The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1918-11-19
Surarnering
in Texas
By LINCOLN ToTHBLuM


cordingly would raise her hands, palms
outward in an attitude of dismay, and
with q pretty shudder beg you to de-
sist. 1t was awful, just awful. 1t took
her mothers unexpected message,
"Bobby's enlisted" to make the war
vital thing to her. For, although
Bobby himself never knew what place
he held in his sweetheart's affections
Betty had no doubts that Bobby ranked
ace high.
"Bobby's enlisted?" repeated Betty,
| incredulously. "In what branch"
Mrs. Wilson advanced toward her
daughter. Betty had not taken her
own brothers enlistment so to heart.
an the cavalry" she answered. rs
1t not wonderful that he was accept
edY"
There was moments silence and
then Betty was crying. "But, my
dear" Mrs. Wilson comfOrted gently,
whatever is. the matter? Are you not
proud to hear itT'
"Oh. yes, yes" came in choked
voice, muffied in the folds of hand
kerchief hiding eyes already sadly red,
.but the cavalry is the most danger
GUS thing in the world. He can get
killed most any time
A ring at the bell interrupted the
| fearful grievance. AS Mrs. Wilson
opened the door she whispered a hasty
word to the broad-shouldered visitor.
"Where's BettyT he called out in a
husky voice as he entered the living
room and pretended not to see her.
| Perhaps II was because of the whis-
pered warning that Bobby was not
totally unprepared for the onslaught,
for with a cry of "Oh, Bobby, oh, Bob
byr Betty flung the tiny daintiness
of her person into his arms.
II required but a short conference
| between the two, consummated by the
approval of Mrs. Wilson, to decide the
trip to the leading jeweler in town.
And slightly longer conference placed
upon the rosy-tipped finger Of Betty's
left hand the warning solitaire.
And Betty sent him away smiling.
She had always felt that If her moth
err had not been 30 foolishly prejudiced
she would have made an illustrious
| actress. Here her heart was crying
and breaking, but her eyes were dry
and there was a smile on her lips.
And the train letter she had given him
was a happy, jolly letter, full Of good
cheer, but she hoped he could see
| where the tears had fallen on the
pages.
At the camp post Office It was not
long before the soldier detailed to sort
the mail knew to what troop "Robert
Denton" belonged without further ref
erence to the address, for letters and
parcels, penned In very feminine
script, came with such regularity and
quantity that he often vas compelled
to remark to the fortunate lad, Il
wish you had to sort your own mail,
You get more'n the whole regiment
put together" At which Bobby would
smile and, tucking box of candy un-
der one arm and a box Of smokes"
under the other. would stride of read
ing q whopper Of letter, as he loved
to dub the voluminous manuscripts
which Betty spent numberless hours
to compose.
It was the middle Of July--a very
| hot and dry July. Formerly Betty
had been the first to suggest vacation,
and early June as rule found her at
the seaside. Mrs. Wilson was nom
| plussed.
"Where are you planning to go this
season." she asked. II thought Of
Nanton Hook, Maine. The breezes are
SO cool there"
Betty shook her head with a decided
negative. perhaps you may be CO.
ing to Nanton Hook, Maine But !
am going to Ell Paso, Texas.
Mrs. Wilson stared. Texas for va
cationi Texas In the summerl Was
her daughter In sober earnest7 And
then she remembered-and remember
ing, she smiled. For close to Ell Paso
was Fort Bliss. And at Fort Bliss
WELL at Fort Bliss was Bobby.
AS the hours few by when the train
crossed the boundary line into Texas.
Betty kept wondering If there were
any end to the Lone Star state. With
In short periods the scenery changed
with unbelievable rapidity. At early
morning she was travelling through
| mountainous region-huge, stately hills
rising majestically from the ground.
Noon saw vast stretches of arid desert
land with It's network of irrigation
canals and bitches. Now 1t was a
plateau unrelieved save for the stub
bles Of cactus plants and then a deep
ravine from which the water had van
ished cons ago. Night OF the third
day brought the travellers to the city
Of Ell Paso, picturesque because of
its constant competition In architec-
ture, language and population for
American or Mexican supremacy.
"Hotel Paso del Norte," Betty d.
rected the taxi driver, and was very
proud that he understood her Per-
haps she would have hesitated before
compllmenting herself upon her skill
full use Of the Spanish tongue had she
known the chauffeur was quite accus-
toned to understanding the language
Incorrectly enunciated.
The following morning found Betty
urgently hurrying her mother for early
departure for the camp. But long
absorbed her. "You know" she said
finally when Alice called her into the
small, fowery, dining room and sat her
down at the dainty table, u could
make lot Of those stories into strong
fiction by a few touches. The maya
zine is sadly In need Of new brains
just now. I've mind to whip them
In shape and bring sout Philip Cheyne
as a writer"
"Oh, HeleDl Wouldn't that be great?
! just wish / weren't so stupid and
could help you"
"You can help by being just your
sweet. l6vable feminine little self.
can put you right into those stories
You are the type that's needed here.
So you see, dearie. you will be the
means of many big checks going into
that tin box for Philip Cheyne when
he returns from the war;"
A little silence fell on the two en-
thusiastic girls.
Each felt the sinister chill of those
three words, when he returns"
A month or two passed happily and
healthily by. Helen Randolf took ire
mendous amount of pleasure In whip
ping the strangely acquired stories of
Philip Cheyne into shape and as each
was finished giving 1t place on the
pages Of the big successful magazine.
They turned out even better than she
had anticipated. She was more than