Rocky Ford enterprise. (Rocky Ford, Colo.) 1887-1950, 1907-09-27
RSERlAl&
G9STORYGYV
THE HOUSE OF
A THOUSAND
CANDLES
CHAPTER xxi,l.-cen,inu.s.
D. MEREDITH NICHOLSON
A..A. = TT. . s q! !esAses.- uisA

CHAPTER xxiii.-Continuso-
Try IL again. I heard Larry I'D
monish him. -try that once more. and
The Rod. God bless IL. will never feel
the delicate imprint Of your ~ebfsst
again
He turned the man about and
rushed him toward III. house.. the re-
voiyer still serving rs prod. His
lKsht gave heart to the wary Invaders
Immediately behind him and two fei'
lows. urged and led by Morgan.
charged our line AT = smart pace.
Bolt for the front door," called
TO Larry. and sloddard and ! closed
In after him To guard his retreat
They're not shooting" called Stod'
dasd. You may be sure they've had
their orders To capture the house with
a. little row as possible.
We were nov nearing tho edge OF
tho wood. with tho open meadow and
water tower at our backs. while Larry
vas making good time toward III"
house.
.i.~,'a no, wait for them here"
shouted Stoddard.
Morgan sss advancing with club
10 his hand. making directly for me.
two mon a, his heels. and the rest
vecsinx OF toward tho wall Of 81.
Axatha'x.
Watch the house, ! yelled to the
chaplain: and then. on the edge OF
shs wood Morgan came at me furious
". swinging his club over his head.
and In moment we wer" fencing
away al q merry rate. We both Ind
revoivcrs strapped TO our waists. but
I had no intention Of drawing mine
unicss In extremity. Al my right
atoddard was busy keeping on Nor
ean's personal guard. who seemed 70.
luctant to close with tho clergyman.
I have been. In my day. something
of . fenccr. and my knowledge OF tho
soiis stood me In good stead now.
With . tremendous thwack I knocked
Aorxan's club nyins over the snow.
and. a. We srapplcd. Bates yelled from
Sho house. I quickly found that Nor.
gan's wounded arm was still tender.
He dinchcd at the nrst srapplc. and
g anger got tho better Of his Judg.
mont We kicked mp tho snow Mt
great rate rs We fcinted and dragged
each other about He caught hold OF
my belt with one hand and with
great wrench nearly dragged me from
my feet. but pinioncd his arms AMI
bent hIi backward. then. by n trick
Larry had taught me. fun. him upon
his side.
Meanwhile Bates continued to call
Justify from the house.
Come on nj any cost shouted
Stoddurd. putting himself between mo
and the men who were flying to Nor
Ean's aid.
Shoot. you fools. shoot" howlcd
Morgan. and rs we started across the
open meadow and ran toward the
house shotgun roared back Of us and
buckshot snapped and ratified on the
stone Of the water tower.
There's the sherifY.' called Stod.
dard behind me.
The officer and his deputy ran into
tho park from the gate OF st. Agatha's.
while the rest of Morgan's party were
skirting the wall to Join them.
stop or I'll shoot" yelled Morgan.
and I felt Stoddard pause in his 81.
gantic stride to throw himself between
me and the pursuers.
sprint lot IL HOt, ue Calleu very
coolly. as though he were coaching me
In contest OF the most amiable sort
imaginable.
Get away from those guns" l pant.
ed0angered by the very generosity OF
his defense.
Dint for the front door and then
run for the terrace ard the library
door," he commanded as we crossed
tho little ravine bridge. They've got
US headed on
Twice the guns doomed behind us.
snow about me.
I'm all right" called Stoddard. re-
assuringly. still at my back. They're
not bit anxious to kill me-"
was u; the top OF my speed now,
but the clergyman kept close at my
heels was blowing hard. but he
made equal time with perfect ease.
Now for the sheriff-here we co."
cried Stoddard-beside me-when we
were close to the fringe of trees that
shielded the entrance. Then of We
veered suddenly to the left. close upon
the terrace where one of the French
windows was thrown open and Larry
and Bates stepped out. urging us on
with lusty cries.
4 They caught us by the arms and
dragged us over where the balustrade
was lowest, and we crowded through
1.-THE door and slammed 1t. As Bates
snapped the bolts Morgan's party dis
1charged their combined artillery and
Withdrew across the ravine toward the
lake.
CHAPTER XIV.