
to Dolores, but when her preparations
were complete she took the Mexican |
woman with her, and during Eds alb
S"ncc slipped away from the ranch |
Boarding the train at JoncSvile, she |
was In Pueblo that night
1t seemed at last that war with
; Mexico was imminent. After months
of uncertainty the question had come
To issue, and that lowering cloud which
, had hung above the horizon took omi-
nous shape and size. Ellsworth nwokc
one morning to learn that an ultima
tum had gone forth to President Po-
tnSi; that the Atlantic fleet had been
ordered south; and that marines were
being rushed aboard transports pend
ing II general army mobilization. 1t
!, looked rs IL the United States had
finally risen in wrath, and as if moth
: ing less than IL miracle could now avert
+ the long-cNpcctcd conflict.
J., Blaze Jones took the San Antonio
I paper out upon the porch and COM
+ posed himself in the hammock to read
~ the latest war news. Invasion! Troops
= The Stars and Stripes! Those were
a. words TINT stirred Jones deeply nnt
rt caused him to neglect his work. Nov
u, thnt his country had fully awakened
I.> to the necessity OF q war with Mcxic
y, "A necessity he had long fclt-he wa
M fred with the loftiest patriotism and
- youthful engcrncss to enlist. Blnz
~ realized that he was old and fat an,
~. nehr-sEhtcd; but what of that? III
~ could fight. Fighting. in fact, hat
been one Of his earliest accomplish
h, mrnts, and he pridcd himself upoI
= Knowing MS much about 1t as any
, man could learn. He believed in fight.
, ing both as Il principle and as an cx-
rrciSr; In fact, he attributed his good
. health to his various ncighborly ''un-
, plcasnntncsScs," and he had more than
| once argued that no great fighter ever
\ died OF II sluggish liver or OF any one
| OF the other ills that beset scdcntary
\ pracc-loving people. Nations were
II like mcn-too much ease made them
| i!abhy. And Blaze had his own ideas
II or strategy, too. SO during the pcruS;ll
\ "i his paper he bcm0nncd the mis-
A takes his government was making.
7 why waste time with ultimatums1 he
argued to himself. He had never done
& 50. Experience had taught him that
D The way to win Il battle was to beat
the other fellow to the draw; hence
'hls diplomatic procrastination filled
. MN with lmpnticncc 1t seemed al
most trcasonnbc to one Of BaZes in
tense patriotism.
| He was engaged in laying out plan
| OF campaign for the United States
: Wheh ne became conscious OF voices
hehlnd him, and realized that for some
'lme Paloma had been entertaining Il
caller IN the trout room. Their con
verSation had not disturbed him at
first but now m occasional word or
t. sentence forced It's meaning through
his prcoccupntion, and he found him.
self listening.
~ PnlOmu's visitor was a woman. md
% as Blaze hardened to her voice. he felt
MS heart sink. 1t was Mrs. Strange.
:, ohe was here again. With difficulty
y iSiaze conquered an impulse to flee,
. FOR she was rccountng story all too
: familiar to him.
= why, 1t seemed as If the whole city
or Galveston was there, and yet no.
BODY offered to help u.s." the dress
maker was saying. "Phil was pcr-
rect hero, for the ruflian was twice
his size. Oh 1t was an awful fight (!
l nate to think Of IT.
r what made him pinch your"
: Paloma inquired.
h Heaven only knows. Some men are
!. dreadful that way. Why, he left a
!. bnck-and-blue mark!"
Blaze broke into a cold sweat and
4 cursed feebly under his breath.
I He wasn't drunk, either. He was
g Just naturally depraved. You could
, see II I'm hia fnce,