Everett T. Tomlinson

“ I want the man," he replied.
"Well, look for your man, then, and much good may it do you," said Hannah; "but don't you touch my gowns."
"Hear the vixen!" laughed one of the men, as he turned to resume the search. Whether or not it was the presence of Hannah and her own daring in protecting her precious possessions, or whether it was because of their belief that there was nothing in the closet except a few garments hanging on the walls, that caused the men to make only a hasty and superficial search, she never knew. ”

“ Not a word was spoken by Hannah or her mother while the search was being made, though the excitement was intense. Hannah's confidence in the success of her present scheme was not so strong as when she had hidden Robert in the ashes, and the confidence and determination of the leader of the cowboys were both more alarming now. She glanced at the brutal face of the man, and her fears for her guest increased. ”

“ Go on with your search, but you leave my gown alone!"
For a moment the men were so startled by the unexpected outburst that they were speechless, but recovering in a moment, when the angry girl ceased, one of them laughed as he said, "There, Claud, you 've stirred up a hornet's nest. Never try to rob a woman of her finery. She's worse than a bear robbed of her cubs. ”