The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1907-10-04
CHAPTER XIV.
The Fiqht In the Library.


They're coming faster this time"
enemy advancing across the bridge,
Certainly. Their general has been
cursing them right heartily for re-
treating without the loot. He wants
his 100000 autograph collection" OBJ
served Larry.
why doesn't he come for It him
self like MANI" demanded.
! Like a man. do you say!" ejacu.
lated Larry. Faith and you fatter
that flathead!"
1t was nearly II o'clock when the at
on the Ice behind the boat house. The
four OF us were on the terrace ready
for them. They came smartly through
the wood the sheriff and Morgan
slightly In advance Of the others.
expected them to slacken their pace
when they came to the open meadow.
but they broke into a quick trot at the
water tower and came toward the
house as steady as veteran campaign.
ers
Shall We try gunpowder?" asked
Larry.
Wen let them FIRE the first vol.
ley" I said.
They've already tried to murder
you and Stoddard-Tm 10 for letting
loose with the elephant guns" Larry
protested,
"Stand to your clubs" admonished
'Stoddard. whose own weapon was
comparable to the Scriptural weaver's
beam. Possession is nine points of
the fight, and we've got the house."
ALSO prisoner Of war;" said Larry.
grinning.
The English detective had smashed
the glass in the barred window of the
potato cellar, where Larry had lodged
him, and we could hear him bowling
and cursing below
Looks like business this time!" ex-
claimed Larry. Spread out now and
the first head that looms over the bal
ustrade gets a dose of hickory"
The attacking party now divided,
half hating between us and the bridge
and the remainder swinging around
the house toward the front entrance
! "Ah, look at that" yelled Larry
TITS a battering ram they have. o
man Of peace! have ! your Majesty's
consent to try the elephant guns
now"
Morgan and the sheriff carried be.
tween them stick of timber from
which the branches had been cut,
and, with a third man to help, they
iran It up the steps and against the
door with a crash that came booming
and echoing back through the great
halls of the house.
Bates was already bounding up the
and a look of supreme rage on his
face. Leaving Stoddard and Larry TO
watch the library windows, l ran after
him, and we clattered over the loose
boards in the upper hall and into a
great unfinished chamber Immediately
over the entrance. Bates had the win
dow up when l reached him and was
well out upon the coping, yelling a
warning to the men below.
He drew his revolver up to shoot.
and when l caught his arm he turned
ito me with a look OF anger and indig-
nation had never expected to see on
his colorless, mask-like face.
"My God, sir! That door was his
pride, sir-it came from a famous
house in England, and they're wreck.
ing it as though 1t were common
pine.
He tore himself free from my grasp
as the besiegers again launched their
battering ram against the door with
frightful crash. and his revolver
cracked smartly thrice, as he bent far
out over the door.
His shots were q signal for sharp
reply from one OF the men below, and
felt Bates start, and pulled him in,
the blood streaming from his face.
Its all right, sir-all right-only a
cut across my cheek, sir"-and an
other bullet smashed through the
glass, squirting plaster dust from the
wall. A fierce onslaught below caused
tremendous crash to echo through
the house, and I heard firing on the
opposite side. where the enemy's re.
serve was waiting.
Bates. with a handkerchief to his
face. protested that he was unhurt.
Come below; there's nothing to be
gained here"-and ran down to the
hall, where Stoddard stood. leaning
upon his club like a Hercules, and
coolly watching the door as It leaped
and shook under the repeated blows OF
the besiegers.