Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-06-12

iron bar swept clear space az
crashed remorselessly into them. Tbs
next instant Lowrie and ! we're seem
ingly alone and fronting each other.
A Wild cat enraged by pain looks ne
he did when be leaped 10 meet me.
Hate, deadly. relentless, glared In his
eyes, and with a yell Of exultation he
swung up his long rifle and struck
sayagely at my head with the stock.
! caught Il partially on my barrel,
breaking rs full force, and even as II
descended upon my shoulder, jabbed
the muzzle hard into his leering face
With a snarl OF pain he dropped bis
gun and grappled with me, but as
HIS fingers closed about my throat
something swirled down through the
maze, and the maddened brute stag
gered back. his arms uplifted, his red
beard cloven In twain.
Now for Il. Waynel" shouted Bren'
nan. Back with you'll"
With a dive | went under the piano.
heard the sliding doors shut behind
us, and almost with the sound was
again upon my feet
ITO the stairs!" | painted. "Bren-
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, swirllng smoke fill-
ing that inner room almost to suffo-
cation, grasped the woman CHANGING
to be nearest me, without knowing
at that moment who she was. Al
ready the rife-butts we're splintering
the light wood behind US into slaves,
and hastily dragged my dazed com
panlon forward. The others we're In
advance, and we CROPPED our way like
blind persons out into the hall, BY
rare good fortune II was yet unoe-
cupied. and as we took the few hur-
ried steps toward the foot of the
stairs l found my arm was enclreling
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 mob, discover
ing our direction of escape. jammed
both doorways and surged forth howl
ing into the hall.
"Up!" cried, forcing her forward.
up with you; Quick!"
I paused a scant second to pluck q
saber from beside a dead soldier on
the floor, and then with a spring up
the intervening steps, faced about at
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 ths
rear" | answered, I'VE ought to hold
back the whole cowardly crew. so
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 al
the fair face | loved-my sweet lady
of the Notwithstanding indeed, Il
might prove the last on earth, and
knew her eyes were upon me. Then
stronger of heart than ever for the
coming struggle, l fronted that scene
below.
Through the rising haze of smoke
l looked down into angry faces, un
kempt boards, and branished weapons
The bafied rascals poured out upoI
us from both doors, crowding into th'
narrow space, cursing, threatening
thirsting for revenge. Yet they wer'
seemingly leaderless, and the bodies
among them paused at the foot of thu
stairs. They had already felt ou
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 fuI
nished a courage naturally lacking
and suddenly, giving vent to ferc
shout, they were hurled upward, seel
ing to crush us at whatever sacrifice
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 mat
dening. l even heard Brennan laugh
as he pierced huge rufflan throug
the shoulder and hurled him bacl
ward; but at that moment saw Graf
knock aside levelled gun and pres
his way to the front of the seethin
mass to assume control. His face wa
infamed, his eyes bloodshot; drink ha
changed him into very demon.
(To BE CoNTINUED)