The Red Cloud chief., 1882-11-03
b, hur. Wen b.~.k Il dovs Z

shap't be hurt Wen hs~.k Il dovs 4
you don't"
What do roo w.sty' Liaa ssksd.
hoping 10 gain Attic time A ne~ and
grud voice answered. i~nsolcniiy:
You know well enough what ws
wants. miss. We wants The thousand
pounds and the Diamonds. and ne mean
to have them so don't be . fool. bus
Just open the door peacefully. OF you'll
he sorry"
Lima .prang TO her fee; and ssfzed the
pistol A food 81 color rushed 70 her
cheek and brow. She had hem in
suited and threatened. and Indignation
overpowered terror. She went toward
the door and called out. quickly and
clearly:
You re not coming In. have sen,
for help. and sir Rober; and his men " III
be here directly. | am armed. and IL
you do break the door down will shoos
you like adog."
A moments silence followed. then .
coarse laugh. and
"All gammon. She hadn't no one Ia
send. Break the door down." in Tar
kins' voice; and heavy blows hcyan To-
fall upon the door. IL irembled and
cracked beneath the battery. A panel
broke. a man hand was thrust in: the
whole door seemed about To fall when
bang bang. came two reports from
Lina's pisio;, and q couple of bullets
crushed through the panels, and the
bcsiegcrs paused abruptly.
go away instantly" called the girls
cfaaV tas,n ss1r x.sl G.. .
One more rush. mate. and We are
in" yelled the gruf voice outside.
What followed The wild turnult and
confusion; the crash of breaking panels
and bolts, the fall of the door aud the
furniture Lima hal piled against il. shot
after shot from Lina's pistol. n yell Of
pain and rage from both Of them. The
door vas down. One of the men was
in the o Lima had fired her last
shot, and. running TO the led snatchci
Aunt Margaret's pistol and turned 10
face the enemy. Suddenly came n wild
shrek from Parkins. Then u voice
calling Lima. Lima! ! am coming" and
Sir Robert DE Rosse,t hurled himself
bodily upon the rui'ian outside The door.
Frustrated him. and sprang into the
room over his body. and this is what ne
saw: Madeline Leigh. the little
coward" with blazing eyes and scar
let cheeks, and a pistol in her hand.
standing u~nflinchingiy between Aunt
Margaret aud a burly ruflian; and Aunt
Margaret herself. who has not turned
in her bed for = year. standing on her
feet on the floor. Two seconds changed
the aspect Of affairs. After that the
burglar sprawlcd senseless on the floor.
Aunt Margaret sank back on her bed
with n Wild Thank Godr' and the lit
tie heroine Of the scene lay in Sir
Roberts arms in n dead faint.
"Oh. Robert. why didn't YOU come
sooner" she murmurcd. half an hour
aiterward, when she opened her eyes
and met his.
Don't you know I came a. soon rs
j found your note?" he said. LEO
went to my room and | found him there
when | left the drawing-room. after
eleven o'clo k"
Where are those dreadful mena"
Lima asked. raising her head dizzily and
looking around with n shudder.
Never mind them. dear. They were
taken by the men who followed me.
My brave little darling! What a hero
inc you are"
Two months later. when Parkins and
the men were brought to trial. Aunt
Margaret walked into the witncss-Eox.
and gave her testimony with grim di-
r%ectness and sclf-po Session. Lima gave
hers with much trembling and some
tears; but she looked intensely loSely.
and no n wondered that Sir Robert
was going TO marry her.
The crowd around the door gave her
three cheers rs she left the court room.
walking beside Sir Robert. and then
three lore for Leo. who followed them.
And Aunt Margarct's wedding pres
to Lima was the thousand pounds
and the diamonds that had been saved
by the courage of 1.-The little coward"