West-Jersey pioneer., 1876-11-09
A SPECIAL CONSTABLE.


Two woman, sisters, kept the tool-bar al
a village in Y Yorkshire. 1t stood apart from
the village, and they often felt uneasy at
night, being lone woman.
One day they received a considerable sum
of money, bequeathed them by relative,
and that set the simple sonls all in a futter.
They had la friend in the village, the black
smiths'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 dis
course sent them home downright miser-
able:
The blacksmith's wife told her husband
all about it when he came to his dinner.
"The fools said he how is anybody to know
they have got brass in the bouse.?"
"Well'' said the wife, ''they make no Sc
cret of it to me; but you need not 60 for to
tell it to all the town-poor souls"
''Not I, said the man; but they will pub
lish it, never fear, leave women folks alone
for making their own trouble with their
tongues"
There the subject dropped, as man and
wife had something else to talk about be-
sides their neighbors.
The old women at the toll-bar, what with
their own fears and their Jobs comforter,
began to shiver with apprehension as night
came on. However, at sunset the carrier
passed through the gate, and at the sight
of his face they frightened. They told him
their care and begged him to sleep in the
house that night. "Why how can ?" said
he. 'I'm due at; but will leave you
my dog" The dog was powerful mas
tiff.
The women looked at each other express
sively. "He won't hurt U.S. will he?" sigh.
ed one of them family. ''Not he," said the
carrier, cheerfully. 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 apprehension
is sure to excite. At first he seemed stag
gered at this off-hand proceeding of his
master; it confused him; then he snuffed a
the door; then as the wheels retreated, he
bagan to see plainly that he was an aban-
doned dog, he delivered fearful howl and
flew at the door scratching and barking fu
riously.
The old women fled the apartment, anC
were next seen at an upper window, scream
ing to the carrier. ''Come back! come
back, John! He is tearing the honse down.
''Drat the varmintr said John, and came
back. On the road he thought what was
best to be done. The goodnatured fellow
| took his great coat out of the cart and laie
it down on the floor. The mastiff instantly
laid himself on it, 'Now, "said John stern
| ly let us have no more of this nonsense
you take charge of that till come back
and don't you let anybody steal that there
not yet t'wives' brass. There how,' said
| he kindly to the women, 81 shall be bacl
this way breakfast time, and he wont bulge
| till them
"And he won't hurt us, John"
'Lord, no. Bless your heart; he is a
sensible as any Christian; only, Lord sake
women, don't ye go to take the coat from
him, or you'll be wanting new gown your
self, and maybe petticoat and all.''
He retired and the old women kept at
respectful distance from their protector
He never molested them; and, indeed wher
they spoke cajolingly to him he even wag
ged his tail in dubious way; but still a
they moved about, he squinted at them out
of his blood-shot eyes in way that checked
all desire on their part to try on the carrier
coat.
Thus protected they went to bed earliel
than usual; they did not undress; they wer
to much afraid of everything, especial!
their protector. The night wore on, and
| presently their sharpened sense let then
know that the dog was getting restless; h
snufed and growled, and then he got VI
and pattered about, muttering to himself
Straightway with furniture they barricade
the door through which their protector mus
pass to devour them.
But by-and-by, listening acutely the
heard a scraping and grating outside th
window of the room where the dog was
and he continued growing low. This wa
enough; and they slipped out at the bacl
door, and left their money to save thei
lives; they got to the village. 1t was pitc
dark, and all the houses black but two
one was the public house, casting triangu
lar CLEAN across the road long way of
and the other was the blacksmith's house
Here was piece Of fortune for the terrifie
women. They burst into their friend
house. "Oh! Jane, the thieves have come!
and they told her in a few words what ha
happened.
Clap said she; how timersome you ar,
ten to one he was only growing at some or
that passed by"
), "Nay, Jane, we heard the scraping ou1
side the window. Oh, woman call your mar
and let him go with u.s." -