Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-04

furnace once again, and the fire soon
glowed and burned up to the required
pitch, the noise of the blast completely
covering the heavy breathing which came
from various hiding places, and low
moan or two which rose from right away
by the outer door.
"Hah! that's better. Hurrahi 1
shall do it yet. How soon everything
had cooled down. But It is all right
now
He began to alter the application of the
blast once more, and as he did so the
place began to darken again rapidly and
he did not see that a dark Stoop-
ing figure began TO creep up be-
hind from one corner of the
great building, nor yet another
and another from different lurking
places, while, as they advanced slowly
and cautiously toward the busy expert
menter, the fast ddlling furnace cast
strangely monstrous shadows of the ruff
fans on the wall, and elongated the
knobbed bludgeOnS they bore in Curl
ously weird way.
''Now!'' cried the experimenter, ex-
citedly, as he stood with the fre-clay
tube in his hand. Triumph or failure.
Which?''
He thrust in the tube deep into the pot
of molten metal and turned on the blast.
''Failurel' cried a hoarse voice.
Now, lads, now!
"Ha! cowardsl hounds! - roared Mar
tin as he saw his danger, and, snatching
up the iron bar which served as a stirrer
for the charcoal, he bounded on to the
furnace and stood at bay, just as from
the crucible there burst forth wondrous
Il ,,fl i,rh4 of
colored flame and myriads OF sparks, as
from some glorious pyrotechnic display,
came rushing out with roar.
down wi him, lads!'' cried the
leader of the gang. ''There' 5 no mis-
take this timel'
The men dashed at him; but a whirl
round of the iron bar sent one wretch
bleeding and disabled to the ground, and
the others stopped for a moment.
1t was a wonderful group, for as the
strong blast of air made the liquid metal
bubble, the whole place was q blaze of
light, and the figures of the fierce COM
battants stood out in grand relief, Martin
high above the others, who surrounded
him, ready for spring.
''When I say Now lads, turn q to-
getherl" gTowled the leading ruffian.
''We mum TO do it now, and there's
plenty O. light to see. Why don't ye
cr' for help, master?'
''You cowardly ruffians! keep back. ,.
cried Martin, as he lowered up behinds
the blazing crucible, the sparks flying
over and around him. ''Keep back, OF
will not answer for your lives' &
may, nor we for thine, wi your
cursed 'ventiOns! Ready, lads?'
"Ay!'' was growled savagely.
"a together, then. Down wi him
as ID starve thy wives and BARNS. One!
twol Now!''
''Stop!'
There was q piercing shrek, and
through the golden dazzling light slight
figure was seen to dart across from the
open door, spring right up on the back of
the furnace, and throw herself before
Martin Dene, whom she clasped with
one arm, as she faced his startled assail-
ants
''Wretches! cowards!" she cried.
"'It's only the old mans BARN, lads.
Come on. We nun do 1t now!'
There was another quick, cat-like adj
vance, and Martin struck at his foremost
assailant as well as he could, hampered
by the presence of Dinah Swift.
"Here, this way, here!' yelled a
shrill voice just at that moment, when a
bludgeon was about to fall on Martin S
head, and Dinah uttered
wild cry of horror.
But the help was there, for Gunnell
and Swift rushed in, with Dan 1 closely
by Eben Joy and half dozen
police, two of whom rushed to and Sc
Cured the farther door.
"You cowardly dogs!" roared the
"Dinah, my girl, you
here ~
s.YeS, master. - snarled one of the
hounds. We ketched 'eIR
here together, and was going to bring
thy BARN home. ''..'' 8
ssThat's Iie!'' roared GunneT and
Swift, ':for your companion, Eben JOY
here, came and blew up the whole con-
spiracy
't'You did that, Eben?'' growled the
leader~Gf the gang.
''Man must take his chances when they
come, lad said Eben coolly. ''There's
$500 reward, the gaffer going to give,
and thought I might as well have it for
my wife ana BARNS. ''.'' Bah! was
growled out by the gang, each of whom
had now policeman S hand upon his
shoulder.
''Thank God, my boy, you are safe -
cried Gunnell and Swift, wrInging Mar
tin IS hand; ''but Dinah, my girl, ought
you to be here?'
,''Would you have had me stay, father,
when knew your friend was in such
peril?'
ono, - said Gunnell and Swift shortly |
And then to himself, GA lucky dog; |
thought as much Is he much hurt, ser
yeant?''
The policeman was raising up the man
whom Martin had struck down with the |
BAR.
"He's got enough for a month in the |
hospital, - said the man letting the head |
link down cone of you had better get
leIp and the stretcher.
bring two while you re bout It, |
ad - said the leader of the gang cal |
ously "There' s mother one down |
7Onder. -
Mr.. Swift and the sergeant crossed to |
he corner nearer the door, and carried |
he dark figure lying there and bore it to |
:he light.
''Mr. Gray!'' cried the manufacturer, |
"Dene, is this your
xork?''
NO. came in a feeble voice. (
'Those scoundrels. 1 came to help
''Well, you shouldn t ha come -
yrowled the spokesman of the gang. |
We thowt it were him. 1t were on a
mistake -
- You-eame to save me, Mr.. Gray?"
u,