The Penn's Grove record., 1884-02-09

had prepared ana eaten Il pidlu ull-
ner. all alone, aud 10 she was en-
gagged in washing the few dishes used,
humming a low love song as SHE worked,
and counting the flight Of the moments
that interviewed before her husbands
return by the creeping shadows upon
the distant mountain side. AS she
worked her back was turned toward
the open door, and she did not see the
darker shadows that suddenly fell
across the rough floor, nor note the
crunch of heavy boots upon the fresh
green grass, until a resounding football
upon the step startled her, and she
turned quickly to meet the first caller
who had appeared that day-a tall,
ferce-looking bearded man, who stood
before her.
"Missus, who lives here?"
The tone was harsh and threatening,
but the question was a common one,
and Nellie replied:
'My husband; Mr.. Lathrop, ard
myself"
where's the boss?"
MY husband? He's gone 10 the
creek for a barrel of salt"
"Where's your hired help?"
1--WE only have one man, and he is
not here now, Can l do anything for
your"
Eyes" growled the black bearded
one. Eyes, yer can. Yer can do this
fer me. Git a dinner for three hungry
cusses as hasn't had time to get their
own. Come in, boys,n ''it's all clear.
The cocks away, naught but the hens
at home, an We'll have dinner"
For a moment poor Mrs. Lathrop
felt faint, and the world, sunlit and
warm, danced before her eyes, then
full strength came again as she saw
this hurly stranger fling himself into a
chair and lay two enormous pistols
beside his elbow on the table, while a
pair of others, each as wild and tat
tered and fierce-looking as the leader,
followed him; full of strength, even
while she realized who it was that sat
within her kitchen, the man "whose
heart was as black as his beard''
Black Dan, the rutIian of New
Mexico, who only two days ago, with
these very companions, had committed
robbery and murder. This was the
man who demanded dinner, and Mrs.
Lathrop knew it.
"Don't waste yer time, missus, sud-
denly spoke the leader, turning quickly
and fastening his fierce, bold eyes upon
the young hostess, ''don't waste your
time nor yer words. Git dinner"
There was no mistaking the COM
mand and the tone in which it was ut
tered me mt far more than words.
Mrs. LathrOp began at once to lay the
table.
"We're busted miners, missus," be-
gan Black Dan, witha wink to his COM
rades; completely busted, an can't
pay. What We give us to eat must be
for charity. We amt even got no
weepins, except those pistils O. mine,
an them we're keepin' to help us out
up at the creek, an beggin' to git
thar"
Poor Nellie heard all this, believing
not n 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. Await
ing no second invitation they hastily
seated themselves and began to eat.
Suddenly the leader of the trio paused
and turned sharply toward Mrs. Lath-
rop.
"MiSsus, are We scared at such Wild
looking fellows as we'uns? Did you
ever see our like before?"
1t was a test question. Black Dan
wished to know If this little woman
who fed them % willingly knew aught
of the robbery at the Peak; or suspec-
ted whom she entertained. Even
while her heart leaped in fear, she an
swered;
"Oh, indeed, no., Pm not scared!
Why should l be? I've seen busted
miners before. I'm glad to be able to
help you"
Eyer a little brickl" calculated
Black Dan, FAN when 1 marry I'll
look round first and see eff you're a
widdyl Here" he continued, lifting
his pistols from the table and extend
ing them to her, 'I'l ask one more
favor o. We. The charges in them
weepins is wet, and eft ye kin draw 'em
an reload 'em it will be a great bles-
SIM"
Mechanically Mrs. Lathrop took the
pistols and turned toward the chest
where her husband kept his arms and
ammunition.
But even as she did 50 a sudden idea,
an inspiration almost, flashed through
her brain. These men were now I'M
armed; her husbands double-barreled
shotgun loaded stood in the corner
why not capture the murderers her
self!
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 1t at the trio about
her table.
"Black Dan, you and your comrades
are my prisoners"
1t may be her voice trembled; it
would hardly have been strange if it
did, but her hana did not, and the
three desperadoes looked with paling
cheeks into tn black muzzles that
covered them, and knew the little
woman meant what she said.
For a moment silence reigned; then,
slowly turning toward the table again,
Black Dan growled out halt-dozen
oaths, supplemented by the statement