News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-01-01

Reeds ranch did not differ materially
from hundreds of others in Colorado
The same struggling, one-storied struct-
ure, perfectly innocent of paint, with
outbuildings 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 rather
pretty girl of eighteen, who for several
years had relieved the tired mother of
much of the burden of the homework,
attended to the duties of the dairy and
was good horsewoman withal, often ac-
companying her father in rough rides of
miles when looking for stray cattle.
Once a week Mr.. Reed went to Denver
to sell the dairy products and purchase
such articles of food as could not be
raised on the ranch. Willie frequently
accompanied him, and the two women
thought nothing of being left alone in
the house until long in the night, as the
distance to the city made the drive a
long one. 1t was on one of these even
ings in the early fall, just as 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 to calf
that was sick.
Suddenly she heard the voices of men
in the road near the barn. Listening and
scarcely daring to breathe she heard the
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"
GLOW can we get at it ?" asked anoth-
er voice.
eve can bind both women, and if
they make any noise we can stop that.
For a 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 clos
ct and took from it two revolvers which
were always kept loaded for emergen-
cies, concealing them in the folds of her
dress.
Hastily reioining her mother in the
larger room she was just in time to see
two burly-looking rufians enter by the
door. The taller of the two demanded
supper, "and let it come quickly, too, }" he
said, in menacing tone. The brave
girl placed the food on the table, know.
ing that the scoundrels would satisfy
their hunger before putting their pur-
pose of robbery, and possibly murder,
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 shootif they
moved.
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,
as soon as she comprehended the situa-
ton, overcome 10y her great terror, had
tainted and was lying on the floor.
At last 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 Pennsylvania,
and by the merest accident met Mr..
Reed on Sixteenth street in Denver. As
soon as they comprehended the situation
they compelled the ruffians with revolvers
at their heads to submit to being tied
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 re-
Iieved from her terrible guard duty, and
the horrible strain on her nerves was
taken off, went into a succession of hys-
terical spasms and it was for weeks that
her reason, if not her life, was despaired
of. She eventually recovered, however,
and afterward married wealthy Denver
gentleman, and is now living in Queen
~ The two men were recognized as