Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-23
A Yankee Girls Deed.

unused Lula Robinson, shading her dark
earnest eyes with her hand and gazing out
into the prairie in the fast deepening twi-
light.
A mere slip of a girl, with sweet
thoughtful face-a little Yankee school
marm." who had come from an eastern
state on a visit to her uncle and aunt: and
to help exc out her slender income had been
teaching in the small school house in the
midst OF that wide reaching prairie land
the few young children of the neighbor-
hood.
They certainly cannot intend to remain
away all night. And a violent storm is
brewing. ] can hear the distant thunder
even now. and these prairie storms are
sometimes terrific. Something must have
happened to cause such delay. All! there
Is dust in the west. hope and pray it
may be friends.
Lower and lower the black clouds hung;
nearer and palmer the roar of thunder drew
| and the hot dry air became blast of sand
! ana dust that almost shut out the other
cloud of dust in the westward.
But at last they were quite near, and
Lula perceived them to be three splendid
ly-mOunted plainsmen.
The first. large dark man. lifted his
sombrero with a DASH that would have
done credit to city dandy, and with low
bow and foreign accent said:
Good evening, little girl We are just in
time to accept your generous hospitality
around to the stables.
They are no honest bordermen. but
cruel and dangerous. God protect and help
mel" she breathed. and her face growing
| white with terror as she realized her posi-
ton.
In a few minutes they returned and had
just time to close the door ere the storm
burst in its awful fury.
Don't be afraid" said the man who had
first addressed her: I'VE won't harm a hair
of your head. child" for Lulu had grown
very white, and only at the sound of his
kindly voice did she recover her composure
suf1ciently to answer his question and place
before the hungry party a humble supper
or bread and milk and venison.
AS the storm ragged and tore she crept
away to her own little room under the
caves, hearing the gruff voices of the men
as they smoked their pipes between the
thunder claps and shriekings of the wind
It's wonder they haven't been on our
track before this"
They couldn't keep on the tracks Of
Thunderbolt." with a low chuckle
L say, Don. what about that little bust
rich haul?"
Yes, Wen try that tomorrow NIGHT
and"
The remainder Of the conversation Lula
lost. but she had heard enough The men
mad spoken in Spanish. and in unguardedly
loud tones, suppoSfng, of course that the
girl upstairs could not comprehend a word
An! they little realized the little Yankee
girls thirst for knowledge that led her into
the maZes and beauties of modern lam
guages.
+. The violence Of the storm prevented any
further information from reaching her
ears, but pressing her hand upon her heart,
she murmured:
Heaven help me! 1t Is Don Simon's
pand and they are going to c. tomorrow
night TO rob and murder. What can do?
What am to do to give the warning? / must
Try, put oh! what terrible night"
e, hlsing from her couch where she had
hung herself she drew on her waterproof
cloak and crept to the small garnet win
cow. with trembling fingers she raised
the SASH and peered out. The rain was still
1alllng with a steady pour but the violence
OF the wind had ceased somewhat
Lula drew back with shudder, but tine
voices of the men reached her and gave
renewed courage. Near her hung rope,
securely, slipped down into the darkness
and rain. Reaching the ground without
accident she hastily sped away to the
stables, where only the robbers horses
own with him.
1T is fearful risk, but I must run it,"
she thought as she entered the stable and
threw her own saddle and bride on the
first horse she found.
With few little loving pats the mettle-
some steed yielded to the charm of her
voice and caresses and permitted her to
lead him out and mount him
Turning in the direction of c.. Lula
dashed off. trusting to the wind and dark
ness to conceal her flight. But she had
only gone a short distance when a flash
of lightning revealed her swiftly djsap-
pearing form to one of the men who hap
pened to glance out of the window.
BY Jove, there goes our little girl, and
on Thunderbolt too!'
There was wild hurrying for the stable
and swift mountings but Lula had the
start and they all knew the character of
the horse she rode.
What race it was! Never to her dying
day will Lula Robinson forget the danger
and horror of that time. Swiftly surely,
steadily, her magnificent steed kept her
FAR In advance Of her pursuers, but If he
should stumble or she should miss her way!
On, on they flew. her light weight ana
cheering voice seemed to add swiftness to
the beautiful creatures wonderful speed.
Ten miles were passed in this mad fight
cleaned before her. and when the sound
of hoofs became palmer and more distinct
"Oh, am to be caught now and safety
30 near?"
But no: the hoofs that were approaching
her came from the little town, and Lula
soon found herself surrounded by friends.
Then Lula hastily told them Of the pres.
ence Of the notorious band at her uncle's
house, of her flight and their pursuit.
You are now safe" they said, land we
will see If they can be captured"
And away the little party dashed. their
fresh steeds soon overtaking the tired
horses Of the robbers Not until they were
surrounded did they realize they were in
the hands Of the officers of the law; then
there was shooting and violent efforts to
escape. but in vain! One man was killed
outright and the other wounded severely
Don Simon himself.
The other member Of the band had re-
manned at the house, but Don Simon suf-
fered the full penalty of his many crimes.
Ere he was executed he sent Lula as
present the famous Thunderbolt-a token
of his high esteem of her bravery.
But Lula declined to keep the horse and
sold him. giving the money to those whom
his master had most cruelty wronged.
Lula Is a lovely matron now, but re-
members with little thrill of horror the
night she fled to give the alarm. mounted
on the back Of the famous Thunderbolt
N. o. T. D.
Lieut.. Hobson's Bravery.
he lent