Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-09-08

oiu latuer Vi mine keeps III LOOKUP
up; but" she added, 81 know
where to find the key"
The interesting trio here again
laughed long and loud, and Bessie
as she left the room, re-echoed
their mirth, in tones that to other
than the depraved beings before
her would at once have betrayed
the terror and despair that was
fast straining her nerves beyond
their utmost capacity.
The house was built on the old
Southern plan, with many room:
on the ground floor, several Of
which were bed rooms. One o.
these belonged to Tom, and opened
directly into the kitchen, and il
had been the girls idea to pass into
this room on the pretext of get,
ing the key of the ale cellar, take
down the loaded revolver, which
always hung beside the bed, shoot
one or more of the robbers as they
sat at the table, leap from the
window and run for her life.
So far her plan had worked well
The three scoundrels were fairly
attracted in another direction, il
was but one step to the loaded re.
volver but one other to the win
dow, and. escape in the impenetra-
BILE darkness beyond, but at this
moment, the most intense of ALL
the horrid question came tremb-
ling through her mind, could she
so frail, so weak, succeed in evad.
ing three such determined despera.
does, and they, within q few
feet of her very garments!
AT all events, she said to herself
she would try, and with an invol-
untary prayer to the Almighty for
help, the brave girl seized the re-
volver, and aiming it at the large
mans head fired her first shot, fol-
lowing it quickly with another at
the one sitting next him. The
third conld only be a random shot,
but Bessie sent it unerring aim,
and flying to the window, mounted
the sill.
So true had been her aim, for
Bessie was capital marlswoman,
that two of the VILLAINS were al
ready in the arms of death, but
the third discharge had only taken
effect in the last mans right arm.
With the Characteristic quickness
of his class he at once saw how
matters stood, and without glance
at his fallen companions made for
the girl, dealing her heavy blow
with the butt end OF his pistol.
She had nearly reached the win
dow and although hurt by the
force of the blow was not stunned,
and with wonderful nerve turned
upon her pursuer, showing him
back with her left hand, while with
her right she emptied a fourth
charge from her revolver into his
body.
With bitter curse the man fell
wounded but not senseless to the
floor, while Bessie lost no time in
making her leap from the window.
But as if destined to be thwarted
at every point, the poor girl in
stead of landing safely on the
ground a few feet beneath her,
found herself suspended midway
on the framework of an old vine
trainer that in the excitement of
the moment she had forgotten.
Vainly she endeavoured to wrench
herself from its grasp; never had
vine trainer proved so imperish-
able as this; never petticoat so
strong as the one she then wore.
With thes blood now streaming
over her face and into her eyes and
mouth from the blow she had Just
received, Bessie believed her last
hour had come and groaned aloud.
81 hear you," beloved out the
wounded wretch on the other side
of the window, "and I'm crawling
along the floor, and as soon as /
git to the window I'm going to
shoot you"
No cordial could have revived
the fainting girl SO effectually as
the tone of that williams voice, and
once more she made an effort to
free herself from the vine trainer,
and with no better success than
before.
But too plainly could she hear