The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1916-11-24

y 1UMsskse hn4 ikffm over d kNNnsgAF n
gtlh aefRndefa
Darkness fell over the istgie valley
4 with ths coming az ne night the fears
OF the littlA sAsffs0a Increased.
-5ass q i:ke a. not they'll try d
\ sneak up and sst fire 10 the AoaAe,'
said itr. Wilkes. tits 81 dry AZ punk
We'd better keep men watching nj
night"
SO the party was divided hIto tRc
raiiefs: MIR. Wilkes. UPTON. and q
Mexican composed one: K,nastoA. No
Ian. and Wilson the other, It vras
pitch-black: the hours paiaed liks
years. The night was so still. and the
stiffness 20 nerveraeking. that every
crackle In the brush. every cali Of a
night bird. every gurgle Of the ereelt
brought the defendafH to their loop
holes In anticipation Of an attack But
the night passed without alarm.
though II was not until dim daylight
showed the column Of smoke from tho
besiegers' camp ere that the defense
relaxed Its vigilance.
y wish ! dared run ont 90 that
creek bed for q bucket OF water.
growied Kynagton. Salt bacon isn't
any too appetizing. There are ponies
In the stables behind; I'm going 70
try II. Give me the bucket"
Before anyone could stop him he
he seized 9 bucket and dashed into
the stable. A moment later they saw
him fat upon his pony. carrying his
rife low and 10 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 its nose along
twelve feet OF eRrth-and the young
American found himself lying face
down behind mesquit bush on the
banks OF the stream. his hand holding
the bucket over the edge, trying 10
haul back forty pounds or dirty water.
A bullet wheeped past his ear. The
scream OF 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 It's body.
carrying with him the half.bucket of
dirty water that meant life 10 the do
tenders OF the house.
Halfway to the house he got! Then
the fusillade from the attackers made
him throw himself 10 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.
Tison had seen his predicament
Time after time . shot vheeped
close to his head. Time after time he
carefully pulled that haifnlled bucket
with its precious contents closer 10
him 30 that II should not be spilled.
Time after time he sank closer and
still more close into the little hollow
that sheltered him. biding his oppor'
tunity for final scramble uphill to
the safety OF the house.
From this vantage-point on the
slope. Kynaston could see one rebel
after another attempt to take posi-
tlon from which he could be outfanked
and thus forced to run across the open
space Of the unsheltered hillside.
Bullet after bullet made him hug
the ground closer and closer.
Presently he heard shout from tha
house that sent the red blood coursing
again through his veins.
oh. Kynaston! II said. duck your
nut. youngster; duck your nut! You're
right in my line o. fire--I'm comm
down to you"
Down went Kynaston's head. He
dared not turn to look. for he knew
tina, no man living can turn without
partially rising. Three MeIicans
sknlked across the road. taking cover
In the thin fringe OF mesquit along
tho trail The leader stopped Long
enough TO Gre twice at Kynaston. The
American rife spat out Its answer. At
the same time Kynaston heard another
rife crack from higher up the hill.
Upton, prone In the dirt, was cover
ing kynaston's retreat
kynaston heard Upton's shot wheep
past him Just as his own finger pressed
the trigger. The man in the road be-
low him staggered spun around twice
and dropped upon his face.
He waiter no longer, but sprang to
his feet, gripped the halt-empty water
bucket with one hand. and trailing his
rife with the other dashed up the mar.
row trail 10 the house, where he was
received with hearty congratulations
''of course. we needed It badly"
said Mrs Fame as she took the bucket
from his hand. but not % badly ~
that" She pointed to Z thin line d
red that showed above his collar.
kynaston raised his hand to II and
laughed.
1T can't BE- anything I pledge
you my word / never knew I was
touched Oh. / Say"
He broke Oh suddenly a. he looked
Il Dorothy Upton. TOR her eyes vsrr
full of telitals tears.