The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-12-29
OF
JOSEPH A.ALTSHELER.

ing, nodding his head, gave quick com.
mand TO tho men, who leaped over the
hasty fortifioation that they no longer de.
sired and rushed upon their enemies, the
lieutonants, as always, at their head.
Fleming knew that II was bold plan
allied to rashness, but he trusted that sue.
cess would come from Its suddenness and
that he would be upon his antagonists be-
fore they could recover from their surprise
and shoot down his mon. A few swift
steps took him across the room. He was
filed with n fierce exultation, for he be-
lieved that he was about to triumph, but
even I'm the wild rush Of the moment and
with mind concentrated upon the i'm.
pending struggle, he observed the room
again, the rows of wooden benches, the
nisles, the pulpit at the far end, the stair.
way that led to the second floor, and the
light through the window flaring redly
over everything. Then the wild rush car.
riod his little band upon the enemy, and,
as he had hoped, tho surprise of the sud.
den movement made it's success.
A few scattering shots that went wild
were fired at thom, and then they were over
the benches and in the midst of the trium.
phant combat. Fleming was burning with
the battle fever, and again he began to
shout to his men and utter oaths of which
he was unconscious, striking with his
sword and calling at times upon his IN.
tagonists TO yield.
He found that he was opposed by SOL
diers as valiant as his own. Beaten by
numbers, those who were not wounded or
taken by force refused TO surrender, and
wheeling about as II by sign from their
leader rushed up the stairway, which be.
gan almost at their feet, and sought refuge
and a second defense on the next floor
Disappointment now mingled with
Fleming'S anger, but neither emotion
caused him TO forget for the moment his
military prudence. Hastily dispatching a
few of his men to keep watch at the win
dows outside and prevent escape there, he
spraug up the stairway with the others in
quick pursuit of the fugitiyOs. Rage and
excitement blinded him to the danger of
shots from above, and Evans, as eager as
himself, pressed on by his side, while the
men crowded close after, the wooden stair.
way giving dull echo under their foot
steps
The light from the flames of the bum.
ing village did not reach the second floor
and Fleming stood for moment or two
trying TO accustom his CvCs to tho dusk
As the pupils distcndod he saw the lHsC Of
the fugitives disappearing IN small room.
and then he heard tho EiHmming of the
door and noises which indicated TrGnNrn
tions for defense 4 littjc gray haired
man in civilians attire and With face Of
fright sprang from dark corner where b.
had been CrOuchiUg and dUctCi TO win
dow, at which he pulled vHinly with jryw
bling fingers as If be would Oi6n i6 0nd
spring out.
Fleming looked quickly about that he
might seize the salient points Ol this last
battlefield. He paid no attention to the
civilian, supposng him to be the sexton
or some one else in charge of tho building
who had hidden there in fright while the
fight was going on below. As his men
paused with him to await his orders he
felt for a sudden moment the solemn still
ness of the place and its character, but the
silence was quickly interrupted by a beat.
ing on the door of the room in which the
fugitives had taken refuge, and he knew
that they were breaking lOOphOles for their
rifles At the sound his passion, which
had died for an instant famed up again,
and he hastily drew his men to n far cor
ner where the rifle barrels, even when
thrust through the holes in the door, could
not secure their range. Then whilo he
whispered with Evans and the two tried
to decide what would be best to do in the
doubtful situation the curious silence
which had in 1t 50 much that was solemn
and impressive fell again over the place.
The defenders had broken the holes in
the door and were motionless and silent,
awaiting the advance of their assailants,
who still stood in their corner hesitating
Only faint sleams of light came through
the panes, but the eyes Of the soldiers be-
came accustomed to the dusk. The gray
haired little man had ceased his efforts to
open the window and stood with his back
to it, his face expressing his fright and
horror at what had happened and what
was about 20 happen
Fleming heard the ticking of a clock
somewhere over his head, but he did not
look up to see. In his indecision his eyes
wandered to the civilian, and he was
amused at the old mans fright. But