Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-08-28
A Special Constable.
BY CHARLES READE.

Two women, sisters, kept the toll-bar
at a village in Yorkshire. 1t stood apart
from the village, and they often felt I'M
easy at night, being lone women.
One day they received a considerable
sum Of money, bequeathed them by
relation, and that set the simple souls all
in q fiutter.
They had a 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 a man.
Her discourse sent them home downright
miserable.
The blacksmith wife told her hus-
band all about it when he came in for
his dinner. "The fOOlsP' said he; Chow is
anybody to know they have got brass in
the hOuse?"
"WelI," said the wife, "they make
no secret of it TO me; but you need not
60 for to tell it to all the tOwn-poor
souls!"
"Not l." said the man; "but they will
publish it, never fear; leave wOmen-folk
alone for making their own trouble with
their own tongues"
There the subject dropped, as man and
wife have things to talk about besides
their neighbors.
The old women at the toll bar, what
with their own fears and their Jobs COM
forter began to shiver with apprehen-
sion as the 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 of
their care and begged him to sleep in the
house that night. "Why, how can II"
said he; "Pm due at -; but l will leave
you my dog" The dog was a powerful
mastih
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, cheerfully.
Then he called the dog into the house,
told them to lock the door, and went
away Whistling.
The women were left contemplating
the dog with that tender interest appre-
hension is sure to excite. At first he
seemed staggered at this Off-hand pro-
ceeding of his master; it 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
a fearful howl, and flew at the door,
scratching and barking furiously.
The old women fed the apartment,
and were next seen at an upper window
screaming to the carrier, Come back
come back, John! He is tearing the
house DOWN.
"Drat the varmintp' said John, as he
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 mastif instantly laid himself on it.
"NOw," said John, sternly, " let us have
no more nonsense; you take charge OF
that till / come back, and dOn'tye let no
body steal that there, nor yet the 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 us, John ?"
''Lord, mol Bless your heart he is as
sensible as any Christian; only, Lord
sake, woman, don't ye 60 to take the
coat from him, or you'll be wanting a
new gown yourself, and maybe a petit
coat and all"
He retired, and the old woman kept
at a respectable distance from their pro-
tector. he never molested them; and,
indeed, when they spoke cajOlingly to
him he even wagged his tail in a dubi-
Gus way but still as they moved about,
he squinted at them out Of his blOOdshOt
eye In a way that checked all the desire
on their part TO try on the carriers Goa
Thus projected they went to bed
earlier than usual, but they did not IN
dress; they were too much afraid OfeveFy-
thing, especially their protector. The
night wore on, and presently their sharp
ened senses let them know that the dog
was getting restless; he snuffed, and then
he growled and got up and patteted
about, mUttering to himself Straight
way, with furniture, they barricaded the
door, through which their protector must
pass to devOur them.
But by and by, listening acutely, they
heard a scraping and a grating outside
the window of the room where the dos
was, and he continued growing low
This was enough they slipped out at th'
hack door, and left their money TO Save