Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-02-28

| men! eaton, II you have betrayed
us. by God, l will shoot you dead"
There is no betrayal" returned the
Lieutenant. coolly. These men are
friends"
"Friends?" he laughed cynicaHy.
Friends? in that uniform, and you
attired in a Rebel cavalry jacket?
Friends? that fellow over there?" and
he pointed derisively at ME with his
pistol barrel. Damn you, but | be-
lieVe you are all pack of lying
thieves!"
Cations 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
iiberate. you are my superior officer,
but you go 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, 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 we'll the
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, ig-
nCring his efforts TO silence me, you
must listen to reason whether you
wish to do so or not. Ny troopers
are ali around you; have two men to
your Que in this house, and can en-
force ny win il necess airy. Now marx
what | say-we are not here in anger
or in war. hut 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; it rests with you to say wheth-
or we shall be comrades in arms on
this occasion, or whether | shall as
sumo command by the power of force
which ] chance to control"
He seemed utterly unable to grasp
my fuli meaning, to comprehend the
situation
You mean, you would fight with
US? under nv commando" he asked in
credulously
q 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" be
stammered. at length, II 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.
| am not willing to waive my rights
in this"
There is no occasion fer your doing
so, 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 find me very much at your serv-
ice"
He bowed grayely.
4 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, | dinks der Kid
Is not here yet. ind 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
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, an experienced German sol
der"
Il should have suspected his pa
tionality. Let him have command of
four more, and cover the west win
Gows. l shall defend the front myself
as have been doing"
Very we'll" answered shortly, for
his eyes had remained fixed upon me
all the time he was talking. Take
the positions assigned you, lads, and
do not permit man from without to
put foot on the veranda. If they once
succeed in getting under cover of the
porch roof. they will give us plenty of
trouble"
The position for defence assigned
to my care took me into the dining
room of the mansion-a spacious, al
most square apartment. containing
three large windows reaching nearly
to the floor. The outside blinds had
been closed, but the glass in the panes