A COLORADO GIRL'S NERVE. She Keeps Two Robbers at Bay Until Assistance Comes.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 88, 7 February 1885, Page 5

A COLORADO GIRL'S NERVE. She Keeps Two Robbers at Bay Until Assistance Comes.

Reed's ranch did not differ materially from hundreds of others in Colorado. The same struggling, one-stoned structure, perfectly innocent of paint, with outbuildings looking as if they were ready to tumble down, as in fact they would "have done were they not propped up at different sides by rails and old pieces of board, some rough plabs nailed together with cross-pieces of the same mat--rial, and suspended by one hinge, formed the door of the larger of the structures. The family oonsisted, at the time of the story, of Joe Reed, the proprietor, his wife and two children. Ella, the eldest, was a rather pretty girl of 18, who for several years had relieved the tired mother of much of the burdens of 'housework, attended to theduties of the dairy, and was a good horsewoman withal, often accompanying her father in rough ride? of miles when looking for stray cattle. ' Once a week Mr Reed was in the habit of coming to Denver to dispose of dairy products and purchase suoh articles of food as could not be raised on the ranch. Willie frequently accompanied him, and the two women thought nothing of being left alone in the house until long into the night, as the diatance to the city made the drive a long one It was on one of the*© evenings in the early fall, just as they had completed their supper and the mother was arranging the table for the hungry father and &on, who were not expected for -everal hours, tho younger woman had occasion to go to the bain, the back of which was immediately on the road, to see a sick calf that she was administering to. Suddenly she heard the sounds of the voices of some men evidently in the road in the vicinity of the barn. Listening intently and scarcely daring to breathe, she heard words thut almost froze her with terror. "The old man keeps his moneybox in the drawer of tho old bureau, but the old woman carries the key " " How can we get at it ?" asked another voice. %< We can gag and blind both women, and if they make any noise we can knock them in the head." For a moment tho terrified listener was fairly paralysed with fear; then, as if suddenly inspired with a superhuman courage, the sound of footsteps and voices becoming fainter, she started up, and running quickly around to the back of the house and crawling through an open window, went to a closet and took from it two large revolvers which Mere always kept loaded for emergencies, concealing them in the folds of her dress. Hastily rejoining her mother in the larger toom, she was just in time to see two burlylooking ruffians enter by the door as the mother looked up with a scared, white face The taller of the two men then demanded in rough tones that some supper should be *-et before them, "and let it come quick, too," he added in a menacing tone. Full of her purpose, the brave giil 'quickly placed the food on the table, knowing that the scoundrels would satisfy their hunger before putting their purpose of robbery and possibly murder into execution. She then sat down in front of them, watching them with the eyes of a hawk without especially attracting their attention Soon she saw that their meal was about completed, and, making a ruse as if reaching for a dish, she suddenly thrust the muzzles of the pistols in their faces, threatening them with instant death if they moved. In vain their every effort to get out of their unpleasant predicament, their slightest movement was followed by an ominous click. Expostulations and protestations were in vain, the heroic girl stood there with eyes flashing and determination in every lineament for what to her seemed ages. The poor mother, as soon as she comprehended the situation, overcomo by her great terror, had fainted, and was lying prone on the floor. At la.-t the welcome sound of waggon wheels was heard coming toward the house, but not for a moment did the girl relax her vigilance until the surprii-ed father and brother had entered the house in company with an uncle who had arrived in Denver that day from their old Eastern home in Pennsylvania, and hy tho merest accident met Mr Heed on Sixteenth-street, in Denver. As soon as they thoroughly comprehended the situation they compelled the luffians with revolvers at their heads to submit to being bound with ropes, and as soon as daylight came they were taken to the country seat and placed in gaol. The brave heroine, as soon as relieved from her terrible guard duty and the horrible strain on her nerves was taken off went into a succes sion of hysterical spasm*, and it was for weeks that her reason, if not her life, was deopiired of. She eventually recovered, however, and afterward mai ried a wealthy Denver gentleman, and is now one of the leading society ladies of the Queen City. The two men were recognised as old offenders— in fact they were fugitives from justice from a distant county, and afterward served a long time in the penitentiary in Canon City.