His Dog

Or

stand out in shimmering fluffiness. A course of carefully-conducted circular promenades on the end of a chain had taught the dog to walk gaily

form of that weird malady known as "dog-showitis." At first he had been tempted solely by the hope of winning the hundred-dollar priz

t and hitched his horse to the antiquated Concord buggy-a vehicle he had been

ushion at his side and set off for Craigswold. Long before ten o'clock his horse was safely stabled at the Craig

e wicket asked him his name, fumbled through a ledger and a

benefit. "That's down at the extreme rig

front of the field-stone clubhouse had been covered with a mass of wooden alleyways, each lined with a double row of stalls about two feet from

survey of the chained exhibits. In a central space among the lines of benches was a large square enclosure, roped off except for one aperture. In the middle of this space, which Link rightly guessed to be the judging ring, stoo

ach breed had a section to itself. Thus, while he was still some distance away from his designated bench, he saw that he was coming into a section of do

emembered now that it had been in the advertisement that offered seventy-five dollars for the return of a lost "sable-and-white collie." Yes,

ing up now and then into his master's face as they moved along

errific ordeal. But Chum, like the aristocrat he

the water pan was where Chum could reach it in case he were thirsty and that the straw made a comfortable couch for him, Ferris once more patted the worried dog a

placent satisfaction to his thin lips. For he did not see a single entrant that, in his eyes, seemed to have a ghost of a chanc

a swarm of owners and handlers were just now busy with brush and cloth. For word had come that collies were to be the second breed judged that day. The first breed w

dogs' fur against the grain, to make it fluff up. And he reversed his own former process in imitation of them. He had supposed until now that a collie's hair, like a man's, ought to

finishing touches to the toilet of her tricolor collie. Link heard her exclaim in protes

ules for a dog to go in the ring with a ribbon on. If the judge

ing one to Morven, here!" broke

ht with brush and cloth. "Judges has their own ideas. We'll have t

l-an evident newcomer t

ate.' Some judges thins out a class that way, by sending the

ghed the girl. "It goes so well with

t Howgill Rival, you know-and when Leighton is in the ring, he hasn't got eyes for anything but the dogs themselves. Be

red and whose roving gaze had settled on Chum. "Look

spectators had gathered in front of Chum's bench. They were inspecting the collie with manifest approval. Chum, embarrassed by t

ring attendant, appearing for a moment at the

nths, were coaxed down from their straw couches by three

he groom saying to the girl at the adjo

ringward. He saw that all three were on leather leashes and that their chains had been left

Yet, if chains, like bows of ribbon, were barred from the ring, he could maneuver C

red at the end of the section. And beh

Scotch Collies! Numb

ian. His calloused hands shook as he unchained Chum

ngs were getting on the collie's nerves. Link bent over him

y's goin' to bother you none. You're a-helpin' me win that hundred. An' you're lettin'

Safe in his sublime trust that his master would let no harm b

orner of the ring, alongside the platform, stood a man in tweeds, unlighted pipe in mouth, half-shut shrewd eyes studying the dogs as they filed i

spered Link as th

of four. Two of the other novice dogs were straining at their leashes; the third was hanging back and pawing frantically to

e parade. Stepping up to Ferris, Ju

that corner," he ordere

hings the groom had said about a dog being "gated." If that judge thought for one second that any of those mutt

ase, what would befall the deserted Chum? For the dog's sake he restrained himself, and he began to edge su

not reach the

tform while he studied them. Then he had crossed to the table and picked up the judging book and four ribbons-o

dging his way toward the exit; and handed Link the re

One expert glance had told the judge that the dark-sable collie, led by this loutish countryman, was better fitte

, might have regarded the playing of a disguised Paderewski. Wherefore, he had waved the dog to on

Chum his god was deliriously happy, and that Chum himself had somehow had a share in making him so. Hence the dog's former gloom

spectators. Chum and Link vied each other in their icy

s. Ferris, on the other hand, reveled in the knowledge that his beloved pet

Chum in every class. The initial victory had gone to his head. He had not known he could b

Scotch Collies! Numb

arable only to a maiden hunter's "buck ague." Chum, once more sensing Ferris's state of mind, lost his o

g, as before, to stand to one side; nor did he gate any. He gave owners and spectators their full due, by a thorough inspection of all five contestants

left the ring, to find a score of gratulatory hands stretched for

osyllabic and noncommittal replies to all of these-even when the great Col. Cyrus Marden himself deigned to come

big silver cup, to be awarded to "best collie of either sex"; and that after the females should have

the Tazewell strain. Exquisite and high-bred as was this female competitor, Judge Leighton wasted little time on the examination bef

ecstasy and sat down beside his tired dog, with one arm thrown lovingly round the collie's ruff. Chum nestled against h

d. People kept coming back to the bench and bringing others with them. Some of these people whispered together. Some merely stare

at last to an end. And the "Best

ring's center, and around them billowed the heterogeneous array. The two went at their Gargantuan task with an expert swiftness. Mercilessly, dog after dog was weeded out

, and gave him the gaudy rosette which proclaimed Chum "best dog in the show." A roar of applause went up. Link felt dizzy-

mmie!" he chortl

here he received not only the shining silver cup, but a "sover

e must awaken. Link was certain of that. But while the g

ward the outer gate of the country club grounds. He had almost reached the

n the interrupter of his triumphal homeward progress. At his e

stranger, more as if stating aggres

oying break-in upon his trance of h

villy enough, but with the same bossy firmness in his tone that had jarred Ferr

of the clubhouse and wanted a private view of Chum, unsullied by the noisy presence of the crowd outside. They w

home!" he s

the man in that same quiet voice, but

adge on its reverse. Still avoiding any outward appearance of force, he tur

true mountaineer's horror of the police.

