Williams news., 1916-08-10


 l. The Heavy RecoiI- 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- lenders 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 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, MT. Wilkes?"
 Cant git no mule-bells,' said the old man sententiously; they're all in the stables. So I'm aimin' to string all these cans on a piece of rope an hang 'em across the front an back roads after dark. Anybody stumblin' against 'em Il rattle 'em, an that II give us warnin'."
 That's what I've been trying to think of! Now, if we only had some water" rf
 There was no water; and the whole garrison knew it. For hours the de- lenders, 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. Instinctively the man behind the; door, post took cover. A moment after the shot was fired a man came forward from the corral, displaying. a dirty handkerchief on the end of a stick.
 MT. Wilkes spoke excitedly:
 Don't you do it! Anybody that goes out here now ain't 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 uncomfortabiy close to Kynaston's shoulder, landing with a vicious whit in the mass of clay chink- ing that formed the chimney. Down came the half-baked stuff with a rattle.
 MT. Wilkes, thrusting his rifle through crack between two of the logs, fired two shots in rapid success sion.
 You'll walk home, consarn you, if 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 yell 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 MT. Wilkes. Its as dry as punk. We'd better keep men watching all | night"
 So the party was divided into two reliefs: MT. Wilkes, Upton, and a Mexican composed one; Kynaston, No- Ian, and Wilson the other. It was pitch black; the hours passed like years. The night was so still, and the stiffness so nerve-facking, that every crackle in the brush, every call of a night bird, every gurgle of the creek, brought the defenders to their Inop- holes in anticipation of an attack. But the night passed without alarm, though it was not until dim daylight showed the column of smoke from the besiegers' camp fire that the defense relaxed it's vigilance.
 II wish l 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 it. Give me the bucket
 Before anyone could stop him he he seized bucket and dashed into the stable. A moment later they saw him fiat upon his pony, carrying his rifle 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!o A storm of, bullets from the defense covered his reckless l