Connecticut western news., 1884-08-06
A SPECIAL CONSTABLE.
BY CHARLES READE.

 Two women, sisters, kept the toll bar at village in Yorkshire. It stood apart from the village and they often felt un- easy at night, being lone women.
 One day they received considerable sum of money, bequeathed them by a relation, and that set the simple souls all in 8 futter. They had friend in the village, the blacksmith's wife; so they went and told their fears. She admitted that theirs was lonesome place, and she would not live there, for one, without a man. Her discourse sent them home downright miserable
 The blacksmith's wife told her hus- band all about it when he came in for his dinner.
 'sThe fools !" said he; Chow is anybody to know they have got brass in the house ?''
 'sWell, said the wife, ''they make no secret of 1t to me; but you need not go for to tell it to all the town-poor souls !o
 ''Not l." said the man; "but they will publish it, never fear; leave women 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 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 IF" said he; 'I'm due at -; but I will leave you my dog
 The dog was powerful mastiff.
 The women looked at each other ex- pressively.
 ssHe won't hurt ns, will he ?" sighed one of them, faintly.
 'sNot he," said the carrier, cheerfullv Then he called the dog into the house and told them to lock the door. and went away whistling.
 The women were left contemplatino the dog with that tender interest appre. henslon is sure to excite. At first he seemed staggered at this off-hand pro. ceeding of his master; 1t confused him then he snuffed at the door then, as the wheels retreated, he began to see plainly he was an abandoned dog. he delivered fearful howl and flew at the door, scratching and barking furiously The old women fled the apartment and were next seen at an upper window screaming at the carrier:
 "Come back come back, John! H, is tearing the house down P
 ''Drat the varmint p said John. an, came back.
 On the road he thought what wa. best to be done. The good -natured fel low took his great-coat out of the car and laid it down on the floor. Tn mastif instantly laid himoeR on it.
 "Now." said John, sternly, sIet n have no more nonsense You tak charge of that till I come back, anc don't ye let nobody steal that there, no t wives brass. There, now" said he kindly, to the women. 'I shall be bacI this way breakfast time, and he won budge till then"
 
 And he won't hurt us, John? ?'
 Lord, mol Bless your heart, he i as sensible as any Christian LOT, sake, woman, don't ye go to take tn coat from him, or you'll be wanting new gown yourself, and maybe petit coat and all. ;
 He retired, and the old women kept a a respectful distance from their nro tector. He never molested them. and indeed, when they spoke cajolingly f, him he even wagged his tail in dnbiou way. But still, as they moved about he squinted at them out of his bIoodsbo eye In a way that checked all desir on their part to try on the carriers coat
 Thus protected, they went to be earlier than usual, but they did not UT dress; they were too much afraid ( everything, especially their protector The night wore on, and presently the sharpened senses let them know that th dog was getting restless, he snuffed, an then he growled, and then he got ur and battered about, muttering to hin self Straightway, with furniture, the barricaded the door through which the protector must pass to devour them.
 But bye-and-bye, listening acutel, they heard scraping and grating ou side the window of the room where tb dog was, and he continued growing low This was enough; they slipped out [ the back door, to save their lives; the got into the village. It was pitch darl and all the houses black bat i've, a