Year: 1870

Our heroine lived in Bartlett, New
Hampshire, and was descendant OF the
old Crawfords. Her father was q Craw-
for1, and followed the profession of q
guide among the mountains. Her name
was Bessie, and she was the only daugh-
ter remaining at home-a dark-eyed,
brown-h haired girl, of slight but compact
frame, just entering her nineteenth year.
Her mother had been dead several years,
and upon her devolVed the whole care of
the household.


One day, late in summer, Mr.. Craw-
ford went, with party of travellers, away
to the head waters of one of the 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 an open window in
the front room, engaged in sewing, man
came up from the road and asked her If
she would give him q drink of water.
Bessie had seen this man before, and had
not liked his looks. He was stout,
broad -shouldered, ill-favored fellow, and
the bits of moss and spikes of the pines
upon his clothes indicated that he had
slept in the woods. i-.i.


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


"Look ye, my young lady" he said,
know there is money in this house; and
know that you are alone. Show me where
the money isl If you don't, shall kill
you, and then hunt 1t up myselff I'm in
earnest, and there is no time to waste.
Don't make fuss, for if you do, you'll
feel this knife quickl"


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


"If 1 show you where the money is, win
you promise not to do me harm?"


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


"Then come with me. But you viii
fathers papers"


"Only the money, girl"


Bessie led the way to small bedroom
on the ground floor, where there was an
old mahogany bureau, the upper drawer
of which she unlocked. The man, when he
saw this, thinking doubtless that 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 herself had killed trapped
bear-and cooked it.


"Villain T" she exclaimed, planting her
back against the wall, and aiming the
weapon at his bosom, "many q wild beast
have shot with this good pistol, and Ill
now shoot you If you do not instantly
leave this houseI ] will give not even a
second Start, or L fire T''


The ruff1an could read human looks as
well as could the maiden, and he could
read very plainly in the f1rm-set lips and
in the flashing eye-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 y sitting
leaped from the open window and disap-
peared.


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