Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-03-30

spoke loud enough to be heard clear.
ly. This is going to be fight. Cap.
tain Fox-a real fight"
"A fight! What, you alone?"
'Oh. no; there are men enough in
this church to make it quite interest.
ing. That is why l warn you've are
soldiers, not murderers."
What, you think that bluff will
work."
Captain Fox" broke in Harwood
bluntly, his voice nervously sharp, 81
command Troop C. Third Kentucky
cavalry. This is no bluff, sir. give
you fifteen minutes to withdraw your
men; at the expiration of that time
we open fire."
The surprise, the shock of this unex
pected development and threat was
plainly evident. heard Fox step back
from the door and speak earnestly to
someone; Moran swore savagely.
What force have you" he roared
the insane question causing Harwood
to laugh outright.
Come and find out" he answered
mockingly. Better go back to the
other end now, sergeant" he added In
lower voice, and gripped my hand
"The ball is about to open. Where is
my lady cousin?"
81 put her on guard over the pris
oner She will be out of range there
and have something to do"
And gives you another fighting
mani see. Queer duck, that preach
era bit of knave, to my notion, and
one of the finest liars l have ever
heard; he'll bear watching. All! oui
friend the major has come to his
senses-look yonder! They are NOV
ing back out of range"
"Ay! and concentrating a heavier
body of men this way"
"Of course; the first assault will be
| from the front. Tell Wharton to
spare me two or three more men, and
send couple from your end. They may
make a rush from all directions, but
the real fight will be here; they are
going to try us out, that is certain
/ walked back to my station. The
line of men threatening this end OF
the building had been drawn aside
out of direct rife range, and seemed
to be grouped opposite each corner
and were so closely punched together
as to make any estimate of their mum
bers impossible. They were only
shapeless shadows, with moonlight
cleaning from their weapons, and an
occasional voice breaking the ominous
silence. There remained nothing to
do but await their action, ready for
whatever might occur. passed along
the wall from man to man, assuring
| myself each was at his station, with
loaded weapon. and well-filled car
fridge belt.
"The fight will begin in 'front.'"
whispered, unable to distinguish faces,
land no firing here until / give the
word"
In the darker corner where the pris-
oner sat motionless against the log
wall, my eyes could distinguish moth
ing.
"Noreen."
"Yes," and she stood up. Couldn't
you see me?"
mot the faintest shadow. IL
wanted to thank you for the choice
you made"
you mean my coming with you
You are glad | did,"
YES, very glad" I said earnestly,
for you are just as safe here, and
and | would rather have you near me.
This may prove desperate struggle;
we are terribly outnumbered-and-
and, well, you know, you-you trusted
yourself to me-you are under my pro.
lection"
There was no answer; perhaps
had said too much. Suddenly,a volley
roared out, startling in the Stiffness
a shout of command-the sharp bark
of carbines-then a grim, threatening
yelp of voices. One leap brought me
to the window, with gun barrel thrust
forward across the sill. The two black
shadows were breaking up in headlong
rush toward the door at the south
corner. / saw figures, not faces, a
cleaning Of poised weapons, huddle
of leaping bodies.
"Fire!" / roared, my voice rising
above the hideous din. Give 1t to
them!" and pulled trigger.
have no clear knowledge of what
followed-it was all so quickly over
with; q mere mad moment crowded
with vague glimpses, vanishing and
changing in the lurid light OF the
| guns. The whole interior of the church
blazed and echoed, the smoke choking
us with its fumes, the noise stunning
our ears. heard the chug of bullets
fiattening against the logs, smothered
oaths, the crash of an overturned
bench, scream as shrill as a WON.
ans, that made my heart leap, and
Harwood's voice calling out the same
word again and again. But although
heard all this, hardly knew 1t, my
whole thought riveted on those black
figures in front Of me-those reckless
devils we had to kill or drive back.
And we did 1t! From every win,
dow, from every hastily smashed pane
beside the door, we poured our fire
the carbines splitting into the dark
their sharp barking incessant. Bar.
rels grew hot, the smoke drove back
choking into our faces, but we pulled
triggers, aiming as best we could in
the monaghan, now changed to a red
! mist. They stopped; hung for a mo.