The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-06-03

] NtIu AAHktI IMAM ne Ahu come nc
invaders, hundreds strong, had torn
down the boundary wall and the earth
for the advancing embankment was
flying from uncounted shoveis.
Caleb Gordon was at work In the
blacksmith shop, Sunday repairing
while the furnace was cool when
Thomas Jefferson came flying with his
news The iron-master dropped his
hammer and cast aside the leather
apron.
you hear that, Buck?" he said
frowning across the anvil at his helper
a white man AVID the foreman OF the
pouring floor
The helder nodded, being a mai of
as few words as the master.
We'll, / reckon we-all hain't got any
call to stand by and see them Nightly
crs ride it roughshod over Major Dab
ney thataway," said Gordon, briefly.
| GO down to the shanties and hustle
out the day shift Get Turk and Hard
away and every white man YOU can lay
/ hands on, and all the guns you can
| find And send one o. the black boys
up the hin 10 tell the Major Like as
not he amt up yet"
! Helgerson hastened away to obey
! his orders, and Caleb Gordon went out
TO the foundry scrap yard. In the
/ heap OF broken metal lay an old cast
/ iron feld-piece. a relic OF the battle
which had one day ragged hotly on tho
hillside across the creek. A hundred
times the ironmaster had been on the
point Of breaking it up for remelting,
and as often the old artilleryman in
him had stayed his hand.
Now it was quickly hoisted in the
crane shackle Thomas jefferson
sweating manfully at the crab crank
clamped on the axle OF a pair of wag-
on wheels, cleaned swabbed loaded
with quarry blasting powder and pieces
of broken iron to serve for grape, and
trundled out on the pike at the heels
OF the ore team.
BY this time Helgerson had come up
with the furnace men, a motley crew
in all stages of Sunday morning dis
hevelment, and armed only as a mob
may arm itself at a moments notice.
Caleb, the veteran, looked the squad
over with a slow smile gathering the
wrinkles at the corners Of his eyes.
You boysll have to make up In
fierceness what-all you're lacking in
soldier-looks," he observed, mildly.
Then he gave the word of command
to Helgerson. Take the gun and put
out for the Majors hawss-tot I'll be
along as soon as l can saddle the
mare"
Thomas Jefferson went with his
father to the stable and helped silent
ly with the saddling. Afterward he
held the mare, gentling her in sup
pressed excitement while his father
went into the house for his rifle.
"Thatll do, Buddy" he said, when he
came back. Run along in to your
nanny, now"
But Thomas jefferson caught again
at the bride and held on, choking
20 pappy!-take me with you! I'M
die if you don't take me with you!"
Who can tell what Caleb Gordon saw
in his sons eyes when he bent to loos-
en- the grip of the small brown hand
on the rein? Was 1t some sympathet-
ic reincarnation of his own militant
soul striving to break it's bonds? With
out word he bent lower and swung
the boy up to a seat behind him. Hold
on tight, Buddy" he cautioned. I'll
have to run the mare some to catch up
with the boys"
When the one-piece battery dashed
at a clumsy gallop through the open
gate of the Dabney pasture and swung
with a sharp turn into the vista of
felled trees, Thomas Jefferson beheld a
thing to set his heritage of soldier
blood dancing through his veins.
Standing fair in the midst of the ak
and shovel havoc and clearing a wide
circle to right and left with the sweep
of his old service cavalry saber, was
the Major coatless, hatless and crying
them to come on, the unnumbered host
of them against one man.
Opposed to him the men of the con-
force generated by the young
engineer in brown duck and buttoned
leggings, were deploying cautiously to
him. Gordon spoke to his
mare; and when he drew rein AMI
wheeled to shout to the gun crew,
Thomas Jefferson heard the engineers |
low toned order to the shovelers: "Be |
careful and don't hurt him, boys. He's |
the old maniac who threw me off the |
peranda of his house. Two of you take |
him behind, and"
The break came on the uprush of the |
reinforcements. With |
the battle readiness of a disciplined |
soldier, Caleb Gordon whipped from |
the saddle and ran to help the gun |
crew slue the makeshift feldpiece into
position.
Fall back Major!" he shouted; fail
oack on your front line and give the
artillery a chanst at 'em. l reckon a
lose O. broken pot-ironn carry fu'ther
hoV co baTs %
ne a punk match, will ye?"
Thomas Jefferson ran to the nearest
'otting log, but one of the negroes was
before him with a blazing pitch-pin
3plint. There was a respectful recoil
n the opposing ranks which presently
became a somewhat panicily surge to
he rear. The shovelers, more than
lalf Of whom were negroes, had not
,ome out to be blown from cannons
mouth by a grim faced veteran who
vas so palpably at home with the tools
If his trade.
That's right; keep right on goin'l"
'elled the ironmaster, waving his blaz-
ng slow match dangerously near to
he priming. Keep it up"
The panic had spread by it's own
and the invaders were
lighting among themselves for place on
he hat-cars. And while yet the rear
suard was swarmiug upon the engine,
langing by toe and hand-holds where
t could the train was backed rapidly
ut of range. Caleb Gordon kept his
line splint alight until the echoes of
he engines exhaust came family from
he overhanging cliffs of the mountain.
They've gone back to town, and
nclrnn the hra,a rnllirn' nnt for tn-dav