Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1899-03-04
4 THE UND0INC Of /
a ADOUBLE /
4 BYHUG05T FlNI5TERRE. ND.
a AUTHOR 0F"WHOD MHOf ETCtI0E
4 lC0OyR,GA1h628 8yAMIR2laNHYflJA(r0llfluy1E
CHAPTER XIV.

l found the home of Colonel ManSley
better prepared for defense than would
be suspected. Like most southerners
he was fond of hunting, and in his
house We're two fine rifles, shotgun
and small revolver. The smaller rifle
and pistol were the property of his
daughter, who was an expert in their
use as well as a horsewoman of cOnsum-
mate skill. The revolver belonging to
the colonel had been taken by him when
he rode off i'll quest of e-enfOrCements,
so that no cartridges We're found of
which | could make use. But his rifle
was placed at my disposal, while Miss
Mansley was similarly armed.
Our hope was that if the vigilantes
arrived before the master of the house
we could stand them off until he came
The real strength of this peculiar de-
fense, as it seemed to me, lay in the
personality of the young woman, who
was well known and universally respect
ed. 1t was hard to believe that a COM
pany of her neighbors would proceed to
violence in which she was sure to be-
come involved, but when | intimated
such belief she shook her head, and
since she knew them better than l her
views We're entitled to belief.
Erastus Brown was our main reliance
among the servants. He expressed an
eagerness to join in the defense, but
since he refrained from doing so until
after his mistress announcement that
he was to cOntine his services to watch
man or scout 1t cannot be believed he
was much disappointed. The other men,
of whom there We're several, were en-
Joined to scan the country i'll every di
rection and report promptly the discov-
cry of anything suspicious.
Early i'll the afternoon, when every
thing appeared to be quiet, Miss Mans
ley and l ate hasty lunch. We re-
manned i'll the parlor, moving from
window to window, talking together in
low tones and continually on the alert.
Nothing could be clearer to me than our
powerlessneSs against Il determined at
tack. If our assailants should confine
their assault to the front of the house.
where they would be in fair range, it
is probable that we could have held
them Oft indefinitely, but it was too
much to expect them to butt their heads
against wall i'll that fashion.
1t was about the middle of the after
noon that Erastus Brown, who was on
the lookout at one of the upper win
dows, rushed down stairs in a state of
excitement, with startling news.
"Dey're comin"' he gasped. "Dey IL
be here in few minutes!'
Whom do you mean" asked Miss
Mansley, betraying less excitement than
myself.
"De biggermists, dat am gwine to
tore de house dOwn!'
"How many"
"Two hundred and twenty five; l
counted 'emr'
Instead of replying to this astound
ing declaration, the young woman ran
up stairs. She had hardly disappeared,
when she uttered glad cry.
"Father is returning!' she called.
Almost instantly she reappeared at
the head of the stairs and FASTENED to
my side, her face aglow with delighted
excitement.
SIS he alOne?' l asked.
He brings eenforcements. Isn't it
grand?"
"How many?"
"Two-sutficient to repel 1O0."
Evidently the daughter held a good
opinion of her parents courage. Never
theless four determined men (for | in
clude myself constituted formidable
force, to say nothing of the brave young
woman.
A few minutes later the three horse
men dashed up and leaped from their
saddles.
Erastus was on hand to take charge
of their animals, and Esther opened the