Wichita eagle., 1888-07-13

SODlci lie SllOuttl lXO1u Ills uO1Sc 6Os
out of here in quick time. l told you to be
gone before | come.n
Nehemiah Strong rose to his feet and ap-
preached the door, but was pulled back by
Ruth, who said
'Stay there, father. Thee promised that
sister and might meet these vagabonds OF
the earth and deal with them
''But it is not fit'- he commenced to say.
The brave girl, however, waited for nc
words, but springing to the door, she said:
''This is our home. and truly we will 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 will obey
them. but such as thou art we neither fear
nor obey"
"By nv soul, little Quakeress," the rascal
cried, "you've heap of life in your delicate
body, and don't mind if you stay. But the
rest must tramp. Come, git out o this, or
We'll throw you out"
1--WE shall not go, neither shall we be
thrown out" returned Ruth. ave do not
fight with carnal weapons. for such is not
our faith, but if you nleddle with us you will
speedily find yourselves in hot water"
''Come oD, fe.iers," said Bob, as he sprang
from his horse. ''See if one of these prayin'
gals can fight on their knees as well as we
kin afoot."
With hoarse laugh the mareuders sprang
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
mo danger from bullets, BOYS" the leader
laughed; $50 we'll have some fun. Plenty Of
wood here to make a ram of. Sam, you get
a stick, while | persuade 'em to open the
door for US"
In accordance with this plan, a small log
was raised by four OF the men, while Bob
grasped the door and shook it violently.
"Open," be said, with many oaths and dis
gusting language, which we have no right to
record; "open, or it'll be the wuss for We.
Wen break the door down. and ye'u find a
nest of roarin wildcats in yer late peaceful
home Yea, verify thee will.
But his words brought no response, and
presently the men bearing the log approached.
Smash her down." he growled. They
are stubborn as -, or they are goin' to
play some trick on u.s."
The bearers Of the battering ram now ap-
preached, and Bob, after giving the door
two or three not very gentle kicks, indicated
the 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 a groan
why. Bob. what ais yerY" demanded one
of his followers in surprise.
Before any answer could be given, how
ever the queStioner executed like move
rnent. and with very little less ado fastened
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. 1t
was very simple in design, being merely a
hollow cylinder, fitted with a piston, the
whole forming no more nor less than 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.
1t required but a few moments to fill the
cavity with the boiling water, and when it
was forciby elected by the indignant mai
dens' arms, landing upon the person and
clothing of Bob Bellows, it is easy to foresee
that the recipient did, as the Quakeress had
affirmed, 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 sprinklng, which at such short
range did most effective service.
1t was some time before the riders ventured
to 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,
as he beheld the ignoble fight. But my
Ruth, verify fear thee hath awakened this
mans undying ire. and that we may suffer in
turn"
mo matter, father; we need not borrow
trouble They are disposed of for the pres
ent, and something seems to tell me they
will not come back"
Then, as Sne recollected the uncouth man
ner in which they had FASTENED away. She
gave herself up TO a hearty laugh, in which
all present joined
For many weeks Nehemiah Strong held
himself in readiness to vacate the home he
had founded and his daughters defended, but
they were not called upon to 90 SO.
No doubt Bob Bellows would have faced 6
cabin full of men, but the novel and deter
mined opposition of the young ladies hac
the effect of deterring him from making his
appearance ever rafier.-Philadelphia Call