Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-08-21

to open the door for me-"
Not suspecting what was about to hap
pen, the robber quickly opened the door
standing in the middle of the threshold. In
a moment the whole of the boiling coffee
flew into his face. With furious excla
nation of pain, he bent forward, anC
rubbed, with both hands, the coffee from
his eyes.
Awaiting herself of this moment of hi.
helplessness, the brave girl, with the broaC
side of the axe, dealt him such violen
blow on his head, that he fell down sense
, less at her feet.
Quick as thought, pushing aside his
body, she sprang to the window, which
she had before opened herself, closed i
securely and put up the shutters. Their
she fastened back, took the key out of thu
door, which was in the inside, called
"Sultan, keep watch" and, pushing The
great dog into the dark room, where the
robber still lay senseless, she locked the
door from the outside Then, after again
building up her wall of defense against
the house door, she fastened up to the
second story.
The dog was growing from withir and
trying to get out, and at the same moment
there was a violent knocking at the house
door.
The girl took her fathers double bar
relied gun down from the wall, and, open
ing the window, she inquired:
"Who's there below"
From the window she saw before the
door man, with the appearance of a
huntsman, of savage and forbidding as
pect, quite stranger to her. He called
out to her. in a commanding tone:
"Open the door!"
when l choose to do So" replied the
girl.
''If you do not open it, l shalt" cried
the huntsman, angrily. II shall break
open the door, and then you will see what
will happen"
eve are long way off from that yet"
was the girls reply.
owe shall see,' cried the hunter, and,
taking his gun from his shoulder, he was
about to place it against the lock, and
fire
Kate saw that rapid action was neces-
sary In a moment her fathers gun was
cooked and her aim taken, and before the
rascal below could turn round, there was
a loud report above, and bullet had shat
tered his right arm.
His gun dropped from his hand, and he
fell to the ground He uttered cry of
pain, and rolled over in the snow, which
he REDEEMED with his blood. But, before
the girl could take up her fathers other
gun, he had risen and fled into the wood
Kate quickly loaded the gun again,
and prepared for a struggle of life and
death; for she felt certain that these two
were not alone, but had companions in
tie forest.
Her courage did not fail, but she threw
herself down upon her knees, and prayed
for help to Him who alone is our defense
and shield. The courage which God
gives is the right courage. He makes the
soul strong for the most difficult things
Now she heard a noise in the room be-
low, where Sultan and the robber were
She listened. She heard the dogs growl-
ing and the mans cry of pain.
The struggle between them lasted for
about ten minutes; and then the terrible
sounds were succeeded by an awful 81
lence
Poor Kate felt that if more enemies
came, her position was a desperate one.
How could she for any time defend her
self against number of robbers?
She could scarcely reckon upon the
dog, for she dared not let him out, as she
could not be certain whether the man in
the room below was dead or alive.
And if they should attack the house
from before and behind at the same time,
she knew that she was lost, for no help
could come to her; for who, in such
severe weather, would be likely to be
passing on even the nigh road, which
went through the wood not far from the
house?
Once more she prayed earnestly for
help from above. She then looked round
the house to see if any fresh danger was
threatening, and perceiving nothing, she
went back to the room where her weapons
lay, to see what was going on before the
door, as the dog kept barking in the room
below.
Just as she got to the window, she saw
an armed, bad-loOking fellow approach
the house At first he tried to be polite,
and inquired:
"Have you seen an old man pass by
here? 2"
Yes" replied the girl.
'Where is he? Have you let him in ~
These words were spoken in a fierce
and insolent tone.
Il shall only answer civil questions, y
replied the girl.
mere is ne = CTlCu luc TODDcI, Will
an oath "Have you murdered him?
Then commend your soul to Godm
II have a helper below, my fathers
wolfdog, who has fought with him, and
as you hear, the dog is the victor. More
than this | know nothing of him.
"Open the door, then, that | may see
after him-he is my brother!" cried the
robber.
THAT may be- replied the girl; "the
dog then will serve you as he did your
brother"
"Bahw cried the robber; 'my double
barreled gun has two bullets-One for
you, the other for the dog. "Open quick
lyt"
The girl leaned back, seized her weap
on, and took aim, at the moment when a
blow from the robber made the door trem-
BILE
"Backn' cried she, cor I will shoot you
downr'
He dumped back few steps, and quick.
ly pointed his gun up toward the window
but at the same moment there was flash
and report from above, and the robbel
first sprang up, and then fell backward IN
the snow, stream of blood pouring
from wound in his breast.
Hates courage now gave place to an
guish and sorrow of heart. Her eyes were
fixed on that terrible sight Of the dead
body. Her ball had killed him!
What maiden's heart could bear such q
thought as that?