The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-06-03
THE DEACON'S DOG.
BY ADA E. FERRIS.
On Two Parts.)
PART [.

DedISu, 1ODklllS Gl1l4SeAl4y AAANO SA'N fASe~o
ant face of the young applicant.
well, yes; 1 believe the deacon did
say he wanted a hand; but he amt at
home, and we're kinder hard to suit.
Have you any friends hereabouts?"
The boy said he was a stranger in
those parts.
Mrs. Pettengiu unused. She rather
liked the frank, good-natured face, the
honest blue eyes and sturdy frame.
You might stay over night" she
concluded. Hell be home in the
morning. What's your name?,'
Jacob Anderson, ma'am," he re-
piled, stopping to pat the little dog
that frisked around him. I'D be glad
to stay for it looks like rain.
"And I'm not sorry" confded good
Mrs. Pettengill to Leah Morris, the
pretty, red-cheeked help" who was
almost zone of the family" Here are
just we two and the three children
alone on the place, and not man
about, even Watch gone with the dea-
con. If a tramp should come along I'd
be scared half to death I've been
scary ever since the house was robbed
last fall I'll feel safer with him
around"
IF he isn't a tramp himself" said
Leah, peeping nervously from the win
dow
But the boy was playing with Frisky,
the little dog, who seemed all conf
dence. She looked relieved.
Z guess it's all right. But we'd best
keep our eyes open. 1 wish Watch
was at home"
1t was firmly believed at Deacon Pet
tengilPs that his big yellow dog Watch
had means of knowledge denied to
human beings and that he was infalli-
BILE as a rogue detective. The deacon
never trusted any one Watch dis
liked, nor doubted where the dog took
a fancy. But now Watch was away,
and the good wife, deprived of his
knowledge, was thrown on her own
responsibility. Very uneasy she and
Leah felt, but what could they do?
Only keep their eyes open and watch
the strangers movements-which
seemed innocent enough. He played
with FrisEy, patted the calves, stroked
the horses, and seemed at peace with
all the brute creation.
Then he strolled around the place a
little, which was natural enough, but
it increased Leah's suspicious She
kept an eye upon him, and presently
caught him standing by the low, shut
terless pantry window. She spoke and
he started violently, looking red and
uncomfortable.
Il was thinking that window hardly
looked safe, miss" he stammered. IF
I was you, I'd barricade it Tramps
could get in too easy"
There's a pair of loose shutters in
the tool house" Leah remarked sus-
piciously You may put them sup if
you like. I'll get the hinges and
things"
To her surprise, he readily agreed
and was soon busy making all secure
Leah stood by helping and talking
more pleasantly as her fears waned
before his sturdy work.
I believe that was the way the bur
glars got into the house last fall. Yes,
they went ali through the house, and
took every bit of money and silver
while we were all asleep. It's a mercy
they didn't cut all our threats But
nobody was hurt, not even Watch.
That's the queerest thing, for he's aw-
full savage with such folks, and knows
an honest man from a rogue by the
smell just as easy as can tell roses
from rag weed. But somehow they
contrived to catch and tie him. There,
J now, that jobs done It's wanted do
ing these six months, but I don't know
when 'twould a got it if you hadn't
come along. Why, bless me, your face
is red as fire. You've been working
too hard
Il guess I'd better be going along
Jacob stammered confusedly, picking
up his coat. Most likely the deacon
wouldn't want me, and I'd better go
to town before the storm"
But Mrs. Pettengill would listen to
nothing of the sort. The storm was
too close; he had earned his supper
and breakfast, and besides. they
would feel so much safer with him
there.
So Jacob stayed. But he sat by the
window gloomily watching the storm,
looking very uncomfortable and tact
turn. No friendly chatter could reas-
. sure him. Even Frisky licked his hand
!. almost unnoticed
But when the children came from
school, soaking wet, but boisterously
gay, Jacob forgot his troubles Rosie
was on his knee playing cats cradle
in twenty minutes. and before bed
time all the children claimed him as a
real friend
Rather to Mrs. PettingilI's relief, he
refused to sleep in the house e
blanket on the hay NOW is plenty good
lenough for me-" he said, but she sank
to sleep in perfect contentment, feeling
that there was a man within call
Poor Mrs. Pettingill! She woke with
a start. Some one was moving in the
next room, two burly trampish looking
figures, ransacking for valuables She
sprang up to escape, but the door was
promptly slammed in her face, and she
fell back, shrieking helplessly.
The noise awoke Leah, who slept not
far away. In a twinkling the terrified
girl understood the situation and re-
lmembered the boy in the barn. True,
he might be an accomplish But he
might not. AT any rate, it could do no
harm to call him. She threw on her
cloak and stole rapidly down stairs
and out through the rain to the barn
Jacob" she called softly, standing
in the door.
There was a startled response from
the haymow and before she could fin
ish her breathless story he came
I scrambling down, and rushed past her.
| Leah waited a moment trembling
with cold and terror. Then came noises
from the house-shouts, curses and
shots.
Summoning all her courage, Leah re-
turned, but before she could re-enter
she saw two dark figures running away,
and knew that the burglars were rout-
ed. She ran in. Jacob was standing
by the open front window, poker in
hand, white, but triumphant
Mrs. Pettengill and Leah began eager
congratulations. but he interrupted
them by falling into a chair with the
g2sped exclamation: I'm hurt A bah
in my shoulder, 1 guess
When the deacon came home next
morning he met the doctor just leaving
A brief explanation changed his first
alarm to wonder and pity
Badly hurt, you say? Dear me.