Year: 1870

DhoNC Will


Our heroine lived in Bartlett, N, II.
and was descendant Of the old Crawfords
Her father was Crawford, and followed
the profession Of guide among the noun
tains. Her name was Bessie, and sh,
was the only daughter remaining at home
"a dark-eyed brown-haired girl O
slight, but compact frame; just entering
her nineteenth year. Her mother had
been dead several years, and upon hcl
devolved the whole care of the house
hold.


One day late in summer, Mr.. Craw
ford went with party of travellers, away
to head-waters Of one of the many noun.
tain streams that empty into the Saco
and Bessie was left alone. Even thu
dogs had all gone with the pleasure
seekers. Near the middle of the after
noon, while the girl was sitting by on
open window Of the front room, engaged
in sewing, man came up from the
road, and asked her if she would give
him drink of water. Bessie had seen
this man before, and had not liked his
looks. He was stout, broad-shoulder.
ed, ill.favored fellow, and the bits OIL
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 no,
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 broad.bladed knife from his
pocket.


"Look ye, my young lady," he said
81 know there's money in this house -
and l know that you are alone. Show
me where the money, is ! If you don't,
shall kill you and then hunt it up my.
self. I'm in earnest and there amt nc
time to waste. Don't make fuss, for il
you do you'll feel this knife quick ~


Bessie shrank back, and looked into
the mans 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 ?


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


"Then come with me. But you will
take only the money,-you won't take
my fathers papers ?"


"Only the money, girl"


Bessie led the way to small bedroom
on the ground floor, where there was ar
old mahogony bureau, the upper drawer
of which she unlocked. The man, when
he saw this, thinking doubtless tina,
Crawford's gold was within his grasp
shut up his knife and put it into his
pocket. The girl opened the drawer
and quick as thought drew forth a large
navy revolver-one with which she her
self had killed trapped bear-and
cooked it.


"Villain !" she exclaimed, planting
her back against the wall, and aiming thu
weapon at his bosom, "many wild beas
have | shot with this good pistol, and III
now shoot you if you do not instantly
leave this house will give you not ever
second Start or | fire


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


And he backed out from the bedroom
backed into the sitting-room-theu
leaped from the open window and disap'
peared. Bessie kept her pistol by he,
side until her father and his guests came
home; and when she had told her story
search was made for the ruffian. But he
was not found. Our heroine had so
thoroughly frightened him that he never
came that way agian.