Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-01-20

and have something 10 Go.
And gives yon another lighting
mani see. Queer duck that preach.
era bit OF knaye, to my notion. and
one OF the finest liars l have ever
heard: he'll bear watching. Ali our
friend the major has come to bis
senses-look yonder! They are NOV.
ing back out Of range"
"Ay. and concentrating q 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-fiiled car
fridge belt.
"The fight will begin In 'front.'"
whispered, unable to distinguish faces
| "and 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 met"
mot the faintest shadow. L.
wanted to thank you for the choice
you made"
"You mean my coming with YOU
You are glad did,"
Yes. very glad" / 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 wolfe,
reared out, startling in the stiffness
q shout of command-the sharp bari
OF carbines-then q grim. threatening
yelp of voices. One leap brought m,
| to the window, with gun barrel thrus
forward across the sill. The two blacl
shadows were breaking up in headioni
rush toward the door at the south
corner. saw figures, not faces, ,
cleaning of poised weapons, huddi,
of leaping bodies.
"Fire!" / reared, my voice risin,
above the hideous din. Give 1t t,
them!" and pulled trigger.
i | have no clear knowledge OF wha
followed--it was all so quickly owe
with; mere mad moment crowde,
with vague glimpses. vanishing an,
changing in the lurid light of til
guns. The whole interior of the churcl
blazed and echoed. the smoke chekin
us with its fumes. the noise stunnin
our ears. heard the chug of bullet
fiattening against the logs. smothere
oaths, the crash of an overtime
bench, a scream as shrill as won
ans, that made my heart leap, an
Harwood's voice calling out the sam
word again and again. But althoug
| heard oil this. hardly knew 1t. m
whole thought riyeted on those blac
figures in front Of me-those rockies
devils we had to kill or drive back
!. And we did it! From every vii
dow, from every hastily smashed pan
beside the door. we poured our fire..
the carbines splitting into the darl
their sharp barking incessant. Ba
rels grew hot, the smoke drove bac
choking into our faces. but we pulle
triggers, aiming as best We could
=. the monaghan. now changed to re
mist. They stopped; hung for M
ment motionless, the ground dotte
!. with the dead; then tried again. Their
was roar OF musketry. the crack
rifles; bullets chugged into the log
. and came crashing through the viii
dows Glass showered upon us. -
the man next me went over like log
J. someone struck me across the fac
with a bloody hand. and shot spill
tered the stock OF my gun. numbin
my arm to the shoulder. i grippe
), another weapon out OF the stinel
=. ing fingers of the man on the Zoo
.. firing again blindly into the smok
: cloud. For an instant | could sc
nothing but that white vapcr tinge
, | with red and yellow flame; then som
breath of air swept 1t aside. and tn
attackers were drifting back. runnin
end stumbling.
stop firing!" cried, they've ha
a enough. Pass the word to those me
) at the door"
Q The fight at the front held toEge
yet 1t was scarcely FIVE minutes VINE
i the last gun cracked, and a strane
silence took the place Of that hideou
. uproar. For an instant not even CT
I from the wounded broke the stillnes