Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-11-06

long about it, or we might be tempted
to serve you in the same way"
Leah, who had shrunk timidly into
corner, started up in alarm when she
heard the threat, and made her way out
to the spot where the bird had fallen
Randolph Darrell, alarmed at the shot
was just ON the point of dashing out of
his cover to go to the rescue of the fe-
males when he saw his affianced rush
out and bear the turkey hastily to the
house.
In a moment he OWNED the cause of
the firing; and not apprehending any
immediate danger to his sweetheart, so
long as the Tories were only anxious to
appease their appetites, he went back
to his cover.
The quick eye OF the Tory leader took
in the graceful outlines of the fair
girls fgnre, as she rushed from the
| house; and, on her hasty return. his
| brutal passions were instantly fired by
single glance at her lovely, anxious
face. 49,
by the beard of King George!" he
| exclaimed, admir- ingly, who 'ould
| ave hexpected to see such hangel in
| petticoats ERE. Come, my lass. and
give us one kiss from that rosebud of a
mouth"
."You dare lay your cowardly hand on
my Leah" cried the enraged mother.
doubling up her great. bony fist, land
I'll strangle you like curt"
"Why, you squint-eyed old beauty"
retorted the Tory, mockingly, ST took
| you for hangel, but I find you are
| wickeder than a she wolf with whelps.'
The rest of the gang laughed bolster
ously at this weak attempt at wit. Then
turning to Leah. with gallant smile,
the Tory inquired how long it would
take to pluck and cook the fowl.
| Leah, answered in modest tone of
| womanly anxiety, that it would take at
least three hours to serve it to their
liking.
But" she added, in a tone of concil-
iation, I'VE have piece of roast pork
and some cold potatoes and corn-cake in
the pantry, if they will answer"
The hungry party, who had been some
hours fasting, declared that the articles
named were good enough, and that they
would forego the turkey on this occasion
for her sake.
With great alacrity, but with an anx.
iously-beating heart, Leah spread the
homely board, and brought forth the
promised viands, which she laid out
temptingly before them. She then
placed what chairs and stools the house
afforded around the table, and politely
invited her unwelcome visitors to be
seated.
Complying with her invitation, the
Tories carelesSly stacked their carbines
near an open window, and, seating
themselves at the table, fell to, greedily
devouring the repast.
Mrs. Hart, in the meantime, with g
heroism superior to her sex, had watched
her hungry guests till she saw she was
not observed by them, when she slipped
out slyly from their midst, and, noise
lessly approaching the open window, she
succeeded in drawing out three of the
carbines before her little game was dis
covered
The moment the Tories perceived the
deadly purpose of the giantess, the three
nearest the window sprang to their fee
in terrified establishment.
''Stand bacl1!" she cried, in threat
ening tone, presenting one of the loaded
carbines with an air of resolute deter
mination. ''The first villain of you tina
stirs step. I'll shoot; and the first one
that touches another mite of that porl
I'll blow his brains out!''
Without needing her blazing eye, o.
her stern verbal warning, the Tory
leader sprang fearlessly toward the
stack of arms; but before he could reach
them there was a report of a carbine
and the advancing ruffian fell to thu
floor, while the slug, which had passed
entirely through his body, struck an
other in the temple, who was seated a
the table, killing him instantly.
A third, rendered desperate by tn
trying situation, made reckless at
! tempt to get possession of one of tn
, carblnes and instantly paid the penalt
with his life.
Throwing the second empty carbin
aside, Mrs Hart caught up the rhir
one, with which she now covered VIVA
remained of the terrified party.
There were but four left, and no
one Of the four dared to move a finger
Leah. blow the dinner-horn!' erie
the mother, in a tone of resolute tri
umph. 1T is safe now to call in Sila
3 and your father"
The young girl. half-terrifed out {
l her wits, promptly obeyed the materna
command, and long, winding bias
o echoed and re-echoed through the in
: | tervening woods.
She had left the house and joined he
d mother on the outside, before she es
sayed to blow.it. and as she lowered tn
q horn from her lips, now rendered color
less from her recent fright, her anxiou
: eyes were bent in the direction of tn
Q distant corn-feld, where her father
and brother and a faithful negro ser,
: ant were at work, although Mario
: belt of timber stretched between then
She uttered quick exclamation {
E joyous pleasure, for at that momer
; she saw all three strike out of the WOO
and start on a rapid run toward tn
house.
: Hearing the first shot that had bee
: fired, and then alarmed by the othe