Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-03-20

he appreciated MS worth, Out tndl uSI
tone was unduly familiar.
Then he looked inQuiringly at his
master. TO see il he approved o. accept
ing bone from a strange hand.
Ranney nodded and said: Yes, old
boy. so and get it,
Toots walked calmly around to Mrs.
Stocker without any undignified haste,
and. with one polite wag Of his tail,
look the bone. which he crushed in his
powerful jaws as if it were an egg
she'll.
Dinah eyed him at a respectful dis
lance and was visibly relieved when
the meal was over and she could go
back TO the kitchen.
Mr.. Ranneny,' said Mrs. Stocker,
hastily my husband is away and l feel
very timid. Can't you stay with us all
night?'
"Indade. mum. now I'm rale sorry,
for I'd dearly love TO be any comfort to
We: but I got word that my friend.
Charlie Craig. was down with fever and
begging every minute for me 10 come to
him. They say he may not live the
night out. and I've been driving like
mad an day to get to him in time. If
twas anything else I'd stay. But you
have no call to be anyways afeerd, my
dear lady There's no robbers about
here. and no one has liver mOlested We,
I know.
She thought to herself: Dare l trust
him? Perhaps he could send me some
one from the village, and she told him
of the money.
"Oh now" said he. ''Ill fix it. Jest as
we'll not talk about it in the village
III leave We Toots and he won't tell
anyhow. I don't think any one could
know We have that in the house, but II
they did. they'd have a hard time get
ting it with TOOts here. II nd be a new
sort o. man that nd get the better O
him
20 thank YOU, Mr.. Ranney But
would TOOts mind me?'
"Sartinly he viii, if I tell him. He's
a knowing fellah. And there's nothing
he can't do for We, from minding baby
TO chewing up tramps.'
During the talk ToOts listened with
an air of interest Ranney turned to
him and gravely spoke in the tone OF
respectful pOhteness that he would
have used toward an intelligent man.
Now, me boy We see it's this way:
This lady needs We mOre'n l do tonight,
and so yell please me best if We bide
here with her Don't let anyone harm
her. and stay here until l come for We.
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 and
wagged his tail
Now. lie down and show the lady you
mean TO stay
Toots obeyed and quietly watched his
master go.
After carefully locking every door
and window Mrs. Stocker sat down TO
write a letter. She found it hard to in
fuse a properly cheerful tone into it. and
caught herself listening fearfully to
every sound. The dog settled down to
a comfortable nap. and seemed not in
the least disturbed by the shrieks of the
wind or the rafting of windows. She
began TO fear that if anyone broke in
TOots would not even hear them.
ne ilfAlI1 OF liAt tlNth Was dlulOol
unbearable. while its deliberatiOn
seemed purposely to lengthen the min
utes as they passed. The wind increas-
ed in fury. She peered into the dark
ness. but could see nothing beyond the
swaying trees. TOOts looked at her in
Quiringly, but as nothing alarming was
10 be heard. settled down once more to
sleep.
Mrs. Stocker took up a book. but
found &c impossible to keep her mind
upon it, Frightful and menacing faces
rose before her. and all the tales of vio-
lence that she had ever heard came
back 10 her. She walked the floor fore
ing herself to think Of far-away scenes
i'm her happy girlhOod. only to be
brought back to the present 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 burning. so that anyone who pass
ed might think the family were awake.
and then lay down without undressing.
AS she dOzed of she was now and then
awakened by the scraping of the shrub
berry upon her window, and though she
did not believe in signs and portents,
it sounded to her like the tapping OF
the willow wand that fOretells APP
preaching death.
AT last she looked at the clock. and
saw that in all these sleepings and wax
ings. which had seemed to occupy a life
time, a half hour had gone by. She lay
down again, and at last sank into
deep sleep.
She was awakened by gust that
shook the house. AS the wind lulled
she thought she heard a noise at the
front door She rushed into the parlor.
There sat TOOts, with his eyes fixed in
tently on the door, but not moving a
muscle. The noise ceased and she went
back 20 bed, but not 10 sleep.
Again she heard a metallic sound in
the lock. She got up and called:
Who's there?" but there was no an
swer. The dog sat upright and looked
at the door. but kept perfect silence.
Mrs. StoCker listened. All was quiet for
several minutes. but again came that
metallic chnk
who is thereo What do you want?"
she cried
No answer; but this time the sound
continued
AT him. Toots"'she screamed; "at
him Bark
Why was the dog so still? In an in
slant the reason flashed before her.
Toots must have recognized the step of
his master who had come hack tO roh