Evening star., 1929-06-24

Joseph Is on his way down,
she announced. I'VE didn't ex-
pect him tonight, or uncle would have
sent Minchin to see you. He seems TO
have made up his mind suddenly. He
is only bringing one carload OF men,
en- 7 imagine he is more out for carry
ing the girl off by quick rush than
fight"
what time did they start?" I asked.
IAN hour ago." she answered. "They
may be here at any time. Our lotner
men are at their posts already. Get
outside by your private door and keep
In the shadow Of the house. You Will
find Huntley, the red-haired footman
who served you, on your left.
How many are we?"
"Let me see," she reflected. I'VE
shall have to leave out the butler,
Miles. He certainly won't be any use
as a fighter tonight. There can't be
more than ten or o dozen of them, and
there probably won't be as many IS
that when they get to close quarters" +"
I heard the click Of the door and
knew that she had gone. caught up
loaded stick that Huntley had
brought me in after dinner. and, with
my automatic safety In my pocket,
cautiously opened the door and stepped
outside. At FIRST I could see nothing in
front. and behind me the house itself
seemed dark and lifeless. I crouched
against the wall. listening intently.
Owing no doubt to a regrettable
streak of brutality in my character,
fighting, even for its own sake, has
always made an appeal to me, and
I felt the JOY of the coming battle
already throbbing In my veins.
AS my eyes grew accustomed to the
darkness. could distinguish Huntely
crouching a few yards on my left, but
so far as could apprehend there was
when was still leaning forward, peer
ing into the obscurity around me, the
air was suddenly rent with sound as
though a million telephone bells set
in different keys were changing one
against the other. simultaneously,
from the tower came binding stream
of light, passing slowly in semi
circle from the house. BY It's illumi-
nation we saw that the invaders were
close at hand.
Barely 40 yards away. q worm
single file were creeping toward the
house. Caught in that sudden blaze
of light, they hesitated, and although
the situation was tense enough, for
realized at once that we were very
| much outnumbered, my first impulse
was to laugh. They swayed and stag
gered about as though they were
drunk. Then the leader made spring
forward, and with hideous cry, leaped
into the air and fell over notionless
The invaders were quick enough to re-
cover themselves. They stepped over
the fallen body and came running to-
| ward the house in the form Of semi
! circle. Huntley. a few yards OF,
cursed softly.
ones done q split. II they hadn't
come singly, the wire would have had
the lot. Look out, sir!"
AS It was, the attack seemed q little
cemoralized. A second searchlight
expectedly in the eyes Of the invaders
and binding them with its intense
brilliance created something of a panic.
One man stood with his face buried in
his hands and has back to the house
| another fell over; third unashamedly
ran back to where could see a
tumble down looking char-a-banc
waiting in the lane. The sound OF
alarm bells died away, however. The
searchlight could only play upon one
sertion at a time. A tall figure. from
whistle, and the result was electric.
; The skulkers returned, and they were
at us.
So far as could tell, We were out
numbered about two to one, We were
better fighters, however. and, although
they were possessed of q sort of fero-
cious cunning, their methods were of
less use in the open. saw no trace
of weapons at first, so went ahead
with my fists, and the first man hit
admit he was taken by surprise
| finished the month In Bringford
Hospital. The next--a sallow-faced,
loose -limbed youth, with long arms and
astclishgly nimble feet-dodged me
cleverly. saw the flash of steel in
his hand as he crept around me, and
just in time sent him smashing over
with short upper cut to the jaw.
caught UP my lead stick and swung
out with 1t fiercely at my next assailant.
Up till then no guns seemed to have
been used. but suddenly there was a
sharp report, and Huntley went spin
| ming over on his side
The next few minutes were a little
hazy, for my corner seemed to have
become the center Of the attack.
went for every one could see. Twice
a knife grazed my shoulder, and felt
the blood from cut upon my cheek,
but otherwise the luck was with me,
In the midst of 1t all there was the