The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-20

Stoddard. whose own weapon was eom.
parable 10 the Scriptural weaver's beam
fvsSesSon is nine points To the night
ana we've got the house"
Also prisoner OF war" said Larry
grinnng.
The English detective had smashed the
glass in the barred window OF the potat 10
cellar and we could hear him bowling
and cursing below.
Looks like business this timer' ex-
clalmed Larry. Spread out now and the
hrst head that sticks over the balustrade
gets dose of hickory"
When twenty-five yards from the ter
race the advancing party divided. half
nauns between US and the water tower,
and the remainder swinging around the
mouse toward the front entrance.
An, look at thati' yelled Larry. IT'S
a battering-ram they have. o man of
peace! have l your MaJesty's consent 10
try the elephant guns now?'
Morgan and the sheriff carried between
them stick OF timber from which the
branches had been cut, and with a third
man TO help, they ran IL up the steps and
against the door with a crash that came
booming back through the house.
Bates was already bounding up the front
stairway. a revolver in his hand a look
OF supreme rage on his face. Leaving
Stoddard and Larry TO watch the library
windows. / was after him. and we clat-
tered over the loose boards in the upper
hail and into a great unfinished chamber
Immediately over the entrance. Bates had
the window up when ! reached him and
was well ont upon the coping, yelling a
warning to the men below.
tie utu nIs 4eNulNt. ap to shoot and
when | caught his arm he turned 70 me
with a look Of anger and indignation /
had never expected TO see on his colorless.
masklike face.
MY God. sir! That door was his pride.
sir-it came from famous house in Eng
land, and they're wercking It, sir as
though IL were common pine"
He tore himself free from my grasp
as the besiegers again launched their bat
terng-ram against the door with a fright
full crash, and his revolver cracked smart
ly thrice, as he bent far out with one
hand clinging 10 the window frame
His shots were a signal for a sharp re-
ply from one of the men below. and l felt
Bates start. and pulled him in, the blood
streaming from his face.
IFS all right. sir-all right-ondly a cut
across my cheek. sair"-and another bull
let smashed through the glass. squirting
plaster dust from the wall. A fierce on
slaught below caused a tremendous crash
TO echo through the house. and heard
firing on the opposite side. where the en-
emy's reserve was waiting.
Bates. with a handkerchief 10 his face.
protested that he was unhurt
Come below; there's nothing 10 be
gained here-and I ran down To the hall.
where Stoddard stood. leaning upon his
club like Hercules and coolly watching
the door as II leaped and shook under the
repeated blows OF the besiegers
Agun roered again at the side of the
house, and I ran TO the library. where
Larry had pushed furniture against all
the long windows, save one which he held
open. lie stepped out upon the terrace
and emptied n revolver az the men who
were now creeping along the edge OF the
ravine beneath us One OF them stopped
and discharged n rife at us with deliber-
nte aim. The ball snapped snow from the
and screamed away harmless
~.
'Bh. such monkeysl" he muttered. ''I
believe I've hit that chap" one man had
fallen and lay bowling IN the rslvine, his |
hand 20 his thigh while his comrades |
paused demoralized.
Serves YOU right. you blackguardY" |
Larry muttered
I pulled him In and we jammed a cabi- |
net against the door
Meanwhile the blows AZ the front con-
.inued with increasing violence.
(ro be Continued on Monday)