The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-04-19

odL1tS leSS, lHt Willie UOS-NuOSt
legs seemed respectfully modelled OF
the same plan-with an air of con
scious power and dignity belonging
to full -blooded bull dog.
As the peddler took his seat at the
table Toots sat down beside him and
without taking the slightest notice OF
any one else, looked quietly into his
masters face.
I've been driving about without a
bite since airly morning." said Ranney,
''and thought I'd stop here for sup
per and drop the things that We or
dered last trip, Mrs. Stocker. l knew
Toots was hungry, too; but, ye see,
he don't beg. like common dogs. He's
too much of a gintleman for that.
He knows his master'Il feed him when
he can, and he has no patience wild
whining, let alone doing it himsilf."
''Toots is the best dog l know"
Mrs. Stocker enthusiastically. She
took up bone and held it out. saving:
''Toots, nice dog. will you come and
get this?"
Toots eyed her gravely, with an ex-
preston which said that he knew that
she appreciated his worth, but
thought her tone was unduly ia
miliar.
Then he looked inquiringly at his
master, to see if he approved of ac-
cepting a 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 undignifed haste,
and with one polite wag of his tail
took the bone. which he crushed in
his powerful jaws as if it were an
eggshell.
Dinah eyed him at respectful dis
tance, and was visibly relieved when
the meal was over and she could go
to the kitchen.
Mr.. Ranney," sais Mrs. Stocker.
hastily, my husband is away, and L
feel very timid, can't you stay with
Us all night?'
"lndade, mum, now I'm rale sorry,
for | dearly love to be any comfort to
ye; but [ got word that me friend,
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 driv-
ing 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, IN fix it. Jest
as well not talk about it in the village
I'll leave you Toots, and he won't tell
anyhow. [ don't think any one could
know We have that in the house; but
if they did, they'd have hard time
getting it, with Toots here. 1t 'ud be
a new sort of man that 'ud git the
better of him"
"Oh, thank you, Mr. Ranney. But
would Toots mind me?"
''Sartainly he will, if l tell him.
He's knowing fellah. And there's
he can't do for ye, from
a baby to chewing up
tramps."
During the talk Toots listened with
an air of interest. Ranney turned to
him and grayely spoke in the tone Of
pOliteness that he would
have used toward an intelligent man.
Now, me boy, ye see it's this way.
This lady needs ye more'n | do to-
night, and SO yell plaze me best if ye
Oide here with her. Don't let any one
larm her, and stay here till | come
.or ye."
Toots went over and licked his
masters hand.
Good boy! Ye're the best friend |
have" said Ranney, patting him,
Toots cooked up his ears and |
Eagged his tail.
Nov lie down and show the lady
ye mean to stay
Toots obeyed and quietly watched ,
MS master go.
After carefully locking every door
and window, Mrs. Stocker sat down !
% write a letter. She found it hard |
% inflse properly cheerful tone into
t, and caught herself listening fear
fully to every sound. The dog settled
lown to a comfortable nap, and seem
ID not in the least disturbed by the
'hrieks of the wind or the rattling of
he windows. She began to fear that
f any one broke in, Toots would not
even hear it.
The ticking of the clock was almost
while its deliberation
seemed purposely to lengthen the
minutes as they passed. The wind
in fury. She peered into
the darkness, but could see nothing
beyond the swaying trees. Toots
looked at her lnquiringly, but as
alarming was to be heard,
settled down once more to sleep.
Mrs. Stocker took up d book, but
found it impossible to keep her mind
upon it. Frightful and menacing
faces rose before her, and all the tales
of violence that she had ever heard
came back to her. She walked the
floor, forcing herself to think of far a
way scenes in her happy girlhood,
only to be brought back to the pres
ent by some fresh rattle of a door or
window that sounded as if some one
were trying to get in.
At last fatigue made her drowsy.
She carried the lamp into her bed
room and left it burning, so that any
one who passed might think the
family We're awake, and then lay
down without undressing. As she
doZed off she was now and then awak-
eHed by the scraping of the shrub
berry upon her window, and. though
she did not believe in signs and por-
tents. it sounded to her like the tap
ping Of the willow wand that fore
tells approaching death.
At last she looked at the clock. and
saw that in all these sleepings and
wakings, which had seemed to occupy
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