The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1920-11-26

ground lifted itself partly. and the
fellow must have called to the others,
although no sound Of voice attained
the summit Of the cliff, for the whole
gang rushed In that direction. and
clustered about. gesticulating excit-
eddy.
An occasional Spanish oath exploded
from the mass with sufficient vehe-
mence to reach the strained ears
above, and the watchers were able to
perceive the fellows lift the fallen man
to his feet, and unite his hands, which
were apparently secured behind his
back. He must have been wounded
also. for one sleeve was hastily rolled
up, and water brought from the stream,
in which 1t was bathed. Moore's hand
closed convulsively on the marshal's
arm.
ITS OIL Mendez, as I'm livin' sin
ner." he announced hoarsely. SAN
somebody's plunked him. What'd yer
make o. that?"
Brennan never removed his gaze
from the scene below, but his face was
tense with interest.
Blamed II 1 know; might be mere
row-hold on, therel Whoever did it
is in that cabin; watch what they're
up to, now"
More guns were brought forth from
the clubhouse, and distributed; the
single horseman rode swiftly up the
valley. and half-dozen Of the fell
lows lugged heavy timber up from
the corral, and dropped 1t on the
ground in front of the smaller cabin.
Mendez, his arm in a sling, passed
from group to group, profanely busy,
swapping out orders.
''They are going to break in the door
with that log!" muttered Westcott be-
tween his clenched teeth. "That white
head down there is boiling with rage,
and whoever the poor devil, or devils,
may be. they'll have to fight"
"Yes, but who are they?" and Bren-
nan sat up. "The whole gang must be
outside there; / counted fourteen.
Then, did you notice? Mendez had his
hands bound behind his back. He
couldn't even get up until those fell
lows united him. That's what puzzles
me-"
1T would take more than one to do
that job. Maybe Wen find out now
he's pounding with revolver butt on
the front door,"
They listened breathlessly. hanging
recklessly over the rim of the chasm,
and staring at that strange scene be-
low, but the mans words only reached
them broken and detached. They got
enough, however. to realize that he de-
manded the umbarring of the door. and
that he both threatened and promised
protection to whoever was within. II
was the language he employed that
aroused Westcott.
did you hear that7' he asked short
ly. "The man spoke English. Who
ever's In there doesn't understand
Spanish. Were any Americans down
there when you left, Moore?"
"Joe Skies, and a fellow they call
Shorty but they're both outside; that
was Joe who bound up OIL Mendez'
arm, an Shorty was helpin' bring up
the log"
The eyes of Brennan and westcott
met Understandings.
"Yer don't suppose that girl"
AYE, but I do" and Westcott's
voice proved his conviction. There's
nothing too nervy for her to tackle II 1t
needed to be done. But she never
could have corralled Mendez alone"
''Then there must be, another along
with her-that fellow yer told me
about likely"
Erred Cavendish BY Jove, 1t would
be, like him. Say, boys, I'm going down
and take hand in this game"
The marshall gripped him.
"Not yet, JIM 1t amt dark enough.
Wait a bit more an Tn with yer, old
man. It'll be blacker than HI
down there in fifteen minutes, an then
well have some chance. They'd pot
us now sure afore we got as far as
that cedar. What Is the gang up to
now, Matt7"
"There q goin' ter bust In the door, "
and Moore craned his head farther out
over the edge in eagerness to see. Il
reckon they didn't git no answer that
pleased 'em. See OIL Mendez hoppin'
about Lord he's mad 'nough to. eat
nails. Thar comes the log-say, they
hit that some thump; thar ain't no
wood that's goin' ter stand agin them
blows long. Do yer heart"
They did; the dull reverberation as
| the log butt crashed against the closed
door was plainly audible. Once. twice,
three times 1t struck, giving forth at
last the sharper cracking Of splintered
wood.
The door crashed in; there was a
| fusillade of shots, the splits Of fire
cleavlng the dusk. and throwing the
| figures of the men into sudden bold
relief. The log wielders sprang aside,
and the others leaped forward, yelling
wildly and plunging in through the
/ broken doorway. An instant later three
I muffied reports rang out from the In,
terior---one deep and booming. the 9TH
ers sharper, more resonant-and the
invaders tumbled backward into the
open, seeking shelter. Westcott was