The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-06-24

and In all probability Dom Corria could
not muster one-sixth Of that number.
1t was a crisis that called for vigor.
The cavalry lance was twenty miles
from its base. and there was no know
lug what accident might reunite the
scattered Liberationists. One column
nj least Of the Nationalist had failed
10 keep its rendezvous or this last des-
perate stand at Las Flores would have
proved sheer impossibility.
So the house must be rushed. no
matter what the cost. This was war
of leaders. Let Dom Corria fall and
his most enthusiastic supporters would
pay Dom Miguers taxes without fur
Their parley. scheme of concerted
action was hastily arranged. Stimuli
taneously five detachments swarmed
against the chosen points Of assault.
One crossed the pateo to the porch,
another made for the stable entrance.
third attacked the garden door,
fourth assailed the servants quarters,
aud the fifth. strongest Of all and in
spired by Dom Miguel's presence. bat
tered in the shutters and tore away
the piled up furniture of the ballroom.
The Nationalist leaders final order
was terse:
Spare the women; shoot every reb-
ell; do not touch the foreigners unless
they resist"
With yells Of "Abajo De SYLVIA!
"Morto por revoltadosw the assailants
closed in. Neither side owned maya.
zine rifles. so the fight was with ma
chetes. swords and bayonets when the
first furious hail of lead had spent it.
self. No man thought of quarter nor
ceased to stab and thrust until be fell.
When 800 desperadoes meet fifty Of
like caliber in hand to hand conflict,
when the 800 mean to end the business
and the fifty know that they must die,
fighting for choice, but die in any
event, the resultant encounter will
surely be both fierce and brief.
By one of those queer chances which
sometimes decide the hazard between
life and death the window nearest that
end of the room where the sailors
strove to protect a few shrieking wo-
men had not been broken In. Here,
then. was tiny bay of refuge. From
it the men of the Andromeda and the
Unser Fritz. Bulmer. Verify. Iris and
such of the Brazilian ladies as had not
fled TO the upper rooms at the initial
volley looked out on an amazing butch
cry. De Sylvia. no longer young and
never robust man, had been dragged
from mortal peril many times by his
devoted adherents. Carmela had
snatched machete from the fingers Of
a dying soldier and was fighting like
one possessed of tiend.
Once when a combined rush drove
the defenders nearly on top of the non
combatants Iris would have striven to
draw the half demented girl into the
little haven with the other women.
But Coke thrust her back. shouting.
Leave 'er alone. She'll set about
you if you touch her!'
Dickey Bulmer, too, who was dis
playing fortitude hardly to be ex-
pected in man of his years and hab-
it's. thought that interference was use
less.
Let 'er do what she can" he said.
"She doesn't know wot is 'appenin'
now. If she was on'y watchin' she'd
be ravin' lunatic. God 'elp us all!
We've got ourselves into nice mess!"
But if Dickey Bulmer's simple words
exalted him into the kingdom of the
heroic David Verify occupied a lower
plane. Prayers and curses alternated
on his lips. He was stupefied with
fear.
A tall, distinguished looking man,
wearing brilliant uniform. his breast
decorated with many orders, now ZAP
peared on the scene. He shouted
something, and the attacking force re-
doubled its efforts. He raised a re-
volver and took deliberate aim at Dom
Corria. Coke saw him. and his bull
dog pluck combined with avarice to
overcome his common sense. Without
thought Of the consequences he
sprang into the swaying mob and pull
ed De Sylvia aside. a bullet smashed
into the wall behind them
look out. misterw he beloved.
"'Ere's a blighter 90 wants to finish
you quickv'
De Sylva's glance sought his adver-
sary He produced a revolver which
hitherto had re-