The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-08-21

The Heavy Recoil steadied Him.
from the house. They were obviously
waiting for night to cover their real
approach. Kynaston dreaded what
the night would bring, for there was
no way to prevent the Mexicans from
getting to close range under cover Of
the darkness. Then, when the be-
siegers were within striking distance,
it would be difficult indeed for the de-
tenders to reply to the overwhelming
intensity of the fire that would be
opened upon the house so soon as day
light should come.
While Kynaston was cudgeling his
brains to find some solution to the
problem he saw old Wilkes pottering
about the house, carefully gathering
up all the empty tin cans. These the
old man strung on a piece of rawhide
that had been brought to the house to
be made into a lariat. His curiosity
thoroughly aroused, Kynaston asked:
What are you doing with that,
Mr.. Wilkes?"
Cant git no mule-bells," said the
old man sententiously; they're all in
the stables. So I'm amin to string
all these cans on piece of rope an
hang EN- across the front an back
roads after dark. Anybody stumblin'
against 'em IL rattle EN-. an that IL
give US warnin'"
That's what I've been trying to
think Of! Now, IL we only had some
water"
There was no water; and the whole
garrison knew it. For hours the de-
tenders, sticking close to the loop
holes, knew thirst-grimy, dry-eyed
thirst that froze the smile on the lips
and cracked the corners of the mouth.
A shot from the corral smacked
against the rear wall of the house.
lnstinctively the man behind the door
post took cover A moment after the
shot was fired man came forward
from the corral, displaying a dirty
handkerchief on the end Of stick.
Mr.. Wilkes spoke excitedly:
DOh JOu w any OOuy tudt
goes out here now amt got no sense.
They'll get you into the open and
shoot you down. Don't pay no atten-
tion to 'em!"
You must recognize it," said KY
naston. Come on, Upton, we'll see
what they want.
But little time was given. There
came a crack from the right, and a
bullet whizzed uncomfortably close to
Kynastons shoulder, landing with a
vicious whit in the mass of clay chink.
ing that formed the chimney. Down
came the half-baked stun with rattle.
Mr.. Wilkes. thrusting his rifle
through a crack between two of the
logs, fired two shots in rapid success
sion.
You'll walk home, consarn you, II
you go at ALL" he growled.
Kynaston saw two of their horses
down in the dust of the corral A
storm of curses came from the edge
of the clearing.
See that you two keep under
cover" The old man grinned a vel
low-toothed grin over his shoulder at
the defenders.
Darkness fell over the little valley.
With the coming of the night the fears
of the little garrison increased.
Just as like as not they'll try to
sneak up and set fire 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 a
Mexican composed one; Kynaston. No
Ian, and Wilson the other. II was
pitch-black; the hours passed Ike
years. The night was so still. and the
stiffness so nerve-racking, that every
crackle in the brush, every call of a
night bird. every gurgle of the creek
brought the defenders to their loon.
holes in anticipation Of an attack. But
the night passed without alarm,
though 1t was not until dim daylight
showed the column of smoke from the
besiegers' camp fire that the defense
relaxed its vigilance.
Il wish | 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 1t. Give me the bucket"
Before anyone could stop him he
he seized. bucket and dashed into
the stable. A moment later they saw
him nat upon his pony, carrying his
rife low and to the right, galloping
down the trail to the crerk bottom.
(Continued on Pare Savanl