Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-10-09
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|@ cp7sA EHass8 RUPERT GRAYS0N
RUPERT GRAYSON

the darkness. Tommy did likewise.
Keep down" Gun cried. Right
down.
He gripped Corals shoulder and
forced her down behind the sand.
bags. There came a sudden blind.
ing flash, then another, and the
roar Of two rapidly following eX-
plosions. The air was full of flying
fragments Of metal, and there
were shouts ard yells Of pain.
Again" shouted Gun, erect
once more, and two more bombs
were lobbed over, with similar re-
suits.
Then came the pattering of feet,
and cries and curscs-rapidly re-
ceding.
Ginger 'em upm shouted Tom
my, and started to fire, rapidly and
blindly, into the darkness. Gun and
Coral followed suit. When they had
emptied their magazines, Gun
made a trumpet of his hands and
shouted:
Il wouldn't try that any more"
The answer was a spate Of pic
turesque invective in italian, and a
couple of yellow stahs in the dark
ness, as a couple of the attackers,
in their fury, loosed off their rifles.
Then more curses, and the sound
Of blows, as the men who had dis
obeyed orders were summarily
dealt with.
In the air above the defenders
a bullet sang, and then hit the
concrete wall behind them with a
dull plug.
Gun wiped the perspiration from
his brow, and Tommy commented:
What the devil! I've heard of
sitting on a powder magazine, but
I never thought I should ever have
to do it T."
"Shut up!" snapped Gun. "And
listen-there's something doing
over therew
Apparently it was a loud dis
cussion, which terminated in some
sharp orders being given. Then ST.
lence for a few minutes. After that
some one, fairly close to them,
shouted-again in 1talian-and a
moment later the answer came,
more family and from some con-
siderable distance.
They've gone to fetch some
thing" Coral announced. II Won
der what ?"
Darkness and silence once more.
The defenders reloaded their rifles,
and saw that the bombs were
ready to hand.
Then came more sounds out of
the darkness. Voices calling and a
Gathering noise which grew near
err and nearer.
What on earth is it now?"
Coral murmured.
And after a moment Gun an
swered:
They're bringing something out
in handcarts, or barrows. Now
what the p"
Now followed sounds indicative
Of intense activity; orders sharply
given, and the clink of tools. Cries
If encouragement.
II believe they're digging them
selves in" suggested Tommy.
More cries and shouts, receding
INTO the distance. Then silence,
with it the definite feel
ng that something was going to
happen.
Keep down." Gun directed.
And be ready for-anythingw
They crouched behind their low
oreastwork, rifles gripped tightly
md eyes and ears concentrating on
he darkness.
Then suddenly darkness and 81
ence alike were shattered. One
after another three great red
slares leaped upward and outward,
md vanished. With them came
ilree rumbling, sullen crashes.
which seemed to make the ground
'ock, and a moment later earth
md small stones came rafting
Town on the hillside, and all about
he open door.
"Dynamite!" cried Gun. They're
blasting holes for cover. Emer-
'ency trenches!"
"As I said, digging 'cmsclvc3
H." responded Tommy. IN other
words, they're getting ready for Il
iege-and we shan't be able to
tand much of that, without Co
'r water. Ye gods, I could GO VITA
drink as it isl"
II wish to heaven thi. damned
Wind would change" Gun COM
'lained. cts still blowing straight
oWard U.S."
"Be quiet. please" Coral begged.
7 want to listen"
Ito Be COntinued)