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

| IOOT Nellle HeaTu all tHls, DeIlcNibt
not one word, but working steadily on
frying eggs, making tea and supplying
the table with bread aud butter and cake
| When all was ready she placed chairt
and told her enforced guests that dinner
was prepared for them. Awaiting no
second invitation they hastily seated
themselves aud began to eat.
Suddenly the leader Of the trio paused
| and turned sharply toward Mrs. Lathrop.
| "Missus, are ye scared at such wild
| looking fellows 40 we 'uns? Did you ever
! see our like before?'
1t was test question. Black Dan
| wished to know if the little woman who
fed them 40 willingly knew aught of the
robbery at The Peak; or suspected whom
che entertained. Even while her heart
leaped in fear, she answered
COB, indeed, no, Im not scared Why
should / be? I've seen busted miners
before. I'm glad to DO able 70 help
you"
eyer little brick ~ calculated Black
Dan, can when marry III look round
first and see ef you're wildly! Hore,"
he continued, lifting his pistols from tho
table and extending them to her, "IlI
ask one more favor o. yc. The charges
in them weepins is wet, and ef ye kin
draw 'em au' reload 'em il will be O great
blcssin'."
Mechanically Mrs. Lathrop took the
pistols and turned toward the chest
where her husband kept his arms and
ammunition.
But even as abe did 80 sudden idea,
an inspiration almost, flashed through
her brain These men were now un.
armed her husbands double bRrreled
shotgun loaded stood in the corner; why
not capture the muTdeTsTs herself?
Instantly the brave woman put the
thought into execution. Dropping the
ps,ola she quickly seized the gun, raised
both hammers full cock, and turning,
presented it ut the trio about her table.
BLACK Dan, you and your comrades
are my prisoners"
1t may be her voico trcmbled it
would hardly have been strange if it
did, but ber hand did not, and the three
desperadoes looked with paing cheeks
into the blank muzzles that covered
them, and knew the little woman meaut
what she said.
slowly turning toward the table again,
t)laCh lJdu S4t .-Ali 0OLCl OhIHS,
supplemented by tho statement that he
would finish his dinner anyway. His
companions initiated him.
Mrs. Lathrop stood motionleaa. the
gun still al her shoulder. She dared not
lower it, yet che could not hold Il there
much longer.
The ruflisuu ate steadily and silont-
ly on.
The little woman began to grow faint
not alone with fear, but from the
weight of the gun. Her hands tromblod
Suddenly there rang wild shout,
mingled with furious curoes. Chairs and
table were overturned, and in tho flash
of an eye Mrs. Lethrop cav three men
spring toward her, each with kuife in
his hand.
She saw, aud then, With uordleas
prayer, she pressed the trigger
A tremendous roar shook the air; two
outshooting hames followed by two pufTs
Of blue smoke two heavy falls; then q
dark figure drawing himself out of the
open doorway. That wan all. And as
the brave woman leaned back against the
wall Of her cabin she heard the gong of
the birds outside, and she saw the mel.
low sunlight feck the rough floor. but
she did not sec hor enemies. Then
she tainted.
But eloae before her, doubly fierce in
death lay the forms of two mon, while
without, upon the green grass, wrished
Black Dan, aightless and filed with
wounds.
Twenty minutes later the hired man,
johnson, appeared, alarmed at the sound
of the shot, and na1 what uas done.
Three days later, Mira L.athrop received
the thanks of the Pixies Peak camp and
agolden reward. But she would no long.
or live alone. and her husband 10 now u
merchant in Denver, while ahe Ia known
US the brave woman who caught Black
Dan.