, 1876-11-03
A Special Constable.
BY CHARLES READE.


men.
.rw Of money. bequeathed them by a
relation. and that set the simple souls
They had friend in the village, the
blacksmiths wife; so they went and
toid her their fears. She admitted that
,beirs was n lonesome place, and she
Tonld not live there, for one-without
man. Her discourse sent them home
downright miserable.
The 6lacksmith's wife told her hus-
hand all about it when he came in for
1.-THE fools!' said he: show is any
body to know they have brass in the
"Well," said the wife, "they make
no secret of it to me; but you need not
90 for to tell it to all the town-poor
souls"
"Not l." said the man; "but they
will publish it, never fear; leave wo-
men.folk alone for making their own
trouble with their tongues"
There the subject dropped, as man
and wife have things to talk about be-
side their neighbors.
The old women at the toll-bar, what
with their own fears and their Jobs
comforter, began to shiver with appre-
hension as night came on. However,
at sunset the carrier passed through
the gate, and at the sight of his friendly
face they frightened up. They told
him their care, and begged him. to
sleep in the house that night.
"Why, how can II" said he. 81
am due at -; but will leave my
dog" The dog was powerful mastiff.
The women looked at each other ex-
pressivelv. "He won't hurt us, will
be?" sighed one of them family.
"Not he" said the carrier, cheer
fully. Then he called the dog into the
house, and told them to lock the door;
and went away whistling.
The women were left contemplating
the dog, with that tender interest ap-
prehension is sure to excite. At first
he seemed staggered at this off-hand
proceeding of his master; it confused
him; then he snuffed at the door; then,
as the wheels retreated, he began to see
plainly that he was an abandoned dog;
he delivered fearful howl, and few at
the door, scratching and barking furi-
ously.
The old women fled the apartment,
and were next seen at an upper win
dow, screaming to the carrier: "Come
backl come back, Johnl He is tearing
the house down"
"Drat the varmint," said John, and
came back. On the road he thought
what was best to be done. The good
natured fellow took his great-coat out
Of the cart and laid it down on the
floor. The mastiff instantly laid him
self down on it..
Now" said John, sternly, "let us
have no more nonsense; you take charge
Of that till come back, and don't ye
let nobody steal that there, nor yet t.
wives brass. There now," said he,
kindly, to the women, ct shall be
back this way breakfast time, and he
won't bulge till then"
"And won't he hurt us, John?"
Lord, no. Bless your heart, he's
as sensible as any Christian; only, Lord
sake, woman, don't ye go to take the
coat from him, or you'll be wanting
new gown yourself, and maybe petit
coat and all"
BE retired, and the old women kept
respectable distance from their pro-
tector. He never molested them, and,
indeed, when they spoke caioling to
him, he even wagged his tail in o dubi-
Gus way; but still, as he moved about,
ne squinted at them out of his blood
shot eye in way that checked all de-
sire on their part to try on the carriers
coat.
Thus protected, they went to bed
earlier than usual; they did not un-
dress; they were too much afraid Of
everything, especially their protector.
The night wore on, and presently their
sharpened senses let them know the
dog was getting restless; he snuffed and
tnen growled, and then he got up and
Pattered about, muttering to himself.
straightway with furniture they barri-
caded the door through which their
protector must pass to devour them.
4, but by-and-by, listening acutely,
tney heard scraping and grating out
sde the window of the room where the
aog was, and he continued growing
low. This was enough; they slipped
out Of the back door and left their
money to save their lives; they got into
tne village. 1t was pitch dark, and all
tne houses dark but two; one was the
public house, casting a triangular
gleam across the road a long way of,
and the other was the blacksmith's
mouse. Here was piece of fortune for
spe terrified women. They burst into
their friends house. "Oh! Jane. the
!nieves have comeI" and they told her
In q few words all that happened.
Lar said she, chow timorsome
you are! ten to one he was only growl-
ing at some one that passed by.
Nav lana MO baord kbo ao,-o,o;nr,