Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1882-09-29

oh"h " nNht w ~ biNNA n !" o. -- -
YOU don't"
"what do you wautPi Lima asked,
| hoping 10 gain alittle time. A now and
gruff voice answered, insolently:
"You know we'll enough. what we
wants. miss. We wants the thousand
pounds and the diamonds. and we mean
60 have tkom. So don't be fool. but
just open the door peacefully, or you'll
be sorry.n
Lima sprang TO her feet and seized the
pistol A flood of color rushed TO her
cheek and brow. She had been i'm.
suited and threatened, aud Indignation
overpowercd terror. She went toward
the door and called out, quickly and
clearly:
YOU'RE not coming in. Ihavc sent
for help. and Sir Robert and his men will
be here directly. / am armed: and IL
you do break tho door down will shoot
you like dog"
A moments silence followed, ihon a
coarse laugh. and
"All CANNON. She hadn't no one to
send. Break the door down. i'm Par.
kins' voice; and heavy blows began to
fall upon the door. IL trembled and
cracked beneath the battery. A panel
broke. man hand was thrust in: the
whole door seemed about TO fall when
bang bang came two reports from
Lima pistol. and couple of bullets
crushed through the panels, and the
besiegers paused abruptly.
go away instantly called the girls
clear voice, cor | will fire again.
''One more rush, mate, and we are
| in, yelled the gruf voice outside.
what followed the wild tumut and
confusion; the crash of breaking panels
and bolts, thefall Of the door aud the
furniture Lima had piled against il, shot
after shot from Lina's pistol, n yell of
pain and rage from both of them. The
door was down. One of the men was
in the room. Lima had fired her last
shot, and, running TO the bed snatched
Aunt Margarets pistol and turned TO
face the enemy Suddenly came a wild
shrek from Parkins Then a voice
calling Lima. Linal am coming,n and
Sir Robert DE Rossett hurled himself
bodily upon the lullian outside the door
prostrated him, and sprang into the
room over his body, and this is what he
saw; Madeline Leigh. the Little
coward, " with blazing eyes and scar.
let checks, and n pistol in her hand,
standing unllinchingly between Aunt
Margaret and burly ruilian; and Aunt
Margaret herself, who has not turned
in her bed for n year, standing on her
feet on the floor. Two seconds changed
the aspect Of affairs. After that the
burglar sprawlcd senselcss on the floor.
Aunt Margaret sank back on her bed
with wild "Thank Godr and the liz.
tie heroine OF the scene lay in Sir
Robert S arms in dead faint.
Oh, Robert, why didn, you come
soonerg' she murmurcd, half an hour
aiterward, when she opened her eyes
and met his.
Don't you know | came rs soon az
| found your note?n he said. "Leo
went to my room and found him there
when | left the drawing-room, after
eleven o clock
Where are those dreadful menp'
Lima asked, raising her head dizzily and
looking around with shuddor.
"Ncyer mind them. dear They were
taken by the men who followed me.
My brave little darlingl What a hero
inc you arem
Two months later, when Parkins and
the men were brought to trial. Aunt
Margaret walked into the witness-boX,
and gave her testimony with grim di-
rectness and self-possession. Lima gave
hers with much trembling and some
tears; but she looked intensely lovely,
and no one wondered that Sir Robert
was going to marry her.
The crowd around the door gave her
three cheers as she left the court room,
walking beside Sir Robert, and then
three more for Leo. who followed them.
And Aunt margarets wedding pres
ent TO Lima was the thousand pounds
and the diamonds that had been saved
by the courage of ''the little coward