The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-02-21

Poor Nellie heard all this, believing
not one word, but working steadily on,
frying 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 invitation they hastily seated
themselves and began to eat.
Suddenly the leader of the trio paused
and turned sharply toward Mira. Lathroop.
"Missus, are ye scared at such Wild
looking fellows as we'unsi Did you ever
see our like before 2"
It was test question. Black Dan
wished to know if the little woman who
fed them 80 willingly knew aught of the
robbery at the Peak; or suspected whom
she entertained. Even while her heart
leaped in fear, she answered:
"Oh, indeed, no, I'm not scared Why
ahould / be-? I've seen busted miners
before. I'm glad to be able TO help
you"
eyer little brick |" CALCULATED Black
Dan, "an' when / marry I'll look round
first and see eff you're wildly! Here,"
he continued, lifting his pistols from the
table and extending them to her, "I'll
ask one more favor o ye. The charges
in them weepins is wet, and cf ye kin
draw 'em an reload 'em it will be great
blessin'."
Mechanically Mrs. Lathrop took the
pistols and turned toward the chest
whore her husband kept his arms and
ammunition.s
But even as she did so sudden idea,
an inspiration almost, flashed through
her brain. These men were now un.
armed; her husbands double barreled
shotgun loaded stood in the corner; Why
not capture the murderers hersslf9
Instantly the brave woman put the
thought into execution. Dropping the
pistols she quickly seized the gun, raised
both hammers full cock, and turning,
presented it at the trio about her table.
"Black Dan, you and your comrades
are Iny prisoners"
It 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 cheeks
into the blank muzzles that covered
them, and knew the little woman meant
what she said.
For 9 moment silence reigned then,
slowly turning toward the table again,
Black Dan growled out half dozen oaths,
supplemented by the statement that he
would finish his dinner anyway. His
compapions 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 rufians ate steadily and silent
Theslittle woman began to grow faint
not alone with fear, but from the
weight of the gun. Her hands trsmbled.
Suddenly there rang wild shout,
mingled with furious curses. Chairs and
table, we're overturned, and in the fash
of an eye Mrs. Lathrop saw three men
spring toward her, each with knife in
his hand.
She saw, and then, With wordleas
prayer; she pressed the trigger.
A tremendous roar shook the air; two
outahooting flames followed by two puffs
of blue smoke; two heavy falls; then
dark figure drawing himself out of the
open doorway. That was all. And as
the brave woman leaned back against the
wall of her cabin she heard the song Of
the birds outside, and she saw tho mel.
low auulight Hsck the rough floor, but
she did not seq her enemies. Then.
she tainted.
But cloae before her, doubly fierce in
death lay the forms of two men, while
without, upon the green grass, writhed
Black Dan, aightless 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
d golden reward. But she would no long
er live alone, and her husband is now a
merchant in Denver, while she is known
as the brave woman who caught Black
Dan.