The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-02-15
lodge under into the next con-

heard me With one fierce spring
struck their stunned line, and my
iron bar swept a clear space as II
crashed remorselessly into them. The
next instant Lowrie and were seem.
ingly alone and fronting each other.
A wild cat enraged by pain looks as
he did when he leaped to meet me.
Hate. deadly, relentless, glared in his
eyes, and with yell of exultation ne
swung up his long rife and struck
savagely at my head with. the stock.
caught 1t partially on my barrel,
! breaking it's 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 his
gun and grappled with me, hut IS
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
Nov for it, Wayne!" shouted Bren-
nan. Back with you'll"
With 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, swirling 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 rifle-butts were splintering
| the light wood behind us into slaves,
and l hastily dragged my dazed COM
! panion forward The others were In
advance and we CROPPED our way like
blind persons out into the hall BY
rare good fortune 1t was yet unoc-
cupied, and as we took the few hur-
ried steps toward the foot of the
stairs l found. my arm was encircling
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!" %
/ paused scant second to pluck
saber from beside dead soldier on
| the floor, and then with a spring up
the intervening steps, faced about at
Brennans side on the first landing
eve 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 the
| rear" ] answered, I'VE ought to hold
back the whole cowardly crew. SO
long as they refuse to fire."
1t was scene to abide long with
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-
Z, eyed. / caught one quick glance at
the fair face | loved-my sweet lady
of the North-thinking indeed 1t
might prove the last on earth and
knew her eyes were upon me. Then,
stronger OF heart than ever for the
coming struggle, fronted that scene
below.
Through the rising haze of smoke
/ looked down into angry faces. un-
kempt boards, and branished weapons.
The baffled rascals poured out upon
us. from both doors, crowding into the
narrow space, cursing, threatening,
thirsting for revenge. Yet they were
seemingly leaderless, and the boldest
among them paused at the foot of the
stairs. They had already felt our
arms, had tested our steel. and knew
| well that grim death awaited their
advance.
But they could not pause there long
the ever increasing rush Of those
behind pressed the earlier arrivals
steadily forward Grim necessity fur
nished q. courage naturally lacking.
and suddenly, giving vent to fierce
shout, they were hurled upward, seek
ing to crush us at whatever sacrifice,
by sheer force of numbers. We met
them with the point, in the good old
u Roman way, thrusting home remorse-
lessly, fighting with silent contempt
for them which must have been mad.
dening. even heard Brennan laugh,
as he pierced huge rufian through
the shoulder and hurled him back
ward but at that moment saw Craig
knock aside levelled gun and press
his way to the front Of the seething
mass to assume control. His face was
inflamed, his eyes bloodshot; drink had
changed him into very demon.
CTO BE CONTINUED.)