The Lamar register., 1911-12-20

the muzzie haro INTO MS leer1ng face.
With a snarl Of pain he dropped his
gun and grappled with me, but as
his fingers closed about my throat,
something swirled down through the
maze, and the maddened brute stag
gered back, his arms uplifted, his red
beard cloven In twain.
Now for 1t, Wayne!" shouted Brsn-
nan. Back with you!'
With a dive I went under the piano.
l heard the sliding doors shut behind
us, and almost with the sound was
again upon my feet.
ITO the stairs!" l painted. "Bren-
nan, take the women to the stairs;
those fellows are not in the hallway
yet. and We can hold them there a
while"
In our terrible need for haste, and
amid the thick, swirling smoke fill
ing that inner room almost to suffo-
cation. grasped the woman CHANGING
to be nearest me. without knowing
at that moment who she was. AL
ready the rifle-butts were splintering
the light wood behind us into slaves.
and I hastily dragged my dazed com.
panion forward. The others were In
advance. and we 3. oped our way like
blind persons out into the hall By
rare good fortune 1t was yet unoc-
cupied. and as we took the few hur.
ried steps toward the foot of tn
stairs l found my arm was encirclins
Celia Minor. The depth OF despair
within her dark eyes and the speech
less anguish OF her white face, swept
for an instant the fierce rage of battle
from my brain.
At that moment the mob. discover
ing our direction of escape. damned
both doorways and surged forth howl
ing into the hall.
"Up'" cried. forcing her forward
up with you; quick."
paused a scant second to pluck a
saber from beside a dead soldier on
the floor. and then with a spring up
the intervening steps, faced about at
Brennan's side on the first landing
I'VE ought to leave our mark on
those incarnate devils here" he said
grimly. wiping his red blade on the
carpet.
Unless they reach the second story
from without, and take US In the
rear" l answered. I'VE ought to hold
back the whole cowardly crew. so
long as they refuse to IRE"
II was a scene to abide long with a
mana horrible nightmare. never to
be forgotten. Above us. protected
somewhat by the abrupt curve of the
Two were sobbing, their heads buried
To- h<f. A..s
Brennan sat white Of face and drA
eyed. caught one quick glance az
the fair face loved-my sweet lady
Of the North-thinking. indeed. 1t
might prove the last on earth. and
knew her eyes were upon me. Then.
stronger of heart than ever for the
coming struggle. fronted that scene
below.
Through the rising hare Of smoke
! looked down into angry faces. un-
kempt boards. and branished weapons
The banned rascals poured out upon
us from both doors. crowding into the
narrow space. cursing. threatening.
thirsting for revenge. Yet they were
seemingly leaderless. and tho boldest
among them paused at the foot of the
Stohs- ihcy udo alIehuy Ielt our
arms. had tested our steel. and knew
well that grim death awaited their
advance.
But they could not pause there long
the ever increasing rush Of those
behind pressed the earlier arrivals
steadily forward. Grim necessity fur
nished a courage naturally lacking.
and suddenly. giving vent to a fierce
shout. they were hurled upward. seek
Ing to crush us at whatever sacrifice.
by sheer force Of numbers. We met
them with the point. in the good old
Roman way. 'thrusting home remorse-
lessly. fighting with silent contempt
for them which must have been mad
dening. | even heard Brennan laugh,
as he pierced a huge rufiian throw
the shoulder and hurled him back
ward: but at that moment saw Craig
knock aside levelled gun and press
his way to the front of the seething
mass to assume control. His face was
infiamed. his eyes bloodshot; drink had
changed him into very demon.
Damn ye. Red told you not to fre,"
he yelled. Come on, you dogs, You
/ i'll,