Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1920-09-17

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two-they look American. Most of
them are armed All! Wait The
fellows have searched the cells and
discovered Cateras. Do you hear that
yell? 1t will be fight to 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 hest
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 better? 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 ana |
hide behind it, We ought to hold them
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"
II was the work of a moment; 1t had
to be. The inner room was so dark
they had to feel their way about
hIindly, yet those splinterlng 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 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. Breathess the two
sank to their knees in the darkness be-
hind, their eyes on the Frightening
daylight of the room beyond. Already
hole had been stove through the up
per panel of the door, the surround
ing wood splintered. Some one fired
once through the Jagged opening ana
an exultant yell followed from with
out.
mo firing" the voice was Mendez''
rising sharply above the other sounds
81 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
he"
With crash the remaining wood
gave way. the end Of the log, used as
batterlng ram, projecting Into the
room. Over the shattered door, now
held only by one bent hinge, half-
dozen forms swarmed inward, the
quick rush blocking their passage.
Cavendish pulled trigger, the deep
boom Of his shotgun echoed lnstahti!
nv the sharper report Of the girls re-
yolyer, She fired twice before the
swirling smoke INSTRUCTED the vie"
conscious only that one man nae
leaped straight into the air and an
other had sprawled forward on hanuS
+. and knees. Cavendlsh pushed home
fresh cartridge and the smoke clouC
;, lifted lust enough to permit them u
> perceive the farther doorway, A Mex
i. lean Law curled up in the center of TIL
:, floor his gun dozen feet away an
other hung dangling across an over
turned stool. but the opening was va
cant Just outside fellow, wounded
. was dragging himself out of range
"Great Scott p exclaimed Cavendisi
= excltedly. every shot counted. HERE
: load up quick. They'll try the windo'
"a next. Get DOWN."
>, The warning was not an instant 10
soon, the hasty yolley largely thu'
"a ding harmlessly into the thick ma
- tress, although a bullet or two san
- mast and found billets in the logs b
. hind Cayendish returned the mr.
II, | hiiiNi'
shooting blindly into the smoke, D'
v the girl only lifted her head starll
"a intentlv into the smother, until Il
n. cloud foated away through the doc
4 The attackers had again vanished, a
no semblance of them, except those tN
motionless bodies.
"Looks as though they had enout
of It," he said grimly, land have d
cided to starye us out"
No "Oh. do you think so? l heard
10 noise them
e He heard 1t also, his glance retur
hi ing instantly to the front, his for
stiffenIng into preparation For m
ment neither could determine t
,,f meaning of the sounds. Then he cock
his gun, the sharp click echoing almc
ed loudly in the stiffness.
,va "Trying the window this time"
N. murmured. DO you hear that?
ready"
ice The two knelt motionless, peeri
Of over the edge of the bed into the d
W twilight, seeing nothing, each with
ou ger on trigger-tense, expectant. TIT
: a without warning, the flying figure OF
Il man leaped across the doorway IL
the security OF the opposite wall.
,yh was done so quickly neither fired,
en- Cavendlsh licked his parched lips W
his dry tongue.
the "Tll get the next one who tries u
i'm trick" he muttered. ut will be cas-
ain than partridge shooting"
A minute-two passed, every ne