The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-12-18
gaaerspts gute1tiget1eer.
Brave Ella Reed,


Reeds ranch did not differ materially
from hundreds of others in Colorado.
The same struggling, one.storied struc.;
Jture, perfectly innocent of paint, with
outbuildipgs looking as if they were
ready to tumble down. = The family con-
sisted; at the time of this story, Of. Joe
Reed, the proprietor, his wife and two
children. Ella, the eldest, was, a rather
pretty girl of eighteen, who for several
years had relieved the tired mother OF
much of thelburden of the house work,
attended to the duties of the dairy, and
was good horsewoman withal, often
accompanying her father in rough rides
Of miles when looking for stray cattle.
Once q week Mr.. Reed went to Denver
to sell the;dairy products, and purchase
) such articles Of food las could not be
raised .on the ranch. Willie frequently
accompanied him, aud the two women
were always Kept loaded for emergencies,
concealing them in the folds. of her
dress. ..;.,s:.5i. .;s -.
Is Hastily ,rejoiping her mother in the
larger. room, she was Just in time to see
two burly looking ruffians enter by the
door. The taller of the. two men de-
smanded supper, "and let.it come quick:
~, too,n he said, in q .menacing tone.
The brave girl placed the food on the
table, knowing that the scoundrels would
satisfy their hunger before putting their
purpose of robbery, and possibly muir
der, into execution. She then sat down
in front Of them and watched them.
The moment; their meal was completed,
she suddenly. thrust the muzzles of the
pistols in their faces, threatening to- shoot
'ifthey moved. = sp. i
thought nothing of being left, alone in
the house until long into the night, as
the distance to the city made the drives q
long one Il was on one of these even:
sings in the early fall, just asi they had
completed their supper and the mother
was arranging the table for. the hungry
father and SON.. that the younger woman
went to the barn, the back of which was
Immediately on the road, to- see a calf
that was sick. iiDf ( iliiis ,.laa q dft7
Suddenly She heardathe. voices eof men
in the road near the barns Listening
and scarcely daring to breathe, she heard
the words that almost frozeg her With
terror. .5...,s5; i:' .1,,i.3,g
8 aThe old man keeps his money box in
the drswer:of the old bureau, butlthe:old
woman carries the key" ;si s.i'si
ssHow can we getatit Z" asked another
voice. .i 80. 2, ~ -. .,.,- ...
..We can bind both women and if
they make any noise, ne can stop that"
For moment the terrified listener was
fairly paralyzed with; fear; then, she
started up, and running quickly round to-
the back of the house and crawling
through an open window, went to q closet
and took from it, two revolvers, which
81 Expostulations and protestations were
in vain; the heroic girl stood there with
eyes flashing and determined, for what
TO her seemed ages. The poor mother,
az soon as she comprehended the situa.
stion, overcome BY her great terror, had
tainted and was lying on the floor.
:. Atlast the sound of wagon wheels was;
heard coming toward the house, and in
moment the father and brother entered
the house in. company with an uncle who
had arrived in Denver that day, from
their old eastern, home in iPennsylyania,
and by, the merest. accident met MIR.
Reed on Sixteenth street, in Denver. AS
soonsas they mprehended the, situation
compelled the ruf6ans with reyolyers at
their heads to submit to being bound
with ropes, and when daylight came they
were taken to the county. seat and placed
in Jail.
The brave girl, as soon as she was
relieved from her terrible guard duty,
and the horrible strain on her nerves
was taken off, went into q succession Of
hysterical spasms, and it was for weeks
that herreason if not, her life, was de.
SPARED Of. She eventually recovered,
however, and afterwards married q
wealthy Denver gentleman, and is now
living in Queen City. The two men
were recognized as old offenders, in fact
they were fugitiyes from justice from a
distant county, and afterwards served
long time in the penitentiary in Canon
City, Rocky Mountain Ne,us.