River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-06-27
to the same set. They're shaken the door

through the house, and then the men trleu
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
vey of the house, evidently undecided
what to do next.
II wish | could hear what they're say
ing said the spins er, vexedly. Il heard
all gone to church, That one in me red
shir. said it. expect they'll get batter
ingram next. I'll keep still as long as
can
Instead OF proceeding to any extreme
measure, however, the men calmly lighted
a couple of pipes, during which operation
they more than once laughed uproarlous
Nv. They afterward made circuit of the
house, tried every window, including
those in the sheds, and shook the doors
vigorously; meanwhile Miss Abigail and
M0llie followed their course through the
chambers the former carrying the gun.
Having come back 10 their original start
ing point, they held another consultation,
after which, to the amazement OF the
watchers, they went off TO the barn.
I'D like 10 know what that's forl"
calculated Miss Abigail, at her wits end.
They'll steal that other horse, or else
they'll get something and break a window
up here; and there's no knowing what
those men down cellar are about"
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 rear window, had
opened the door. and were sitting upon
two barrels smoking.
"Mercy on usi' exclaimed Miss Abb
gail, CHANGING at the clock, ana then sink
| ing into chair. "Here it's ten min ties
of twelve O'Clock and Jonathan and
Marthy coming home, without thought
of what's happened. Jonathan II drive
| right round that corn barn as sure as
! fate, and into the barn. They'll be there
LAYING in wait for him. They're setting
| Just where they can see the whole length
of the road, and they mean to do the sly.
They'll murder him and so off with the
plumber in our wagon-that's alllh
Mollie's cheeks grew paler yet.
ssBut, aunt. you know we can rush out
| and warn him when he's at the foot of
/ lDe MA duu ne II nave ChOlS S"eh"h .
pistols
"Not Lc! | never knew Jonathan
Price to do thing the day he was going
to; and he's an old man-no match for
those two 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
Their evidence of their evil intentions.
"Mollie," she said, solemniy, "there's
only Just one thing to do. You must
run across the lot and meet Jonathan,
and tell him TO bring two or three OF the
Clark boys home with him. We've got
these people in the cellar to dispose of.
Tell them to hurry, for if Bridget ism I
dead already, she's pretty near that. I'd
90 myself, but can't leave you here
alone. I'll let you out the front door,
and you can kind of creep along behind
the walls.
"But what if they should chase mep'
gasped Mollie.
the door, and you needn't run across the
open fields"
"But, Aunt, shall have to go out front,
and those men in the celler will be sure
TO see me. They must be watching. If
they should, they might fire at me-"
Miss Abigail was only posed for
moment
well, I'll tell you. Put on pair OF
Jonthans pantaloons and his gray coat.
Tuck your hair up under his big straw
hat, and, if they see you, they'll think It S
one of their accomplices. Hurry, now, 1t
is almost twelve"
1t was of no use to demonstrate. Mol
lie was hurried upstairs, not knowing
whether to laugh or cry, and too much
frightened to do either, and was put into
the before mentioned garments; then,
without moments delay, she was pushed
down to the front door.
"aurry, nowm said Miss Abigail. "I'll
have that gun up at the front window,
and if one of 'em chases you I'll fire at
: him."
s.Don't!' cried Mollie, horror stricken
at the prospect. you'd hit me instead.
won't 20 unless you"
"Well, well, run alongw and the front
door was cautiously opened and as
cautiously closed, and Mollie ran under
the shelter OF the east wall
Uncle and Aunt Price, peacefully jog
cling home ward in the scant autumn sun
light, were amazed to see nondescript
figure suddenly appear from clump OF
hazel bushes at the foot of hill.
"Mercyl'' said Uncle Price, obviously,
pulling up Elijah, whats that9"
''Its a crazy critter," exclaimed Aunt
Price. "Do go along, Jonathan"
1T looks more like running scare
crow. Stop, Marthy, don't you touch
the horse--jt seems to me them clothes
looks nat'ral."
In a moment more the apparition,
clearing the wall at bound, actually
threw itself into the wagon. The amaze
ment and amusement of the worthy
couple were nipped in the bud by the
story that the ''sc recrow" had to tell,
however.
az DIDN'T get the pistols" said Uncle
!, Price, remoresfully. :" / got so sorter
ealmed down after hearing the sermon.
I'll stop at Clark's. Huddup, Elijahl'
Elijah, induced by thorn bush, did
huddup; and in about fifteen minutes
they drove up to Uncle Prices farm,
with three stout men in the back OF the
wagon. All was quiet. House and barn
seemed uninhabited. Uncle Price rem
dered warlike by his reinforcements,
drove straight to the corn barn, and after
careful survey around, began to dis
mount.
"Perhaps the door On the other side is
OPEN" suggested Clark senior, whose
quick eye had detected two wreaths OF
smoke curling family around the corner
of the building. II guess they're only
tramps They take it pretty cool, any
way
4 hearty, rolIicking laugh rolling out
from behind the closed door caused Un-
Gle Price 70 stop and stare banldy before
him; then to jump to the ground and
rc,1r nnAer the rorn barn door precipi-