The Washington critic., 1886-12-09
A W0MAN'S BRAVERY.

his little bone in Arkansas to 90 down
the river with boatload of furs and
skins.
He left his wife and niece without
even shadow of fore,hought of
ham coming to them during his ab-
sence, for, living as he did, twelve
miles from the nearest town, and re-
mote from the road taken by travellers
and tramps, they had few visitors, and
seldom saw strange face; and then,
too, both women were accustomed to
the use of firearms, and Louis kne "
that they would not hesitate to en-.
ploy them If necessary. Just at this
time stranger was lying i'll in the
hunters cabin-a young man who
had accidentally shot himself
while hunting in the woods, and to
whom Louis had willingly given shelter
and every attention. Fever and deirium
had followed Arthur Morris accident
and he had been confined in the cabin
six weeks, being now In convalescent
state. He said he was well Off In this
worlds goods, and told Laura Stacy
when he first met her that he wore q
monty.belt about his waist, and begged
that 1t might remain there, no matter
how III he became.
Louis had been gone several days and
life had gone on as usual In the little
cabin, which Mrs. Stacy and Laura
had managed to make comfortable and
homelike after much trouble and with
many ingenious contrivances.
Much of Mrs. Stacy's time was spent
with Arthur Morris, who grew restless
and feverish If left alone, Laura, too,
frequently read and talked to the in
valid, unconscious that his handsome,
worn face and dark eyes had caused a
more tender feeling than compassion
to find place in her heart.
The cabin consisted of three rooms
on the ground floor-a main room,
used for cooking, eating and general
purposes, bed room and small room
used as pantry. Beneath was q deep
cellar, where provisions were kept in
the summer, and even In the winter,
for frost never entered the deep hole
Louis Stacy had dug. Above was n
loft. reached by ladder from the pan.
try, and here the two women slept,
giving their sick guest the pleasant
room on the first floor.
1t was nearly midnight of the fifth
day of Louis absence when Laura was
aroused by hearing noise at the door
of the cabin. Not disturbing her
aunt, who was sleeping heavily, worn
out by watching with the invalid the
previous night, the brave girl hastily
threw on her clothes and descended
the ladder just as the door of the main
room opened, and two men in bare
feet entered, carrying lantern. They
started little at seeing Laura, stand
ing silent and motionless with lighted
candle in her hand, One of them, a
tall, burly fellow, with an evil eye,
advanced toward her and shook his fist
in her face.
"Speak one word above Whisper"
he said, "and will put bullet
through your brain"
Laura knew that If she disobeyed the
command the threat would be carried
into execution, and recovering from
her terror she asked the men In an I'M
faltering voice what they wanted.
"We want that money-belt on the
stranger you have here" was the reply
In hoarse whisper "We know all
about it, so yoo needn't lie to us. Tell
us where 1t md be quick about it,"
Surely you would not rob sick
man p said Laura, trying to gain time
and think what was best to do in this
terrible emergency. ut would Ger.
tainly kill him to be reused in such a
brutal manner"
1--WE won't give him any chance to
speak," growled the man who held the
lantern. Hell never know what hurt
him. Hurry up, girl, we're wasting
time"
Laura turned dcathly pale. In that
terrible moment she realized how dear
TO her Arthur Morris had become, and
she resolved to save his life even If she
had 10 sacrifice her own.
''This way, gentlemen" she said,
softly, and she turned toward door
situated midway between the bedroom
and the invalid and the pantry. She
opened II q little way. "Do you hear
him breathe?" she asked.
eyes, yes" answered the rutliaus;
but 1t was the heavy breathing of Mrs.
Stacy in the loft above that they heard.
Laura threw the door wide open; it
opened inward. Then the men saw u
dark void and pressed eagerly forward,
not even stopping to throw the light of
their lantern on the place. At this in
slant Laura sprang back, and threw
herself with all her force upon the
rear man, and the next instant there
was heavy fall, crash of the broken
lantern, and volley of oaths, for
both men lay at the bottom of the eel
lar. But the danger was not over by
any means; Laura knew that the men
would mount the ladder at once, and
there was no way of fastening the door,
and so Laura sprang to the fireplace
and caught Louis revolver from the
rude mantel, while she offered a prayer
for courage and strength.
She heard the deep curses of the vii.
lains as they searched for the ladder,
and the next instant head appeared
above the threshold.
The candle threw faint light on the
scene, but 1t was enough to enable
Laura to see.
Back" she cried but the order was
not obeyed.
The robber raised his pistol, and
Laura knew that unless she fired at
once she was lost--Arthur, too.
With these thoughts flashing through
her mind she leveled her deadly weapon
at the man, and. as a sharp report went
ringing through the cabin, n deep groan
and the sound of a heavy fall came
from the cellar. But the Creaking of
the ladder showed that the other robber
was about TO try his fate, aud he ap.
peared above the threshold, pistol in
hand, But Laura was too quick for
him. A second report, and again came
a groan and the sound of heavy fall.