The dear love! cried Tess, clasping her hands. Isnt he beautiful, Ruthie?
Beautifully dirty, said Ruth, doubtfully.
Oh, but Uncle Rufus says he will wash him to-morrow. Hes got some insect insecty-suicide soap like he puts on the henroosts
Insecticide, Dot, admonished Tess. I wish you wouldnt try to say words that you cant say.
Dot pouted. But Ruth patted her head and said, soothingly:
Never mind, honey. Well let the poor dog stay till he rests up, anyway. He looks like a kind creature.
But she, as well as the adults in the old Corner House, did not expect to see Tom Jonah the next morning when they awoke. He was allowed to remain on the porch, and despite the objections of Sandyface, the mother cat, and the army of younger felines growing up about her, Tom Jonah was given a bountiful supper by Mrs. MacCall herself.
Dot and Tess ran to peep at the dog just before going to bed that night. He blinked at them in the lampshine from the open door, and thumped the porch flooring with his tail.
It was past midnight before anything more was heard of Tom Jonah. Then the whole house was aroused not to say the neighborhood. There was a savage salvo of barks from the porch, and down the steps scrambled Tom Jonah. They heard him go roaring down the yard.
Then there arose a great confusion at the hen house a squawking of frightened hens, the loud cut, cut, ca-da-cut! of the rooster, mingling with which was the voice of at least one human being and the savage baying of Tom Jonah.
CHAPTER II SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO
Its a hen thief! squealed Tess, leaping out of her own warm nest.
I hope that dog bites him! cried Agnes, savagely, from the other room.
She ran to the window. It was a starlit, but foggy night. She could see only vaguely the objects out of doors.
Ruth was scrambling into a skirt and dressing sacque; she thrust her feet into shoes, too, and started downstairs. Mrs. MacCalls window went up with a bang, and the girls heard the housekeeper exclaim:
Shoo! shoo! Get out of there!
Whoever it was that had roused Tom Jonah, the person was evidently unable to get out of there. The dogs threatening growls did not cease, and the mans voice which had first been heard when the trouble started, was protesting.
Agnes followed her older sister downstairs. Of course, Aunt Sarah Maltby, who slept in one of the grand front rooms in the main part of the house, did not even hear all the disturbance. And there were not any houses really near the Stower Homestead, which Milton people knew by the name of the old Corner House.
Therefore, the sounds of conflict at the Kenway hennery were not likely to arouse many people. But when Ruth and Agnes reached out-of-doors, the younger girl remembered one person who might hear and be of assistance.
Lets call Neale ONeil! she cried to Ruth. Hell help us.
Wed better call a policeman, said Ruth, running down the brick path.
Huh! you wouldnt find a policeman in Milton at this hour of
the night, if you searched for a week of Sundays, was the younger girls ambiguous statement. Then she raised her voice and shouted: Neale! Neale ONeil! Help!
Meantime the dog continued his threatening bayings. The fowls fluttered and squawked. Billy Bumps began to blat and butt the partition in his pen. Whoever had ventured into the hennery had gotten into hot quarters and no mistake!
Ruth stopped suddenly in the path and clutched at Agnes arm. Agnes was as lightly dressed as herself; but it was a warm June night and there was no danger of their getting cold.
Suppose the dog does not remember us? the older girl gasped in Agnes ear. Maybe maybe hell tear us to pieces. How savage he sounds!
Agnes was frightened; but she had pluck, too. Come on, Ruth! she said. He is only mad at the thief.
If it is a thief, quavered Ruth. I I am afraid to go on, Aggie.
At that moment the sound of little feet pattering behind them made both girls turn. There were Dot and Tess, both barefooted, and Dot with merely a doubled-up comforter snatched from her bed, wrapped over her night clothes.
Mercy me, children! gasped Ruth. What are you doing here?
Oh, we mustnt let Tom Jonah bite that man, Tess declared, and kept right on running toward the henhouse.
If that dog bites screamed Ruth, and ran after her smaller sister.
There was the big dog leaping savagely toward the low eaves of the hennery. A kicking figure was sprawled on the roof, clinging with both hands to the ridge of it. The girls obtained a glimpse of a dark face, with flashing teeth, and big gold rings in the marauders ears.
Tak dog away! Tak dog away! the man said, in a strangled voice.
Hes one of those Gypsies, whispered Agnes, in an awed voice.
A tribe of the nomads in question had passed through Milton but a day or two before, and the girls had been frightened by the appearance of the men of the tribe who had called at the old Corner House.
Now, whether this marauder belonged to the same people or not, Ruth saw that he looked like a Gypsy. For another reason, too, her mind was relieved at once; Tom Jonah was only savage toward the man on the roof.