The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-10-01

the corner"
Are you sure?"
'Yes; was a-listening to 'em when
you give me such a start"
What were they saying?"
Il couldn't hear a word"
Give warning at the first move to
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 of
the lamp that hung at the head OF the
stairway. And after a caution to vigi.
lance l returned to my chair.
For half an hour l listened closely.
The men were open-eyed but silent.
The storm kept up its mournful mur.
mur, but no sound that / could at.
tribute to man came to my strainiLE Z
ears.
Suddenly there was a cry from the
hall.
Who's there?" It 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.
leaped to the door and flung 1t
open. Lockhart, Wilson and Brown
crowding close behind me. A body of
men filled 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 a moment.
l sprang forward and gave the nearest
of Porters assailants blow that sent
him staggering into the midst of his
band, and with a wrench Porter tore
himself loose from the other two and
was with us again.
What does this mean?" l cried an.
grily to the invaders. What are you
here for?"
There we're perhaps a dozen of them
altogether and in the midst of the
band | 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 band of robbers"
cried. What do you want?"
You know what we want, Mr.. vii.
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
" off? Could / be mistaken in those
tones? l listened eagerly for another
word that might put it beyond doubt.
well, are you going to give him
up?" asked the hoarse voice of Meek.
er.
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!" l said to my men, with
a glance behind.
At l turned | saw without noting it
that Wainwright and Fitzhugh had
come out of the boys room to take
hand in the impending trouble. Lock.
hart and Wilson slipped in front OF
me.
Get back and look after the boy
whispered the former. I'VE can hold
'em here"
Move ahead there!" shouted
fierce voice that again thrilled the ear
and heart with the growl of the Wolf
What are you afraid of"
Stand fast, boys" said to my
men. Wainwright, keep close to the
bedroom" Then 1 shouted defiance
to the enemy. THE first man that
moves forward gets Killed! Thero 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 chair to see what
the excitement was about, as though
danger and death were the last things
in the world with which he had ia
reckon.
/ caught a glimpse of his form out
of the tail of my eye as he mounted
the chair in his night dress. turned
with an exclamation to Wainwright
and was leaping to cover him from a
possible bullet, when there was roar
of rage and the voice of Terrill rang
the hall:
"Tricked again!" he cried with a
dreadful oath. IT'S the wrong boy!"
(To BE CoNTINUED)