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was a she…dog； and his ma and I didn't want one around。 So I put
it aboard a freight…car on the sly。 My boy went sick over losing
his dog。 He has never rightly got over it； but he peaks and mopes
and gets thinner all the time。 If I had known how hard he was
going to take it； I would of cut off my hand before I would of
done such a thing。 And my wife feels just like I do about it。 We
would both of us have given a hundred dollars to get the dog back
for him； when we saw how bad he felt。 But it was too late。
Somehow or other it is most generally too late when a rotten
thing has been done。
〃To…day he went again to the Rothsay Kennels to ask if she had
come back。 He has always been hoping she would。 And they told him
you have her。 Now； sir； I am a poor man； but if one hundred
dollars will make you sell me that dog； I'll send it to you in a
money order by return mail。 It will be worth ten times that much；
to my wife and me； to have Dick happy again。 I inclose a stamp。
Will you let me know？〃
Six weeks afterward The Place's car brought Dick Hazen across to
receive his long…lost pet。
The boy was thinner and shakier and whiter than when he had gone
to sleep with his cherished puppy curled against his narrow
chest。 But there was a light in his eyes and an eagerness in his
heart that had not been there in many a long week。
Lass was on the veranda to welcome him。 And as Dick scrambled out
of the car and ran to pick her up； she came more than half…way to
meet him。 With a flurry of fast…pattering steps and a bark of
eager welcome； she flung herself upon her long…vanished master。
For a highbred collie does not forget。 And at first glimpse of
the boy Lass remembered him。
Dick caught her up in his armsa harder feat than of yore；
because of her greater weight and his own sapped strength；and
hugged her tight to his breast。 Winking very fast indeed to
disperse tears that had no place in the eyes of a self…contained
man of twelve； he sputtered rapturously：
〃I KNEW I'd find you； LassieI knew it all the time；even the
times when I was deadsure I wouldn't！ Gee； but you've grown；
though！ And you're beautifuler than ever。 Isn't she； Miss？〃 he
demanded； turning to the Mistress with instinctive knowledge that
here at least he would find confirmation。 〃Indeed she is！〃 the
Mistress assured him。
〃And see how glad she is to be with you again！ She〃
〃And Dad says she can stay with me； for keeps！〃 exulted Dick。 〃He
says he'll put a new lock on the cellar door； so she can't ever
push out again； the way she did； last time。 But I guess she's had
her lesson in going out for walks at night and not being able to
find her way back。 She and I are going to have the dandiest times
together； that ever happened。 Aren't we； Lass？ Is that her little
boy？〃 he broke off； in eager curiosity； as the Master appeared
from the kennels； carrying Bruce。
The puppy was set down on the veranda floor for Dick's
inspection。
〃He's cunning； isn't he？ Kind of like a Teddy Bear；the sort
kids play with。 But；〃 with a tinge of worry； 〃I'm not sure Ma
will let me keep two。 Maybe〃
〃Perhaps；〃 suggested the Mistress； 〃perhaps you'd like us to keep
little Bruce； to remember Lass by？ We'll try to make him very
happy。〃
〃Yes'm！〃 agreed Dick； in much haste； his brow clearing from a
mental vision of Mrs。 Hazen's face when she should see him return
with twice as many dogs as he had set out for。 〃Yes'm。 If you
wouldn't mind； very much。 S'pose we leave it that way？ I guess
Bruce'll like being with you； Miss。 II guess pretty near
anybody would。 You'llyou'll try not to be too homesick for
Lass； won't you？〃
On the steps of the veranda the downy and fat puppy watched his
mother's departure with no especial interest。 By the Mistress's
wish； Mr。 Hazen had not been required to make any part of his
proffered hundred…dollar payment for the return of his boy's pet。
All the Mistress had stipulated was that Lass might be allowed to
remain at The Place until baby Bruce should no longer need her。
〃Bruce；〃 said the Mistress as the car rolled up the drive and out
of sight； 〃you are the sole visible result of The Place's
experiment in raising prize collies。 You have a tremendous
responsibility on those fat little shoulders of yours；to live
up to it all。〃
By way of showing his scorn for such trifles as a 〃tremendous
responsibility；〃 Bruce proceeded to make a ferocious onslaught at
the Mistress's temperamental gray Persian kitten； 〃Tipperary；〃
which was picking a mincing way across the veranda。
A howl of pain and two scratches on his tiny nose immediately
followed the attack。 Tipperary then went on with her mincing
promenade。 And Bruce； with loud lamentations； galloped to the
shelter of the Mistress's skirt。
〃Poor little chap！〃 soothed the Mistress； picking him up and
comforting him。 〃Responsibility isn't such a joke； after all； is
it； Baby？〃
CHAPTER II。 The Pest
Thackeray； as a lad； was dropped from college for laziness and
for gambling。 Bismarck failed to get a University degree； because
he lacked power to study and because he preferred midnight beer
to midnight oil。 George Washington； in student days； could never
grasp the simplest rules of spelling。 The young Lincoln loved to
sprawl in the shade with fish…pole or tattered book； when he
should have been working。
Now； these men were giantsphysically as well as mentally。 Being
giants； they were by nature slow of development。
The kitten； at six months of age； is graceful and compact and of
perfect poise。 The lion…cub； at the same age； is a gawky and
foolish and ill…knit mass of legs and fur； deficient in sense and
in symmetry。 Yet at six years； the lion and the cat are not to be
compared for power or beauty or majesty or brain； or along any
other lines。
The foregoing is not an essay on the slow development of the
Great。 It is merely a condensation of the Mistress's earnest
arguments against the selling or giving away of a certain
hopelessly awkward and senseless and altogether undesirable
collie pup named Bruce。
From the very first； the Mistress had been Bruce's champion at
The Place。 There was no competition for that office。 She and she
alone could see any promise in the shambling youngster。
Because he had been born on The Place； and because he was the
only son of Rothsay Lass； whom； the Mistress had also championed
against strong opposition； it had been decided to keep and raise
him。 But daily this decision seemed less and less worth while。
Only the Mistress's championing of the Undesirable prevented his
early banishment。
From a fuzzy and adventurous fluff…ball of gray…gold…and…white
fur； Bruce swiftly developed into a lanky giant。 He was almost as
large again as is the average collie pup of his age； but； big as
he was； his legs and feet and head were huge； out of all
proportion to the rest of him。 The head did not both