Theodore Goodridge Roberts

“ Do as I tell you, or I'll shoot—and so will the little girl. These are real pistols. That's right. That's far enough. Stand there and stand steady.”
“This is a serious matter, Mrs. O'Dell,” exclaimed Lunt. “You are guilty of threatenin' the law with deadly weepons—of resistin' it with firearms.”
Mrs. O'Dell put up her left hand and relieved the child of the other pistol, at the same time speaking a few words in a low voice but without taking her glance or her aim off the intruders. Marion slipped past her, ran over and took Lunt's gun from where he had stood it against the wall. ”

“ Call off yer dogs an' swing that there gun o' mine off a p'int or two an' Tim an' me will clear out. Careful with them pistols, little girl, for Heaven's sake! Noel, ain't she too young to be handlin' pistols? She might shoot herself.”
Noel smiled and so did Marion.
“I'll give ye the warrants, Noel, an' say no more about it,” continued the constable. “We got three warrants here—an' the charges agin' ye are real serious—but I'm willin' to forgit it. So there ain't no sense in keepin' us here, clutterin' up Mrs. O'Dell's kitchen.”
“She don't care,” replied Noel. “An' Marion don't care. ”

“ O'Dell. “You are persecuting him in wicked spite. You are a spiteful, hateful old man! And you, Melchar Lunt—you must be crazy to enter this house, armed, and threaten me and my guests!”
Hood uttered a jeering laugh. ”

“ Marion carried the shotgun over to the table and placed it on the floor beside old Noel Sabattis. Then, moving swiftly and with precision, she opened a drawer in the table, drew out a knife and cut the thin rope which bound the Maliseet's legs together and to the table.
Noel seized the gun at the breech with his manacled hands and got quickly to his feet. With both hands close together on the grip of the stock, he pushed the lever aside with a thumb. The breech fell open, disclosing the metal base of a cartridge. He closed the breech by knocking the muzzle smartly on the edge of the table. ”