Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-12-04

ed who it was that sat within her kitchen,
the man whose sheart was as his beard
Black Dan, the ruffian of New Mexico, who
only two days ago, with these very compan-
ions, had committed robbery and murder.
This was the man who demanded dinner, and
Mrs. Lathrop knew it.
| 'Don't waste yer time, missus," sudden
ly spoke the leader, turning quickly and
fastening his fierce, bold eyes upon the
young hostess. "don't waste your time nor
yer words. Get dinner"
| There was no mistake in the command,
and the tone in which it was uttered meant
far more than words. Mrs. Lathrop began
at once to lay the table.
| "We're busted miners" began Black
Dan, with wink to his comrades, ''com-
pletely busted, an can't pay. What ye
give us to eat must be for charity. We
amt even got no weepins, except these pis-
| tils o. mine, an them we're keepin' to help
us out up at the Creek, an beggin' to git
thar"
! Poor Nelly heard all this, believing not
one word, but working steadily on, frying
fpork and eggs, making tea and supplying
the table with bread and butter and cake.
When all was ready she placed chairs and
told her enforced guests that dinner was
prepared for them. Awaiting no second in
vitation they hastily seated themselves and
began to eat.
Suddenly the leader of the trio paused and
turned sharply toward Mrs. Lathrop. "Mis-
sus, are you scared at such wild looking fel-
lows as we'uns? Did you ever see our likes
before 2''
1t was q test question. Black Dan wish
ed to know if this little woman who fed them
so willingly knew aught of the robbery at
the Peak, or suspected who she entertained.
Even while her heart leaped IN fear she an
swered:
''Oh, indeed, no, I'm not scared Why
should be-? I've seen busted miners be-
fore. I'm glad to be able to help YOU"
eyer alittle brick!' calculated Black Dan,
sam when marry I'll look round first and
see ef you're a wildly! Here" he continu-
ed, lifting his pistols from the table and ex-
tending them to her, ''I'll ask one more fa-
vor O. ye. The charges in them weepins is
wet, and eff ye kin draw 'em an reload 'em
it will be great blessin."
Mechanically Mrs. Lathrop took the pis-
tolls and turned toward the chest where her
husband kept his arms and ammunition.
I But even as she did so a sudden idea, an
inspiration almost, flashed through her
brain. These men were now unarmed; her
|
stood in the corner; why not capture the
murderers herself
Instantly the brave woman put the thought
into execution. Dropping the pistols she
quickly seized the gun, raised both ham
mers to full cock, and turning presented it
at the trio about her table.
''Black Dan, you and your comrades are
my prisonersn'
1t may be her voice trembled; it would
hardly have been strange if it did, but her
hand did not, and the three desperadoes
looked with paling cheek into the black muz-
zles that covered them and knew that the
little woman meant what she said.
For an instant silence reigned; then, slow
ly turning toward the table again, Black
Dan growled out half dozen oaths, supplant-
ed by the statement that he would finish his
dinner anyway, and began to eat with COM
posure. His companions initiated him.
Mrs. Lathrop stood motionless, the gun
still at her shoulder She dared not lower
! it, yet she could not hold it there much
\ longer.
/ The ruffians ate steadily and silently
on.
The little woman began to grow faint
not alone with fear, but from excitement
and the weight Of the gun. Her hands
trembled
| Suddenly there ran wild shout mingled
with furious curses Chairs and tables were
overturned, and in a flash of an eye Mrs.
Lathrop saw three men spring toward her,
each with knife in his hand
She saw, and then, with wordless pray
er, she pressed the trigger.
A tremendous roar shook the air; two
outshooting flames, followed by two puffs
of blue smoke; two heavy falls; then dark
figure drawing himself out of the open door
way. That was all. And as the brave
woman leaned back against the wall of her
cabin she heard the song of the birds out
side, she saw the mellow sunlit fleck the
rough floor, but she did not see her enemies.
Then she tainted.
But close before her, doubly fierce in
death, lay the forms of two men, while
without, upon the green grass, writhed
Black Dan, sightless and filled with
wounds.
Twenty minutes later the hired man,
johnson appeared, alarmed at the sound of
the shot, and saw what was done. Three
days later Mrs. Lathrop received the thanks
of the Pixies Peak camp and q golden re-
ward. But she would no longer live alone,
and her husband is now merchant in Den
ver. while she is known as the brave woman
| ----
PREH1sToR1C lsELIos.-The Wheeling
REGISTER saws further explorations of the
wonderful mound in Kanawha county, W.
/ Va, owned by Col. B, F. Smith, reveal
some interesting facts. The mound is $40
| fest in circumference at the base and So feet
-nss s'nl1 ~ the orvnt tbe donna of 1rbicb
,ras was oovaroG With seyers1 feet Of broI,on
rocb T1vo or three steietons wera found
sovaral ov lance'b heads domestic utensi1s .
oI,onti+v of aehes md charcoa1 The isro q
est @ sIas+on % iav p;fb ; his head to the sett;p,,
nU t,o nart ~ ~ tbo r;sinr srn TIE Io++aS
Sad q ionco-Iaad I Twen3v foot dennor 81. tha
ns.o 9: Ns 20 cact .oov IN