The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-07-06

With the coming OF the night the fears
of the little garrison increased.
Just as like as not they'll try Ia
sneak up and set hre TO the house"
said Mr.. Wilkes. ITS as dry as punk.
We'd better keep men watching all
night"
SO the party was divided into two
reliefs: Mr.. Wilkes, Upton, and q
Mexican composed one: Kynaston, No.
Ian, and Wilson the other. II was
pitch.black; the hours passed like
years. The night was 30 still, and the
stiffness 30 nerve-racking. that every
crackle In the brush, every call OF a
night bird, every gurgle OF the creek.
brought the defenders 10 their loop
holes in anticipation OF IN attack. but
the night passed without alarm,
though II was not until dim daylight
showed the column OF smoke from the
besiegers' camp fro that the defense
relaxed It's vigilance.
II wish I dared run out to that
creek bed for a bucket OF water"
growled Kynaston. salt bacon isn't
any too appetizing. There are ponies
In the stables behind; I'm going to
try II. Give me the bucket"
Before anyone could stop him he
he seized a bucket and dashed into
the stable. A moment later they saw
him fiat upon his pony, carrying his
rife low and TO the right. ~galloping
down the trail to the creek bottom,
where the water gurgled halfway be.
tween the two contending parties.
a hundred yards! a shot. Two
hundred yards, A storm OF bullets
from the defense covered his reckless
venture. Three hundred yards! His
pony, stumbling and slipping down the
steep banks, plowed it's nos along
twelve feet OF earth-and the young
American found himself lying face
down behind a mesquit bush on the
banks o; the stream. his hand holding
the bucket over the edge. trying to
haul back forty pounds OF dirty water.
A bullet wheeped past his ear. The
scream OF a horse In pain made him
turn. splitting half the contents OF his
bucket. His pony was down, shot
through the barrel. He wormed his
way back TO the shelter OF its body,
carrying with him the half.bucket OF
dirty water that meant life TO the dc.
tenders OF the house.
Halfway to the house he got! Then
the fusillade from the attackers made
him throw himself TO the ground In q
wild attempt TO seek cover The an
, swering roar from the loopholes OF the
house atop the slope behind him told
him the grateful news that the gar.
rison had seen hiJ predlcament.
Time after time a shot wheeped
close TO his head. Time after time he
carefully pulled that half.nllcd bucket
with It's precious contents closer to
him 80 that II should not be spilled
Time after time he sank closer and
still more close into the little hollow
that sheltered him, bidlng his oppor
tunity for a final scramble uphill 10
the safety OF the house.
From this vantage.point on the
slope, Kynaston could see one rebeI
after another attempt 10 take a posi-
ton from which he could be outfankod
and thus forced to run across the oper
space OF the unsheltered hillside.
Bullet after bullet made him hus
the ground closer and closer.
Presently he heard a shout from the
house that sent the red blood ~coursins
| again through his veins.
oh, Ky~naston!" II said. duck your
nut, youngster; duck your nut! You're
right in my line o. hre-I'm comm
down to you"
Down went Kynaston's head. He
dared not turn to look. for he knew
that no man living can turn without
o partially rising. Three Mexicans
y skulked acros the. road. taking cover
: In the thin fringe OF mesquit alons
the trail. The leader stopped Ions
enough to FIRE twice at Kynaston. Tn,
American rife spat out its answer. Al
d the same time Kynaston heard another
3 rife crack from higher up the hill
! Upton, prone in the dirt. vas cover
\ ing Kynaston's retreat.
!, Kynaston heard Upton's shot wheeI
u past him Just as his own finger pressed
the trigger. The man in the road be
o low him staggered. spun around twice
u and dropped upon his face.
He waiter no longer, but sprang e
. his feet. grippe6 the half.cmpty water
bucket with one hand. and trailing his
rifle with the other dashed up the mar
u row trail TO the house. where he wal
. received with hearty congratulations
"Of course, we needed IT badly.
d said Mrs. Fame as she took the buckle
from his hand. but not so badly al
that" She pointed to a thin line o
Q red that showed above his collar
Kynaston raised his hand to II ant
y laughed.
1T can't be anything. l pledg'
you my word l never knew | wa
touched oh, say"
He broke off suddenly as he looked
q at Dorothy Upton. for her eyes wer,
full Of telltale tears.
There they come again." growleC
wilkes, pointing down the hill.
n naoUn 90 wahaIa nod .ashara,