The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-07-23
CHAPTER 33. BEHIND THE BARRICADES

l
 BEHIND THE BARRICADES
 A gust of flame belched crim- son from the slowly revolving mo- tor.
 An, she'd make it! No. Churn- ing, churning, every second drag ging itself into an infinity of time Stevens gun still parked. Another bullet and another raked the ca bin. Again a ball of flaming gas ballooned from the exhaust stock Then the engine roared, backfired missed and suddenly burst into full ] throated rythmic life causing the plane to vibrate in every inch of her fabric.
 Stevens figure appeared in the doorway. In the darkness over his shoulder, guns stabbed the night with their vicious points of scarlet. Jerry, trembling with eagerness to push forward on the throttle, watched the old man hesitate, turn back and fire full clip of cartridges. Then carefully closing and latching the cabin door, the detective took his seat.
 The great monoplane rolled for ward over the hard-packed shell. Then she was free, an earth-borne monster no longer, but joyous, throbbing bird-like thing hurtling through the air.
 Stevens steady forefinger point ed slightly to the left. Jerry bank ed over to follow faint red line of exhaust fire. AS he straight ened out again he glanced down and backwards toward the house. From a row of windows on the east end of the low building tiny pinpoints of flame flickered from the guns of the beseiged. From three sides came answering flash es.
 The exhaust flames of the am phibian were clearly visible now and Jerry knew that he was gain ing, slowly but steadily, upon the northward speeding plane. Stew ems held his beloved machine gun. He squinted ahead at the fleeing plane.
 How long?" he inquired tense ly.
 q haven't any idea" confessed Jerry. They don't know yet that we're following them. When they see us they'll give her full throt- tie. We're fairly evenly matched in speed. Maybe fifteen minutes. Maybe two hours. Have to wait till we see how much speed they have"
 "Ashie, old bean, it won't be long now" Emory Battles smoke begrimed face broke into wide mouthed grin as he rolled over on his side and looked at the man who shared the shelter of the up- ended living room table.
 The cripple ducked behind the heavy shield just as it vibrated under the sharp smack of a bull let. His lined face was drawn with fatigue, but the dancing light in his blue eyes was undimmed as he returned the others smile.
 "One would think my dilettante friend, that you looked forward with pleasure to dying" His drawl- ing voive had lost nothing of it's mocking brilliance. He reached for cigarette from Emorys case From where I lie," he puffed, "it looks as though we would be able to hold them off about thirty more minutes, at the longest, and then only if we are able to con- tinue keeping them from passing to the rear of the house and sur. rounding us."
 "They may all have sunstrokt : within the next thirty minutes, retorted the other, squinting eau. ttously over the top for brie glance toward the hangar which in the first faint pastel tints O the dawn, looked strangely peace full in comparison with the wreck ed living room behind him. 4
 bullet snapped by and he dropped his head unceremoniously. "Yol ? picked out some pretty fair sharp ] shooters when you organized you ! mob. Ashie," he declared ruefully l "As ye SOW, so shall ye-" pro s nounced a resonant voice iron \ the center of the room. Please, please, Dr. Titherington,