Year: 1870

Our heroine lived in Bartlett, New Hampshire,
and was descendant of the old Crawfords.
Her father was Crawford, and followed the
profession of guide among the mountains.
Her name was Bessie, and she was the only
daughter remaining at home - dark-eyed,
brown-haired girl, of slight but compact frame,
just entering her nineteenth year. Her mother
had been dead several years and upon her de-
volved the whole care of the household.
One day, late in summer, Crawford went wilh
party OF travellers, away to the head waters OF
he many mountain streams that empty into
Saco, and Bessie was left alone. Even the dogs
had all gone with the pleasure seekers. Near
the middle of the afternoon, while the girl was
sitting by open window in the front room
| engaged in sewing, man came up from the
road and asked her if she would give him Il
drink of water. Bessie had seen this man be-
fore, and had not liked his looks. He was
stout, broad shouldereo, ill-tavored fellow, and
the bits of moss and spikes of the pines upon his
clothes indicated that he had slept in the woods


But Bessie did not hesitate. She laid aside
her work and went to get the water. When she
came back the man had entered the room She
did not like this, for she was sure he had come
in by the window but she handed him the tin
dipper without remark. The man drank, and
set the dipper down upon the table. Then he
turned upon the girl and drew a broad-baded
knife from his pocket.



there is money in this house and | know that
you are alone. Show me where the money is |
Ii you don't shall kill you and then hunt my
self I'm in earnest, and there is time to
waste. Don't make fuss, for if you do, you II
feel this knife quick ~


Bessie shrank back and looked into the man s
face, and she could see that he meant just what
he said


" If show you where the money is, will you
promise not to do me harm p


" Show me, honest, and won't harm you"


"Then come with me- But you will take
only the money-you won take my fathers pa
persP'


Only the money, girl"


Bessie led the way to a small bedroom on the
ground floor, where there was an old mahogany
bureau the upper draw of which she unlocked.
The man, when he saw this, thinking doubtless
that Crawford's gold was within his grasp, shat
up bis knife and put ii in his pocket. The girl
opened the drawer, and quick thought, drew
forth large navy revolver-one with which she
herself had killed trapped bear-and cooked it.
=" William P' she exclaimed, planting her back
against the wall and aiming the weapon at his
bosom, "many wild beast have | shot with
this good pistol, and I'll now shoot you if you
do not instantly leave this house | will give
you not even second Start, or fire I"


The ruiiian could read human looks as well as
could the maiden, and he could read very plainly
in the frm-set lips and in the flashing eyes-but
more clearly in the steady hand which held the
pistol-that she would not only fire as she had
promised, but her aim would be sure and fatal
one.


And he backed out from the bedroom backed
into the sitting room-then leaped from the open
window and disappeared


Bessie kept her pistol by her side until her
father and his guests came home and when she
had told her story, search made for the
rufiian. But he was not found. Our heroine
had so thoroughly frightened him that he never
came that way again.