Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-02-13
CHAPTER XI.
In the Cottage.

ders down, and the full force of his
| plunge.
The door gave, snapped A second
| drive sent it inward, and Tom was
| flung into the narrow hall and against
| the newell post.
The force of the fall left him mo-
mentarily stunned, and then he was on
his feet to see little, old woman,
lamp in hand, peering out of door at
the far end of the hall.
What in the name of the saints
| above"
But that was all Tom caught of the
womans startled exclamation. He
was on his feet and going up the stairs
| three steps at time.
He landed in the upper hall, shot
| look about-there was just one oil
lamp lighting the narrow space-and
started pell-mell toward the front of
| the house.
Another flight of stairs went on up
toward the attic and Tom swung for
| it with rush.
door at the foot flew open and man
sprang forth. The little, old Irish
| woman had already sent up an un-
earthly shrek and her shrill voice
| arose in wild alarm.
| The fellow who had sprung into the
| hall made a dive for Kingsbury,
missed his leg and came after him.
Io1f fta cf.,tr tc hl md
went out again, caught Toms foot,
and down they both went, one on top
of the other to the foot of the stairs.
Tom was the first up. He struck
out as the fellow struggled TO his
knees and tried to trip him again, and
then, thinking only of the man who
had fired, he sprang for the stairs
once more.
Halfway up, and it was dark ahead,
a blurred object loomed into view.
Next second Kingsbury braced him.
self for the rush of the man coming
down upon him.
They met and swayad for a second.
Tom was forced to threw out his hand
to grasp the stair rail and save him
self from being carried down the steep
stairs.
In that second Kingsbury's face was
close to the scowling, angry features
Of his adversary. The man uttered an
oath and tried to get his hand free
Tom let SO his hold. slipped down a
step, and struck at the hand which
| came up.
The revCi"er went gathering to the
stairs as the fellow uttered yell OF
pain.
you d cur and he kicked
out savagely.
Tom ducked to avoid the blow, felt
his logs seized. anil next second was
dragged, face downward. 10 the bot.
tom of the stairs.
He had hazy glimpse of the man
who had attempted 10 fire leaping
over him, and then he was up and
headed for the stairs.
He seized up The revolver as he
cleared the flight. turned sharply at
the top and swung through an open
door at the very head of The stairs.
Straight before him was dormer.
window. lie glanced Out. down into
the vacant lot. and saw the lighted
window below.
The curtain was down. no shadow
marked the occupants OF the room.
sound at his back brought him
face about and he threw mp the pistol
Now" he snapped. you back
out and down those stairs!"
The man who faced him hesitated a
second and, with growl, whaelcd
about.
| SLOWLY, No cuiting for it, or any
thing like that" ordered Tom.
The man shot an ugly look over his
shoulder and went into the low-&tud
dcd hall anl down the stairs.
AT the bottom Mrs. Carey stood
ligh' in haGd. She watched Tie two
men cone down. her httle eyes SET
uI'on kingSbuiy's face in angry CUES
ton
| what are ye after doing in this
house?" she snddonly broke forth.
"Stopl" commanded Kingsbury
"Gack up against the wall and stand
STILL" AS the man oheyed he turned
to the woman. Did you hear shot
1red?" he questioned.
~ did that. and next second YOU
was after smashing in me door ant
racn' through the house. What are
ye afthcr. and what co ye mean by
coming into u respectable worlan'i
house like ye did?"
"Who was the man who fired tha
shot?" Tom demaAded, glancint
from the worian's angry face 10 thu
scowiing man ia the corner.
ITO be Continue