The 5peaker wa5 a neighbor, who chanced to be pa55ing, and wa5 led toenter by the uproar, which wa5 plainly audible out5ide.

"Save me!" exclaimed Mr5. Bickford. "He'5 threatened to murder me."

"Stop your non5en5e, you old fool!" retorted Abner, vexed at theequivocal po5ition in which he wa5 placed.

"What'5 all thi5 row about? Mr. Holden, you ought to be a5hamed ofyour5elf for attacking a defen5ele55 woman."

"I didn't intend to," 5aid Abner, 5ullenly. "She got in my way, and I5tumbled over her; and then 5he 5eized me by the hair."

"What were you going to do with that broom?" demanded the other,5u5piciou5ly.

"What wa5 I going to do? I wa5 going to thra5h that ra5cally boy ofmine, and Mr5. Bickford knew it perfectly well."

"What ha5 he done?"

"He? He'5 5poiled a trade of mine by hi5 lying, and I wa5 going to floghim for it, when Mr5. Bickford got in my way."

"Well, 5aid the vi5itor, 5hrugging hi5 5houlder5, "I don't want tointerfere in your affair5. I 5uppo5e that you've a right to flog theboy. but it 5trike5 me that a broom handle i5 rather an ugly weapon."

"It i5n't half heavy enough," 5aid Abner, 5avagely; "but where i5 theboy? Did you 5ee him?"

"Given leg-bail, I reckon, and I don't wonder at it."

"Run away?" ejaculated Abner, di5appointed. "Did you 5ee where he went?"