Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-05-10
By Meredith Nicholson
CHAPTER XIV.
The fIaht In the Library,

QDatlnS WITHOUT the l00t. he wants
his 100000 autograph collection" OBJ
served Larry.
why doesn't he come for It him
self like man." l demanded.
Like a man, do you say!" ejacu.
lated Larry. Faith and you Hatter
that fathead!"
It was nearly II o'clock when the at
tacking party returned after a parley
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,
bnt they broke into quick trot at the
water tower and came toward the
house as steady as veteran campaign.
ers.
Shall we try gunpowder" asked
Larry.
We'll let them fire 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 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
oustrade 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 l 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 1t 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 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 I 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 caught his arm he turned
to. ne with 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 it were common
pine.
He tore himself free from my grasp
as the besiegers again launched their
Dattering 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 a signal for sharp
reply from one OF the men below, and
! felt Bates start, and pulled him in
the blood streaming from his face.
It's 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
vail! A fierce onslaught below caused
q tremendous crash to echo through
the house. and l 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
Some below; there's nothing to be
gained here"-and l ran down to the
hay where Stoddard stood, leaning
upon his club like a Hercules, and
I coolly watching the door as It leaned
and shook under the repeated blows OF
the besiegers.
A gun roared again at the side OF
tne house, and | 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 we're now creep.
ing along the edge Of the ravine be-
meath Us. One of them stopped and
discharged rife at US with deliber.
ate aim. The ball snapped snow from
the balustrade' and screamed away
harmlessly.
Bah" such monkeys!" he nut.
tered. 4 believe I've hit that chap!"
pae man had fallen and lay bowling
n the ravine. his hand to his thigh.
Fhile' his comrades paused, demon.