The Irish standard., 1907-06-08


water tower and came toward the
house as steady as veteran campaign
ers.
Shall We try gunpowder:" asked
Larry.
Well let them fire the first vol
ley" said.
They've already tried to murder
you and Stoddard-I'm in 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 a 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 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 battering ram they have. o
man of peace! have I your Majesty's
consent to try the elephant guns
now"
Morgan and the sheriff carried be.
tween them stick of timber from
and. with third man to help, they
ran 1t up the steps and against the
door with a crash that came booming
and eohoing back through the great
halls of the house
Bates was already bounding up the
front stairway, a revolver in his hand
and look Of supreme rage on his
face. Leaving Stoddard and Larry to
watch the library windows, ran after
him. and we clattered over the loose
boards in the upper hall and into
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
to me with look Of anger and indig.
nation had never expected to see on
his coloricss. mask-llke 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 we're common
pine.
He tore himself free from my grasp
as the besiegers again launched their
battering ram against the door with
a frightful crash. and his revolver
cracked smartly thrice, as he bent far
out over the door.
His shots were signal for a sharp
reely from one Of the men below, and
I felt Bates start, and pulled him in,
the blood streaming from his face.
TITS 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
q 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 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 Hercules, and
coolly watching the door as 1t leaped
and shook under the repeated blows Of
the besiegers.
A gun roared again at the side OF
the house, and ran to the library,
where Larry had pushed furniture
against AN the long windows save one,
which he held open. He stepped out
upon the terrace and emptied revoa-
yer at the men who were now creep.
ing along the edge of the ravine be-
meath US. One OF them stopped and
discharged rife at us with deAber-
ate aim. The ball snapped snow from
the balustrade and screamed away
harmlessly.
Bah" such monkeys" he NUT.
tered. Il believe I've hit that chap"
One man had fallen and lay bowling
in the ravine. his hand to his thigh,
while his comrades paused, donor
allied.
Serves you right. you blackguard! Z"
Larry muttered.
pvlled him In and we TANNED a
cabinet against tho door and returned
to tho hall.
Meanwhile the blows at the front
door continued with increasing vio-
lenoe. etoddard still stood where I
bad left him. Bates was not in sight,
but the barking of a revolver above
showed that he had returned to the
windov to wreak vengeance on his en-.
emies: ~. ;sssRs ~ ,azks .s4eSs
stoddard shook his neau IN depreca-
ton.
They fired flrst-we can't do less
than get back at them" said. be-