The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-10-16

slight opening. "All Mexican except
two-they look American. Most Oh
them are armed. All! Wait! the
fellows have searched the cells ana
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 swift
glance about the apartment. All hesi-
fancy, doubt, had left him now tnat
the supreme test had come. He was
again capable Of thinking clearly ana
acting.
Miss Donovan" he burst out, I'VE
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 better? she asked.
1.-The back room it is dark, with no
windows, and there are strips nailed
| between the logs. We can force tnat
| heavy wooden bed across the door ana
| hide behind it. We ought to hold theih
| there as long as our cartridges last
| unless they set the cabin atire. Good
God. They have begun already.
| Three more blows like that and the
| door goes down. Come; it's our only
| chance"
It was the work of a moment; II had
to be. The inner room was so dark
| they had to feel their way ABOUT
bIindlv. vet those splintering crashes
on the outer door, intersperSed by the
shouts OF the men, spurred Ooth To
hurried effort Nor was there mucn 10
be done. The heavy bed was thrown
upon its side and hauled and pushed
forward until it rested against the door
lambs. 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 tired
once through the jagged opening ana
an exultant yell followed from with
out.
mo firingr the voice was Mendez'
rising sharply above the other SOUNDS.
ST 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
/. o,hor ono Here. Ave of you swing
n her!"
With a crash the remaining wood
gave way the end Of the log, used as
), battering ram, projecting Into the
room. Over the shattered door, now
held only by one bent hinge a hal1-
dozen forms swarmed inward. the
quick rush blocking their passage
Cavendish pulled trigger the deep
:. boom of his shotgun echoed Instant!
= by the sharper report OF the girls re-
volver. She fired twice before the
swjrling smoke obstructed the vie"
conscious only that one man nae
leaped. straight into the air and an
other had sprawled forward on hano'
:. and knees. Cavendish pushed nome
/, fresh cartridge and the smoke clout
!. lifted just enough to permit tieln U
- perceive the farther doorway. A Mex
- lean lay curled up in the center OF IN
= floor his gun dozen feet away; an
= other hung dangling across an over
turned stool, but the opening was va
can't Just outside fellow, WOUNDED
was dragging himself out OF range. :.
70 aGreat Scott" exclaimed Cavendisf
- excitedly. Every shot counted. Here
;" load I'D quick. They'll try the windo'
-, next. Get down"
rh The warning was not an instant 10
soon, the hasty vOlley largely thu'
nd ding harmlessly into the thick ma
10 tress, although bullet or two san
mast and found billets in the logs b.
IN hind. Cavendish returned the mr.
shooting blindly into the smoke, 81
the girl only lifted her head, starin
- ,ntently into the smother, until Il
-, cloud floated away through the doc
al The attackers had again vanished,
ra semblance of them. except those tv
motionless bodies.
"Iooks as though they had enout
of It," he said grimly. land have q
cided to starve us out"
M "Oh, do you think so? l heard
Re- noise them"
&c He heard it also. his glance retur
,ht ing instantly to the front, his for
stiffening into preparation. For m
ment neither could determine t
,e,f meaning of the sounds. Then he cock
his gun, the sharp click echoing almc
,oa loudly in the stiffness.
,,re Trying the window this time
an. murmured. "Do you hear that?
ready"
,,.e The two knelt motionless, peeri
~ over the edge Of the bed into the d
10 twilight seeing nothing. each with
ION ger on trigger-tense. expectant. En-
g a without warning. the flying figure o.
4, man leaped across the doorway II
the security Of the opposite wall.
u,h was done so quickly neither fired,
- Cayendish licked his parched lips "
~. | a dry tongue.