Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-03
WARS HORROR STRIKES.

WARS HORROR STRIKES.
- PRING brought more excitement
with Americas entrance into the
war Not even the convent
~ could avoid the conta gion of this.
There we're brothers and friends
( of brothers going into service. There
were socks and sweaters to be knitted
for the Red Cross. No longer did Dag
ger find difficulty in gaining listeners
for the dispatches she read in the news
papers, or the theories of high strategy
she formulated Mother Seraphina
twinkled at her as she GRATED in the
hall.
Are you to be another Joan of
Arc, child" smiled the superior.
A question which set Dagger off on
O brand-new tangent. She read every
book on the Maid of Domrcmy she
could find Here was a girl after ior
own heart. A girl who had ridden and
fought and argued equally with men,
counseled a King and led armies to
battle.
How serious was the change that war
had wrought, however, Dagger did not
fully realize until the June day she
left school. when she descended the
convent steps to discover her uncle at
the wheel of the ranch car.
Macs enlisted" he informed her.
"The boys are goin' fast"
But you can drive, Uncle Jim?"
I'm kind of slxittish with the damn
thing" he responded; but can make
her CO."
you'd better let me have that
wheel" Dagger answered sternly, and
pushed him into the adjoining seat.
''Where's Dick?"
"Bossin' the ranch We've took on
q parcel of Greasers to ride herd. Hell,
If I'd know this wore what war meant
I'd have been for Hughes"
"Old darling" she said And pain
fully careless; HAS Dick heard any
more from Blaine Howard?"
Had letter must be two months
since" Marley answered. "Blae. He
seemed to feel bad bout us comm in.
Dick didn't say anything 10 Jew on
purpose"
At the ranch Dagger's first object
was to get yelling in corner and
pry the letter from him.
Il tore it up" the Englishman told
her. He was done in, the first big
drive and all. And he said we people
didn't know what we we're getting into.
We we're right to come in, out we'd
have stiff time"
But why didn't you send it to .ne?"
only make you unhappy
In a way, Dagger was happier than
she had been for year. And she had
less time than ever TO think of Howard.
Almost. she was recouciled when the
crash came. She had been 20 miles
across the range to check up on an out
lying herd, and rode in to Casa Blanca
in tn purple dusk, quite joyfully tired,
looking forward to a bath, chat with
Dick and early bed Dick, himself,
came from the house as she dismounted,
and she hooked an arm in his, pleased
that he should have pasd her this little
attention.
what a day, Dickey," she sighed,
never giancing at him; but it is grand
to be bone-tired Ooooh! / couldn't
worry, if had TO-"
That's good, dear" he answered,
and something in the restrained note
of his voice sent her eyes fitting up
to his.
There was shadow in them that
chilled her heart One hand flew TO
her breast as she tried to speak.
"what-what-Uncle jim"
We've had letter, Dagger"
To save himself he couldn't say more.
It was she who quavered:
"Howard?"
yelling nodded.
Come inside" he said,-the words
strangled in his throat.
She chung TO his arm, bent over
slightly, her steps dragging, as they
passed from the dusk into the softly
lit living room, where Jim Harley rose
to meet them, glass of Bourbon in
hand.
"Yew better take this, honey" he
said, unwontedly gentle.