The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-11-04
A Special Constable.
HY CHARLES READE.

One day they received a considerable
sum of money, bequeathed them by a
relation, and that set the simple souls
all in a tiutter.
They had friend in the village, the
blacksmith's wife; so they went and
told her their fears. She admitted that
theirs was a lonesome place, and she
would not live there. for one-without
man. Her discourse sent them home
downright miserable.
The blacksmith's wife told her hns-
band all about it when he came in for
his dinner.
The fools said he. chow is any
body to know they have brass in the
house -
Well said the wife. they make
no secret of it to me; but YOU need not
go 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 SILVER with appre-
hension rs 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. " l
am due at --; but l will leave my
dog" The dog was powerful mastiti'.
The women looked at each other eX
pressively. He won't hurt us, will
he?' 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 APP
prehension is sure to excite. At first
he seemed staggered at this oi1-hand
proceeding of his master; it confused
him; then he snuffed mt the door: then,
as the wheels retrcated, he began to see
plainly that he was an abandoned dog:
he delivered a fearful howl. and flew at
the door. scratching and barking furl
ous]y.
The old women fled the apartment,
and were next seen at an upper win
dow, screaming to the carrier: Come
back come back, John. 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 lis
have no more nonsense: you take charge
of that till l come back and don't ye
let nobody steal that there. nor yet t
wives brass. There now said he.
kindly, to the women, 81 shall be
back this way breakfast time, and he
won't bulge till then"
"And won't he hurt MS, John?'
Lord. no. Bless your heart, he's
as sensible as any Christian; only. Lord
sake, woman, don't We go to take the
coat from him. or you'll be wanting
new gown yourself, and maybe petit
coat and all.
He retired, and the old women kept
respectable distance from their pro-
tector. He never molested them, and,
indeed, when they spoke cajoling to
him, he even wagged his tail in dubi-
Gus way; but still, as he moved about,
he squinted at them ont of his blood
shot eye in a 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 snuifed and
then growled, and then he got up and
battered about, muttering to himself.
Straightway with furniture they barri-
caded the door through which their
protector must pass to devour them.
But by-and-by, listening acutely,
they heard scraping and grating out
side the window of the room where the
dog was, and he continued growing
low. This was enough; they slipped
ont of the back door and left their
money to save their lives; they got into
the village. 1t was pitch dark, and all
the houses dark but two; one was the
public house, casting triangular
CLEAN across the road long way off,
and the other was the blacksmiths
house. Here was piece of fortune for
the terrified women. They burst into
their friends house. ooh! Jane. the
thieves have GOMEZ and they told her
in few words all that happened.
..V,,., cai1 cba how fimOrSOmp