Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-04-04


lieye you are all a pack of lying
~thievesl"
Caton's face burned. He took one
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 you go beyond all privileges of
rank in those words. 1 say these men
are friends; they have sunk the issues
of wal in order that they may answer
the call of humanity. If you dare i'm
peach my motives any further, l shall
hurl back the cowardly insult in your
face. l 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" l said firmly, ig-
noring his efforts to silence me, you
must listen to reason whether you
wish to do so or not. My troopers
are all around you; l have two men to
your one in this house, and can en-
force my will If necessary. Now mark
what | say-we are not here in anger
or In war, but to help you in the pro
lection 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 rufians without.
You can use us or not. just as you
please; 1t rests with you to say wheth-
err we shall be comrades In arms on
this occasion, or whether l shall as
sumo command by the power Of force
which | 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.
II offer my services under your or
ders," l replied clearly, land these
men in gray will obey mine"
l 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 ac-
cept your offer. Il 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" | answered coldly, for | con-
sidered the reference at that moment
in extremely Ill taste. when our
work here has been accomplished, you
will find me very much at your serv-
ice" g,
He bowed gravely.
81 am exceedingly glad we under
stand each other" he said. May
ask the size of your commando"
Sergeant" l questioned, whom
have we lost?"
Nelson vos kilt, | drinks; der Kid
is not here yet, und Sands vos wound,
ed bad"
Very we'll; then, Major Brennan. |
tender you sixteen men fit 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
s~elf-control by this time, and spoke
now with the terse sentences of a
tried soldier.
II 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 Cap
tain, what is your sergeant's name?"
"Ebers, an experienced German sol
der"
Il should have suspected his ma
tionality. Let him have command O.
four more, and cover the west win
dows, l shall defend the front myself
as I have been doing"
Very WE'LL" I answered shortly, TO,
his eyes had remained fixed upon mt
all the time he was talking. Talk
the positions assigned you, lads, ant
do not permit a mar from without t.
put foot on the veranda. If they ono
succeed in getting under coyer of tn,
porch roof, they will give us plenty o
trouble"
! The position for defence assignee
' to my care took me into the dining
I room of the mansion--a spacious, a
most square apartment, containin
D three large windows reaching nearl
t to the floor. The outside blinds ha
been closed, but the glass in the pane
was mostly broken, and there wer
!, other evidences that the firing ha
been both heavy and continuous.
found two soldiers of Brennan's part
within, both lying upon the floor. an
d peering cautiously through the ape
g lures Of the blinds. They glanced u
az us with undfsguised amazemen
d It's all right, lads" | said hearth.
Never mind our colors tonight; W
9 are all fighting the same way"
it / had taken with me Bungay, t
!. fgether with three of my troopers, an
after placing them as advantageous
n as possible. | stretched myself out c
Is the floor, and applying eye to
d convenient opening took careful SD
It yey Of the situation without. Tn
Q present cessation Of activity was,
Is felt convinced, only temporary. d
not expect, from all | could now Sc