The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1916-03-08
could bear.


stronghold on the optimistic Terence,
and he slept soundl- till 10 O'Clock in
the morning. Then he awoke, looked
at the clock. yawned and was about
to turn over for another IA, when
shadow passing his window arrested
his attention. Sitting up i'll led. ne
looked through the window and was
astonished to see a girl with fowling
piece on her shoulder marching to and
fro without.
Jumping out of bed, he donneI
dressing gown and went about the
house. looking out wherever there was
an opening. In the yard were some
twenty girls, all armed. A chain of
feminine sentinels surrounded the
house..
"Be the powersv' quoth Terence.
What does it mean?'
."Och, Terence said his mother.
who came up behind him, "the girls
are determined that Shaw shan't take
you away from EN-"
''NVhat girls, motherY'
...Why, all the girls you love and
who love YOU
Terence was amazed.
s*What in the name Of st. Patrick
are they goin' to do?'
''Resist an arrest
But, mother, can't hide here pro-
tected by company of girls
Throwing open the front door, he ap-
peared, looking very handsome in his
informal apparel. He was met by
clapping of hands and shouts of ap-
probation.
Girls. Darlints!'' he shouted. I'm
thinkin'''- ....=.. ....
j.. keep on thinkin', and go back in
the house."
This won't do. I'm a man
Several girls ran up on to the porch,
hustled him through the door, shut
and locked it. This was done because
a posse was seen coming down the
street Each girl took up her implc-
ment of war-some guns, some sickles.
some pokers-and formed in line be-
fore the house. Shaw was with the
posse. and was evidently directing
their movements He advanced, with
the words:
whats this?''
+" One of the girls, who was evidently
their leader, replied: you're intending
to arrest Terence Maloney on false
charge We're going to resist you"
Shaw seemed very much astOnished.
He forced Il smile, looked at the array
of amazons curiously, then retired and
held a conference with his men. He
was determined to force his way into
the house in spite of the feminine
guard The six men composing the
guard, armed with shillalahs, advanc-
ed. A Gordon of girls stood in their
way. Some poked the men with sticks.
some brandished sickles in their faces.
and suddenly an upper window OF the
house opened and Terc:ce's mother
emptied a bucket of boiling water on
the mems heads. This caused Il Ic+reat.
The besiegers as soon as they hid
gone beyond the range OF the women
halted and began consultation which
lasted for some time. for the problem
of men Subduing mo.c THAN double
their number of girls without injuring
some Of them, which Shaw did not
relish doing, was problem. Terence
had view of the men from a window
and chafed at not being able to take
Il hand in the fray. He had looked
for IL fowling piece he kept hanging on
the wall, but his mother, not caring
to have her son risk a charge of re-
sistance to the legal authorities, per-
haps murder, had hidden the gun. A
charge of robbery. she said, was quite
enough. So Terence was obliged to
content himself with witnessing his
defense by women without taking a
hand in the scrimmage.
All st. Patrick's day the girls stood
guard over their favorite, and every
time an advance was made some new
method was devised on the part of the
defense to drive them back, though hot
water was found to be the most effec
tive. Toward evening Shaw drew off
his force. Then Terence came out on
to the porch and tried to thank his de-
tenders, but there was such a babel
of tongues, so many Interruptions, that
he was obliged to desist. So he invited
them in for snack and one and all
accepted.
Long before this some of the men of
the town had gathered about the house
guying the posse and encouraging the
girls. Indeed, whenever it looked as
if the latter would be worsted these
men showed signs of taking a hand in
the defense: When the posse retired
all went in to congra tulate Terence ON
having been so ably defended, and the
evening was spent in revelry.
The next morning Shaw went back
to England. and Terence Maloney was
thenceforth free from mOeStation.