The Columbus journal., 1908-10-07

the corner"
Are you sure?"
Yes; ! was a-listening to 'em wher
you give me such start"
What were they saying?"
y couldn't hear a word"
Give warning at the first move te
get into the house. Blaze away with
your gun if anybody tries to climb on
to the porch"
Porter had heard nothing, but was
wide awake, watching by the light ol
the lamp that hung at the head of the
stairway. And after caution to vigi
lance I returned to my chair.
For half an hour l listened closely
The men were Open-eyed but silent
The storm kept up its mournful muir
muir, but no sound that I could at
tribute to man came to my strainine
ears.
Suddenly there was a cry from the
hall.
Who's there?" 1t was Porter's
voice.
An instant later there was a crash
of glass, an explosion seemed to shake
the house, and there was a rush Of
many feet.
l leaped to the door and flung II
open. Lockhart, Wilson and Brown
crowding close behind me. A body OF
men filed the hallway, and Porter was
struggling in the hands of three ruff
fans. His revolver, whose shot we
had heard, had been knocked from his
hand and lay on the floor.
The sudden appearance of four more
weapons in the open doorway startled
the enemy into pausing for moment
l sprang forward and gave the nearest
of POrter's assailants a blow that sent
him staggering into the midst of his
band, and with a wrench Porter tore
himself loose from the other two anC
was with us again.
What does this mean?' l cried an
grily to the invaders. What are you
here for"
There were perhaps dozen of them
altogether and in the midst of the
band l saw the evil face and snake.
eyes of Tom Terrill. At the sight of
his repulsive features l could scarce
refrain from sending bullet in his di-
rectiOn.
Darby Meeker growled an answer.
You know what we're here for
You have broken into a respect.
able house like a band of robbers" ]
cried. What do you want?'
You know what We want, Mr.. Viii
ton was the surly answer. Give us
the boy. and We won't touch you
And if not?"
There was silence for a few mo.
ments.
What are you waiting for" growl
ed a voice from beyond the turn OF
the hall.
At the sound l thrilled to the inmost
fiber. Was it not the growl of the
Wolf? Could l be mistaken in those
tones? l listened eagerly for another
word that might put it beyond doubt.
We'll, are you going to give him
up?' asked the hOarse voice of Meek
err.
There has got to be some better
reason for it than your demand"
We'll, we've got reasons enough
here. Stand ready, boys"
Look OUT" said to my men, with
a glance behind.
At turned l saw without noting il
that Wainwright and Fitzhugh hao
come out of the boys room to take 2
hand in the impending trouble. Lock
hart and Wilson slipped in front Of
me.
Get back and look after the boy
whispered the former. We can hold
'em here"
Move ahead there" shouted a
fierce voice that again thrilled the ear
and heart with the growl of the Wolf
What are you afraid of"
Stand fast, boys" l said to my
men. wainwright. keep close to the
bedroom" Then | shouted defiance
to the enemy. The first man that
moves forward gets killed! There are
eight revolvers here
Then l saw that Wainwright had
come forward, despite my bidding,
eager to take his share of the on
slaught. And by some freak of the
spirit of the perverse the boy, who had
shown himself SO timid during the
day, had now slipped out of his room
and climbed upon a chair to see what
the excitement was about, as though
danger and death were the last things
in the world with which he had to
reckon.
l caught glimpse of his form out
of the tail of my eye as he mounted
the chair in his night dress. l turned
with an exclamation to Wainwright
and was leaping to cover him from
possible bullet, when there was roar
of rage and the voice of Terrill rang
through the hall:
"Tricked again." he cried with q
dreadful oath It's the wrong boy"
(TO BE CONTINUED)
a