Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-02
CHAPTER Xxx.
A Union of Yank and Reb.

As the heavy door changed behind us some
one upon the outside began pounding upon
it, while with deadly chug bullet crashed
into the oaken panel.
'Donnerwetter" shouted deep voice.
wildly. Captain 1 am yet out nit der
bullets"
With crash l flung aside the thick iron
bar which answered as a lock, and drew IN
the sergeant, yet painting heavily from ms
hard run.
BY Chiminy. dot vas narrow squeak
he exclaimed, as / released my grasp upon
him and hurled the door back into its place.
A dim light swinging suspended from the
ceiling of the great wide hall revealed Clear
ly the scene within. AS | turned penelo
Brennan for the first time, and MS race
remains memory. Standing with his pack
to the stair railing, revolver graspeu
tightly in either hand, his eyes burning, his
countenance flushed with anger, ana cloud
ed by doubt he appeared almost like one
distracted. At sight of me he gave up an
attempt to control his raging temper
What does all this mean?' he demanded
hoarseIv. who are these men? Cation, If
you have betrayed US, by God will shoot
you dead
lieutenant cooly. These men are friends.
'sFriends o. he laughed cynlcally.
Friends? in tina uniform, and you attired
in a rebel cavalry jacket? Friends? that
ly at me with his pistol barrel. Damn
you, but l believe you are all pack OF
lying thieves!'
Cations face burned. He took one step
toward him, his hands clinched, ana Wheh
he spoke his clear voice shook with intense
Indignation. ,n
Major Brennan" he said. coldly delib-
crate you are my superior officer, but you
go beyond all privilege of rank IN those
words. 1 say these men are friends; they
have sunk the issues of war IN order tHao
they may answer the call of humanity. II
you dare impeach my motives any luithel
| shall hur back the cowardiy Insult IN
your face. I will take no such words sir
from any living man.
Brennan looked at him, his lips struggling
with the utterance that would not come:
knowing we'll the danger of such deiag' l
hastily pushed aside the ring OF men, ana
fronted him. determined to end TINS 1ool-
ishnesS then and there.
"Majcr Brennan" l said firmly, ignoring
his efforts to silence me- you must nSten
to reason whether you wish to do so or not.
Nv troopers are all around you; nave
two men to your one In this house, anu can
enforce my will if necessary. NOW, MARX
what | say-we are not here in anger or IN
war but to help you in the protection OF
endangered women. We captured your
courier, have dispatched one or our own
number into the federal camp for aid ana
YOU and your men in defense of this house
against those rufians without. GU can
use us or not. just as you please; II rests
with YOU to say whether we snail De CON-
rades in arms on this occasion or whether /
shall assume command by the power Va
force which | chance to control
He seemed utterly unable to grasp my
full meaning, to comprehend the SITUATION.
You mean, you would fight with us! I'M
der my commando" he asked lncredulously:
81 offer my services under your orders,
| replied clearly, and these men In gray
will obey mine. -;
| actually thought he would extend MS
hand but some remembrance suddenly re-
strained him.
..I-of course. Captain Wayne" he STAN
mered at length, Il must accept your
offer II am grateful for it, but shail
insist upon one thing; there must be d
final settlement of the personal matter ex-
listing between US. | am not Wiling -
waive my rights in this
There is no occasion for your doing so.
sir" | answered coldly, for 1 considered
the reference at that moment in extremely
i'll taste when our work here has been
accomplished. you will find me very much
at your service
He bowed gravely
each other he said. May | ask the size
of your commando
Sergeant / questioned, whom nave
we lost?'
NELSON vos kilt. l drinks; der Kid is not
here yet, und Sands vos wounded bad.
Very we'll; tAen, Major Brennan, l ten
der you sixteen men fit for duty, beslGes
myself You are doubtless acquainted with
the house and can assign us to positions
where our services will prove of greatest
value"
He had completely recovered his self
control by this time, and spoke now with
the terSe sentence of a tried soldier.
II thank you, Captain Wayne. and will
ask YOU 10 choose four men and assume
command of the east side of the house
Cation, you will take the same number for
defense of the rear. Captain, what Is your
sergeants name?
"Ebers an experienced German soldier"
Il should have suspected his nationality.
Let him have command of four more. and
cover the west windows. l shall defend
the front myself, l have been doing"
every we'll" 1 answered shortly, for his
eyes had remained fixed upon me all the
time he was talking. Take the positions
assigned you. lads and do not permit d
man from without to put foot on the YER
anda If they once succeed in getting un-
der cover of the porch roof they will give
us plenty of trouble"
They have remained remarkably quiet
since you came in," interposed the major.
Even my men seem to see nothing to
shoot at
"probably they haven't recovered as yet
| from our little surprise party" | said, with
a smile of remembrance. we left mule
out there who will entertain them for some
time. unless they adopt heroic measures
The position for defense assigned to my
mansion--a spacious, almost square apart
ment containing three large windows
reaching nearly to the floor. The outside
blinds had been closed, but the glass in
the panes was mostly broken, and there
were other evidences that the firing had
| been both heavy and continuous. | found
| two soldiers of Brennans party within,
| both lying upon the floor, and peering eau
tiously through the apertureS of the blinds.
| They glanced up at US with undisguised
amazement.
IT'S all right, lads I said heartily.
| Never mind colors tonight; are all
fighting the same way"
l had taken with me Bungay together
with three of my troopers, and after plac-
| ing them as advantageouSly possible, /
stretched myself out on the floor, and ap-
plying an eye to convenient opening took
careful survey of the situation without.
There was little to be observed, for dark
ness securely hid the movements of the en-
envy. Everything upon our side of the
house however, appeared comparatively
quiet yet ii was clearly evident that the
besiegers had no present intention of with
drawing from the attack: the flame of the
stables had already largely died away, but
what little light remained enabled me to
perceive unmistakable signs of their pres
ence / could distinguish frequent moving
figures in the background, but was unable
to determine their distance from the house
Occasionally a flash out of the night would
| V1.n a rflar Of nral