Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-08-07

Come" he shouted. from his horse.
''get out of here in quick time. told you
70 be gone before | came.
Nehemiah Strong rose to his feet and
approached the door, but was pulled back
by Ruth, who said
stay here, 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 no
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 my soul little Quakeress, - the ras-
cal cried, you We 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. ="
I'VE shall not 60, neither shall we be
thrown out, returned Ruth. 1--WE do not
| fight with carnal weapons, for such is not
our faith, but if you NEEDLE with US you
will speedy find yourself in hot water.
Come on, feIlers, said Bob as he sprang
from his horse, See if these prayin' gals
kin fight on their knees as we'll as we kin
af0ot.
With a high, hoarse laugh the maraud-
ers sprang from their animals, and, when
they had BEEN fastened to the Quaker's
garden fence, they turned to en-
ter the dwelling. But the door was fast
against them.
mo danger from the bullets, boys, "
the leader laughed; $50 we'll have some
fun. Plenty of wood to make ram of.
Sam, you get a stick, while | persuade
EN- to open the door.
In accordance with his plan. small log
was raised by four of the men, while Bob
grasped the door and shook it violently.
Open" he said. with many oatbs and
! disgusting language, which we have no
right to record; ''open, or 1t IL be the wus
! TO rye. Well break the door down, and
! We II 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 APP
preached.
Smash her down, " he growIed. They
are stubborn as --, or they are goin' to
play some trick on US.
The bearers of the battering-ram now APP
preached, and Bob after giving the door
two or three not very gentle kicks. indicat-
ed 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 fearful howl,
and sank upon the ground, crawling away
| like a huge spider, and accompanying
! each movement with a groan.
"Why, Bob, what ails yer?' asked one
Of his men in surprise.
| Before any answer could be given. how
| ever, the questloner executed a like move
ment, and with very much less ado hasten
ed from the vicinity, closely followed by
the rest
To explain the cause of their singular
discontinue, we must return to the inte
rior of the house.
When Ruth closed and barred the door
the plan she had in mind was soon MADE
! apparent. Naomi had been to the loft
and now return ed with an engine which
had been used in watering the garden
/ through the summer months; in fact,
within few days. 1t was very simple
In design, being merely d hollow cylin-
, der, fitted with piston, the whole form
ing no more nor less than large squirt
gun.
This the sisters had put in working Or
| der, the night previous, when they other
wise would have been sleeping. So that
1t now was all ready for use.
1t required but few moments to fill the
cavity with the boiling water, and when
it was forcibly elected by the indignant
maidens' arms, landing upon the person
| and clothing of Bob Bellows. it is easy to
foresee that the reel pient did, as the Quak-
eress had affirmed, find himself in hot
water"
Nor was he alone, for before the alarm
| had 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 ven
tured to return and unhich their horses,
but this they finally did and rode away as
if some fend was in pursuit of them.
Verify, the Spirit constraineth me to
laggh, yea, to laugh heartily the father
remarked as lie beheld the ignoble flight.
But, my Ruth, verely 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 she 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 house
he had founded and his daughters de-
Tended, but they were not called upon to
] do so.
| No doubt Bob Bellows would have faced
d cabin full of men, but the novel and de-
termmed opposition of the young ladies
had the effect of deterring him from max
ing his appearance ever after.