Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-07-07
A Brave Girl.

Our heroine lived in Bartlett, New
Hampshire, and was descendant OF the
old Crawfords. Her father was Craw-
for !, and followed the profession OF
guide among the mountains. Her name
was Bessie, and she was the only daugh-
ter remaining at home-a dark-eyed,
brown haired girl, Of slight but compact
frame, Just entering her nineteenth year
Her mother had been dead several years,
and upon her devolved the whole care Of
the household.
One day, late in summer, Mr.. CrAw'
ford went, with party Of travellers, away
to the head waters OF one Of the mmy
mountain streams that empty into Saco,
and Bessie was left alone. Even the dogs
hsd all gone with the pleasure-seeEers
Near the middle of the afternoon, while
the girl was sitting by IN open window In
the front room, engaged in sewing, man
came up from the road and asked her II
she would give him drink OF water
Bessie had seen this man before, and had
not liked his looks. He was q stout,
broad -shouldered, ill-favored fellow, and
the bits of moss and spikes of the pines
upon his clothes indicated that he had
slept in the woods.
But Bessie did not hesitate. She laid
aside her work and went To get the water
When she came back, the man had enter
ed the room. She did not like this, for
she was sure he had come In by the win
dow; but she handed him the tin dipper
without remark. The man drank, and
then set the dipper down upon the table.
Then he turned upon the girl, and drew q
broad -bladed knife from his pocket
"Look ye, my young LADY," he said. 81
know there is money In this house and
know that you are alone. Show me where
the money III II you don't, ! shall kill
you, and then hunt It up myself I'm In
earnest, and there 10 no time TO waste.
Don't make . fuss, for II you do, you'll
feel this knife Quick!" Dos
Bessie shrank back, and looked into the
mans face, and she could see that he meant
just what he said.
"If I show you where the money IL, will
you promise not to do me harmT
"Show me, honest, and I won't harm
you"
"Then come with me. But you will
take only the money--you won't take my
fathers papers"
"Only the money, girl" ~
Bessie led the way TO small bedroom
on the ground floor, where there was an
old mahogany bureau, the upper drawer
of which she unlocked. The man, when he
saw this, thinking doubtless that CrawfOrd's
gold was within his grasp, shut up his
knife and put it into his pocket. The girl
opened the drawer, and, quick as thought,
drew forth large navy rev0lver-One
with which she herself had killed trapped
bear-and cooked 1t.
"Villain |" she exclaimed, planting her
back against the wall, and aiming the
weapon at his bosom, "many wild beast
have shot with this good pistol, and Ill
now shoot you II you do not instantly
leave this housed l will give not even q
secondi Start, or fire"
The rufiian could read human looks ~
well as could the maiden, and he could
read very plainly In the frm.set lips and
in the flashing eye-but more clearly In
the steady hand which held the piSt0l-
that she would not only fire % she had
promised, but her aim would be sure
and fatal one.
And he backed out from the bedroom
backed into the sItting.ro0m-then
leaped from the open window and diAp-
:, Bessie kept her pistol By her side until
her father and his guests came home; and
when she bad told hes story, search was
made Cor the ruf1an. But he WAS not
found. Our heroine had 70 thoroughly
frightened him that be never came that
way again.