“Mother, would you like to see it also?”

“Yes; and to hear the story of the capture while looking upon its scene.”

The captain led the way, all the rest following, except Lulu, who stole quietly away to her room to get herself ready for the trip to town.

She shrank a little from the thought of facing the two desperados and testifying against them, but kept up her courage by thinking that both her heavenly Father and her earthly one would be with her to protect and help her; also by the remembrance of her papa’s assurance that she need not feel disturbed; that all she had to do was to tell a plain straightforward, story:—­“the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

“I can do that,” she said to herself; “it will be quite easy; for I remember perfectly all about it.  Those wicked men threatened papa that if he had them sent to jail they’d kill him some day when they are let out again, and I suppose they’ll want to kill me too, for telling about it in court; but I know they can’t do us any harm while God takes care of us.  That must be the meaning of that verse in Proverbs I learned the other day.

“‘There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.’

“And the next verse says, ‘safety is of the Lord.’  So I’m sure we needn’t be afraid of them.”

Capt.  Raymond opened the door of the strong room and called attention to the marks of the burglars’ tools on the lock of the safe.

“It was Lulu who first became aware of their presence in the house,” he said; “and she—­why where is the child?” as he turned to look for her, and perceived that she had disappeared.

“I think she has gone upstairs to put on her hat and coat,” Violet said.

“Ah yes, I suppose so! leaving me to tell the story of her bravery and presence of mind, myself.”

He proceeded to do so, and was well satisfied with the encomiums upon his child which it called forth from Grandma Elsie and her sons.

“I congratulate you, captain, upon being the father of a little girl who can show such unselfish courage,” Grandma Elsie said with enthusiasm, her eyes shining with pleasure, “I am proud of her myself; the dear, brave child!”

“And so am I,” said Violet; “but of course,” with a mischievous laughing glance into her husband’s face, “her father is not, but considers her a very ordinary specimen of childhood.  Is not that so, my dear?”

“Ah, my love, don’t question me too closely,” he returned with a smile in his eyes that said more plainly than words that he was a proud, fond father to the child whose conduct was under discussion.

But at that moment the carriage was announced.  Lulu came running down ready for her trip, her father handed her in, then seated himself and put his arm round her looking down into her face with a tenderly affectionate smile.

“You will not find it a very severe ordeal, daughter,” he said.