The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1917-08-30

herself that 1t was brave OF him to
obey her injunctions so literally and to
leave her unembarrassed by his pres
ence at this particular time. 1t In
spired her to be equally brave and to
wait patiently for the day when she
could welcome him with clean hands
and a soul unashamed.
In the midst Of AlaIre's uncertainty
Of mind IL gratified her to realize that
Dave alone would know of her where
abouts. She wondered IL he would
come to see her. He was q reckless,
headstrong lover, and his desires were
oil too likely to overcome his DELHI
In spite of his promise he would ven-
ture to cross the border so that she
could see and be neal him, IL only for
a day or for an hour. The possibility
frightened and yet pleased her. The
conventional oma within her
frowned, but her outlaw heart beat
fast at the thought.
Alaire did not explain her plans even
to Dolores, but when her preparations
were complete she took the Mexican
woman with her, and during Eds abb
sence slipped away from the ranch.
Boarding the train at Jonesville, she
was In Pueblo that night.
1t seemed at last that war with
Mexico was imminent. After months
Of uncertainty the question had come
e. t,e,,o ond tho+ loxyar{no cloud ,ybiob
had hung above the horizon took omi-
nous shape and size. Ellsworth awoke
one morning to learn that EN- ultima
tum had gone forth to President Po-
tosI; that the Atlantic fleet had been
ordered south; and that marines were
being rushed aboard transports pend
ing a general army mobilization. 1t
looked as IL the United States had
finally risen in wrath, and as If moth
ing less than a miracle could now avert
the lohg-expected conflict.
Blaze Jones took the San Antonio
paper out upon the porch and COM
posed himself in the hammock to read
the latest war news. Invasion Troops
The Stars and Stripesi Those were
words that stirred Jones deeply and
caused him to neglect his work. Now
that his country had fully awakened
to the necessity OF a war with Mexico
"a necessity he had long felt-he was
fired with the Hottest patriotism and a
youthful eagerness to enlist. Blaze
realized that he was old and fat and
near-sighted; but what Of that? He
could fight. Fighting, In fact, had
been one of his earliest accomplish
ments, and he prided himself upon
knowing al much about 1t as any
man could learn. he believed in fight
ing both as q principle and as an ex-
erclse; In fact, he attributed his good
health to his various neighborly ''un-
pleasantnesses," and he had more than
once argued that NJ great fighter ever
died of q sluggish liver or of any one
of the other ills that beset sedentaryr
peace-loving people. Nations were
like men-too much ease made them
habby. And Blaze had his own ideas
OF strategy, too. So during the perusal
OF his paper he bemoaned the mis-
takes his government was making
Why waste time with ultimatums2 he
argued to himself. He had never done
so. Experience had taught him thai
the way to win q battle was to beat
the other fellow to the draw; hence
this diplomatic representation filled
him with Impotence. 1t seemed al
most reasonable to one Of Blaze's In
tense patriotism.
He was engaged In laying out q plar
Of campaign for the United State.
when he became conscious Of voices
behind him, and realized that for some
time Paloma had been entertaining
caller In the front room. Their con
versation had not disturbed him a
first, but nov an occasional word OF
sentence forced .ts meaning through
his preoccupation. and he found him
self listening.
Paloma's visitor was a woman, an,
as Blaze hardened to her voice, he fel
his heart sink. 1t was Mrs. Strange
She was here again. With difficult,
Blaze conquered an impulse to, fee
for she was recounting a story all to
familiar to him.
~Why. 1t seemed as IL the whole cit
OF Galveston was there. and yet nc
body offered to help us" the dress
maker was saying. "Phil was a pei
fleet hero. for the rufian was twic
his size. Oh. 1t was an awful fight
hate to think Of 1t"
"What made him pinch youi
: Paloma inquired.
Heaven only knows. Some men ar
dreadful that way. Why, he left
/ black-and-blue mark"
Blaze broke into a cold sweat an
, cursed feebiy under his breath. 3
aHc wasn't drunk, either. He wa
: lust naturally depraved- You coul
/ see 1t In his face"
-How did you escapeT"
\ "Well I'll tell you. We chased hlI
& up across the boulevard and IN anon
4 the tents. and then Mrs. Strans
lowered her voice until only 4 mu
n muir reached the listening man. A m
4 ment. then both women burst IN,
shrill. excited laughter. and Blaze BIN
SET bluahed furieusiy.