The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-07-04
The -Anti-M0nop01ist.

Il LIZ o@AA4 81 AWG
which happened to be the lowest step OF
the back stairs, obeyed; but Miss Abigail
was already on the way back with the
clothes-line in her hand.
eff we can't get i,a," she explained, in
a neavous whisper, "they sha'n't get out
at any rate! l don't see as we can help
Bridget any. but we can keep 'em down
there till Jonathan gets back. There S
only one window, and that's barred and
too small for man to crasl through.
Miss Abigail proceeded hastily to tie
a slip-knot around the old-fashioned
" handle'' os the latch of the cellar door,
which she drew tight; then, crossing the
kitchen, she passed the other end OF the
line around the pump, and making it
.taur" with considerable exertion, wound
it around again and again, and finally
tied it in an unskillful but viciously
twitched knot Mollie. who in spite OF
her concern for Bridget, had been in ter
ror lest the outlaws should Suddenly
burst out upon them, drew a long breath
of relief when this was done; but her
satisfaction was disturbed by sharp ez-
clamatlon behind her. Grandma Rich
ton. alarmed at the noise. had crept
feebly down the back stairs to =" find
Abigail" had, of course, fallen over the
kettle of boiling water, amidst rivulets of
whichshe was feebly struggling.
" There! now she's killed herself."'
calculated Miss Abigail. diving under the
rope to the rescue, while Mollie looked
on in horror.
Grandma Kicnton was lifted and laid
on couch in the corner, and while Miss
Abigail, oblivious Of every thing, for the
moment, was ascertainlng the extent of
her injuries, Mollie commenced ner
vous promenade about the room. 1t was
in the midst of this promenade that she
happened to glance out of the west win
dow, and saw. to her utter horror, the
figures of two strange men coming
" across lots" toward the house. There
are no words in the English language
strong enough to express Mol!ies feel
lngs at this Juncture. She Just clutched
feebly at Miss Abigail's dress, as the lat
ter hurried past her IN search of rene
dies for scalds.
Aunt. aunt. there are two more of
them See"'
Miss Abigail looked out at the window.
then back at her mother. and stood stock
still in genuine despair; then. inspired
with momentary strength by the sight of
the open wash-room door, which they
had not thought Of shutting. she hasten
ed to close it. and hoist the beam again.
"Thats no good,' she said hurriedly.
" Here, Mollie, come AMI help NE move
this secretary against the door. Mercy
on us, child, don't stop to be frightened
nowr she added, as Mollie appoache /,
shaking in every limb with terror. Now
close these inner blinds. SO they can't
look in, and shut the sitting room door"
"Oh, Aunt Abigail. take care. It'll 60
off," exclaimed Mollie.
II mean it shall, ii they do much
more" rejoined the spinster, turning the
gun around with gingerly care. you'd
better get out of the way, Mollie. |
might hit you, Just as like. or the thing
might explode. 1t hasn't been used for
years"
You ought to keep hold OF something
when you fire it." suggested Mollle, from
the other side of the bed. 1t will kick
and throw you down. Guns always do"
They're trying the back door. an
nounced Miss Abigail, in an excited wits
per They only knocked once. | Won
der ii those robbers in the cellar belong
to the same set. They're shaken the door,
the villains1'
Two or three loud knocks sounded
through the house, and then the men tried
the nearest window; finding that fast, an
other and yet another, while Miss Abigail
watched them from above with fast-grow-
ing anger: they then took leisurelv sur
vev of the house, evidently undecided
what to do next.
II wish / could hear what They're say
ing" said the spins er. vexedly. Il herd
ali gone to church. That one in the red
shir. said IL expect they'll get batter
ingram next I'll keep still IS long as |
can.
All was quiet for time, the stiffness
being only broken by the groans of
Grandma Richton. The intruders were
nowhere to be seen. Finally. Mollie, re-
connoitering from an attic window. dis
covered that they had entered the corn
barn By means of a rear window. had
opened the door. and were sitting upon
two barrels smoking.
Mercy on usr' exclaimed Miss Abb
gail. CHANGING at the clock, and then sink
ing into chair Here its ten minutes
of twelve o'clock snd Jonathan and
Marthy coming home, without 3 thought
of what's happened. Jonathan II drive
right round that corn barn as sure a.
fate. ani into the harm. They'll be there
having in wait for him. THERE setting
lust where they can see the whole length
of the road. and they mean to do the sly.
THEY'LL murder him and go off with the
plumber in our wagon-that's ali "
Mollie's cheeks grew paler yet
''But. aunt. you know We can rush out
and warn him when he's az the foot OF
the hill: and he'll have Uncle Nathan $
pistols
Not he l never knew Jonathan
Price to do thing the day he was going
to- and he's an old man-no match fol-
those txo wretches. They just mean
to kill him and then have their own way
/ There. they've shut the corn barn door.
told you So"
1t did seem mysterious that the two
men should have shut themselves in the
corn barn. Miss Abigail needed no fur
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