The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-11-26
A COLORADO GIRLS NERVE.
she Keeps Two Robbers at Bay Until As.
sistance Comes.

She Keeps Two Robbers at Bay Until AZ.
sistance Comes.
Reeds ranch did not differ materially
from hundreds of others in Colorado. The
same struggling, one-storied structure, pei.
feetly innocent of paint, with outbuildings
looking as if they were ready to tumble
down, as in fact they would have done were
they not propped up on different sides by
rails and old pieces of board, some rough
slabs nailed together with cross-pieces of
the same material, and suspended by one
hinge, formed the door of the larger of the
structures. The family consisted, at the
time of this story, of Joe Reed, the proprie-
tor, his wife and two children. Ella, the
eldest, was n rather pretty girl of 1S, who
for several years had relieved the tired
mother of much of the burdens of house.
work, attended to the duties of the dairy
and was good horsewoman witbal, often
accompanying her father in rough rides of
miles WREN looking for stray cattle. Once
a week Mr.. Reed was in the habit of coming
to Denver to dispose of dairy products and
purchase such articles of food as could not
be raised on tho ranch. Willie frequently
accompanied him and the two womer
thought nothing of being left alone in the
house until long into the night. as the dis
lance to the city made the drive long one.
1t was on one of these evenings in the early
fall just as they had completed their supper
and the mother was arranging the table for
the hungry father and son, who were not
expected for several hours, the younger
woman had occasion to go to the barn, the
back of which was Immediately on the road,
TO see sick calf that she was administer.
ing 20. Suddenly she heard the sound Of
voices of some men evidently in the road
in the vicinity of the barn Listening in.
tently and scarcely daring to breathe she
heard words that almost froze her with ter
ror.
" The old man keeps his money-box in
the drawer of the old bureau, but the old
woman carries the key"
" How can we get at it?" asked another
voice.
" We can gag and bind both women, and
# they make any noise we can knock them
in the head
For moment the terrified listener wa,
fairly paralyzed with fear; then, as if sud.
denly inspired with a superhuman courage,
the sound of footsteps and voices becoming
fainter, she started up and running quickly
around to the back of the house and crawl
inn hf.D ttetl,
closet and took from it two large revolvers
(which were always kept loaded for emergen-
cies, concealng them in the folds of her
dress. Hastily rejoining her mother in the
larger room, she was just in time to see two
burly looking ruffians enter by the door as
the mother looked up with a scared white
face. The taller of the two men then do.
manded in rough tones that some supper
should be set before them, land let il come
quick, too" he added in menacng tone.
Full of her purpose, the brave girl quickly
placed the food ON the table, knowing that
The scoundrels would satisfy their hunger
before putting their purpose of robbery and
possibly murder into execution. Sire then
sat down in front of them, Watching them
with the eyes of hawk without especially
attracting their attention. Soon she saw
that their meal was about completed, and,
making ruse as il reaching for dish, she
suddenly thrust the rhuzzles of the pistols
in their faces, threatening them with instant
death if they moved. In vain their every
effort to get out of their unpleasant predica-
ment, their slightest movement was follow
ed by an ominous click. Expostulations
and protestations were in vain, the heroic
girl stood there with eyes flashing and de-
termination in every lineament for what to
her seemed ages. The poor mother, as soon
rs she comprehended the situation, overcome
by her great terror, had tainted and was ly-
ing prone on the floor. At last the welcome
sound of wagon wheels was heard coming
toward the house, but not for q moment did
the girl relax her vigilance until the sur
prised father and brother had entered the
house in company with I'm uncle who had
arrived in Denver that day from their old
Eastern home in Pennsylvania and by the
merest accident met Mr.. Reed on Sixteenth
oughly comprehended the situation they
compelled the ruffians with revolvers 81
their heads to submit to being bound will
ropes, and as soon as daylight came they
were taken to the county seat and placed in
jail The brave heroine, MS soon as relieved
from her terrible guard duty and the horri-
BILE strain on her nerves was taken off went
into succession of hysterical spasms and
it was for weeks that her reason, if not her
life, was despaired of. She eventually re-
covered, however, and afterward married n
wealthy Denver gentleman, and is now one
of the leading society ladies of the Queen
City. TIE two men were recognized as old
offenders, in fact they were fugitiyes from
justice from a distant county, and after
ward served long time in the peniteni.
airy in Canon City.-Roohy Mountain Nesos