The Clovis news. [volume] (Clovis, N.M.) 1907-1929, 1912-03-07

ne gave up all attempt to control hts
raging temper.
What does an this mean7" he de-
manded hoarseiy. who are these
men? Cation. If you have betrayed
us. by God, I win shoot you dead"
There Is no betrayal" returned the
Lieutenant coolly. These men are
friends"
"Friends?" he laughed c%ynicaIiy.
Friends? IN that uniform, and you
attired IN a Rebel cavalry jacket?
Friends7 that fellow over there?" and
he pointed derisively at me with his
pistol barrel. Damn you. but / be-
lieve o are all a pack Of lying
t%hievesi"
Cations face burned. He took n
step toward him. his hands clinched.
and when he spoke his clear voice
shook with intense indignation.
Major Brennan" he said coldly de-
liberate, you are my superior officer,
but o 80 beyond all privileges Of
rank in those words. / say these men
are friends; they have sunk the issues
Of war in. order that they may answer
the call Of humanity. If you dare i'm
peach my motives any further, 1 shall
hurl back the cowardly insult In your
face. | will take no such words. sir,
from any living man"
Brennan looked at him, his lips
struggling with the utterance that
would not come. Knowing well the
danger Of such delay, I hastily pushed
aside the ring Of men, and fronted
him, determined to end this foolish
ness then and there.
Major Brennan" / said firmly, ig-
noring his efforts t.. silence me, you
must listen to reason whether you
wish to do so or not. MY troopers
are ~ aroCud you; l have two men to
YOU one in this house, and can en-
force my wi. If necessary. Now mark
what I say-we are not here in anger
or IN war, but to help you in the pro
lection Of endangered We
captured your courier, have dispatched
one Of 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 rufians without.
You can use us or not, Just as you
please; It rests with you to say wheth-
er we shall be comrades in arms on
this occasion, or whether I 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." ! replied clearly. "and these
men in gray will obey mine"
actually thought he would extend
his hand, but some remembrance sud
denly restrained him.
"I-of course Captain Wayne" he
stammered. at length. I'll must &C
cept your offer. III am grateful for
it, but l shall insist upon one thing;
there must be a final settlement OF the
personal matter existing between us.
l am not willing to waive my rights
in this"
There Is no occasion for your doing
So, sir" I answered coldly. for / con-
sidered the reference at that moment
in extremely III taste. When our
work here has been accomplished, you
will find me very much at your serv-
ice"
He bowed gravely
Il am exceedingly glad we under
stand each other" he said. May /
ask the size of your commando"
Sergeant" ] questioned, whom
have we lost?"
Nelson o kilt, / drinks; der kid
is not here yet. und Sands voH wound
ed lad"
Very wen; then, Major Brennan. /
tender you sixteen men fit for duty,
besides myself. You are doubtless
acquainted with the house, and can
assign as to positions where our serv-
Ices viii prove Of greatest value"
He had completely recovered mis-
s~elf-control by this time, and spoke
now with the terse sentences Of a
tried soldier
Il thank you. Captain Wayne, and
VIII 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 s~ergeant's name3"
"Hbers, an experienced German sol
der"
y should have suspected his ma
tionallty, Let him have command Of
four more. and cover the west win
doWs. shall defend the front myself,
as ! have been doing.
Very well." / answered shortly. fos
his eyes had remained fixed upon me
an the time be was talking. Take
the positions assigned you. lads, and
do not permit a man from without to
put foot on the veranda. II they once
succeed ia getting under cover Of the
porch roof, they win give us plenty Of
trouble"
The position for defence assigned
to my care took me into the dining
room Of the manslon--a spacious. Az
most square apartment. containing
three large windOwa reaching nearly