ng you can
mention that he never expected to find himself looking straight down
the barrel of a shining big rifle when that door swung open. It
surprised him so, he staggered, and his arm wavered. If he had shot
and hit anything then, it would have been an accident.

"Got you over the heart," said father, in precisely the same voice he
always said, "This is a fine day we are having." "Now why are you
coming here in such a shape?" This was a little cross. "I'm not the
man to cringe before you!" This was quite boastful. "You'll get
bullet for bullet, if you attempt to invade my house with a gun." This
pinged as if father shot words instead of bullets.

"I want my daughter to come home," said Mr. Pryor. "And if you're
sheltering the thief she is trying to hide, yield him up, if you would
save yourself."

"Well, I'm not anxious about dying, with the family I have on my hands,
neighbour," said father, his rifle holding without a waver, "but unless
you put away that weapon, and listen to reason, you cannot enter my
house. Calm yourself, man, and hear what there is to be said! Examine
the proof, that is here waiting to be offered to you."

"Once and but once, send them out, or I'll enter over you!" cried Mr.
Pryor.

"Sorry," said father, "but if only a muscle of your trigger finger
moves, you fall before I do. I've the best range, and the most
suitable implement for the work."

"Implement for the work!" Well, what do you think of father? Any one
who could not see, to have heard him, would have thought he was talking
about a hoe. We saw a shadow before we knew what made it; then, a
little at a time, wonderingly, her jolly face a bewildered daze, her
mouth slowly opening, Mrs. Freshett, half-bent and peering, stooped
under Mr. Pryor's arm and looked in our door. She had come back to
help get supper, and because the kitchen was locked, she had gone
around the house to see if she could get in at the front. What she saw
closed her mouth, and straightened her back.

"WHY, YOU TWO OLD FOOLS!" she cried. "IF YE AIN'T DRAWED A BEAD ON
EACH OTHER!"

None of us saw her do it. We only knew after it was over what must
have happened. She had said she'd risk her life for mother.

She never stopped an instant when her chance came. She must have
turned, and thrown her big body against Mr. Pryor. He was tired, old,
and shaking with anger. They went down together, she gripping his
right wrist with both hands, a