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duty…visits to the run。 She would gallop joyously up to them；
begging for a word or a caress； trying to tempt them into a romp；
bringing them peaceofferings in the shape of treasured bones she
had buried for her own future use。 But all this gained her
nothing。
A careless word at besta grunt or a shove at worst were her
only rewards。 For the most part； the men with the feed…trough or
the water…pail ignored her bounding and wrigglingly eager welcome
as completely as though she were a part of the kennel
furnishings。 Her short daily 〃exercise scamper〃 in the open was
her nearest approach to a good time。
Then came a day when again a visitor stopped in front of Lass's
run。 He was not much of a visitor； being a pallid and rather
shabbily dressed lad of twelve； with a brand…new chain and collar
in his hand。
〃You see；〃 he was confiding to the bored kennel…man who had been
detailed by the foreman to take him around the kennels； 〃when I
got the check from Uncle Dick this morning； I made up my mind；
first thing； to buy a dog with it； even if it took every cent。
But then I got to thinking I'd need something to fasten him with；
so he wouldn't run away before he learned to like me and want to
stay with me。 So when I got the check cashed at the store； I got
this collar and chain。〃
〃Are you a friend of the boss？〃 asked the kennel…man。
〃The boss？〃 echoed the boy。 〃You mean the man who owns this
place？ No； sir。 But when I've walked past； on the road； I've seen
his 'Collies for Sale' sign； lots of times。 Once I saw some of
them being exercised。 They were the wonderfulest dogs I ever saw。
So the minute I got the money for the check； I came here。 I told
the man in the front yard I wanted to buy a dog。 He's the one who
turned me over to you。 I wishOH！〃 he broke off in rapture；
coming to a halt in front of Lass's run。 〃Look！ Isn't he a
dandy？〃
Lass had trotted hospitably forward to greet the guest。 Now she
was standing on her hind legs； her front paws alternately
supporting her fragile weight on the wire of the fence and waving
welcomingly toward the boy。 Unknowingly； she was bidding for a
master。 And her wistful friendliness struck a note of response in
the little fellow's heart。 For he； too； was lonesome； much of the
time； as is the fate of a sickly only child in an overbusy home。
And he had the true craving of the lonely for dog comradeship。
He thrust his none…too…clean hand through the wire mesh and
patted the puppy's silky head。 Lass wiggled ecstatically under
the unfamiliar caress。 All at once； in the boy's eyes； she became
quite the most wonderful animal and the very most desirable pet
on earth；
〃He's great！〃 sighed the youngster in admiration； adding na？vely：
〃Is he Champion Rothsay Chiefthe one whose picture was in The
Bulletin last Sunday？〃
The kennel…man laughed noisily。 Then he checked his mirth； for
professional reasons； as he remembered the nature of the boy's
quest and foresaw a bare possibility of getting rid of the
unwelcome Lass。
〃Nope；〃 he said。 〃This isn't Chief。 If it was； I guess your Uncle
Dick's check would have to have four figures in it before you
could make a deal。 But this is one of Chief's daughters。 This is
Rothsay Lass。 A grand little girl； ain't she？ Say；〃in a
confidential whisper；〃since you've took a fancy for her； maybe
I could coax the old man into lettin' you have her at an easy
price。 He was plannin' to sell her for a hundred or so。 But he
goes pretty much by what I say。 He might let her go forHow much
of a check did you say your uncle sent you？〃
〃Twelve dollars；〃 answered the boy；〃one for each year。 Because
I'm named for him。 It's my birthday； you know。 Butbut a dollar
of it went for the chain and the collar。 How much do you suppose
the gentleman would want for Rothsay Lass？〃
The kennel…man considered for a moment。 Then he went back to the
house； leaving the lad alone at the gate of the run。 Eleven
dollars； for a high…pedigreed collie pup； was a joke price。 But
no one else wanted Lass； and her feed was costing more every day。
According to Rothsay standards； the list of brood…females was
already complete。 Even as a gift； the kennels would be making
money by getting rid of the prick…eared 〃second。〃 Wherefore he
went to consult with the foreman。
Left alone with Lass； the boy opened the gate and went into the
run。 A little to his surprise Lass neither shrank from him nor
attacked him。 She danced about his legs in delight； varying this
by jumping up and trying to lick his excited face。 Then she
thrust her cold nose into the cup of his hand as a plea to be
petted。
When the kennel…man came back； the boy was sitting on the dusty
ground of the run； and Lass was curled up rapturously in his lap；
learning how to shake hands at his order。
〃You can have her； the boss says；〃 vouchsafed the kennel…man。
〃Where's the eleven dollars？〃
By this graceless speech Dick Hazen received the key to the
Seventh Paradise； and a life…membership in the world…wide Order
of Dog…Lovers。
The homeward walk； for Lass and her new master； was no walk at
all； but a form of spiritual levitation。 The half…mile pilgrimage
consumed a full hour of time。 Not that Lass hung back or rebelled
at her first taste of collar and chain！ These petty annoyances
went unfelt in the wild joy of a real walk； and in the infinitely
deeper happiness of knowing her friendship…famine was appeased at
last。
The walk was long for various reasonspartly because； in her
frisking gyrations； Lass was forever tangling the new chain
around Dick's thin ankles； partly because he stopped； every block
or so； to pat her or to give her further lessons in the art of
shaking hands。 Also there were admiring boy…acquaintances along
the way； to whom the wonderful pet must be exhibited。
At last Dick turned in at the gate of a cheap bungalow on a cheap
streeta bungalow with a discouraged geranium plot in its
pocket…handkerchief front yard； and with a double line of drying
clothes in the no larger space behind the house。
As Dick and his chum rounded the house； a woman emerged from
between the two lines of flapping sheets； whose hanging she had
been superintending。 She stopped at sight of her son and the dog。
〃Oh！〃 she commented with no enthusiasm at all。 〃Well； you did it；
hey？ I was hoping you'd have better sense； and spend your check
on a nice new suit or something。 He's kind of pretty； though；〃
she went on； the puppy's friendliness and beauty wringing the
word of grudging praise from her。 〃What kind of a dog is he？ And
you're sure he isn't savage； aren't you？〃
〃Collie；〃 answered Dick proudly。 〃Pedigreed collie！ You bet she
isn't savage； either。 Why； she's an angel。 She minds me already。
Seeshake hands； Lass！〃 〃Lass！〃 ejaculated Mrs。 Hazen。 〃'SHE！'
Dick； you don't mean to tell me you've gone and bought yourself
aa FEMALE dog？〃
The woman spoke in the tone of ho