Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/125

Rh was almost the sole piece of finery of which Hannah boasted. The sight was more than she could bear, and instantly rushing upon the men she snatched away the garment, and with flashing eyes faced them and said,—

"You may search the house all you please for the man you profess to believe is hidden here, but you are to leave my things alone. I don't believe you ever thought there was a man here. You just made that an excuse to come here and steal everything you could lay your hands on! 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. You don't want the gown anyway, do you?"

"No. 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