Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-10-21

twO-they look American. Most Of
them are armed. Ali Wait! The
fellows have searched the cells and
discovered Cateras. Do you hear that
yell? 1t will be a fight to a finish
now. Here come two men with log
that's their game, then; they mean
to smash in the door"
He Strengthened up, casting a swift
glance about the apartment. All hesi-
fancy, doubt, had left him now that
the supreme test had come. He was
again capable Of thinking clearly and
acting.
Miss Donovan" he burst out, 1--WE
can never hope to hold back those men
herein this room. We shall be in
bright light as soon as the door is
battered down and then, if they crush
in the window also, we shall surely be
attacked from two Sides"
What will be betterT she asked.
''The back room; 1t is dark, with no
windows, and there are strips nailed
between the logs. We can force that
heavy wooden bed across the door and
hide behind it. We ought to hold them
there as long as our cartridges last,
unless they set the cabin afire. Good
God They have begun already.
Three more blows like that and the
door goes down. Come; it's our only
chance"
1t was the work Of moment; 1t had
to be. The inner room was so dark
they had to feel their way about
blindly, yet those splintering crashes
on the outer door, interspersed by the
shouts of the men, spurred both to
hurried effort. Nor was there much to
be done. The heavy bed was thrown
upon it's side and hauled and pushed
forward until it rested against the door
jambs, the mattress and blankets so
caught and held as to form protection
against bullets. Breathless the two
sank to their knees in the darkness be-
hind, their eyes on the Frightening
daylight of the room beyond. Already
a hole had been stove through the up
per panel Of the door, the surround
ing wood splintered. Some one fred
once through the jagged opening and
an exultant yell followed from with
out.
mo firing" the voice was Mendez',
rising sharply above the other sounds.
II don't want the girl shot, you fools.
Take that other log around to the
window. They'll surrender fast
enough once we're inside. Now, an
other one. Here, five Of you swing
herp 70
With a crash the remaining wood
gave way, the end of the log, used as
a battering ram, projecting into the
room. Over the shattered door, now
held only by one bent hinge, a half
dozen forms swarmed inward, the
quick rush blocking their passage.
Cavendish pulled trigger, the deep
boom of his shotgun echoed instantly
by the sharper report of the girls re-
volver. She fired twice before the
swirling smoke INSTRUCTED the view,
conscious only that one man had
leaped straight into the air and an
other had sprawled forward on hands
and knees. Cavendish pushed home a
fresh cartridge and the smoke cloud
lifted just enough to permit them to
perceive the farther doorway. A Mex
lean lay curled up in the center of the
floor, his gun a dozen feet away; an
other hung dangling nPross an over
turned stool, but the opening was va
cant. Just outside fellow, wounded,
was dragging himself out of range.
"Great Scotti' exclaimed Cavendish,
excitedly. every shot counted. Here,
load up quick. They'll try the window
next. Get down."
The warning was not an instant too
soon, the hasty vciley largely thud-
ding harmlessly into the thick mat
tress, although a bullet or two sang
past and found billets in the logs be-
hind. Cavendish returned the fire.
shooting blindly into the smoke, but
the girl only lifted her head, staring
intently into the smother, until the
cloud floated away through the door.
The attackers had again vanished, all
semblance of them, except those two
motionless bodies.
Looks as though they had enough
Of it," he said grimly, ''and' have de-
cided to strive us out"
"Oh, do you think so? I heard a
noise then"
|. He heard it also, his glance return
ing instantly to the front, his form
stiffening into preparation. For mo-
ment neither could determine the
meaning of the sounds. Then he cooked
his gun, the sharp click echoing almost
loudly in the stiffness.
Crying the window this time" he
murmured. do you hear that? Be
ready"
The two knelt motionless, peerlng
over the edge of the bed into the dim
twilight, seeing nothing, each with fin.
ger on trigger-tense, expectant. Then
without warning, the flying figure of q
man leaped across the doorway into
the security Of the opposite wall. Il
was done so quickly neither fired, but
Cavendish licked his parched lips witt
| a dry fonpup