The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-02-15
dodge under into the next room,

eyes, and with yell OF exultation no
swung up his long riffs and struck
savagely at my head with the stock.
| caught It partially on my barrel,
! breaking It's full force, and even as II
descended upon my shoulder, jabbed
the muzzls he I'd into his leering race
With snarl OF pain he dropped MS
gun and grappled with me. but ss
his fingers closed about my throat.
something swirled down through the
maze. and the maddened brute stag
gered back. his arms uplifted, LIS red
beard cloven In twain.
Now for 1t. Wayne!" shouted Bren-
nan. Back with you!"
With a dive went under the plano
heard the sliding doors. shut behind
us. and almost with the sound wac
again upon my feet.
ITO the stairs!" | painted "Breh-
nan, take the women to the stairs;
those fellows are not in the hallway
yet. and we can hold them there
while"
In our terrible need for haste. and
amid the thick. swirling smoke NIL
ing that inner room almost to SUMO
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 hastily dragged my dazed COM
panion forward. The others were In
advance, and we CROPPED our way like
blind persons out into the hall. BY
rare good fortune 1t was yet unoc-
cupied, and as wa took the few hur-
rie.' steps toward the foot Of the
stairs | found my arm was 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 moi. 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 scant second to pluck a
saber from beside a dead soldier on
the floor, and then with spring up
the intervening steps, faced about al
| 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" answered, I'VE ought to hold
back the whole cowardly crew. SC
long as they refuse to fire."
| 1t was a scene 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 caught one quick glance a.
the fair face ! loved-my sweet iady
OF the North--thinking. indeed. 4
might prove the last on earth. ant
knew her eyes were upon me. Then
stronger of heart than ever for thu
coming struggle fronted that scene
below.
| Through the rising haze Of smok'
looked down into angry faces, I'm
kempt boards, and branished weapons
The baffled rascals poured out upoI
| IN n
narrow space, cursing. threatening
thirsting for revenge. Yet they wer,
seemingly leaderless, and the bodies
among them paused at the foot of tn
stairs. They had already felt on
arms, had tested our steel, and knew
well that grim death awaited thei
advance.
But they could not pause there loni
the ever increasing rush Of thos
behind pressed the earlier arrival
steadily forward. Grim necessity full
nished a courage naturally lacking
and suddenly. giving vent to fierc
shout, they were hurled upward. seel
ing to crush us at whatever saCrific'
by sheer force of numbers. We me
them with the point, in the good oil
Roman way, thrusting home remors'
lessly, fighting with silent contemI
for them which must have been MAJ
dening. ] even heard Brennan laugl
as he pierced huge ruffian throug
the shoulder and hurled him bacl
: ward; but at that moment saw Cral
knock aside levelled gun and pres
, his way to the front of the seethin
| mass to assume control. His face We
infiamed, his eyes bloodshot; drink Id
: changed him into very demon.
(TO BE CONTINUED)