Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-01

| Red, er We wouldn't be askin' sieh a fule
question. He'll hev them Yanks now. il
1t wur ter cost every man he's got. He
| amt no gutter, Red amt"
| Just beyond musket shot from the
mouse, and nearly opposite the front en-
| trance, quite a group of men were stand
ing beneath the black shadows of grove
! OF trees In spite of the CLEAN from the
iire. could make little of them, but as
we approached from the direction of the
| rear one of them exclaimed suddenly:
| Who comes thar? What body n men is
! theft" -..aI-l > -
| It's mother party o deserters, as wants
teI Jine us said the guide, sourly.
!hey J2hnnfes from Lees army.
| On, trey dew. dew they? Hain't got
nough o fghtin' VT, l reckon" and The
| speaker strobe forward with a rough.
| mirthless laugh. Wal. damn 'em. they
| VIII we're fore I'm done. We're n goin'
ter rush tibet thar house fore long an
nang bout dozen Yanks. an these we're
| laos will come in right handy ter go in
f1rst If you uns like fightin' so durn well
well give ye your bellies full. Who's Their
boss o this yere crowd?"
L swung down from my seat on the
muie's back and stood facing him.
.. w uns haint got no boss 1 answered.
out they sorter fell in ahind O me cause
L wus astraddle o. this muel BE Won
named Lowrie?"
= reckon: I'm Red Lowrie" proudly.
Spect, maybe we've heerd tell q me-
| an II We hey We know we've got ter stem
! damn hvely~whin l howl Whut wus ye
| in Their army?"
Corporal,
The flames of the burning barn leaned
| suddenly upward. as if fed by some fresh
! colllpuStloh' and lung brighter glare
| over 'he rough faces clustered about us
saw Red LOwrie plainly enough now as
| ne peered eagerly forward to scan nv
Iace-a heaFy-Set coarse featured man.
win prominent nose and thick matted
| asu pe3tu' lie wore wide-brimmed soft
army hat, under which his eyes shone
| nhdilclously, and he grasped a long. rife
| IN one big, hairy hand As | gazed at
| nili, cuflousiy, some one hastily pushed
! way through the group al his back and
{ the next instant tall figure stood nj his
side recognized the newcomer ar a
single glance, and for the moment NV
he ga larry ch9ked met was Craig,
! Louvre. he said, pointing straight at
me; thars somethin wrong yere That
IeIer thar is Captain Wayne, o. my OF
reg ment."
All that occurred next was but the i'm
pulse OF second Istood with hand rest
ing nightly upon the mules neck. his long
mead dropping "sleepily beside nv
shoulder. ! saw Red Lowrie throw up his
gun, all his evil nature written in his
race ms cruel eyes instantly aHame with
anger and, inspired by the desperation OF
OUT OUT case. l stopped suddenly and blew
ear R 81 NY iorce into that long, pendant
e" 81 beelZepub, gave vent to one snort OF
mingled rage and terror and then let
urlVe, backing into that cluster of choice
vail ,"nIi,S Ike lihe very thunderbolt of
!
Hsntnlng blow Of those nimble Ieps
ana tumbllng men to right and left
IN mere was yell of fright, a wild scramble
TOT safety, a perfect yolley of cursinoT
! saw Red Lowrie go tumbIing backward y
| heei planted fairly In the pit of his stomach
ana the next instant Craig, swearing, like a
pirate, was damned down on top of him. a
! req gash across his forehead. 1t was ali
accomplished so speedily that II seemed
| but a medley of heels, of wildly cavorting
mule !lIe; Of f., scrambling, falling men.
arinF
| them, lads, and follow mel"
There was quick outburst of fame. a.
numerous report, and, without waiting TO
see or hear more. sprang forward through
| the dense smoke, and raced madly toward
| the front door. Cation painted at nv side
ana could hear the heavy feet of a score
| or men pounding the turf behind us The
| rush was so rapid. the noise so great and
confusing, | could not distinguish whether
We were even fired upon from the rear but
| marked red flash at one of the windows
in our front, and heard behind me q sharn
wall of agony.
IF any drops, pick him upr' I
called, and at that moment sprang up
the steps and began pounding loudly
Open upt' shouted the lieutenant anx-
iously Brennan, open up, quick. It's
Cation with help 'rH.",..
l thought it never would open. A volley
crashed into us, and Sands pitched down
upon his face, clutching at the next
him as he fell. 1 glanced back anxiously--
a dark. confused mass of men. without MILL
tary formation, were running across the
open space toward u.s.
Bout facer' I shouted. LOAD at will
frer' -r.
We poured one scattering volley into
them. 1t halted their movement for a mo-
ment, and then the door opened scant
crack. -e' gsr-r n-r.. i,-
rs this you, Catong'
Eyes; for Gods sake, open up!'
The heavy door swung slowly inward,
and with wild rush to be first we surged
headong into the hall.
(To- be continued tomorrow