The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-02-15

next TO me, racing as l did, welding q
sword like a mailman. We had our
backs against the piano. our shout
ders touched; before us that mob
swayed, checked for the moment, held
fast by sudden overpowering dread.
glanced aside. My companion wal
Brennan, hatless, his deep-set eyes
afame, his coat torn of, his shirt
ripped open to the waist. his bare
breast red with blood.
mo shootin'. damn vel" shouted a
voice, hoarsely. mo shootin'; l want
that Reb alive!"
Through the swirling smoke 1 rec
ognized the malicious face of Red
Lowrie as he pushed his way to the
front. To me it was Ike a personal
challenge to combat.
Rush them!" l muttered into Bren-
mans ear. "Hurl them back a bit, and
dodge under into the next ROOM"
l W waited to ascertain IL he
heard me. With one fierce spring l
struck their stunned line, and my
Iron bar swept a clear space as it
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next instant Lowrie and l were seem
ingly alone and fronting each other.
A wild cat enraged by pain looks as
he did when he leaped to meet me
Hate, deadly, relentless, glared in his
eyes. and with a yell Of exultation he
swung up his long rifle and struck
savagely at my head with the stock.
caught 1t partially on my barrel,
breaking its full force, and even as 1t
descended upon my shoulder, jabbed
the muzzle hard into his leering 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.
Nov for it, Wayne!" shouted Bren-
nan. Back with you!"
With a dive l went under the piano.
heard the sliding doors shut behind
us. and almost with the sound was
again upon my feet.
ITO the stairs!" I painted. "Bren-
nan, take the women to the stairs;
those fellows are not in the hallway
yet, and we can hold them there q
while"
In our terrible need for haste, and
amid the thick. swirling smoke FILL
ing that inner room almost to suffo-
cation. I grasped the woman CHANGING
tn he roorock mo without lr0uyfpn
at that moment who she was. Al
ready the rifle-butts were splintering
the light wood behind us into slaves.
and l hastily dragged my dazed com
panion forward. The others were in
advance, and we s.. oped our way like
blind persons out into the hall. BY
rare good fortune it was yet unoc
cupied. and as we took the few hur-
rted steps toward the foot Of the
stairs I found my arm vas encircling
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 u direction of escape, damned
both doorways and surged forth howl
ing into the hall.
"Up!" I cried, forcing her forward.
up with you; quick!"
l 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" I answered, 1--WE ought to hold
back the whole cowardly crew. SO
long Is they refuse to fire."
1t was a to abide long with q
mana horrible nightmare, never to
be forgotten. Above us, protected
somewhat by the abrupt curve of the
wide staircase, crouched the women
Two were sobbing, their heads buried
in their hands, but Maria and Mrs
Brennan sat white of face and dry
eyed. I caught one quick glance al
the fair face l loved-my sweet lady
of the North-thinking, indeed, II
might prove the last on earth, ant
knew her eyes were upon me. Then
stronger of heart than ever for the
coming struggle, 1 fronted that scene
below.
Through the rising haze of smoke
looked down into angry faces, I'M
kempt boards, and branished weapons
The bafied rascals poured out upor
us from both doors, crowding into the
narrow space, cursing, threatening
thirsting for revenge. Yet they were
seemingly leaderless, and the boldes'
among them paused at the foot Of the
stairs. They had already felt oul
arms, had tested our steel, and knew
we'll that grim death awaited theil
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 inward sock