The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-12-19

w ~OAAiG oily uGdKGEs
'Some folks can't take hint un-
less a Methodist church falls on
them," Larry said lightly. 'Wish I
had rifle too. My six-gun won't
carry that far with any accuracy.
Looks like I'll have to be an inno-
cent bystander until they begin to
crowd u.s."
Both of them knew there could be
only one ending to the battle IL IL
went to a finish. But they were
cool, game men, used to danger,
and they could take whatever was In
store for them without weakening.
The attackers grew more wary Of
exposing themselves. Presently the
firing died down except for an occa-
sional shot.
Something's up" Calhoun said.
Probably getting ready to rush
u.s." He laughed sardonically. II
never was in this kind of a jam
before. All we have to do Is let
them know who we are and they
would let us alone, but as soon az
we poke a nose out to tell them
they blast away at u.s."
Larry was watching the attack
ers through his peephole. "They are
getting their horses" His voice
grew excited. by the jumping
horned frog, they're riding away.
They figure 1t would cost too much
to dig us out of our hole. Seems
| too good luck to be true"
It was too good to be true. More
than forty men took a trail into
the hills, but enough were left to
keep up the attack on the cabin.
Terry tried again, during the lull
| in the firing, to let Ellison know
who they were, but he was fired upon
the instant he opened the door.
At the end of an hour another
plan was tried to dislodge the be-
sieged men. Two horses were taken
into the barn. A few minutes later
they came out drawing a wagon
with hayrack on 1t.
The wagon was driven into a
meadow of wild hay. Near the cen
ter of the field was the remains Of
a stack Of hay, most Of it weeds
tossed aside as unfit food for stock.
Men began to gather this trash with
pitchforks and load it on the rack.
At first Calhoun was puzzled, but
the purpose Of this jumped to his
mind. "Ellison ID going to burn us
out" he said.
Larry caught the idea. "Sure.
They aim to get behind the hay and
push the wagon by the tongue up
. against the house. Then they will
set fire to the hay"
| After a moment Larry spoke.
you've been favoring these fellows,
Cal, and that was right SO far. But
no longer. They mean to kill US,
even il they have to burn us up. It's
them or us. I won't let them rub me
out without fighting back" M
Calhoun nodded agreement. "Nor
/. But maybe the time hasn't quite
come for that, Larry. The thing is
to delay them all we can. Help is on
the way to as by now, expect.
Hart could not have recognized US.
He thinks we are some Of his outlaw
friends. When he reaches Black
Butte he will start gathering men to
save us. That will take some time,
but not very much IL we are lucky"
Terry was watching the wagon
and the men with it. They had
loaded the refuse hay and were
picking up brush to pile on the top
of it. The driver swung the team
round to return to the gate. He
was nearer the house than at any
time since leaving the barn.
Calhoun took careful aim and
fired. One of the horses sank to
the ground.
''That will hold them for while. :"
he said.
A voice outside, not far away,
hailed the house. It came from the
side Larry was defending. Richards
searched the alfalfa field and saw
nobody. W
Someone has worked up right
close to u.s." he told his compan-
ion. Sounds like he's only forty or
fifty yards away"
TASK him who he is," Terry said.
eve can send a message by him
and tell Ellison who we are"
Larry shouted the question. The
answer astonished him. He passed
ii on to his friend.
Claims he's JEFF Brand and is
going to make a run for the door.
He must have crawled up the
ditch" Larry demanded more infor-
nation from the man outside. A
moment later he cried In excite
ment: ''Hell, it's JEFF, all right! He's
coming on the run !. They've hit
him. He's down."
| Terry ran to the door and flung it
open. He thrust the rife into the
hands Of Richards and raced toward
| the man on the ground, who was
crawling toward the house.
STOPPING, Calhoun picked up
| Brand, the rifle still in his hand, and
hurried back to the house. He
reached it in safety and Larry bolted
| the door.