The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-05-27
A SPECIAL CONSTABLE.


relative, and that set the simple souls
all in futter.
They had a friend in the village, the
blacksmith's wife; so they went and
told her 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. THE foolsr said he; chow
is anybody to know they have got brass
in the houseP"
"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 t. 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-
sides 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 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 Ip" said he; "lm due at -; but
| will leave you my dog" The dog
was powerful mastitf.
The women looked at each other ex-
pressively. ale won't hurt US, will
hep" sighed one of them, family.
- Not he,o said the carrier, cheer
. fully. Then he called the dog into the
house, and told them to lock the door,
and went away whisting.
The women were left contemplating
the dog with that tender interest APP
prehension is sure to excite. At first
he seemed staggered at this otf-hand
proceeding Of his master; it confused
him; then he snutled 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 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 masttf instantly laid HIM
self on it. Now said John. sternly,
"let US have no more nonsense; you
take charge of that till | come back,
and don't We let nobody steal that
there, nor yet t wives brass. There,
now,n said he, kindly, to the women,
81 shall be back this way breakfast
time, and he won't bulge till then"
And he won't hurt US, John?"
Lord, no! Bless your heart, he is
as sensible as any Christian; only,
Lord sake, woman don't We 90 to take
the coat from him, oryou'll be wanting
new gown yourself, and maybe a pet
ticoat and all.
He retired, and the old women kept
at a respectful distance from their pro-
tector. He never molested them; and,
indeed when they spoke cajolingly to
him he even wagged his tail in a dub
ious way; but still, as they moved
about, he squinted at them out of his
bloodshot eye in way that checked
all desire on their part to try on the
| carriers coat
Thus protected, they went to bed
earlier than usual, but they did not I'M
dress; they were too much afraid OF
everything, especially their protector.
The night wore on, and presently theiI
sharpened senses let them know that
the dog was getting restless; he
snui1ed, and then he growled, and Their
he got up and battered about, mutter
ing to himself Straightway, with fur
niture, they barricaded the dool
through which their protector mus
pass to devour them.
But by and by, listening acutely, the!
heard a scraping and a grating outside
the window of the room where the dog
was, and he continued growing low
This was enough; they slipped out a
the back door, and left their money Il
save their lives; they got into the vii
lage. 1t was pitch dark, and all tn
houses black but two; one was tn
public house, casting triangula
CLEAN across the road long way of
and the other was the blacksmith
house. Here was piece of forum
for the terrified women. They burs
into their friends house. "Oh, JANE
the thieves are comet" and they toll
her in few words all that had hal
pened.
LAP said she; chow timorsome 20
are! ten to one he was only growlin
at some one that passed by"
may, Jane, we heard the scrapin
outside the window. Oh, woman, ca
your man and let him 90 with u.s."
my mamie is not here. ~
n Where is he then?"
e 81 suppose he is where the o'he
y working-women's husbands are, at tn
/. public-house, said she, rather bitterly
u for she had her experience.
}. The old women wanted to 20 to tn
pubiic-house for him; but the blacl
smith wife was \ courageous woman
and, besides, she thoupht il was mo,