The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-11-11

UcT
With q 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 fred twice before the
swirling smoke INSTRUCTED the view,
conscious only that n man q
leaped straight into the air and an
other had sprawled forward on hands
and knees. Cavendish pushed HON q
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 across an over
turned stool, but the opening was va
cant. Just outside a fellow, wounded,
was dragging himself out OF range.
Great Scott! !" exclaimed Cavendish,
e~xcitedly. 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 volley 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 foated 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 starve us out
"Oh, do you think so? l heard a
noise then"
He heard 1t also, his glance return
ing instantly to the front, his form
stiffening into preparation. For a mo-
ment neither could determine the
meaning of the sounds. Then he cooked
his gun the sharp click echoing almost
loudly In the stiffness.
Trying the window this time,' he
murmured. "Do you hear that? Be
ready"
The two knelt ~motionless, peering
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 a
man leaped across the doorway into
the security Of the opposite wall. 1t
was done so quickly neither fired, but
Cavendish licked his parched lips with
a dry tongue.
"Tll get the next one who tries that
trick" he muttered. ut will be easier
than partridge shooting"
A minute-two passed, every nerve
On edge; then a second flying form,
almost a blur in the gathering gloom,
shot across the narrow opening. The
shotgun spoke, and the wildly leaping
figure seemed to crumble to the floor
It's lON CT HAIL ltuu ItdClltu Slltlltl, pul
head and shoulders lay exposed, re-
v~ealing gray hair and. a white mus
tache. Cavendish sprang erect, all
caution forgotten.
ITS Mendez," he cried. II got the
arch-fiend of them"
A rifle cracked and he went plunging
back, his body striking the girl, and
crushing her to the floor beside him,
There was no cry, no groan Of agony,
yet he lay there motionless. She crept
across and bent over him, almost dumb
with fear.
"You-you are shotY' she made her.
self speak.
Eyes; they've got me-" the utterance
of the words a struggle. "It's here In
the chest; II don't know how bad
perhaps If you tear open my shirt
you-you might stop the blood"
She could see nothing, not even the
mans face, yet her fingers rent the
shirt asunder and searched for the
wound. 1t was not bleeding greatly
and she had no water, but not knowing
what else to do, she tore a strip from
her skirt and bound 1t hastily. he
never moved, or spoke, and she bent
her head closer. The wounded man
had lost consciousness.
Alone, in the dark, she crept on hel
knees to her place behind the barri'
cade. Her hand touched the empty
gun he had dropped, and she reloaded
1t slowly, only half comprehending its
mechanism. The revolver, every cham
Der filled, rested on the upturned edge
Of the bed; her lips were firmly
pressed together. Quietly she pushed
forward the barrel Of the shotgun, and
waited.
(To be C~ontinued)
Nv. S. S.