Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-06-25


-1---.-- :. .-.e--
bers For about six months he had
been the terror Of Australia; his life
was demanded ct the hands Of justice
for hts numerous crimes.
Presently Graham entered and in
formed his master that two strangers
were at the door and requested shelter
for the night
The strangers We're admitied-tan,
powerful-lCoking men they wcre-and
duly welcomed. One Of them stood
talking to Dan, eXpatiating with mar
velous vOlubility on the incidents Of
their journey. The other with Graham
in attendance, stood right in the door
way, thereby keeping the door open,
speaking TO the stOckrider outside.
"Oh, Master Dan. Master Dan" sud
denly exclaimed old Graham; tine
Philistines"
Dan turned sharply around, cast one
glance through the open doorway at
the ground outside. then flung himself
Instantly on the stranger at the door
with such force and gcod will rs to
hurl that individual from the house
like a stone from q sling. The door
was NJ once slammed to and locked.
Leaving Graham to make fast the
bars. Dan turned to confront the other
stranger in the hall. and was imme-
diately fired at by the latter. Before
he could fire again Dan sent him head
long To the ground with a bullet
through his body.
Dan showed me and Jeremy where
70 procure weapons for ourselves. aal
in a few minutes there were 40 least
fifteen armed men collected in the hall.
"1he surprise has failed boys thanks
to Dan and Graham. said our host
but they'll De at us again without losA
Of time. To the windows. boys" he
cried, but put ont the lights first"
AS our host finished giving mis- or
ders. and before we had time 70 obey
them, there was a terrific crash OF
breaking glass and woodwork heard
In the dining room We rushed tu-
multuously into the room, to And the
window driven IN by the thrust OF O.
batterinC ram from without, and TO
confront some eight or ten men who
masked and armed TO the teeth, were
coming in through the opening.
The first into the room was tall.
athletic man. with a bowie knife in one
hand ana a revolver in the othe-. Tho
brigands opened fire Immediately, and
several OF our party were hit, and s0mo
fell
We returned the fire instantly and
shot down fully one-half Of the robbers
az the first vOley.
But their leader remained unhurt, in
the front of the battle. firing his pistol
right and left Following up cur ad-
vantage we charged at once, and the
battle became general The bushrang-
ers gave ground rapidly, and very soon
the survivors began TO retreat by the
way they had come. glad TO escape as
best they could. But their leader kept
his place with undaunted courage.
at him. boys. cried our host, as he
led the charge against the flying ruiz
fans and their fierce leader. In the
rush the chief was forced back to the
window, through which his followers
were now i'm fun retreat. He was al
ready half through the opening, when.
turning suddenly he shot Dan Porter
dead. and the moment after he plunged
his knife to the hilt in the fathers
breast. Before he could turn again to
fly the desperate was struck senseless
10 the ground by a blow with clubbeS
rife
MI Jenny. being magistrate. was
anxious TO take the deposition Of the
dying man. but abandoned the idea as
obviously impracticable
At the magistrates command, the
robber chief, who had ROW recovered
consciousness, was led forward, I'M
masked. 10 the couch. He had been
wounded In the fight, and the rough
shirt he wore was stained with clotted
blood.
He staggered with difficulty to the
couch. and glanced darkly at the dying
man. but 1T the first look he started VIC
lently and his c0untenonce changed.
con. Tom, my boy; Tom my son, my
SOM murmurcd the old gentleman
with closed eyes in accents Of tender
ness.
Father" cried the prisoner in
hoarse voice. as he flung himself on
his knees beside the couch, and covered
the old mans hands with tears and
kisses.
Mr.. Porter. with a last effort Of his
expiring strength. sat up suddenly on
his couch, and looked eagerly in the
face Of his recovered son.
1T IS my bow. he cried in loud tone
OF ecstatic fervor. ut is my son, Tom.
lie has come back TO me at last before
/ 90. Merciful Cod, thank thee
AS he uttered these words he fell
back on the couch and Immediately eX-
pired.
When the old man died the prisoner
fell heavily on the ground. When theA
raised him they found he was q corpse.
Il nnlnn Million