The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-04-21

are scary lot, and you haven't even a
sensible dog to keep you company"
| She longed to yield, but she thought
of all that this money would mean to
her overworked husband, and, harden
ing her heart against Mr.. Gordon's re-
| peated urgings, persisted in staying at
her post.
Saying that he was late for an en-
| gagement, her neighbor bade her a
hasty farewell.
| AS the early darkness of the Decem-
ber night began to close in Nature
herself seemed to Mrs. Stocker, in her
overwrought condition, to be conspir-
| ing with evil beings to heighten her
| helpless terror.
AT last Dinah ponderously waddled
in and broke the gloom by cheerfully
announcing the evening meal. While
| this was in progress, a wagon drove up,
| and Mrs. Stocller heard the welcome
voice of Ranney, a sturdy, jolly Irish
| peddler, with whom she had had deal
ings for several years. His was one of
| those rotund and jovial personalities
that look like embodied jokes, and the
very sight of whom makes everyone
| feel cheerful.
Now, Toots," he was saying, don't
ye be for ating me up the minute l git
down. It's SO long since I've had a bite
that I'd be mighty poor picking. Be
aisy, now, and the lady'll give ye a
bone, maybe, with some marrow in it,
I'm hollow clare through
Mrs. StoclSer opened the door in time
to hear these last words, and called
out: I'VE shall be glad to fill you up.
Mr.. Ranney. and Toots, too. Come in,
both of you.'
In walked master and beast, the man
with something of roll on his handy
legs, the white dog-whose legs seemed
respectfully modelled on the same plan
with the air of conscious power and
dignity belonging to pure-blooded
bulldog.
AS the peddler took his seat at table.
Toots sat down beside him and, with
out taking the slightest notice of any
one else, looked quietly into his mas
ter's face.
I've been driving without a bite
since airly morning. said Ranney,
land thought I'd stop here for supper
and drop the things that we ordered
last trip, Mrs, Stocker. knew Toots
was hungry, too; but. We see, he don't
beg, like common dogs. He's too much
of a gintleman for that. He knows his
master'll feed him when he can, and
he has no patience wild whining. let
alone doing it himsilf."
"Toots is the best dog / know" Mrs.
Stocker answered, enthusiastically
She took up u bone and held it out,
saying: ''Toots, nice dog. will you
come and get this?'
Toots eyed her gravely, with an ey-
preston which said that he knew she
appreciated his worth, but thought her
tone was unduly familiar.
Then he looked inquiringly at his
master. to see if he approved of accept
ing bone from a strange hand.
Ranney nodded and said: Yes, old
boy; go and get it,
Toots walked calmly round to Mrs.
Stocker without any undign flied haste,
and with one polite wag of his tail
took the bone, which he crushed in his
powerful jaws as if it were au egg
shell.
Dinah eyed him at respectful dis
| tance, and was visibly relieved when
the meal was over and she could 90 to
| the kitchen.
MIR. Ranncy,'' said Mrs Stocler,
hastily, my husband is away. and /
| feel very timid. Can't You stay with
us all night?'
"lndade, mum, now I'm rale sorry,
| for I'd dearly love to be any comfort to
I f...-
Charlie Craig, was down with fever and
begging every minute for me to come
to him. They say he may not live the
night out, and I've been driving like
mad all day to git to him in time. Ii
twas anything else. I'd stay. But
you've no call to be anyways afeerd,
me dear lady. There's no robbers about
! here, and no one has iver molested We,
!, | know"
| She thought to herself: Dare trust
him? Perhaps he could send me some
one from the village" and she told him
OF the money.
''Oh. now" said he, "I'll fix it. jest
as well not talk about it in the village.
I'll leave ye Toots, and he won't tell,
anyhow. don't think anyone could
know ye have that in the house; but i
they did, they'd have hard time git
ting it, with Toots here. 1t 'ud be II
new sort o man that 'ud git the better
q him.
"Oh, thank you, Mr.. Ranney. But
would Toots mind me?'
"Sairtainly he will, if tell him. He's
Z. knowing fellah. And there's oth.
ing he can't do for ye, from minding Il
baby to chewing up tramps."
During this talk, Toots listened with
an air of interest. Ranney turned to
him and gravely spoke in the tone OF
respectful politeness that he would
have used toward an intelligent man.
Now, me boy, we see it's this way.
This lady needs ye more'n do tonight
and so ye'll place me best if We bide
here with her. Don't let anyone harm
her, and stay here till come for ye."
Toots walked over and licked his
masters hand.
'Good boy! Ye're the best friend
have" said Ranney, patting him
whereat Toots cooked up his ears ant
wagged his tail.
"Now, lie Gown and show the lady y.