Milford chronicle., 1888-08-17

huth, who said.
'stay there, father. Thee promised that
sister and might meet these vagabonds Of
the earth and deal with them"
ssBut it is not fit''- he commenced tosay.
The brave girl, however, waited for no
words, but springing to the door, she said;
''This is our home, and truly we win not
be driven from it save in legal manner
We would never resist officers Of the law.
and If they come in due form we viii obey
them, but such as thou art we neither fear
nor obey.n
''I3y my soul, little Qunkeress,n the rascal
cried, you've a heapof life in your delicate
body, and l don't mind if you stay But the
rest must tramp. Come, sit out O. this, or
we'll throw you out"
1--WE shall not go, neither shall we be
thrown OUT returned Ruth. eve co not
/ fight with carnal weapons, for such is not
our faith, but il you meddle with US you VIII
| speedily find yourselves in hot water"
"Come on, fellers,n said Bob, as he sprang
I from his horse. "See if one Of these pravin'
gals can fight on their knees as well as we
kin afootn
With hoarse laugh the marauders sprang
1 from their animals, and, when they had been
fastened TO the Quaker's garden fence, they
turned to enter the dwelling. But the door
was fast against them.
''No danger from bullets, boys,n the leader
laughed; $50 well have some fun Plenty Of
wood here to make ram Of. Sam, you get
stick, while I persuade 'em to open the
door for us,n
In accordance with this plan a small log
was raised by four Of the men, while Bob
grasped the door and shook it violently
"Opeu," he said, with many Oaths and dis
gusting language, which we have no right to
.ecord; "open, OF it'll be the wuss for We.
Wen break the door down, and yen find
lest Of roarin' wildcats In yer late peaceful
aome. Yea, verify hee will"
But his words brought no response. and
presently the men bearing the log approached.
'Smash her down. he growled "Thev
IRE stubborn as -, or they are goin' to
play some trick on usn
The bearers of the battering ram now an
preached, and Bob, after giving the door
two or three not very gentle kicks, indicated
.he place where the blow should be given.
But even while the beam was poised, and
almost ready to descend, the valiant leader
Of the gang gave a fearful howl. and sank
upon the ground, crawling away like huge
spider, and accompanying each movement
with groan.
"Why, Bob, what ails yerY7 demanded one
of his followers in surprise.
Before any answer could be given, how
ever, the questioner executed a like move
ment, and with very little less ado hastened
from the vicinity, closely followed by all the
others.
To explain the cause Of their singular dis
comfture, we must return to the interior Of
the house.
When Ruth closed and barred the door the
plan she had in mind was soon made appar-
ent Naomi had been to the loft, and now
returned with an engine which had been
used in watering the garden during the sum
mer months, in fact, within few days. It |
was very simple in design, being merely a |
hollow cylinder, fitted with a piston, the |
whole forming no more nor less than a large |
squirt gun.
This the sisters had put in perfect working |
order the night previous, when they would |
otherwise have been sleeping, so that now it |
was all ready for use.
n required but few moments to MI the
cavity with the boiling water, and when it |
was forcibly elected by the indignant mni-
dens' arms, landing upon the person and
clothing Of Bob Bellows, it is easy to foresee
that the recipient did, as the Quakeress had
find himself in hot water"
Nor was he alone, for before the alarm had
fully been taken every one Of the others had
received a sprinkling, which at such short
range did most effective service.
1t was some time before the riders ventHred
10 return and unhitch their horses, but this
they finally did, and galloped away as
though some fiend was in pursuit of them.
"Verily the spirit constrained me to laugh.
yea, to laugh heartily" +" the father remarked,
Is lie beheld the ignoble flight. "But, my
Ruth, verify fear thee hath awakened this
mans undying ire, and that we may suffer in
urn
''No matter, father; va need not borrow
trouble. They are disposed of for the pres
mt, and something seems to tell me they
will not come back"
Then, as she recollected the uncouth man
her in which they had hastened away, she
gave herself up to a hearty laugh, in which
IL present Joined.
For many weeks Nehemiah Strong held
himself in readiness to vacate the home he
lad founded and his daughters defended, but
hey were not called upon to do 50.
No doJbt Bob Bellows would have faced a
.ahin full Of men, but the novel and deter
mined opposition Of the young ladies had
he effect of deterring him from making his
appearance ever afier.-Philadelphi Call.