Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-02-07
CHAPTER xxly. The Fiuht in the Library,

enemy advancing across the bridge.
 Certainly. Their general has been cursing them right heartily for re- treating without the loot. He wants his $300.0o0 autograph collection" ob- served Larry.
 Wky doesn't he come for 1t him se,s like rnan?" demanded.
 Like man, do you say!" ejacu- lsted Larry. Faith and you fatter that flathead!"
 It was nearly Il o'clock when the at lacking party returned after barley 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. I expected them to slacken their pace when they came to the open meadow, but they broke into quick trot at the water tower and came toward the house as steady as veteran campaign CTS.
 Shall we try gunpowder?" asked Larry.
 wen let them ire the first vol ley" said.
 They've already tried to murder you and Stoddard-Tm 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, Igrinning.
 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 halting between us and the bridge and the remainder swinging around the house toward the front entrance.
 "Ah, look at that!" yelled Larry. sIt's 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 ran it up the steps and against the door with crash that came booming and echoing back through the great halls of the house.
 Bates was already bounding up the front stairway. revolver in his hand and a look of supreme rage on his face. Leaving Stoddard and Larry to watch the library windows. ran afte' 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 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 I caught his arm he turned to me with look of anger and indig nation I 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 1t 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 a signal for a sharp reply from one of the men below, and I 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 1 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 I ran down to the hall, where Stoddard stood, leaning upon his club like a Hercules, and eoolly watching the door as 1t leaped and shook under the repeated blows of the besiegers.
 A gur rosred again at the side ot the house, and I ran to the library, where Larry had pushed furniture against all the long windows save one, which he held open. He stepped out upon the terrace and emptied a revol- yer at the men who were now creep ing along the edge of the ravine be- heath us. Ore of them stopped end discharged . rife at us with Gcliber- ate aim The ball snapped SHOW fro.1 the balast.aee and screamed away har-Icssly.
 Bah" such monkeysi" he nut tered T believe I've hit that chap" One man had fallen and lay bowling in the -ayiae. h,s hand tc his thigh. while his comrades paused, demor- alized-
 -Serves you right you blaekguard," Larry muttered.
 pulled him in and we jamned a cahs-e. zrzinSf fha dn<,r and raturnad