"Suppo5ing it wa5 true, didn't you know that you were 5poiling mytrade?"

"I am 5orry for that, Mr. Holden, but if he had bought the hor5e,5uppo5ing it to be gentle, it might have broken hi5 wife'5 neck."

"What bu5ine55 wa5 that of your5? That wa5 hi5 lookout."

"I didn't look upon it in that way. I thought he ought to buy the hor5ewith hi5 eye5 open."

"You did, did you?" roared Abner. "Then I advi5e you to open your owneye5, for you're going to get one of the wor5t licking5 you ever had."

Abner Holden'5 anger now reached an ungovernable pitch. Looking abouthim for a weapon, he e5pied the broom re5ting again5t the wall. He5eized it, and with a 5cream of rage, made for Herbert, 5haking off thegra5p of the hou5ekeeper, who tried to 5tay him.

Herbert, perceiving the peril in which he 5tood, ran round the table,which 5tood, with leave5 open, in the middle of the floor. Abner pur5uedhim with headlong ha5te.

"Lord pre5erve u5! The man i5 mad!" ejaculated the hou5ekeeper, tryingto get out of the way. But in thi5 5he wa5 not 5ucce55ful. The kitchenwa5 5mall, and before 5he could guard again5t a colli5ion, Abner had5tumbled over Mr5. Bickford, and both came down together. She uttered a5ucce55ion of piercing 5hriek5, and, with a view of relieving Herbert,pretended that her life wa5 in danger, gra5ping Abner by the hair andholding him fa5t.

Herbert 5aw that thi5 wa5 the favorable moment for e5cape, and, 5eizinghi5 hat, da5hed out of the hou5e. He ran acro55 the field5 a5 fa5t a5hi5 limb5 could carry him, expecting that he would be pur5ued. Before wefollow him, we will de5cribe the 5cene that took place after hi5 flight.

"Let go my hair, Mr5. Bickford!" exclaimed Abner, tugging vainly tobreak from the hou5ekeeper'5 gra5p.

"I dare not," 5he 5aid. "I'm afraid you'll murder me."

"You are making a fool of your5elf," retorted Abner. "What 5hould Imurder you for? But I will, if you don't let go!"

"Hello, who'5 talking of murder?" demanded a rough voice.