Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-05-03

They're coming across the lake,
sir" he reported, and Instantly the
sheriT's head disappeared, AID as we
ran toward the house We heard his
horse pounding down the road toward
st. Agathas.
The law be damned. They don't in
tend to come in here by the front door
as a matter Of law, said Larry. Pick
ering's merely using the sheriff to give
responsibility to his naneuyers.p
1t was no time for discussion of
motives. We ran across the meadow
past the water tower and down to the
boat-house. Far out on the lake we
saw half dozen men approaching the
Glenarm grounds. They advanced
steadily over the light snow that lay
upon the ice. one man slightly in ad.
vance and evidently the leader.
It's Morgan" exclaimed Bates.
"And there's Ferguson"
Larry chuckled and slapped his
thigh.
observe that stocIy little devil Just
behind Tie leader. He's my friend
from Scotland lard. Lads! this is
really an International affair"
Bates, 80 back to the house and
can at any sign Of attack" | ordered.
"Ile shenIs loose somewhere"
Ana Pickering Is directing his
forces f.om a.ar," remarked StuIdqrL
81 count ten men IN Norgaa's Inc"
s2il larry ."an1 The sheriff and bis
DEPUTY -'sa tvo more. That's -. not
counting Pickering, that we know OF
on the other size"
Warn tA-.l aUsy before tlev set
much nearer" suggested Stoflarl.
we don't want to hurt people 81 we
can tolp tend at this ] we- TO he
end Of TIE rios Morgan and h'e men
were now quite near, and there was no
m'z,eking their intentions. Most Of
them carried guns. the others re.
volvers snd long Zee hooks.
Morgan" ! called, holding up my
hands for truce. I'VE wish you no
harm, but II you enter these grounds
you Go so ut your peril"
They had paused at a word from
Moran and listened su'Icnly.
We're al sworn deputy sho~lTs."
called the caro+aker smoothly. We've
got the law behind US"
"That must be Why you're coming
In the back way" / replied.
The thlc'sat man whom Larry had
identified as the English detective now
came closer and addressed me in a
hieh key.
You're hsrboring a bad man. Mr.
G'onarm. You'd better give him ND.
I've got my papers and the American
law supports me. Yo1n get yourself
into trouble II you protect that man.
You may not understand, sir, that he's
a very dangerous character"
"TNarks, DaHdson!" called Larry.
YOU'D better keep out of this. You
now I'm bad man with the shillalah,"
THAT you are, you blackguard!"
yelled the officer, so spitefully that we
ell laughed.
| drew back to the boat-house.
They are not going to kill anybody
If they can help It." remarked Stod-
card, "any more than we are. Even
deputy sheriffs are not turned loose to
do murder and the Wabana county
court wouldn't, II It hadn't been i'm.
posed On by Pickering, lend Itself to a
game Ike this. And this business here
is only a private affair between Picker
ing and the sheriff"
Now we're in for e." yelled Larry;
and the y men, in close order, came
running across the ice toward the
shore.
"Oren order, and fall back slowly
toward the house" commanded. And
we derloyed from the boathouse. while
the attacking party still clung to-
gether,-a strategic error on their side.
as Larry assured us.
"Stay together. lads. Don't sera-
rate; you'll get lost II you do" he
yelled dorisiyely to the enemy.
Stoddard babe him keen still, ard
We econ had our hands fun with
preliminary sklrmish. Davidson. the
detective, seemed Disguised at Nor.
cams tactics, openly abused the care
taker, and ran ahead Of his column,
revolver in hand. bearing down upon
Larry who held cur center.
The Englshman's haste was his
A light fall Of snow few
days before had gathered in the lit
tie hollows Of the wood deceptively.
The detective PLUNGED into one Of
these and fell SPRAYING on an fours-
a calamity that caused his comrades
to pause uneasily. Larry was uron
his enemy in a fash, wrenched his
pistol away and pulled the man to his
feet.
"Ah, Davidson. There's many a
slip! Move, II You dare, and IN plug
you with your own gun" And he
stood behind the man, using him as a
shield while Morgan and the rest Of
the army hung near the boat house
uncertainty.
Its the strategic intellect we've
captured, general" observed Larry to
me. you see the American invaders
we're depending on British brains"
Morgan now acted on the hint we
had furnished him and sant bis r,or