Middletown transcript., 1912-01-20

with me-
The lower haIl, having no window
in 1t, was the only safe place in tn,
building, and here a light had beef
kept burning. The door which, as
judged, must lead into the back par
lor, was closed, and fastened upol
the inside. At least it refused to yielC
to my hand when tried Another il
front stood very slightly ajar.
Report to Brennan" whispered
into Jed's ear, 'and forget to mention
I am with you. l desire to investigate
matters for myself few moments"
He nodded to intimate that he un
derstood, and then we crept, one at a
time, into the front apartment, hug
ging the floor closely to keep beneath
the range of the bullets which swept
every now and then through the
broken windows, and chugged into the
wall behind US. l was the last to
wriggle in through the narrow open
ing, and rolling instantly out of the
q. tiny bar of light, I lay silent for a
moment, endeavoring to get my bear
ings. I was determined upon Just one
| ,thing-to obtain speech with the WON.
en-, learn, If possible, their exact sit
uation, and, if l found it necessary,
insist upon their better protection. An
insane jealousy of me should not con.
tinue to expose them to unnecessary
peril.
Brennan was directly across the
room from where lay. l could hear
his voice Issuing low, stern orders.
IF you'll only keep down you're
safe enough" he said gruf1y. There
hasn't shot come within q foot OF
the sill. The ground slopes out yon-
der, and those fellows can't fire low.
Put the new men at the central win
dow, and let ten shoot at every flash
they see. Bradley will pass back their
empty guns"
| wondered how long our supply Of
ammunition would hold out with such
q fusillade kept up, but ventured upon
no protest, for / was already cropping
my way through the darkness along
the inner wall. Furniture lay over
turned in every direction, and / ex-
perenced considerable difficulty in
making progress through the debris
without attracting attention. A great
square piano stood directly across the
entrance to the back parlor, left by
the drawing nearly together of the
sliding doors. waited until Bradley
had craWled through with an arm
full Of loaded guns, and then entered
also, creeping silently between the
piano legs. AS did so a bullet struck
the case above, and the whole instru,
ment trembled to the impact, giving
forth strange moan, as if in pain
Some one was groaning in the cor
ner at my left, and supposing the
wounded to be lying there, 1 turned
more toward the right, keeping as
close as possible to the wall, hopeful
I might come in contact with one of
the women. do not honestly know
why did this-really had no excuse,
except my natural distrust Of Brennan,
coupled with an eager desire to be Of |
service to the woman of my heart. |
There was little to guide me in the |
search, as the fame of the discharging |
rifles did not penetrate here. Once l |
heard the rustic of a skirt, while a /
faint sound of whispering reached me
from the rear of the room. Then my
hand, cropping blindly along the wall,
touched the lower fold of dress. 1t
felt like coarse calico to my fingers.
Mrs. Bungay," 1 whispered eau
tiously, is this you?"
The woman started at sound of my
voice, but replied in the same low
tone: "Thet's my name; who mought
ye be?"
"A friend of yours, and of your hus-
band" l answered, for 1 doubted If
she would recall my name. did you
know Jed was here?"
MY man? Hiven be praised! But
I'll knock ther head off ther little devil
If ever I git my hand on him, 1 will
thet. Whar's ther little imp bin all
ther time?"
Hunting for you, and crying his
eyes out" l answered, smiling to my
self in the darkness. Where is Mrs.
"Jist beyond me, thar in ther cor
ner."
AS she spoke bullet whizzed past
Us, having missed the obstruction of
the piano. could feel the wind
stirred by its passage, while its pc
culiar hum told me it was a Mimic
ball.
You are too far out from the wall"
protested. you are in range"
Cant help 1t if 1 be. I'm yere ter
AXE ther guns from ther sojer, an
pass 'em back"
crept slowly along beyond her,
Keeping close to the wall, but had
progressed hardly more than a couple !
II yards, when I felt a hand lightly ,
ouch me. :
II recognize your voice." said a soft
Whisper, "and am so glad you ane
iere" !
Who can guess the motives that in \
pire woman? This was my well (
ONE, where 1 had anticipated cold
ess and repellant pride.
| -