The progress., 1904-01-16
A Yankee
Girls Deed
sdVITHAT can possibly cause such

WHAT can possibly cause such
w delay?" unused Lula Robinson.
shading her dark earnest eyes with her
hand and gazing out into the prairie in
the fast deepening twilight
mere slip of girl, with sweet,
thoughtful face-a little Yankee school
marm," who had come from an eastern
state on 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 neighborhood.
They certainly cannot intend to re-
main away all night. And violent
storm is brewing. can hear the dis
tant thunder even now, and these prai-
rie storms are sometimes terrific. Some
thing must have happened to cause such
delay. All! there is dust in the west.
l 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 be-
came a blast of sand and dust that al
most shut out the other cloud of dust
in the westward
But at last they were quite near, and
Lula perceived them to be three splen-
didly-mounted plainsmen.
The first, large dark man, lifted his
sombrero with dash that would have
done credit toe citv dandy, and with
.law bow and foreign accent said:
Good evening, little girl. We are
just in time to accept your generous
hospitality" and with wicked smile
they dashed around to the stables.
"They are no honest bordermen, but
cruel and dangerous. God protect and
help mel" she breathed, her face
growing white with terror as she real
lied her position.
In 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; 1--WE won't harm
hair of your head, child" for Lula had
grown very white, and only at the sound
of his kindly voice did she recover her
composure sufficiently to answer his
question and place before the hungry
party humble supper of 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
Iaer as they smoked their pipes be-
tween the thunder claps and shriekings
of the wind.
Its wonder they haven't been ON
our track before this"
"They couldn't keep on the tracks of
Thunderbolt," with a low chuckle.
IL say. Don, what about that little
business at c.. Is there any prospect
of a rich haul?"
Eyes, we'll try that tomorrow night
and"
The remainder of the conversation
Lula lost but she had heard enough.
The men had spoken in Spanish, and in
unguardedly loud tones, supposing, of
course, that the girl upstairs could not |
comprehend word. All! they little |
realized the little Yankee girls thirst |
for knowledge that led her into the |
mazes and beauties of modern Ian
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 |
band. and they are going 10 c. to-
morrow night to rob and murder. What |
can | do? What can do to give the |
warning? l must try, but oh! what a
terrible night"
Rising from her couch where she had |
flung herself, she drew on her water
proof cloak and crept to the small gar
ret window. With trembling fingers she
raised the sash and peered out. The
rain was still falling with steady pour,
but the violence of the wind had ceased
somewhat
Lula drew back with shudder, but
the voices of the men reached her and
courage. Near her hung
a rope, which sne hastily seized, and, fas-
tening it securely, slipped down into the
darkness and rain. Reaching the ground
without accident she hastily sped away
10 the stables. where only the robbers
horses were, for her uncle had taken
both of his own with him.
at is a fearful risk, but must, run
it, she thought, as she entered the, sta
ble and threw her own saddle and bfidle
on the first horse she found.
With a few little loving pats the met
+lesome steed yielded to the charm of
her voice and caresses and permitted her
70 lead him out and mount him.
Turning in the direction of C, +
Lula dashed off, trusting TO the Wind
and darkness % conceal her flight. But |
the had only gone short distance when !
/ flash of lightning revealed her swiftly |
form TO one of the men
Who happened to glance out of the win
low.
by love, there goes our little girl. a
md on Thunderbolt. tool" a
There was wild hurrying for the sta I
ls and swift mounting, bu; Lulu had !
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