Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-10-26
A COLORADO GIRLS NERVE.
She Keeps Two Robbers at Bay Until
Assistance Comes.

Assistance Comes.
Reed ranch did not differ materially
from hundreds of others in Colorado, says
the Rocky Mountain Ne5rs. The same
struggling, one-storied structure, per-
fectly innocent of paint, with outbuild-
fngs looking as if they were ready to tum-
BILE 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 fam
ilv consisted, 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 Is, who for several years had
relieved the tired mother of much OF the
I burdens of homework, attended to the
duties of the dairy and was good horse
woman withal, often accompanying her
father in rough rides Of miles when look
ing for stray cattle. Once a week Mr..
Reed was in the habit of coming to Den
yer to dispose of dairy, products and pur-
chase such articles OF food as could not
be raised on the ranch. Willie frequently
accompanied him, and the Two women
| thought nothing of beng left alone in the
house until long into the night, as the dis
tauce to the city made the drive q long
one. 1t was on one of these eve
nings 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 q OF
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 a sick calf that she was ad-
ministering TO. Suddenly she heard the
sound of voices Of some men evidently in
the road in the vicinity of the barn.
Listening intently and scarcely daring to
breathe she heard words that almost froZe
her with terror.
''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 itY asked another
voice.
ave can gag and bind both women, and
if they make any noise we can knock
them i'll the head"
For a moment the terrified listener was
fairly paralyZed with fear; then, as if
suddenly inspired with a superhuman
courage, the s-Und of footsteps and voices
becoming fainter, she started up, and
running quickly around to the back of
the house and crawling through an open
window, went to a closet and took from it
two large reyOlyers which were always
kept loaded for emergencies, C0ncealing
them in the folds Of her dress. Hastily re-
joining her mother in the larger room, she
was lust IN time to see two burly- looking
rutiians enter by the door as the mother
looked up with scared white face. The
taller Of the two men then demanded in
rough tones that some supper should be set
before them, "and let it come quick. too"
he added in a menacing 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. She
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 CON-
pleted, and. making a ruse as if reaching
for a dish, she suddenly thrust the ruzzles
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 predicament; their
slightest movement was followed by an
ominOus click. EXpOstulatiOns and pro-
testatiOns were in vain; the heroic
girl stood there with eyes flash
ing and determination in every
lineament for what to her seemed
ages. The poor mother, as soon as she
comprehended the situation, overcome by
her great terror, had tainted and was lying
prone on the floor. At last the welcome
sound of wagon wheels was heard coming
toward the house, but not for d moment
did the girl relax her vigilance until the
surprised father and brother had entered
the house in company with an uncle who
had arrived in Denver that day from their
old Eastern home in Pennsylvania and by
the merest accident met Mr., Reed on Six
tenth street, in Denver. AS soon as
they thoroughly cOmprehended the
situation they compelled the ruff
ans. with reYoivers at their heads,
to submit to being bound with ropes,
and as soon as daylight came they were
taken to the county seat and placed in
Jail, The brave heroine, as soon as re-
lieved from her terrible guard duty and
the horrible strain on her nerves was
taken off, went into a succession Of hys-
terical sbasms, and it was for weeks that
her reason, if not her life, was despaired
of. She eventually recovered, however,
and afterward married a wealthy Denver
gentleman, and is now one Of the leading
society ladies of the Queen City. The.
two M were recognized as old offenders,
in fact they were fugitives from justice
from a distant county, and afterward
served a long time in the peuitentiary IN
Canon City.