g the terror in his master's tone and the grip of the str

One corner of Chum's upper lip was curled back, displaying a businesslike if snowy fang

his head high and barks there is no special danger to be feared from him. But he also

nace. One hand crept back inst

d once reached back when a stray cur snapped at him. And that constable had completed the movement by

n the man and the dog. "I'll go along with

yed the injunction, and fell into step at Link's side as usual. Ferris suffered himself to b

way to the door of a committee room. Throwing open the door, he ushered in

rl whose collie had had the bench next to Chum's. At the table head, looking very magisteria

gainst Ferris's knee, as if to guard him from possible harm. Link stood glowering

of this county-as you perhaps know. You may consider yourself be

ed preamble, Ferris

laws. What d'j' wa

eded Marden, "where d

patch of state road, jes' outside of Hampton. He was a-layin' in a ditch, w

xt to Marden nodded excitedly to the

ed Marden. "Couldn't you s

im home an' 'tended him. If you're aimin' at findin' out why I went on keepin' him after that, I done s

I saw it. Only-the notice said it was a bird

please? Yes, I recollect that notice. My attention was called to it at the time. But," again addre

the table in front of you. I adv'tised Chum as a bird dawg because I s'posed he WAS a bird dawg. I ain't a sharp on dawgs. He's the fust

the colonel. "I am disposed to accept your explanation

did I see excep' one fer a 'sable' collie. 'Sable' means 'black.' I know, because our dominie told me so. I asked him, when I see that piece

y dishonest intent. I am glad to do so. Here is the situation: Early last spring, Mr. Gault," indicating the sport-suit wearer at his left, "bought from the famous Glenmuir Collie Kenn

slightly toward the

e dog's collar, but as the collie made no attempt to escape, he soon turned around-he was in the front seat-and paid no more attention to him. Just outside of Suffern, he looked back-to find Cavalie

l eyes were upon Link Ferris. The mountaineer, stung to life by t

rds from a throat sanded by sudden dread,

arkably broad and generous view of the case if I may say so. He is not only willing that you should keep the cup and the cash prize which you have won to-da

ke hands an'-an' everything! An' he drug me out'n the lake, when I was a-drowndin'! An' he done a heap more'n that fer me! He's drug me up to my feet, out'n wuthles

no scenes here. You will take this seventyfive dollar check wh

ed Ferris, aghast. "Not leav

with these people of polished iron, who could not understand his fearful loss. For the sake of Chum-for the sake of the self-respecting man he h

bought him off'n that Hudson River fe

Colonel Marden has told you, I couldn't have hope

s voice harsh and unconsciously domineering as

answered Gault shortly, in a

ndred dollars in gold an' this yer silver cup an' seven dollars more I got with me-to bind the bargain. An' a

oring and unpleasant than before. Gault, unused to such talk f

w?'" he rasped. "No, thank you. Leighton says Cavalier will go

scared at the magnitude of th

have him fer, then? Se

y replied Gault, busying himself

thrusting the slip of paper at Link. "I think there

d to one knee beside the uncomprehending dog. With his arm abou

sight ruther leave one of my two legs here than to leave you. I-I guess only Gawd rightly knows all you done fer me, Chum. But I ain't a-goin' to ferget none of it

after him. "You've f

ivin' up the only friend I got!" snarled L

him-glad to get out of this uncongenial assembly and to be alone with the master who seemed so unhappy and so direly in ne

't come along. Bac

at Gault,

bein' treated. An' don't get sore on him if he mopes fer me, jes' at fust. Because he's sure to. Dogs

not trusting himself for a backward glance at

the wicket. He was numb and sick. He moved mechanically

in the direction of Hampton. And he plodded dazedly the inte

ss. And he knew it for a dread of entering the house and of finding no one to welcome him

e little purse full of gold pieces and the wad of prize ribbons. Stepping back, his foot struck something. He look

steps to throw it far out of sight; that it might no more remind

ilence of the sunset. Chum, who had been trotting demurely up the walk, sprang gleefully in pursuit of the ball, and

ld have overtaken the slow-slouching Ferris, had he been able to slip out of the clubhouse

ring down at the dancing dog in an agony of rapture. Then, all at once,

e a groan. "I was blattin' to 'em, up there, how you'd made a white man of me. An

avily down the lane and out into the highroad. Chum, always

remembered that he had left his horse and buggy at the livery stable there in the m

fast-traveling little motor car which was beari

alt close beside Ferris. Link, glancing up in dull lack of inte

ailed me. Don't lick him fer it! He's only a dog, an' h

he had done once or twice that afternoon in the clubhouse. And he

his dog came back to you, you were actually going to return him

I?" countered F

she insis

up there with you on the seat. Don't let him fall out. An'"-his voice scaling a half octave in its pain-"keep h

here were actually tears in the girl's big

him of it. After all, it's my father's affair, and mine. Nobody else's. My father got me another collie last spring to take Cavalier's place. A collie I'm ever so fond of. So I don't need Cavalier. I don't w

ringly echoed the blankb

is where he belongs and where he is going to

th in a choked wheeze

e breathe

stammered

to thank you in, Ma'am. But maybe you un

stood from the minute I saw you and the dog together.

cried Link, his fingers buried rapturous

t. "I think I've got what I wanted, already. My f

It's getting cold. I ought to thank the Lord for not having you anywher

r, and the little car wh

ss the good Lord built that gal the same day He built