Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1916-05-19

from the vantage-point OF their hill
saw In far hollow group Of rider
less horses, with one or two dismount
ed men guarding them.
There's their herd. Look. Nolan!
Do you sec their line?"
Before Nolan could speak the long
crack and rattle of rifle fire broke out
from the line Of giant cottonwood
trees that marked the bottom ct the
now dry watercourse.
The bullets whined over the house;
some of them kicked up spurts OF dust
from the adobe walls. An answering
shot from the house told that the dc
tenders were wide awake. Kynaston
saw the shot take ground on the slope
below him.
At once awake to the necessity OF
finding some way Of getting to the
house undiscovered Kynaston scanned
the ground In his front carefully.
The hillside where he lay was cut
up by many acequias, or little bitches,
made by the rains of past years. These
little bitches ran straight down the
slope toward the house. Where these
ran out into the burned alfalfa patches
stood the cottage, and beyond this
again the corrals and the stables.
Still farther to the south, beyond
the lines Of the adobe walls, the
ground sloped more gently to a little
stream bed bordered with cotton.
woods, along which the attacking
party had taken up its position
HIN. It's good thing for US that
the house is between us and harm.
We will try to work Our way down
that acequ!a to our left. Come on.
Nolan!"
SO. belly down. AZ coyotes crawl on
their game, the two Americans very
slowly began their advance on the be-
leaguered house.
One, two, three hundred yards they
crept down the hillside. Presently,
when they reached point where the
acequia opened out into the grass
land, Kynaston would go no further.
We've got TO stay here till we can
attract their attention" he explained.
III We go any farther we'll be shot
at. While | don't particularly mind
being shot at by greaser don't covet
havin old Upton line his sights on me.
Raise up bit, Nolan, and stick your
hat up on the end of your rifle so they
can see it,"
The hat. thus showing above the
edge Of the ditch. was presently seen
by the defenders. A shout from the
rear wall Of the cottage brought old
Mr.. Upton to the massive door, which
he threw open. Kynaston and Nolan
saw him standing for moment with
pair Of field glasses at his eyes.
scanning them curiously.
Presently. treasured, he waved his
hand. Still belly down among the red
dust and the empty cans that for
years had been thrown there from the
house, the two soldiers crept painfully
down through the chicken yard, past
the pony corral, and SO up into the
back yard OF the house itself.
Mr.. Upton shook hands warmly with
the youngster,
Where re your men. Kynaston?
Where re your men? You never
came here by yourself?"
whats the trouble" asked Ky.
naston. I'VE heard the firing and
saw the flames; what was it?'
Hay corrals. Two hundred tons
of new hay that those devils burned
up for me. They sent word that II
didn't pay them ten thousand dollars
for what they call their war chest
they'd burn the place"
who are they?"
Rebels, Of course. Some OF Villas
men. You never can tell who they
are. They'd been down there since
before daylight. What re you going
to do? Where re your mem"
Five miles back. Left em on the
last ridge with orders not to come up
unless signal for EN-. dare not
start anything on this side of the line.
you know. You can pull out here by
the same way that we got here and
refugee across the line, to my men,"
And leave all I've got In the
world! No, thanks. But | should like
to get my daughter and Mrs. Fame
out II we can. Can you get them
acros3!"
Sure thing. Come on"
Come into the house and III Ret
them started to pack up so you can
get right back"
kynaston stood not upon the order
OF his going, but went at once, for
the memory of the pretty Miss Upton
was more than enough to send the
blood flowing faster through his veins.
Dorothy met him In the great hall.
It was filed with smoke from the
lower line Of loopholes, where two Of
the employees of the mine we're firing
rapidly at the attacking party below
them. The smoke sucked back
through the. hall as Mr.. Upton opened
the door.
I'm more than glad to see you
again." cried Dorothy, as she gave
him her both hands. How did you
get here and-why?"
ITO get you out" he said quickly.
But you must come at once. We
can't delay moment. At any minute
they may work around to flank you
on the hillside. Upton. and II they do
there will be no chance of anyone
getting away from the house"
Mrs. Fame, who had Joined the
group, was listening white-faced.
You girls, get your things at once"
ordered Upton. "Kynaston is right.