Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-06-05

lieye you are all a pack Of lying
thieyesl"
Cations face burned He took one
step toward him, his hands cllnched,
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. | say these men
are friends; they have sunk the issues
Of war In order that they may answer
the call OF humanity. II 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 well 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-
norlng his efforts to silence me, you
must listen to reason whether you
wish to do so or not My troopers
are all around you; have two men to
your one in this house, and can en-
force my will II 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 ruffians without.
You can use us or not, just as you
please; 1t rests with you to say wheth-
er 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 full meaning, to comprehend the
situation.
You mean, you would fight with
US? under my commando" he asked in.
credulously.
81 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, II must ac-
cept your offer. II 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 for your doing
so, sir" l 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 gTavely.
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
self-control by this time, and spoke
now with the terse sentences of a
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"
81 should have suspected his ma
tionality. Let him have command OF
four more, and cover the west win
dows. | shall defend the front myself
as | have been doing"
Very we'll" answered shortly, fol
his eyes had remained fixed upon me
all the time he was talking Take
the positions assigned you, lads, anC
do not permit a man from without Il
put foot on the veranda. If they once
succeed IN getting under cover of thu
porch roof, they will give US plenty o
trouble"
The position for defence assigned
to my care took me into the dining
room of the Dansion-a spacious, al
most square apartment, containing
three large windows reaching nearl
to the floor. The outside blinds hat
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 Brennans part
within, both lying upon the floor, an
peering cautiously through the apel
lures Of the blinds They glanced u
at us with undisguised amazemen
IT'S all right, lads" said heartily
Never mind our colors tonight; W
are all fighting the same way"
had taken with ne Bungay, t.
gether with three of my troopers, an
after placing them as advantageous
/ as possible, stretched myself out o
the floor, and applying an eye to
/ convenient opening took careful su
t vey Of the situation without Tn
a Dresent cessation Of activity was.