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

Two killed, SIR and three or four wound
ed. 1t was hot nough fer a while. tell
you; as lively a little jig as I've ever bin In
McNealr there got a lump of lead in his
arm Would you mind explainin' bout you
fellows comm In here to help u.s.. sir? 1t
seems kinder odd to be fightin' longside OF
gray-backS.'' s,,,-y r,
1 told him briefly the circumstances. and
his eyes danced merrily at thearecita4sv- =
BE rum story to tell If ever We get
out of mere sir" he commented. pattings his
gun. We mostly seen you fellows from
the tother side, but, dern it all, this is
more the way 1t ought to be-
agreed with him thoroughly as to that,
and we relapsed into silence, each intent
upon the uncertainty without.
AS lay there, gazing anxiously into the
darkness, L could not forbear wondering
where Brennan had concealed s.the- women
TO keep them from harm. Would he inform
Them or '7our arrival? He could oscarcefy
hope to keep the fact long hidden, for they
Wouid certainty see some of my gr1ayej jack
cts and ask questions. doubted, however,
II ne would mention my name, yet Cation
surely would, and Cation could not be kept
long away from Miss Minor unless serious
ATTACK was imminent. Unquestionably 1
snouid be compelled to meet them before
tihs duty was concluded, how should. L be
received, and how should conduct myself?
Ihere1Wa butnone way--a dignifiedv cour-
tesy, seemingly ignoring all that had pre-
Vlousiy occurred Any explanation at pres
ent was apparently out of the question.
Nifu certainty COulu 1fUt Ve1Iturt 10 III
tude after the GOODNESS Of my last re-
ceptlon Besides, there was Brennan to be
considered. He would make use of my
services In this emergency, but l had been
distinctly informed 1t could make no differ
ence in the feud existing between us. 1
had. no wish, that 1t should and Il could
consistently hope for very little considera-
ton from the wife of a man WhomlIi was
destined TO meet upon the field of honor.
Ne, the far better way was TO see as little
of her as possible, to meet almost as
strangers, and then TO part forever. DIFF
fcuIt as this program assuredly was, It
seemed the only honorable course left me.
Even had she loved me as truly as / did
her. could yet do no less.
They seem to be peckin' away pretty
lively out in 'front.' said the corporal, In
terrupting my reverie ,.f. -t .,I..t-,..
Yes | admitted. I'm my judgment
that will prove the main point of attack.
How many men did the major have there
before We came?"
Same as here sir"
And four of mine: that makes seven al
tCgether counting himself and two of
these ought to be posted in the upper story.
He's bound to need more; that firing is
Very steady
He's got the women loadin' for him. ana
that helps some"
The women?" / asked staring at him in
amazement. DO you mean 10 say Mrs.
Brennan and Celia Minor are there IN that
front room?"
boH hloW VINO lpey are. SN-lWD
mighty ffne-lookin' young ladies, an old
lady with white hair, an big, rough
lookin female sir. The last one WIS
handlin' gun to beat the band just afore
you came"
And he keeps them there. exposed to all
this heavy fire? What can the man mean?
Why, corporal, that constant shooting mus
nave completely shattered the windows.
There could be no safety for any one ex-
Cept lying fiat upon the floor
a i'm ito On nod hot ci,f
he protested. seemingly anxious TO shield
his officer from adverse criticism. You
see it's a double parlor, with a wall an
foldin' doors atween. an the women are all
in the rear room. Of course, it's almighty
dark back there. an they has 10 lie pretty
close, but blamed if I know of any better
place for them. This house hain't got no
cellar
fere. Her husband was the one who should
he most solicitous as TO her safety yet I
worried me greatly to think of Edith Rren-
nan lying helpless in the dark, exposed 20
constant danger, with the deadly rifles
cracking all about her. Surely somewhere
IL this great house there would be an IN
terror apartment where greater protection
could be assured. Doubtless Brennan was
unwilling to have them away from him;
possibly ne even continued to hold them
where they We're to prevent all possibility
OF their meeting with me- 1t was this
last thought. improbable as it surely
WIS, winch put me on my mettIe. If that
vas his little scheme, and to my suspicion
1t looked like it, L was not unwilling
TO play q hand in the game. / might not
hold trumps, yet | could bluff as we'll as any
one.
| had barely arrived at this point in nv
musing when opportunity for action came.
a man CROPPED his way III from the lighted
hall, but halted close beside the door, I'M
able to perceive us in the darkness.
rs Captain Wayne here?'' he asked.
Yes; what is it?'
Major Brennan has had two of his men
hit, sir, and wishes you TO spare him three
OF yours, unless you are notify pressed
"All right there's nothing doing here
answered, instantly determining upon my
course. Corporal, ! shall leave you in com
mand of this side for few minutes | be-
lieve L can be of more immediate value else
" here. Bungay, you and Elliott come with
me.
The lower hall, having no windows in it.
was the only safe place in the building, and
here light had been kept burning. The
door which. as judged, must lead into the
back parlor. was closed and fastened upon
the inside. At least, it refused TO yield to
my hand when tried Another in front
stood very slightly ajar.
Report to Brennan" / whispered into
Jeds ear, land forget TO mention ] am with
you. | desire to Investigate matters for
myself few moments
He nodded to intimate that he under
stood. and then we ~crept, one at time
!
closely 10 keep beneath the range of the
bullets which swept every now and then
|, through the broken windows, and chugged
into the wall behind us. / was the last to
wriggle ia. through the narrow opening, ard
rolling instantly out. of the tiny bar of light
lay silent for a moment, endeavotifg to
get my bearings. l was determined upon
Just one thing-to obtain speech with the
women, learn, if possible, their exact situa-
tion and, if / found it necessary insist
upon their better protection. An insane
jealousy of me should not continue to ex-
pose them to unnecessary PERIL.
Brennan was directly across the room
from where l. lay. could hear. his voice
issuing low stern orders.
IF you'll only keep down you're safe
enough" he said, gruffiy. There hasn't a
shot come within IL foot of the sill The
ground slopes out yonder. and those fellows
can't fire low. Put the new men at The cen
trail window and let them shoot at every
fash they see Bradley will pass back their
empty guns.
| wondered how lohg our supply of am
munition would hold out with such "a flIsiI-
lade kept up, but Ventured upon no protest
for was already cropping my way through
the darkness along the inner wall Furni-
/ experienced considerable difficulty in max
ing progress through the debris without at
tracing attention. A great square piano
stood directly across the entrance to the
back parlor left by the drawing nearly to-