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Itslegsstretchedoutsofaritsbodyalmosttouchedtheground，anditliftedupandsweptovertherails。Shetookourmeadowfencelengthwiselike，andatthehitchingrackshethrewthebridleoverthepost，dismounted，andthenIsawshehadbeenridingastride，likeaman。Iranbeforeherandopenedthesitting-roomdoor，butnoonewasthere，soIwentontothedining-room。Fatherhadcomein，andmotherwassittinginherchair。BothofthemlookedatthePrincessandneversaidaword。
Shestoppedinsidethedining-roomdoorandspokebreathlessly，asifsheaswellasthehorsehadraced。
“IhopeI’mnotintruding，“shesaid，“butamannorthofustoldourThomasinthevillagethatrobbershadtakenquitealargesumofhiddenmoneyyouheldforthecounty，andchurch，andofyourown，andyourgun，andgotawaywhileyouwereatchurchlastnight。Isittrue？“
“Practically，“saidmyfather。
Thenmymothermotionedtowardachair。
“Youarekindtocome，“shesaid。“Won’tyoubeseated？“
ThePrincesssteppedtothechair，butshegrippedthebackinbothhandsandstoodstraight，breathingfast，hereyesshiningwithexcitement，herlipsandcheeksred，solovelyyoujusthadtolook，andlook。
“No，“shesaid。“I’lltellyouwhyIcame，andthenifthereisnothingIcandohere，andnoerrandIcanrideforyou，I’llgo。
Motherhashearttrouble，theworstinalltheworld，thekindnodoctorcaneverhopetocure，andsometimes，mostlyatnight，sheisdriventohaveoutsideair。Lastnightshewasunusuallyill，andIheardherleavethehouse，afterI’dgonetomyroom。I
watchedfrommywindowandsawhertakeaseatonabenchunderthenearesttree。IwasmovingaroundandoftenIlookedtoseeifshewerestillthere。Thenthedogsbegantorave，andI
hurrieddown。Theyusedtorunfree，butlately，onaccountofhergoingout，fatherhasbeenforcedtotiethematnight。Theywerestrainingattheirchains，andbarkingdreadfully。Imetheratthedoor，butshewouldonlysaysomeonepassedandgaveherafright。WhenThomascameinandtoldwhathehadheard，shesaidinstantlythatshehadseentheman。
“ShesaidhewasaboutthesizeofThomas，thathecamefromyourdirection，thatheranwhenourdogsbarked，buthekeptbesidethefences，andclimbedoverwherethereweretrees。Hecrossedourbarnyardandwenttowardthenorthwest。Mothersawhimdistinctlyashereachedtheroad，andshesaidhewasnotalargeman，hestoopedwhenheran，andshethoughthemovedlikeaslinking，citythief。Sheissurehe’sthemanwhotookyourmoney；shesaysheactedexactlyasifheweretryingtoescapepursuit；butIwastobeSUREtotellyouthathedidn’tcarryagun。Ifyourgunisgone，theremusthavebeentwo，andtheothermantookthatandwentadifferentway。Didtwomenstophere？“
“No，“saidfather。“Onlyone。“
ThePrincesslookedathimthoughtfully。
“Doyouthink，Mr。Stanton，“shesaid，“thatthemanwhotookthemoneywouldburdenhimselfwithagun？Isn’tarifleheavyforoneinflighttocarry？“
“Itis，“saidfather。“Yourmothersawnothingoftwomen？“
“Onlyone，andsheknowshedidn’tcarryagun。Exceptthemanyoutookin，nostrangerhasbeennoticedaroundherelately？“
“Noone。Wearequitecareful。Eventhegunwasnotloadedasitstood；whoevertookitcarriedtheammunitionalso，buthecouldn’tfireuntilheloaded。“
Fatherturnedtothecornerwherethegunalwaysstoodandthenhestoopedandpickeduptwolittlewhitesquaresfromthefloor。
Theywerebitsofunbleachedmuslininwhichhewrappedthebulletshemade。
“Theriflewasloadedbeforestarting，andinahurry，“hesaid，asheheldupthesquaresofmuslin。Thenhescratchedamatch，bent，andranitbackandforthoverthefloor，andatoneplacetherewasaflash，andtheflamewentaroundinfunnylittlefizzesasitcaughtagrainofpowderhereandthere。“Youseethemeasurewasoverrun。“
“Wouldn’tthemannaturallythinkthegunwasloaded，andtakeitasitstood？“
“Thatwouldbeareasonableconclusion，“saidfather。
“Buthelooked！“Icried。“Thatfirstnightwhenyouandtheboyswenttothebarn，andthegirlsweregettingsupper，helookedatthegun，andheLIKEDitwhenhesawitwasn’tloaded。
Hesmiled。Andhedidn’tlimpamitewhenIwastheonlyoneintheroom。HeandLeonknewitwasn’tloaded，andIguesshedidn’tloadit，forhelikedhavingitemptysowell。“
“Ummmm！“saidfather。“Whatitwouldsaveinthisworldifachildonlyknewwhentotalkandwhentokeepstill。LittleSister，thenexttimeyouseeastrangerexaminemygunwhenI’mnotintheroom，supposeyoutakefatheroutaloneandwhispertohimaboutit。“
“Yes，sir，“Isaid。
ThewayIwishedIhadtoldthatattherighttimemademedizzy，butthentherewereseveralgoodswitchingsI
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