The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-11-18


fellows have searched the cells aud
discovered Caterns. Do you hear that
yell? II viii be fight to finish
now. Here come two men with a log
that's their game, then; they mean
to smash IN the door"
lie Strengthened up, casting a swift
glance about the apartment. All hest
fancy. doubt. had left him now that
the supreme test had come. lie was
again capable of thinking clearly and
| acting.
Miss Donovan" he burst out, tive
can never hope TO hold back those men
herein this room. We shall be I'm
bright light as soon as the door is
battered down and then. II 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 lf. 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"
II was the work OF moment; II had i
to be. The inner room was so dark
they had TO feel their way about
bllndly, yet those splinterlng crashes
on the outer door, interspersed by the
shouts OF the men, spurred both 10
hurried effort. Nor was there much TO
De done. The heavy bed was thrown
upon It's side and hduled and pushed
forward until II rested against the door
Jambs, the mattress and blankets so
caught and held as to form protection
against bullets. Breathess the two
sank 10 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 and
an exultant yell followed from with
out.
mo fring" the voice was Mendez',
rising sharply above the other sounds. |
Il 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
her I"
With crash the remaining wood
gave way, the end of the log. used as
Il 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 obstructed the view,
only that one man had
leaped straight Into the air and an
other had sprawled forward on hands
and knees. Cavendlsh pushed home a
fresh cartridge and. the smoke cloud
lifted just enough TO permit them to
perceive the farther doorway. A Mex
can lay curled up in the center of the
loor, his gun Il dozen feet away: an
other hung dangling across an over
turned stool, but the opening was va
'ant, Just outside fellow. wounded,
was dragging himself out of range.
Great Scott !" exclaimed Cavendlsh. I
EVERY shot counted. Here,
Dad up quick. They'll try the window
lext Get DOWN."
The warning was not an instant too
oon, the hasty volley largely thud-
ling harmlcssly into the thick mat
ress, although bullet or two sang
'ast and found billets In the logs be
lind. Cnvendish returned the fire.
hooting bllndly Into the smoke, but
he girl only lifted her head, staring
ntently into the smother, until the
loud hoated away through the door
he attackers had again vanished, all
emblance OF them, except those two
bodies.
Looks as though they had enough
4 H." he said grlmly, "and have de-
ided TO starye us out"
"oh. do you think so7 heard a
ose then"
He heard II also. his glance return
lg Instantly 20 the front. his form
into preparation. For n mo-
lent neither could determine the
leaning of the sounds. Then he cooked
Is gun, the sharp click echoing almost 4,
'udly in the stiffness.
Trying the window this time" he al
do you hear that? BE "
'ady." 10
The two knelt motionless, peerlng Y
yer the edge OF the bed into the dim tC
Wight seeing nothing. each with fin. y,
n ON trigger-tense. expectant. Then. NJ
ithout warning. the flying figure OF a di
an leaped across the doorway into
e security OF the opposite wall. II pe
as done SO quickly neither fred. but w
ivendish licked his parched lips with ys
dry tongue. Ia
"l'll get the next one who tries that LEI