Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-03-13

S0leVo0!
Cations face burned. He took one
stop toward him. his hands clinched.
and whom he spoke his clear voice
shook with intense indignation.
Major Brennan" he said coldly de-
Mberate, you are my superior omcer.
but you 60 beyond all privileges Of
rank in those words. cay these men
are friends; they have sunk the issues
Of war in order that they may answer
tho call OF humanity. II you dare I'M
peach my motives any further, shall
hurl back the cowardly insult in your
face. I will take no such words. CTR.
from any living man."
Brennan looked at him, his lips
struggling with the utterance that
would not come. Knowing we'll tho
danger Of such delay, hastily pushed
aside the ring Of men. and fronted
him, determined to end this foolish
ness then and there.
Major Brennan" said firmly, IT,
norins his efforts to silence me. you
must listen to reason whether you
wish to do 80 or not. My troopers
are all around you; have two men to
your one in this house, and can en-
fierce my will II necessary. Now mark
what l say-we are not here in anger
or in war, but to help you In the pro-
toction Of endangered women. We
captured your courier, have dispatched
one Of our own number into the Fed
eral camp for aid, and have fought
our way in here to stand beside you
and your men In defence Of this
house against those rufflans without.
You can use us or not, just AZ you
please; 1t rests with you to say wheth-
or We shall be comrades In arms on
this occasion, or whether l shall as
sumo command by the power OF force
which I chance to control"
He seemed utterly unable to grasp
my full meaning, to comprehend the
situation.
You mean, you would fight with
US? under my commando" he asked in
credulously.
Il offer my services under your or
ders," l replied clearly, and these
men In gray will obey NINE"
actually thought he would extend
his hand, but some remembrance sud
denly restrained him.
"I-of course, Captain Wayne" he
stammered, at length, IL must &C
cept your offer. IL am grateful for
1t, but l shall insist upon one thing;
there must be fna1 settlement Of the
personal matter existing between VI.
l am not willing to waive my rights
In this"
There is no occasion for your doing
50, SIR" answered coldly, for con.
sidered the reference at that moment
in extremely i'll taste. when our
work here has been accomplished, you
will ind mo very much at your serv-
ice."
He bowed gravely.
Il am exceedingly glad we under
stand each other" he said. May l
ask the size Of your commando"
Sergeant" questioned. whom
have We lost?"
Nelson vos kilt, drinks; der Kid
IL not here yet und Sands vos wound
cd bad"
VERY we'll; then, Major Brennan,
tender you sixteen men at for duty,
besides myself You are doubtless
acquainted with the house, and can
assign US to positions where our serv-
ices will prove Of greatest value"
He had completely recovered his
self-control by this time, and spoke
now with the terse sentences Of
tried soldier.
Il thank you, Captain Wayne, and
will ask you to choose four men and
assume command Of the east side OF
the house. Cation, you take the same
number for defense Of the rear. Cap
tain, what is your sergeant's name?"
"Ebers, m experienced German SOL
der"
Il should have suspected his ma
tionality. Let him have command of
four more, and cover the west win
dows. l shall defend the front myself.
as have been doing"
Very WE'LL" l answered shortly, for
his eyes had remained fixed upon me
all the time he was talking. Take
tho positions assigned you, lads. and
do not permit man from without to
put foot on the veranda. II they once
succeed in getting under cover Of the
porch root. they will give US plenty OF
trouble"
The position for defence assigned
to my care took me into the dining
room of tho mansfo1-a spaciouy, al
most square apartment, containing
three large windows reaching nearly
to the door. The outside blinds had
bean closed. but the glass In the panss
was mostly broken, and there were
Other evidences that tho firing had
been both heavy and continuous. /
found two soldiers Of Brennan's party
within. both lying upon the floor, and
pesr1ng cautiously through the aper-
lures OF the blinds. They glanced up
at W with undisguised amusement
It's al right, lads" I said heartily.
Never mind our colors tonight: We
are all fighting the same way"
l had taken with me Bungay. to-
gether with three of my troopers, and
after placing them as advantageously
% possible. stretched myself out on
tho floor, and applying an eyo to =
convenient opening took careful sur
vey OF tho situation without This
present cessation Of activity was,
Eelt convinced, only temporary. did
not expect, from all could now sec.
that the final assault would TAXA nlann