The Benson signal., 1916-08-19

Up NY uduy dCOQuldS, VI llIClS ulICuOo,
made by the rains of past years. These
little bitches ran straight down the
slope toward the house. Where these
ran out into the burned alfalfa patches
stood the cottage, and beyond this
again the corrals and the stables.
Still farther to the south, beyond
the lines of the adobe walls, the
ground sloped more gently to little
stream bed bordered with cotton
woods, along which the attacking
party had taken up it's position:
Him! It's good thing for us that
the house is between us and harm.
We will try to work our way down
that acequia to our left. Come on,
Nolan!"
So, belly down, as coyotes crawl on
their game, the two Americans very
slowly began their advance on the be-
leaguered house.
One, two, three hundred yards they
crept down the hillside. Presently,
when they reached a point where the
acequia opened out into the grass
land, Kynaston would go no further.
We've got to stay here till we can
attract their attention" he explained.
'If we go any farther we'll be shot
at. While I don't particularly mind
being shot at by greaser don't covet
havin' old Upton line his sights on me.
Raise up a bit, Nolan, and stick your
hat up on the end of your rife so they
can see it."
The hat, thus showing above the
edge of the ditch, was presently seen
by the defenders. A shout from the
rear wall of the cottage brought old
Mr.. Upton to the massive door, which
he threw open. Kynaston and Nolan
saw him standing for moment with
a pair Of field glasses at his eyes,
scanning them curiously.
Presently, reassured, he waved his
hand. Still belly down among the red
dust and the empty cans that for
years had been thrown there from the
house, the two soldiers crept painfully
down through the chicken yard, past
the pony corral, and so up into the
back yard of the house itself.
Mr.. Upton shook hands warmly with
the youngster.
Where re your men, Kynaston?
Where re your men? You never
came here by yourself?"
Whats the trouble?" asked KY
naston. "We heard the firing and
saw the flames; what was it,"
''Hay corrals. Two hundred tons
of new hay that those devils burned
up for me. They sent word that if l
didn't pay them ten thousand dollars
for what they call their war chest
they'd burn the place."
"Who are they?"
Rebels, of course. Some of Villas
men. You never can tell who they
are. They'd been down there since
before daylight. What re you going
to do? Where re your men,"
Five miles back Left 'em on the
last ridge with orders not to come up
unless I signal for 'em. l dare not
start anything on this side Of the line,
you know. You can pull out here by
the same way that we got here and
refugee across the line, to my men,"
And leave all I've got in the
world! No, thanks. But I should like
to get my daughter and Mrs. Fame
out if we can. Can you get them
across?"
"Sure thing. Come on"
"Come into the house and I'll get
them started to pack up so you can
get right back"
Kynaston stood not upon the order
Of his going, but went at once, for
the memory of the pretty Miss Upton
was more than enough to send the
blood flowing faster through his veins.
Dorothy met him in the great hall.
It was filed with smoke from the
lower line Of loopholes, where two of
the employees Of the mine were firing
rapidly at the attacking party below
them. The smoke sucked back
through the hall as Mr.. Upton opened
the door.
I'm more than glad to see you
again!" cried Dorothy, as she gave
him her both hands. How did you
get here and-why?"
ITO get you out" he said quickly.
"But you must come at once. We
can't delay moment. At any minute
they may work around to flank you
on the hillside, Upton, and if they do
there will be no chance of anyone
getting away from the house"
Mrs. Fame, who had joined the
group, was listening white-faced.
You girls, get your things at once"
ordered Upton. "Kynaston is right.
He cannot cross the line to help us
in force, and the only thing he can
do is to take the two of you off my
hands. Dorothy, Marion, go and get
your things. Go, say! shall stay
here until something turns up. do
not mean to have this place looted
without taking it out of the hides Of
the men who do it. Go, grille"