Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-10-02

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room which appeared to be the one
chamber in the house spared by the
fire. In Il few moments, we sat down
to dish of salt beef and bread. l then
carefully opened the dispatches found
on the dead man, and discovered them
to be a full account of the forces at and
around Newport, detailing Rocham-
beaus strength and the number of MI
litia troops furnished him by Rhode
Island. Connecticut and Massachusetts,
though to my certain Knowledge the
number MAS understated
Following out Il plan l had thought
up, l altered the figures by scratching
those given and whiting in between the
lines more than three times the num-
Der above, as had already heen done in
cue or two cases. The dispatches OF
Hazetine We're letters from Major An
Dire written in prison, and Il statement
given out that Washington WAS about
to make an attack on Paulus Hook and
Staten Island, With some description of
the plan OF attack. Whether this We're
true or not, could not tell, but / must
take my chance. We Were in the act
of scaling up the packets again, when
there came n numbering pounding on
the outer door.
what is il?" cried the woman.
"OpSn In the name of the king"
cried a voice from the outside.
'splao." said Acton under his mus
tao he. They call upon US soon. eh?'
ANA he drew his sword aud stood look
ing al me.
Quick. woman 1 said. go to the
door, and do you DO the talking"
What shall say?"
ASK who ii is and what's wanted"
This she did, we standing by her
close to the door.
Omen in the name of the king"
cried the deep voice again, "or we will
break down the door!"
Acton and L stood back, silent in the
darkness, with stiff problem ahead of
US, for there was no installing the
voice of Hazeltine.
Well, Will you open?' cried the voice
q third time, and then / babe Acton,
more by signs than anything else,
stand by the handle of the door,
When open, catch him and bring
him i'm. | whispered, 'and put In all
the strength i'm Your big body
He nodded, and at my Whispered in
struction the woman said again:
What for? Why should / open?"
Because | have warrant for the
arrest of Il man now in this house.
There's none here" she answered.
and then, as told her, cried out: The
door sticks. You must push from the
outside"
There came a mufled oath. and then
a savage kick at the door, and / heard
other voices.
Harder" cried the old woman, who
seemed to grasp the idea. and as felt
body press against the door, let 1T
swing suddenly open. and q man was
driven into the hall and the door shut
again before he realized that he was
down and one of the strongest men in
the colonies sitting on him with his
fingers so tight upon his gullet that
he could only gurgle softly. We had
him In the other room bound and
gagged in moment, but the pounding
on the door was enough to wake the
| town.
open in the name of the king!"
| cried a dozen voices, and then the old
door, strong as 1t had been made, gave
pcrceptibly to the force from without.
! turned to the woman.
is there a back way out?"
only into the lane, thence to Beaver
street in among the ruins; but we can
4 go upstairs and down the outside steps
at the back"
pick up your man and come on" We
We're upstairs, had lain him In the
gable, and We're hurrying down to the
second story again when crash told
us we We're too late, and In a moment
the ball was full of men. They saw
us at the top of the stairs, and started
| up.
Nov, man, let them have it," cried
| and we both fired at the leaders as they
81
men threw UP their arms and fell back
on the others and the whole crew rolled
4 back TO the floor.
/ Again, Acton"
AYE, man." laughed the reckless
chap, take the first, and 1 the second
SO! we wasted nothing" Four men las
dead on the stairs before the Others
could retreat. But our pistols We're OF
no further use.
i am no fool 10 lose heart In a tight
place but the game secmed up as we
saw them gather together for another
4 charge.
Yield yourselves. and we'll do We nc
harm cried one. III We do not, Coo
help your souls."
Don't bother strangers by calling OF
en- said Acton, in a icering tone
but come on, my lambs ANA take us!'
y groWl WAS the only answer as they
started up the stairs again. We hac
the slight advantage of light, as we'll a.
of being above and as the first two
began to engage Acton, who stood n
this top. Knocked the nearest owe
With the butt OF my pistol, ana then
leaning out from the crazy balllstraac
began an exchange of thnusts with thu
next two, they fighting straight owe
their heads, ! down upon Them
They stood their ground well, pre-
hnIjeG N Vi o.
from taking part until another jeern,
laugh from Acton WAS followed by til,
bodies OF his men tumDling back upoi
them, Tripping the whole crew over on
another To the bottom. amid cries an,
curses that would have raised tn
dead. The howl was taken up by thos
in the hall and then to our consterna
ton loud shout of many voices cam
from the street. Running to the sash
less window, l saw half a hundred sol
diers crowded around the door.
Back again." cried Acton, 9TH
towns on the way UPSTAIRS" and II
truth it looked so; for they had folln
y round table, and holding this abov
,, and before them, they were comm
slowly up two abreast and as close a
. they could step
!, II have it," cried Acton-tle ma
seemed always to become gay in
fight and find his best wits at the mos
, hopeless time. quick, man. that cup
board! Twill make cheese of tn
whole lot" And we lifted n grea
, doubledoored clothes press standin
, in the hail. Acton, the woman, and
, and pushed 1T over the stairs, carryin
baustrade and all with it, The blo'
was n terrible one, for the weight .
r the cupboard carried the table dow
upon the eight or ten men and all wcr
I down together, amidst dust and erie