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warmed to her。 The visitor would point her out。 The kennel…man would
reply； flatteringly
〃Yes； she sure is one fine pup！〃
The purchaser never waited to hear the end of the sentence； before
turning to some other puppy。 The pronoun； 〃she；〃 had killed forever his
dawning fancy for the little beauty。
The four males of the litter were soon sold； for there is a brisk and a
steady market for good collie pups。 One of the two other females died。
Lass's remaining sister began to 〃shape up〃 with show…possibilities； and
was bought by the owner of another kennel。 Thus； by the time she was five
months old； Lass was left alone in the puppy…run。
She mourned her playmates。 It was cold； at night； with no other cuddly
little fur…ball to snuggle down to。 It was stupid； with no one to help her
work off her five…months spirits in a romp。 And Lass missed the dozens of
visitors that of old had come to the run。
The kennel…men felt not the slightest interest in her。 Lass meant
nothing to them； except the work of feeding her and of keeping an extra
run in order。 She was a liability； a nuisance。
Lass used to watch with pitiful eagerness for the attendants' 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。
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Bruce
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 飗 ely： 〃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
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Bruce
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