The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-12

yell without and a glare OF hght on the
ceiling broke the spell. She threw back
the bolts of the front door and sprang out
on the platform just as the runaway cars
crashed with insensate fury into the
warehouse end.
A black, greasy, wild-eyed throng
swarmed around the scene of devastation,
waving blazing pine torches above their
heads. For just a moment they held
themselves silent and motionless, as
though appalled, at their own work; then
one drawer or drunken than the others,
hurled a brand into the wreckage. Without
hesitation Amy sprang down, snatched the
blazing pine from out the inftamma bic
material, and sent it defantly back into
the faces of the mob. Then, drawing her
self proudly and fearlessly us, she leveled
her revolver. Standing there as white
and immovable as marble, fragile but de-
termined, one against many, the repre-
sentative of a superior race, she must have
appeared in the bloodshot eyes of the ma
RAIDERS like guardian angel. But they
knew that the angel was flesh and blood
a finer flesh than theirs, but of the earth.
II will shoot the next man who throws
a firebrandr' said she in low, distinct tones.
Those in front heard the threat in logged
silence but those in safer positions in the
rear urged their companions on. What
might have happened can only be guessed,
for at that moment, to Amy's ineXpressible
relief, she heard the clatter of hoofs. The
negroes heard it, too, and began to look
uneasy. Half a minute later Rod Single
toms black mare, now white with froth,
dashed up to the end of the platform. Amy
did not turn her head; she knew it was he.
In a miraculously short space of time he
stood at her side as grim as an avenging
deity, and two long horse pistols paralleled
the barrel of Amy's weapon. The little
line was quickly reinforced by Col. Sin
gleton and his two others sons.
The old colonel was now strangely cain.
He marched down the platform as though
on dress parade, holding his repeating rife
with military precision. He even took the
time to wheel into the line with a square
turn, as though he were a whole column
by himself. He was living over Chicka-
manga.
The negroes hundred or more in num-
Der, stubbornly held their ground. Whis-
ky had done more for them, temporarily,
in the way of courage than had nature.
Every black hand grasped a knife razor
or pistol
Boys" commanded the colonel in a
loud, formal tone, cooking his rife. Shoot
to kill. Miss Amy, level your weapon
at Sugah Masons breast. You black dew
lis. If a man of you is in sight afteh 1
count 15 his friends can come for him
with wheelbarrow. One! two! three!
four! fivel siX!'
The little line of whites stood as immov-
able as statues. Five pistols and two
rifles showed their yawning muzzles to
the mob opposite.
Seven! eight! nine! tent"
Caucasian against Ethiopian! There
could be but one outcome TO such a con-
test, and yet the brain-benumbing whis-
ky. with which every negro was filled,
was a doubtful factor. The blacks did
not move, but a deadly CONSERVATION was
beginning to depict itself upon the distort-
ed features of those in the front rank.
"Elevenl twelver'
The stentorian tones, swelling in volume
as the fatal number drew near, had their
effect The sons of Ethiop were beaten;
they fell back step. AT "thirteen!" they
began to push; at "fourteen! there was
a mad, wild scramble. AT t'hfteen!' de-
layed a second or two, the storm of lead
that swept across the space laid low not
a single victim.
The danger over, the last black dispers-
ed and the railroad property saved, the
heroic little agent did the most womany
thing possible under the circumstances.
She tainted.
The living rooms were yet intact, the
warehouses and platform having borne
the brunt of the blow of the wild cars,
and into these the colonel carried Amy.
She quickly regained her senses, and was
plainly ashamed of her weakness at the
last moment. But the colonel gave her
no time for self-reproaches.
my deah girl he exclaimed enthusi-
astically. II have been in battle. 1 have
seen 10 900 brave men face DEATH but III
neveh fohget how yin and Rod looked as
you stood theh and held theafoht. So help
me- 1 expect TO tell of that in heaven. if
it's Gods will that I go that way. BOYS.
1 wonder of theh amt a niger prowling
around heah that we could take a shot
at" And the old man marched outside,
followed by Peyton and Randolph with
knowing grins on their faces
I'VE did hold it WELL" murmured Amy,
with a coy glance at Roderick
Yes" he answered, with his grave
smile. taking her hand. Il was Just won
dering if we couldn't hold il just as wen
all our lives
IL shouldn't be surprised-Rod." she
returned, with dropping eyes.