The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-02-24

ASho"S nave SeaTCHeU Cne cells ana
discovered Cateras. Do you hear that
yell2 1t will be a fight to a finish
now. Here come two men with q log
that's their game, then; they mean
to smash in the door,"
He Strengthened up, casting a swift
glance about the apartment. All hesi-
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 betterT she asked.
"The back room; it 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 1t. We ought to hold them
there as long as our cartridges last,
unless they set the cabin afire. Good
"oo lhcy nave DeSun alTeaOy.
Three more blows like that and the
door goes down. Come; it's our only
chance"
1t was the work Of a moment; 1t had
to be. The inner room was so dark
they had to feel their way about
blindly, yet those splntering 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 1t rested against the door
jambs, 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
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 firingi" 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!"
With crash the remaining wood
gave way, the end of the log, used as
battering ram, projecting into tho
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 obstructed the view
conscious only that one man had
leaped straight into the air and an
other had sprawled forward on hands
and knees. Cavendish pushed home a
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 fellow, wounded
was dragging himself out of range.
"Grea ScottW exclaimed Cavendish
excitedly. every shot counted. Here
load up quick. They'll try the window
next Get down"
The warning was not an instant to-
soon, the hasty volley largely thud
ding harmleSSly into the thick mat
tress, although a bullet or two san!
past and found billets in the logs be
hind. Cavendish returned the fire
shooting blindly into the smoke, bu
the girl only lifted her head, staring
intently into the smother, until th
cloud flOated away through the door
The attackers had again vanished, al
semblance of them, except those tw,
motionless bodies.
"Looks as though they had enough
Of it," he said grlmly, land have de
cided to starve us out"
"Oh, do you think 60? / heard
noise then"
He heard 1t also, his glance return
ing instantly to the front, his forr
stiffenlng into preparation. For n me