The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1919-07-26


Copyright. 1919, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndlcate)
They had called him "Eleventh Hour
Pete" 1T home long before he had ever
gone into training camps all through
lis leisureIy Doyhood days and later
through his teens when he helped ms
'ather at the old SuWmill on the side
If Rocky Knob.
"Randy's purity SLOW going, Old Hat
Sey would say, watching his over
grown, lanky son toss slabs out the
side door to the big pile on the sloplng
hillside. But he's as steady as the
river. 1t goes down and it amt good
'or nothn' half the year, but when 1t
loeS start off it makes up for lost
.ime."
The other boys at school had nick
lamed him eleventh Hour Pete" as
soon as they discovered his propensity
'Or landing right at the last minute.
Just before the bell rang at nine,
Randy'S bare feet would get over the
lOOrSill Of the entry. Just minute
before the teacher was ready to mark
hin down failure, he would spell the
word right, and as Elva laughingly
said. Just when a girl thought he
ldn't have nerve enough TO kiss rag
baby, he'd grab YOU around the neck
and kiss you rOugher than any of the
other boys" And Elya was somewhat
If a judge when it came to methods,
wen ut twelve.
"Rcckon you'll marry EIyiry Wilson
some day, won't you, Raudy?' his
mother would ask tentatively, and
Randy'd look Self-cOnScious and dodge
The direct issue with Il smile But all
The years at home Elva had led his
fancy by golden cord. Just the sight
Of her dancing ahead along the cOun-
try road was enough. Her hair was
red, not bright carroty red, but a shiny
sort of chestnut, and it hung in long,
waist. Then her eyes were hazel, cats
ayes, the other girls called them, and
here was provocative lift to her up
per lip that started even Ranly's slow
blood to moving faster.
Yet he enlisted without asking her
10 marry him, and went overseas with |
everybody at the Knob propheSying |
1lva would marry somebody else while |
he was gone, and asking why on
earth he hadn't taken her, when she |
vas willing.
"Of course I'd marry Randy" she
said fatty and proudly, when they |
,eaSed her about him. "Why not?
Hes the only fellow on the mountain
With any good looks or nerve"
Didn't have nerve enough to ask
'ou, just the same" Tuck Phillips
.huckled.
He had nerve enough not to,
iidnt he? Randy isn't the sort to
marry girl so as to give her an
Illotment and then run the chance
If leaving her a widow" Elva's biz
yes were bright with anger. "And.
ay, Tuck, just because you're over
zee Is no reason why you can't en-
list. They're taking them in the ma
ines, you know, bigger and older
han you are"
Two years later Tuck drove down
o the county seat after marriage
license. No news had come from
tandy after the first year, and he had
een reported missing after the big
pring drive. When the troops began
oning home, Elva watched every day
or news of him, but the days passed
nd months until Tuck found her in q
lred, helpless mood one day. Her
ather had had a stroke after one of
is usual election fights. Election on
'ocky Knob was something more than
mere form of government. 1t was
ne one day in the year when custom
lmost commanded all loyal citizens
0 uphold their personal principles
nd prejudices against all corners and
ne judge was famous for his election
Its.
But this day they had carried him
ack up the mountain a quiet, linn
Id figure and Elva had cared for
I'm. Tuck came daily. In his wav
e was gentle and tactful, and the
ldge liked him. There were three
undred and some odd acres of land
look after, and all the timber ba-
deS.
I'm gone by, Elva," he said. "Rat.
'r get man you can trust to look
fter things. Tuck's right next 70 ne
I'D he's been good neighbor. givo
" consent right now"
But Randy may come back"
HE amt never had the gumption
ask you, has he? Amt you got anv
ride at all for girl that don't have
pick up with the first one that
'mes alOng%
Elva had WINGED, and when Tuck
'ked her again that night, she had .
1dded YEARLY.
only just one thing, Tuck" she
ided with flash of her old spirit
think | ought to tell you this, There =
MT any man on earth ever can be !,
me what Randy was"
"IVnIl 7 ul,osc 7 xlo.,,.